as we continue “Empowering Women to Empower the World!”

At Our Next PWI Houston-Connection
Empowerment & Networking Event

THINK BIG
HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
May 8, 2008 - 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

At the JW Marriott Exhibit Hall
5150 Westheimer
Houston, Texas  77056
713-961-1500
Free Parking on Sage Road
Map/Directions 
Registration Information
Download Flier

Speakers will share their amazing victory stories and how to THINK BIG!

Amber Sponsor



For sponsorship info,please contact Pam Terry at:
832-276-4153

Exhibitors
Arbonne
Dessert Gallery
Epiphany Imprint
Hashoo Foundation
HAWP
Houston Area Women's Center
Houston Comets
Photos by Gabriela
Relationship Fitness Center
The Waldrup Foundation
Reserve Yours Now…

Agenda
7:30 Networking/Exhibits
8:30 Program
9:00 Featured Speaker
9:30 Networking/Exhibits
10:30  Honorees
11:15 Keynote Speaker
11:30 Lunch/Door Prizes
12:30 Workshop
1:30 Close

Mistress of Ceremonies: Ayana Mack
Radio Personality

Ayana Mack possesses that rare blend of talent, charisma and humor that makes her unstoppable. Ayana has worked with respected radio stations in Houston and elsewhere. She was also chosen as one of the top ten finalists for the Steve Harvey Angel Search.   

While in college, Ayana began her radio career in Houston and was a Morning Show Co-Host and PSA Director, starting her on-air career as co-host of a morning show in a top ten market.

With a 5-octave vocal range, Ayana has worked with various record labels and national recording artists such as Baby Bash, Frankie J and Grammy nominated Dope House Records own Juan Gotti. In 2005, Ayana was 1 of 50 vocalists chosen to perform on "American Idol."

Keynote Speaker:  Cristal Montanez Baylor
Executive Director, Hashoo Foundation USA

Cristal Montañéz Baylor, former Miss Venezuela, runway, print and television model, is the Executive Director of Hashoo Foundation, USA, an organization dedicated to supporting underprivileged communities in improving their social, economic, health and education status through a participatory development approach. 

A committed mother of two successful young adults, she is a dedicated public servant and a passionate philanthropist committed to promoting changes that sustain the process of poverty alleviation through education and income-generating projects, which allows individuals to provide for themselves and their family independently.

The recipient of many awards and recognition for her humanitarian efforts, Cristal is the President of the International Venezuelan Council for Democracy (IVCD) and the International Coordinator of the Venezuelan Resistance Abroad (RECIVEX).  She served on the Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Greater Houston Area American Red Cross Marketing and Communications Committee, Montgomery County Allison Task Force Committee and the City of Houston’s Mayoral Advisory Board for International Affairs and Development for Latin America and the Caribbean (MABIAD - AMERICAS).

Featured Speaker:  Nancy Nichols
Author, Publisher & Motivational Speaker

Nancy Nichols tells a unique and inspiring story that spans 5
years and 3 states of how she overcame the difficult, sometimes heartbreaking obstacles of writing, self-publishing and gaining the national distribution for her new self-help book Secrets of the Ultimate Husband Hunter: How to Attract Men, Enjoy Dating and Recognize the Love of Your Life, due in bookstores May 2008.

“I never once believed that my book would not happen,” Nancy said. “I just wanted to know—when? Based on my true story and five years in writing, my book reveals a
life-changing event that gained me the confidence, self-sufficiency and poise that I had hungered for all my life.
If it happened to me, it can happen to you.”

“Writing a book is the easy part. Getting it published and accepted into the retail mainstream is one of the most difficult, drawn-out, daunting tasks I have ever tackled. I should have given up . . . I just didn’t know how. The completion of my book is one of the
most empowering, proudest moments of my life.”

 
The Passion Test - Finding Your Purpose
Tiffany Rivers, Serial Entrepreneur

In this workshop on The Passion Test, you'll learn a simple, powerful way to discover your passions and align your life with
what matters most to you, starting now.

An Emmy Award winner and quiet powerhouse, Tiffany founded TetraClean in 2004, a commercial stone and carpet restoration company.  Her secret to success is to “WOW my clients.”  To help women lead fulfilling lives, Tiffany started her second business, Arbonne International, as an Independent consultant educating women and showing them how to own their own home based business and live a life full of passion.

After obtaining her Communications degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, Tiffany began her career as a Radio and TV News Producer, traveling and interviewing people such as Tom Brokaw, Katy Couric & Matt Lauer, the real Kramer (from Seinfeld) and many more.   Through her work, Tiffany was transferred to Houston where she married and now has two beautiful sons.

Honoring Women Who THINK BIG

R. Akua Holt, Founder, Amandla Productions

• Writer & Producer and staple of the Houston artistic community.
• Worked to improve the cultural character of the city of Houston
  by presenting innovative contemporary artistic productions for nearly two decades.
• Provided annual productions of diverse multidisciplinary acts, attracting crowds of over 50,000 at Houston’s Miller Theater.
• Executive producer, researcher, and host of Pan African Journal, a cutting edge program which features news, music, and interviews regarding the African Diaspora.
• HEB Stage Curator and the Literary Stage Curator for the 2008 Houston International Festival
• Producer of another Blew Notes Trio show featuring composer/pianist Randy Weston on June 14, 2008 at Miller Theatre, Hermann Park.
• Co-authored "Welcome to Omokunle," a workbook commissioned by the Children's Museum of Houston to accompany the exhibit "Omokunle.

Barbara Spier, President, Helping Afghan Women Project

• President of US Protection and Investigations, LLC (USPI)
• Her company was the first firm to ever hire and train female guards in Afghanistan.
• Voted 2007 Woman Business Owner of the Year in Houston by NAWBO, the National Association of Women Business Owners.
• President of Helping Afghan Women Project (HAWP).
• In just three short years, HAWP has shipped thousands of pounds of warm clothing and much-needed items to Afghanistan.
  

Carole McNair, Family Advocate, GRACE Community Services

• Carole is a single parent and grandmother of two who recently went through her second battle with cancer.
• While undergoing strenuous and aggressive cancer treatments, Carole has continued to work.
• As a Family Advocate for G.R.A.C.E. Community Services, Carole assists clients by helping them to access funding for homes, bills, and transportation through a variety of resources.
• Carole selflessly and tirelessly goes to bat for all of her clients, although she could have benefitted from some of the very services she has provided to others.
• Carole worked the Christmas give-away program with her organization where they were able to assist hundreds of families that were from both Houston and areas devastated by Katrina.
  
• G.R.A.C.E. Community Services is a faith-based organization committed to empowering churches, corporations and other Ministries with information and training on how to be effective before, during and after a disaster and is the catalyst to empowering them to be equipped to take ownership when a disaster strikes their community.
  
  

Tx. Rep. Ellen Cohen, Former CEO, Houston Area Women's Ctr

• Elected to the Texas State House of Representatives in November 2006. 
• Served as the President and CEO for 18 years of the Houston
  Area Women's Center
• Led a $6.2 million dollar, 120 person staff serving over six thousand women, children and men annually.
• Founded Reach to Recovery of Canada, a self-help post-mastectomy group started two years after her own breast cancer surgery, allowing women in hospital rooms to assist other women in their recovery.
• Ellen's leadership and persistence brought the program to all Montreal hospitals.
• Many Awards: "Women of the Year Award" The Shattered Glass Award; Women on the Move; Celebration of Life Honoree; Leadership Houston Distinguished Alumnus Award; NAACP Outstanding Service Award; American Jewish Committee's Max H. Nathan Award and the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault's Vivian Miles Lifetime Achievement Award. 
  

Helen "Sister" Gay, Founder, Mission of Yahweh

• Has devoted her life to helping the poor, beginning in 1961 when she opened her home to women in crisis.
• Gained support from driving her truck through the Memorial area seeking donations; soon, many churches and families lent their support.
• In 1971, a group from a local church met and organized a Board of Directors and the corporate structure to support her work.
• In 1981 construction began on the Main House of The Mission of Yahweh on Algiers, which today houses up to 85 women and children.
•   Sister Gay and her husband, Fisher, personally adopted 24 unwanted children whom they nurture in their home.
• Awarded many important humanitarian awards including the Mickey Leland Award, the Savvy Award, and several proclamations by the City of Houston.

Matchash-Kassa Hattix, Activist

• Dedicated her life to being a tireless volunteer for the benefit others. 
• Founding member of the African American Chamber of
  Commerce in Houston. 
• Activist for the anti-apartheid movement, leading efforts to raise funds for children suffering in South Africa
• Helped to secure U.S. Asylum for Ethiopian refugees fleeing oppression in 1973.
• A parole officer for the State of Texas for 25 years
• Appointed to the Neighborhood Oriented Government Steering Committee by former Mayor Lee Brown
• As a member of the SHAPE Center family, was named Volunteer of the Year in Texas for 3 successive years.

Tracye McDaniel, EVP & COO, Greater Houston Partnership

• Serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Greater Houston Partnership, a post that she began in June 2006.
  
• Served as executive director for the Office of the Governor Economic Development and Tourism Division (EDT), spearheading economic development and tourism operations for the State of Texas.
  
• During her leadership, Texas saw the creation of 16,506 net new jobs and a capital investment of more than $4.3 billion.
• Served as chief executive officer for the Texas Economic Development Corporation TexasOneSM Program
• As Tourism Director of Texas, the state became the second most-visited destination in America.
• Honored as "Most Influential African-Americans in the Meetings/Tourism Industry"
• Honored as one of the "Most Powerful Women in Travel," both from Black Meetings & Tourism magazine. 
  
• Holds leadership positions in numerous professional and industry organizations.
• Texas Governor Rick Perry appointed Ms. McDaniel to serve on the Texas Economic Development Corporation (Austin, Texas) and also as a regent for Texas Southern University’s Board of Regents in Houston.
• Helped create more than 20 chambers of commerce nationally and throughout Texas.