Women become entrepreneurs for many reasons but a main reason is to make money and grow their businesses. They dream big dreams complete with big financial rewards and growth Every woman’s entrepreneurial path is different but fact remains constant; they arrive at the crossroads after starting their company needing to make more money to be more profitable and grow.

Women TIES is excited to be back in Watertown with a program featuring four business women lending wisdom on this important topic. At the Women TIES Greater Watertown and North Country Event “Success Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs in Monday, Profitability and Growth,” Amy McEathron, President of I.M.E.C., LLC, Laurie Podvin, CPA of Bowers & Associates CPAs, LLC, Christine Hoffman of The Spicy Wench and Tracy Higginbotham, President of Women TIES, LLC will share insights on the topic of money, profitability and growth to inspire and educate any woman business owner or female sales associate no matter what you sell or how long you have been in business.

The program schedule includes:

9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Registration/Networking/Tables for Display

10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Tracy Welcome and Attendee Introductions

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – First Speaker Amy McEarthon, I.M.E.C.

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Second Speaker Christine Hoffman, The Spicy Wench

11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Third Speaker Laurie Podvin, Bowers & Company, CPAs

12 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Networking and table displays

12:15 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Lunch with Questions/Answers Period

1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Sponsor Words and Wrap Up

The event is sponsored by the Women’s Business Center of New York State which provides business support to women entrepreneurs in New York State. Thank you to Sarah O’Connell at the Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College for promoting this event.

Amy McEathron started her business in 2006 now celebrating her 10 year anniversary. Amy has over 25 years of experience in the IME industry. She started her business with a box of paper and now has 12 employees 8 full time and 4 part time. IMEC performs independent medical evaluations for all aspects of cases such as Workers’ Compensation, No Fault, Liability, social security and federal workers’ compensation. There are many others, these are to just name a few. Amy will show her trials and tribulations she had to grow her business. From accountants, to lawyers and purchasing her IMEC building.

Originally from Watertown, New York, Laurie Podvin graduated from Nazareth College with a Bachelor of Science in accounting. Laurie received her CPA designation in 1990 and has been in public practice for over twenty-eight years, specializing in Not-for-Profit and Governmental auditing, specifically School Districts. Laurie resides in Watertown with her family. Laurie joined the Bowers Group on January 1, 2014 as a result of a merger of her prior firm, Poulsen & Podvin, CPAs, PC.

Christine Hoffman is a native of Northern New York, having lived there her entire life. She has a MBA and a BS in Marketing from SUNY Oswego. Christine worked in banking, marketing, planning and economic development and has owned 2 successful small businesses. Christine was chosen as the 2014 New York State Small Business Deveoopment Center’s Female Entrepreneur of the Year, with her current business The Spicy Wench, which she started in 2011.