Lone Star College System and Lone Star Corporate College present their first Women's Conference titled “Step Up and Reach Your Potential,” held at Lone Star College-Montgomery on Friday, February 19, from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. This conference, specially priced at just $99, is designed to inform, inspire, and challenge professional women—all in one day!
 
The purpose of this inaugural event is to partner established executives with new business professionals, encouraging them to realize their potential—both in and out of the workplace. Attendees will hear two empowering keynote presentations by Fawn Germer, bestselling author and motivational speaker, and Nelda Luce Blair, community leader and chairman of the board of directors for The Woodlands Township. In addition, attendees will participate in a variety of hands-on breakout sessions and a dynamic panel provided by local community leaders titled, “Women in Leadership - Best Practices.”
 
Bestselling author and motivational speaker, Fawn Germer, will provide the morning’s keynote presentation, empowering women to take charge of their lives and careers. Her talk will encourage women to make peace with self-esteem issues, build mentorships, realize their greatest potential rests with their ability to take risks and confidently move forward, and much more.
 
“Fawn will connect with women who need that jolt to leave the ranks and excel without limits,” said Amy Cooper, program manager for continuing education at LSC-Montgomery.
 
Germer, an “Oprah Pick” author, tells women in her seminars “if you think it’s just hard work and excellent performance that puts you on the fast track, you’re wrong.” Two years ago, Germer went to several CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies to ask how they take charge. She was told, “performance is mandatory.” From that, Germer has identified a three-pronged strategy used to achieve stratospheric success. Her keynote presentation will feature insights gleaned from her personal interviews with some of the nation’s most powerful leaders.
 
Community leader Nelda Luce Blair will provide the luncheon keynote presentation, inspiring and challenging women to reach their personal and professional goals.
 
“Influence. We admire it, we pursue it, we respond to it. But, how do we achieve it?” said Blair, a woman who has made her own mark in the male-dominated worlds of law and politics.
  
According to Blair, women already possess this most valuable quality—“Yet, sometimes we simply fail to recognize it, and often, we fail to use it to its fullest potential.”  
 
“Women are naturally influential in a supernatural sense. Quite simply, we must learn to harness that instinctive ability and use our inborn traits to their full advantage,” said Blair.
 
Blair’s candid views and advice will inspire a fresh self-assessment; her descriptions of learning from the past will encourage new ideas about women’s issues, and her “Life According to Ms. Nel” anecdotes will invoke a wide range of familiar emotions.
 
Special guest speaker and financial powerhouse Charlotte Stallings will provide two engaging sessions to guide participants in creating their own financial security in an ever-changing economy. Attendees will also have their choice of several in-depth and effective breakout sessions including, “Smart Money-making Decisions,” Effective Workplace Communication,” “Online Marketing and Social Networking Tools,” “Career Options After Retirement,” “Resume Writing,” and Personal Growth and Leadership.”
 
The closing session features a panel discussion made up of several local leaders: Nelda Luce Blair, Dr. Ann Snyder, Interfaith of The Woodlands; Bev Earl, Corporate Incentives; Nina Marino, Keller Williams Realty; Mary Matteson-Parrish, community leader; and Jill Silman, Meador Staffing. The panel will share their best practices in business as well as answer questions from the audience. This panel will be another highlight in giving participants ideas, networking contacts, and strategies to achieve personal and/or career goals.  
 
Registration for the conference is just $99, which includes breakfast & lunch.
 
To register for the conference or to obtain additional information, visit www.lonestar.edu/womensconference; or contact Amy Cooper, program coordinator, at (936) 271-6191 or amy.f.cooper@LoneStar.edu. 
 
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.
 
Lone Star College System consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Center, LSC-University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. With more than 58,000 students in credit classes this fall, LSCS is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and third largest community college system in Texas. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.