Summit will benefit women of 'all walks of life'

Local women have been given an opportunity they do not want to miss. The Southeast Missourian, rustmedia and Flourish magazine are teaming up for Flourish Magazine Women's Summit on Aug. 25 at the Osage Centre. Women will hear from panelists who represent a wide range of professions: education, philanthropy, business, health care, government and more. These female presenters are shaking things up, and they will share their success secrets with other women at the summit.

Gigi's Cupcakes founder Gigi Butler will keynote the event, telling her story and inspiring her "sisters." Butler is a nationally acclaimed entrepreneur, who started out with a dream to make it big as a singer and songwriter. When that did not pan out, she turned another passion into a profession, and Gigi's Cupcakes became her sweet reality.

In addition to hearing from Butler, attendees will choose two breakout sessions. This is a chance for women to get their hands on valuable tools and wrap their minds around practical strategies to fulfill their own dreams, and we encourage every woman who can to participate.

Southeast Missourian publisher and co-president of Rust Communications Jon K. Rust said, "This fun and engaging event touches upon core issues facing women in all walks of life." He expressed enthusiasm that women have access to other women's success stories. "As a husband and father of three daughters, I'm excited that such an event is coming to Cape Girardeau," Rust said.

How many of us have been inspired because we realized that what we longed to accomplish was possible upon meeting someone else who did it -- someone who looks like we look or grew up like we grew up or endured hardships like we endured. That's why these events matter. They change the seemingly impossible to possible.

While speakers are still being added, the Southeast Missourian has reported that confirmed to participate are: Carolyn Sandgren (Kempf), owner of Elite Travel; Della Moore, investigator with the state fire marshal's office and Missouri Division of Fire Safety; Kathryn Swan, Missouri House of Representatives; Erin Fluegge, professor in the Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University; Christa Hudson, dietitian and health educator at Saint Francis Medical Center; Shari Stroup, co-founder and CEO of Room for One More; Cheryl Mothes, philanthropist and Edward Jones financial adviser; philanthropist Jennifer Gast; and Rekha Patterson, head women's basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University.

For more information, contact Donna Denson at (573) 388-2751 or ddenson@semissourian.com.