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"Shark Tank" Shark Barbara Corcoran Keynote Speaker at 2014 Business Women's Forum (BWF)

Barbara Corcoran, real estate mogul, business expert, private investor and star of ABC-TV’s “Shark Tank”, will be the keynote luncheon speaker at the 2014 Business Women’s Forum (BWF) on Friday, October 10. International speaker and CEO of The Joy Project, Amanda Gore, with be the 32nd annual event’s morning motivational speaker. Renowned as Connecticut’s largest and longest-running full-day annual conference for women, the Business Women’s Forum (www.2014bwf.com) is anticipated to attract over 700 business people from throughout New England, and will be held at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.     

“The Power of Self: Leading the Way”
is the innovative theme of the 2014 Business Women’s Forum that will feature the two keynote speakers plus six professional development workshops, all-day networking, breakfast, lunch, and a closing reception. Celebrating 32 years of notable success in 2014, the BWF is a program of the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Waterbury, Connecticut. The thriving organization is led by female executives dedicated to the professional and personal growth of working women. The BWF is also supported by numerous Connecticut-based companies including Post University, Jaci Carroll Staffing, Webster Bank and more.

Waterbury Regional Chamber President and CEO, Lynn Ward, a BFW director, commented that, “For the past three decades, BWF events have been created to help business women enhance their small to medium-sized companies as well as their personal careers. We are tremendously excited to be welcoming one of the highly-successful private investors featured on the most-watched business-oriented programs on television today, “Shark Tank”. Barbara Corcoran is a self-made billionaire in the real estate arena, so we are confident she will offer a high level of insights for our attendees. We are also delighted to welcome CEO and internationally-acclaimed speaker, Amanda Gore. Our BWF board is confident Ms. Gore will also provide event attendees with tremendous insights, inspiration and encouragement for their businesses and careers. She is a renowned humorous and powerful speaker and accomplished business woman, and author. 

The mission of the non-profit Business Women’s Forum’s for the past 31 years has been to raise funds for a scholarship fund for female Post University students to pursue business educations. “The BWF’s continual commitment has been to the equality of opportunity and advancement for women in business,” explained Ward. “During the past 31 years, the BWF has generated in excess of $185,000 toward those scholarships.”

Jane Pinho a branch manager with Ion Bank, and 2014 BWF Chairwoman, commented, “Since its’ beginnings, the BWF has provided an unprecedented number of attendees with access to phenomenal speakers, networking opportunities and diverse training during the course of a full day of activities. For the past 31 years, our BWF conferences have featured such prominent, high-profile keynote speakers as Kathy Ireland, Elizabeth Vargas, Paula Abdul, Robin Roberts, Goldie Hawn, Jamie Lee Curtis, Suze Orman, Jane Seymour, Chris Madden, Susan Saint James and Loretta Claiborne.” 

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Pinho continued, “More than 700 businesspeople are once again anticipated to attend this BWF conference. Experience tells our board that every participant benefits greatly from this highly-informative and exciting day of dynamic and accomplished speakers, professional business trainers as workshop leaders, networking opportunities and a very exciting closing reception that features a buffet of hors d’oeuvres, beverages, raffle and door prizes.”

Barbara Corcoran’s credentials include straight D’s in high school and college and 20 jobs by the time she turned 23. It was her next job that made her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the United States when she took a $1,000 loan to start The Corcoran Group. A real estate billionaire who is renowned as one of the “Sharks” on ABC-TV’s hit show, “Shark Tank”, Corcoran has ponied up her own money and invested in more than two dozen businesses, competing to make those deals for all to see, then shepherding them to success. Her newest book, “Shark Tales”, takes the reader behind the scenes of her life, business and her ‘seen on TV’ venture capitalism. Famously brash, blunt, bold and courageous, Corcoran is known as a brilliant identifier of opportunity and talent (often invisible to others). It is anticipated that during her 2014 BWF presentation, attendees will receive Corcoran’s very best advice for starting, growing, and expanding businesses, investing in businesses, and converting ideas and “dreams” into fortunes.

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Amanda Gore is a communications and performance expert who uses the latest research in neuroscience, positive psychology, epigenetics, and emotional intelligence to help business leaders achieve the results they need by getting people engaged in, enthusiastic about, and aligned with conference and corporate goals and vision. She helps her audiences create joyful workplaces that lead to better performance. Author of five books and several DVDs and audio training program, every year Gore conducts research for two months. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy with a major in psychology; she is a master practitioner of neurolinguistics with expertise in neuroscience, ergonomics, positive psychology, group dynamics, stress management, and emotional intelligence. Gore’s presentations focus on how to change people’s behaviors; how to create environments in which people can be the best they can be; and ways to help individuals believe in themselves and their perceptions. A notably humorous, energizing speaker, Gore will help BWF attendees connect with the energy and emotional layers within themselves that drive performance, innovation, relationships, engagement, and creativity in both their business and person lives.

Companies interested in sponsoring this event are invited to contact the BWF to learn about the 2014 BWF marketing opportunities. For more information on sponsorships, contact Lynn Ward or Courtney Ligi at the Waterbury Regional Chamber at 203-757-0701, or via email to lward@waterburychamber.com or cligi@waterburychamber.com. For information on 2014 Business Women's Forum, visit www.2014BWF.com.


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