Hosted by The Cannata Report in partnership with AMETEK ESP, presenting sponsor of the Women Influencer franchise and inspiration behind this latest extension, more than two dozen women executives gathered in the rear section of the Strip House restaurant at the Westminster Hotel restaurant in Livingston, New Jersey on Friday, October 7.
Building on The Cannata Report’s efforts to highlight and acknowledge the contributions of the industry’s female leaders””as well as help to unite them””via its Women Influencers (WI) franchise, EVP and Publisher CJ Cannata has continued to look to expand the franchise. It now includes an annual themed issue and a WI-themed month of related content on TheCannataReport.com, launched in 2014), along with quarterly WI department profiles in-magazine and online, and an annual Best Woman Executive Frank Award (launched in 2015).
This brunch was initiated with the intention of creating an inclusive, interactive experience for women to network, discuss career paths, and socialize. The Cannata Report was able to assemble a veritable “Who’s Who” of female executives from across the industry. These attendees included eight of nine women who have been featured on the The Cannata Report’s WI issue cover over the past three years.
Representing more than a dozen top companies, these women toasted with mimosas and coffee to their continued success in the industry. Presented with the rare opportunity to share the room with only fellow women, attendees openly discussed career challenges and opportunities. Topics ranged from how to handle being the only woman in a board room to how to fit in exercise during marathons of industry meetings. Together, they also brainstormed ways to harness the excitement about the increase of women in influential industry roles from the bottom to the top of organizational charts.
AMETEK ESP’s Flores shared her powerful personal experience of being the only woman at the executive table. She also called out the importance of connecting with inspirational women in helping her model her career, many of whom were seated in the room. This, she said, was one of the primary reasons behind AMETEK ESP’s sponsoring of this event. Flores passed around comment cards not only to begin building a networking directory of industry women, but also to solicit more ideas on how The Cannata Report and this particular group of women could stay connected.
In all, the event proved to be a truly festive occasion. Carol Cannata’s exquisite attention to detail and warm opening comments ensured that everyone felt welcome and their participation appreciated. While the event was for women only, CJ Cannata and Frank Cannata both made brief appearances to thank the attendees personally for coming.
And in line with The Cannata Report’s continued commitment to expanding diversity within the industry, CJ Cannata expressed his gratitude to Tanya Flores and AMETEK ESP for their support and was already looking ahead to next year’s brunch, where he hopes to include more female dealer principals
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Distinguished women from the following companies attended The Cannata Report’s inaugural Women Influencers Brunch:
AMETEK ESP
BPO Media
GreatAmerica
HP Inc.
Konica Minolta
Kyocera
PSIGEN
Repeat Business Systems
Ricoh
Sharp
Toshiba
U.S. Bank
Xerox
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Read “31st Awards & Charities Dinner Raises 185,000; Rick Taylor Scores 10th Award Win” and view extensive, detailed photo slide show.
Watch “Take 31,” a five-minute dinner documentary short featuring commentary and footage from award winners, top executives, hosts and special guests, including New York Giants Super Bowl champion Antonio Pierce.
Questions about next year’s event? Contact cjcannata@cannatareport.com.
