The Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce (HVGCC) ushered in spring with a celebratory gathering of local women in business, entitled, naturally, Celebrating Women in Business. The first major event following the Gateway Chamber’s merger with the Yorktown Chamber, it drew an enthusiastic audience of about 150 that was nearly twice the size of the 2024 “Women in Business” gathering. 

Held at the Crotonville Conference Center in Ossining, the March forum coincided with International Women’s History Month.  Topping the bill were keynote speeches by Jane Applegate and Alice Look,  founders of the Remarkable Women Project. Applegate and Look offered vignettes about valiant women who never gave up — and today are getting their due. Passion, persistence, bravery: those were the watchwords cited by Look to describe how she and Applegate selected women to feature in their newly released paperback book and in other projects. To honor a key force in their work, Applegate brought her own remarkable woman – her mother, Sherrie Reisman, a former educator and now a local resident. 

Avid listener Maya Jordan, an artist, performer, and advisor at Compass Star Consulting, hopes to see Look and Applegate spread their message to students whom, she fervently believes, need to hear it. “I know there is so much I missed out on in terms of learning about women in history. How wonderful would it have been to learn as a kid to learn about these remarkable women. Now more than ever it’s vital,” she said. About the event overall, she said,  “I learned, and I connected.”

Christine Fernandez, who works in wealth management at CIBC Private Wealth, came to the Hudson Valley a bit more than a year ago. She was inspired by the speeches and the crowd, with her expectations of the day fulfilled. She found Applegate and Look compelling. “I am going to check out the [Remarkable Women] book,” she said, and added, “I was eager to meet other women, see some of the local women’s businesses, and network.”   

Networking happened throughout the four-hour event, with cards flying and QR codes captured. Nancy Stingone, who owns Unique Corporate Gifts, a Yorktown-based corporate gift-giving company, was enthused about the chamber merger. She said she had attended to meet other remarkable women, and lift each other up. “There are amazing vendors here. It’s great. I’ve met some amazing women, and it’s great to hear other women’s stories.”

The tables spread around the vendor hall were filled with a diverse array of products and services that caught eyes and kept the energy high in the space. Throughout the room, there were offerings of swag pens, doodads, candies, and plentiful conversation. 

Katie Schmidt Feder has years’ worth of entrepreneurial experience in the arts. Now in her second year of building Theater in the Wood, a musical theater troupe, she’s finding a sweet spot by collaborating with Gleason’s restaurant in Peekskill. Feder greeted a steady stream of guests to her display, and praised the celebration of women in business. “The reason I’m a member of the Chamber is we get to attend great events like this, we have great workshops, they help you market, it’s a great way to find business sponsors… and now that we’ve merged with Yorktown [Chamber] it’s an even greater circle of access.”  And, she added, “I really like Carole [Voisey, Executive Director of the Gateway Chamber] and Karen [Vogel, Chamber member relationship manager].”

Many women attending were eager to hear about services specific to their needs. Nonprofits and banks were well-represented among the vendors. The Westchester Library System sent two representatives to inform women about free and in-depth career services and counseling available online, as well as small business resources that are part of the county’s economic development. 

Multiple aspects of women’s well-being were addressed, including fitness, nutrition, self-defense, and freedom from domestic violence. 

Dednika Louistelmy, a domestic violence and youth counselor with county-wide nonprofit Hope’s Door, was there to educate others about the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships, and all the free services that Hope’s Door can provide. She appreciated the opportunity to be at the venue. “This is a great resource. It helps get our name out there, and I have been talking to other businesses that would love to help.” 

Miranda Gorani of European Fresh, a Yorktown food business, enticed a steady stream of people stopping for a sampling of food and more information about the imports she sells. But Gorani didn’t limit herself to attracting new customers. Taking a break from her stall, she learned details of how to become certified as a woman-owned business, information being given by the founder of Aero-Ba-Soul, Kecia Palmer-Cousins. 

There were six breakout sessions, with topics that included self-defense, capital acquisition, becoming a Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE), sharing support, the basics of storytelling, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Ravin Norelle, a former police officer, has a fitness business branded Real Fit by Ravin and was impressed  by the self-defense class, something she was pleased to find at the event. “They showed us some tips; how to be aware.” She also attended the MWBE section presented by Kecia Palmer-Cousins, a topic she was eager to learn.

Ridvan Idara, founder of New Era Creative Space (NECS), presented a session on using stories to promote a business. She shared her own voyage in forming and then reshaping NECS as a flourishing resource for youth in Peekskill. She emphasized how vital authenticity is to a public image and molding a brand. “Be real,” she said. And tell stories that touch the heart and express the values central to your mission, pursuit, or organization. 

Each attendee had to decide among the breakouts, and often were left wanting more, or ruing their inability to be in two places at once. Happily, contact information was available, and follow-up is expected.