Events

Valley Stream forum connects local businesses with women

Posted

About 18 local women took advantage of an opportunity to connect, network and learn about topics specific to them at the Women on the Rise Expo at the Valley Stream Community Center on Oct. 4.

The expo sought to “have a forum where women could come together to discuss careers, finances, health and fitness issues, and meet vendors in their area that catered to the needs of women and were interested in empowering women,” said organizer Marsha Guerrier.

Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages sponsored the event and delivered the forum’s keynote address. “We’ve made great advances — leaps and bounds really — for women in business and politics, but we still have a long way to go. It’s great to see more women owning businesses and serving as executives, but we need to see even more women in positions like those,” she said.

The forum featured several speakers who addressed a variety of topics. Dea Myers, a Valley Stream personal trainer with Team Beach Body, and Marsha Beckford, owner of The Fitness Workshop, discussed the best ways to keep themselves healthy and in shape.

“I really want women to understand the importance of wellness,” Beckford said. “For many people, fitness does not necessarily mean fitting into a size two.”

She encouraged attendees to make healthy habits fun.

“The biggest thing you can do for your health and your fitness is just to start something. Find something you love and start doing it right away, make it a habit.” Beckford said.

Myers told the crowd to find things to do at home. “Many women feel that they don’t have time to go to the gym. They have to work long hours, and they need to take care of their family. I want them to understand the difference between different home programs and video workouts you can do. There are plenty of ways to stay healthy in your own home.”

Raqul Saint-Joy, president of Success 1-2-3, a professional development and career services company in Valley stream, provided some tips on how to appeal to potential employers, including how to refine their resume and succeed in interviews. “The key is to be prepared, whether that’s being prepared for an interview or making sure your resume is the best it can be,” she said.

Page 1 / 2