White Plains, NY - Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) Majority Leader Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining) hosted a forum last week entitled “Keeping the Doors Open for Business” aimed at local small businesses owned and operated by women. The event was the first in a series intended for small businesses in Westchester County.

The forum took place at the Westchester Community College (WCC) Gateway Center in Valhalla, NY. The WCC Gateway to Entrepreneurship co-hosted the event, and its director, Eridania Camacho, greeted the attendees and current business owners.

Women-owned businesses and organizations were invited to showcase their products and / or services during a mini expo and networking reception following the forum.

“This forum focused on the critical stages and issues in a business’s life-cycle, what entrepreneurs need to know when beginning a startup, how to use resources as business grows, and how to network effectively,” said Borgia. “I’m pleased that there was a good turnout for this event, and I look forward to more gatherings of this nature in the months to come. This was a great opportunity to become acquainted with individuals and resources to boost business and professional skills.”

The women’s business forum featured two guest speakers: Scorpio Rogers, Professor of Business Department at Westchester Community College and founder and Managing Principal of Entrepreneurial Consultants, LLC, a management-consulting firm for start-up and growing entrepreneurial businesses; and Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Director, Deborah Milone, formerly the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Guide Communications and Publisher of the Peekskill / Cortlandt Herald.  The Women’s Enterprise Development Center presented information as well.

Attendees of the women’s business forum were able to meet partnering organizations and businesses while gathering information about how to create and maintain success in their various fields.

Among those organizations that participated in the forum were Community Capital New York, Professional Women of Putnam and Westchester Counties and Women’s Enterprise Development Center. Businesses in the showcase section of the event included Melita’s Home Furnishing, Trinket’s Jewelry and Shaklee.