Countdown to Women's Expo

The staff of All About Women magazine and Appalachian Regional Healthcare System present the inaugural All About Women Expo Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Holmes Convocation Center in Boone.

The event is open to the public at no charge, thanks to the generosity of its sponsors.

From the time the doors open at 8:30 a.m. until they close around 5 p.m., the participating businesses and speakers will be working hard to help women feel nurtured, inspired, creative and transformed.

Helping accomplish that goal will be nationally known keynote motivational speaker Jean Gatz, from Baton Rouge, La., and a number of successful women from the northwest corner of North Carolina, who will be hosting breakout sessions.

Numerous vendors will take center court with products and information available to enhance the life of every woman, as well as local organizations that serve the needs of women and children in and around the High Country, and crafters who will exhibit their art.

A special noon presentation will announce the first ever High Country Women of the Year — one from each of the following categories: Service to the High Country, Professional Leadership, Mountain Heritage and/or Sustainability, and Advocacy on Women’s Issues. Nomination forms were made available earlier this year, and winners were chosen from those nominations.

There will be entertainment, concessions (courtesy of Subway) door prizes, one grand prize raffle winner (to hike the Base Camp of Mt. Everest in 2013) and great fellowship for every woman of every age to enjoy.


Schedule of Events

8:30 a.m. – Doors open/stage entertainment
9 a.m. – National Anthem
9:03 a.m. – Invocation
9:05 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies
9:10 a.m. – Welcome
9:25 a.m. – Jenny Miller breakout introduction
9:45 a.m. – Jean Gatz, Keynote Speaker
10 a.m. – Floor Opens to Vendor Expo
10:30 a.m. – Breakout session I
12 p.m. – Grab a lunch and sit down for lunch session awards/speakers
12:05 p.m. – High Country Women of the Year Awards
12:25 p.m. – Jeanne Supin, Breakout Introduction
12:30 p.m. – Jennifer Pharr Davis
1 p.m. – Open floor to Expo
1:30 p.m. – Breakout session II
2:30 p.m. – Breakout session III
4:50 p.m. – Grand prize drawing
4:55 p.m. – Closing ceremonies


Breakout Sessions

Session I: 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Room 3: RAD (Rape Aggression Defense Systems by the ARHS Police, Jennifer Hassell)
Self-defense and crime prevention for women

Room 13C: Sharon Carlton (High Country Courtesies)
Building a Better Resume: Providing tools for women to best represent themselves in the workplace

Room 13A/B: Greene Legacy (Karmelle Chase)
Leading Others Well: Creating an effective and functioning company/organization through participatory leadership

Room 15B: Bonnie Church (A Life Now – behavioral modification workshops and resources)
Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: This short workshop will equip women with some tools they can use to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors

Room 15A: Acupuncture of Boone (Ramsey Knight, L.Ac.)
Acupressure for Stress Relief: Stress relief can be beneficial for many of women’s issues physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Room 62: Jenny Miller
Climbing to Greater Heights

Session II: 1:30-2:15 p.m.

Room 3: Blue Ridge Acupuncture (Lisa Gorla)
The Importance of Balancing Female Hormones Naturally: Promoting Thyroid and Adrenal Health

Room 13C: Small Business Development Center (Evelyn Asher)
Sustaining Your Woman-Owned Business: This session will help women explore new target markets and increase their earning potential.

Room 13A/B: Chetola Resort and Spa (Catherine Scantlin)
Reducing Stress for Wellness: Exploring hands on, practical ways of self-care that can reduce stress and increase wellness;
Chetola will be giving away two massages as door prizes: One during the breakout session and the other during the vendor expo.

Room 15B: Marion Edwards
Style Your Face – Creating Your Own Unique Look: Lecture and demonstration on how to enhance your best features and play down the ones you don’t like.

Room 15A: Karen Caruso (Mind Your Business Inc.)
Get Up and Get it Yourself: Empowering and inspiring women to take charge of their lives – N.C. Small Business Person of the Year

Room 62: Jeanne Supin (Conscious Living, Conscious Business by Design) – From Wiped Out to Riding Your Waves: Feeling knocked around by too much chaos and turbulence? Learn four strategies to successfully shape and ride your waves toward greater ease, joy and sense of meaning.

Session III: 2:30-3:15 p.m.

Room 13A/B: French-Swiss Ski College (Laurie Karr)
Look Forward to Winter: Developing lifetime individual sports and activities that families can enjoy together are pursuits that promote wellness, joy and fitness. Also providing information about volunteering for The Special Olympics and seasonal employment

Room 15B: Elevate Your Wellness (Caroline Stahlschmidt)
Eating for Energy: Learn how to increase your energy through a whole-foods diet and lifestyle changes ** Session includes food samples

Room 15A: Jean Gatz – Mama Said There’d Be Days Like This

Room 62: Jennifer Pharr Davis
Beginners’ Tips and Benefits for Getting Outdoors