Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce Announces Conference Keynote Speakers, Prominent Local Honorees

HOUSTON, May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC) is pleased to announce its keynote speakers for the sixth annual Conference for Women, presented by ExxonMobil, along with 11 Breakthrough Women honorees and the presentation of the Chamber's second annual Diversity Leadership Award, sponsored by AIG.

The conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, 2222 W Loop South, near the Galleria.

The following influential speakers will present their business insights, representing a variety of fields from energy to healthcare:

• Dr. Jennifer Ashton – Host, The Doctors and Good Morning America
• Barbara Glanz – Author/Speaker/Consultant, Barbara Glanz Communications, Inc.
• Christy Haubegger – Founder/Editor, Latina Magazine
• Laurie Tucker – Co-Founder/Chief Strategy Officer, Calade Partners LLC
• Gindi Eckel Vincent – Counsel, ExxonMobil

The GHWCC is also pleased to announce NIKE as its second annual Diversity Leadership Award winner. NIKE earned this achievement for its commitment to celebrating the diversity of our nation, and for promoting an accepting environment where individuals with wide-ranging backgrounds can thrive. Collette Hemmings, NIKE COO, representing NIKE at the conference and accepting the Diversity Leadership Award, oversees all NIKE Foundation core functions, including finance, operations, human resources and knowledge management. She joined the NIKE Foundation from NIKE, Inc., where she led several operational functions in apparel.

The following industry and community trailblazers will be honored as GHWCC's 2014 Breakthrough Women:

• Rhonda Arnold – Director of Community Relations, Houston Airport System
• Beverley Babcock – VP, Corporate Financial Services, ExxonMobil
• Kim Bates – VP, Asia Pacific/Middle East, ExxonMobil Exploration Company
• Emma Cochrane – VP, Asia Pacific/Africa, ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing Company
• Janet Coy – VP, Natural Gas Marketing, Enbridge, Inc.
• Elizabeth Killinger – President, NRG Texas Retail & Reliant, an NRG Co.
• Maria Rios – President & CEO, Nation Waste
• Alicia Smith – President & CEO, Innovative Legal Solutions
• Dr. Mary Ann Wilkins – Senior VP, Business Development Officer, Stewart Title
• Carlecia Wright – Office of Business Opportunities, City of Houston
• Pamela Wright – Owner, Wright Pawn & Jewelry Co.

Conference proceeds will benefit programs that help to advance the positions of women and girls in the greater Houston area.

For more information on the event, to register or join, please visit www.ghwcc.org.

About GHWCC
The Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit business organization of highly influential and diverse women and men dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of women through avenues of leadership, education, advocacy, and mentoring. For more information, visit www.ghwcc.org.

Media Contact:
Sally Ramsay
Pierpont Communications
713-627-2223 x.1102 or 713-594-4657
[email protected]

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SOURCE Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce