Women's Leadership Conference

Registration Info

Registration for the 2009 Women's Leadership Conference is open from Tuesday, January 6 to Monday, February 2 at 11:59pm. Registration is open to male and female students, faculty, and community members.

Click here to register (Individual)
Click here to register (Group of 5 or more)

After you have registered, please bring $25 cash/check ($20 if group registration) to the Center for Leadership and Service in Peabody Hall on the University of Florida Campus. Make checks PAYABLE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.

General Information

The 22nd annual Women's Leadership Conference will be held on Sunday, February 8, 2009 in the J. Wayne Reitz Union Rion Ballroom. This year's theme is, "Women in the Spotlight: What Role Will You Play?" The conference aims to provide participants with educational and engaging programming that will enable them to excel in their professional and personal lives.

The conference will feature a career panel, networking opportunities, and a variety of workshops that focus on career, leadership and awareness. This year's keynote speaker is Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan, who has over 10 years public service experience in Gainesville.

FAQs

Brief History of Conference
The Women's Leadership Conference was founded by Dr. Helen Marmechev, a former Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and the first female vice president at the University of Florida. She saw that there was a void in programming for women on campus and therefore decided to start the conference 19 years ago. The conference began with 4 workshops and 75 participants. Last year there were 30 workshops and 200 registered participants.

What does my registration fee cover?
The fee covers all conference activities including a guest speaker, three educational workshops, an organizational fair, networking activities, cultural entertainment, giveaways, prizes, breakfast, and lunch.

What is the Women's Leadership Conference?
The Women's Leadership Conference is an annual event put on by the Women's Leadership Council that began in 1988 as a way to bring women leaders together and improve their leadership skills. It strives to equip women with the skills necessary to achieve their goals and encourage them to embrace the challenge of leadership, and also to provide women with peer support, role models and educational programs that will help them to develop a sense of self. The conference accomplishes this by offering a variety of workshops, 3 of which participants may choose to attend, a career panel with community professionals, an inspiring keynote speaker, networking activities, and an organization fair with a variety of groups represented.

What workshops are available?
Participants can choose from a variety of topics from three general categories: Calling, Leadership, and Awareness.

Do I have to be a leader to attend?
The conference offers opportunities for both established leaders and aspiring leaders.

What should I wear?
Business casual or professionally appropriate attire is recommended. This includes a blouse and slacks or a skirt.

What if I am coming from out of town?
Below are driving directions to the J. Wayne Reitz Union and a list of local hotel contacts. If you need further information please contact the Women?s Leadership Council.

Driving Directions to the J. Wayne Reitz Union
From I-75, Exit #384 (State Road 24/Archer Road)
East on Archer Road for 2.6 miles to North-South Drive
Turn left onto North-South Drive for 1/2 mile to Museum Road
Turn right on Museum Road for 1 block
Turn left into the Reitz Union's driveway

From US 441 (13th Street)
Turn west on Museum Road for 1/2 mile.
The Reitz Union is on the right, just past Center Drive

From State Road 24 (Waldo Road)
South on SR 24 to University Avenue (SR 26)
Right on University Avenue for 1.7 miles to US 441 (13th Street)
Left on US 441 for 1/2 mile to Museum Road
Right on Museum Road for 1/2 mile
The Reitz Union is on the right, just past Center Drive

From the Gainesville Regional Airport
Exit the airport drive
Right on SR 222 (39th Avenue) for 4 miles to US 441 (13th Street)
Left on US 441 for 3 miles to Museum Road
Right on Museum Road for 1/2 mile
The Reitz Union is on the right, just past Center Drive

Local Hotel Contacts

Best Western Gateway Grand
4200 NW 97th Blvd.
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352) 331-3336

Cabot Lodge
3726 SW 40th Blvd.
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 375-2400

Comfort Inn
2435 SW 13th St.
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 373-6500

Comfort Inn West
3440 SW 40th Blvd.
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 264-1771

Courtyard By Marriott
3700 SW 42nd St.
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 335-9100

Fairfield Inn By Marriott
6901 NW 4th Blvd.
Gainesville, FL 32607
(352) 332-8292

Hampton Inn
4225 SW 40th Blvd.
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 371-4171

Hilton University of Florida
1714 SW 34th St
Gainesville, FL 32607
(352) 371-3600

Holiday Inn - University Center
1250 W. University Ave.
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 376-1661

Holiday Inn - West
7417 Newberry Road
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 332-7500

Knights Inn
2820 NW 13th St.
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 376-1211

La Quinta Inns Inc
920 NW 69th Terr.
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 332-6466

Ramada Limited
7413 Newberry Rd
Gainesville, FL 32605
332-8001

Red Roof Inn
3500 SW 42nd St.
Gainesville, FL 32608
336-3311

Reitz Union Hotel
P.O. Box 118505
Gainesville, FL 32611
(352) 392-2151

Residence Inn By Marriott
4001 SW 13th St.
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 371-2101

Schedule of Events

Please check back soon for more information.

Keynote Speaker

A native and lifelong resident of Gainesville, Florida, Pegeen Hanrahan is in her twelfth year of elective service, and her second term as Gainesville's Mayor. She is a registered Professional Engineer, and a consultant to the Trust for Public Land's Conservation Finance Program. In this capacity, she helps other local governments develop and fund land conservation and recreational programs. Mayor Hanrahan is the President of the Florida League of Mayors, the Chair of the Alachua County Library District, and serves on the boards of the nationwide Mayors' Innovation Project, the Alachua Conservation Trust, and the Alachua County Children's Alliance. She holds Master's and Bachelor's degrees from the University of Florida in Environmental Engineering, and a B.A. in Sociology, also from U.F. Pegeen is married to Tony Malone, a Civil Engineer with CH2MHill. Together they are the delighted parents of Evyleen Mary, 3 and Quinn Joseph, 1.

Philanthropy and Charity Drive

At this year's conference the Women's Leadership Council will be collecting items for Arbor House, a local home for single and expectant mothers. You may drop off items to the Center for Leadership and Service in Peabody Hall, or bring them to the Women's Leadership Conference on February 8.

The following donations are needed: