According to the U.S. Census Bureau's last report (2006), the number of women-owned businesses in the U.S. grew 20 percent between 1997 and 2002. In fact:

• Women owned nearly 30 percent of "nonfarm" businesses in the U.S.;
• Fourteen percent of women-owned firms employed more than 7.1 million people; and 
• Wholesale and retail trade accounted for 38.3 percent of women-owned business revenue.

While the recession may have put a cramp in our style (we won't know the data until the new report is released in December 2010), one thing's for sure: we women are bent on rocking business!

To that end, we're thrilled to present the first-ever Women Grow Business Boot Camp for women entrepreneurs in the DC metro area, where we'll bring the smarts of our online community offline - to help you grow - or start - your business.

About Women Grow Business

A Network Solutions-hosted blog community, Forbes named Women Grow Business one of the 20 Best Marketing and Social Media Blogs By Women earlier this year. Rather than rest on our laurels, we hope the Women Grow Business Bootcamp will provide a rich learning environment for women business owners... and those who want to join their ranks.

Schedule

• 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.: Registration, breakfast and networking
• 9:30 - 9:45 a.m.: Welcome & opening remarks
• 9:45 - 10:00 a.m.: Brief word from our sponsors
• 10:00 - 10:30 a.m.: Opening keynote
• 10:30 - 10:45 a.m.: Break
• 10:45 - 11:25 a.m.: Breakout groups
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.: Breakout groups repeated
• 12:15 - 12:30 p.m.: Closing remarks

A note about the breakout groups

After the opening keynote, attendees will split into four groups for more in-depth and interactive presentations/discussions in four focus areas:

• Building Blocks: the infrastructural and strategic side to your business that will make it profitable
• Legal Eagle: the legal, IP and related issues we need to be aware of
• What's the Buzz?: marketing your business, including using PR and social media
• Are You Being Served?: defining, reaching and retaining your ideal customer

Each of these tracks will be led by two savvy and experienced women business owners, several of whom are regular contributors to Women Grow Business. After a short break, the track will repeat with two new facilitators, so that you can move to a different track to increase your learnings.

Keynote

We're absolutely thrilled that Kathy Korman Frey (@ChiefHotMomma), founder, The Hot Mommas Project and Entrepreneur in Residence at the George Washington University School of Business will be keynoting our event.

Speakers

We welcome the following stellar women to our speaker lineup (in alphabetical order):

• Tinu Abayomi-Paul (@tinu), founder, Free Traffic Tips
• Deborah Ager (@clickwisdom), principal, ClickWisdom
• Ann Bevans (@annbevans), principal, Ann Bevans Collective
• Shonali Burke (@shonali), principal, Shonali Burke Consulting and editor, Women Grow Business
• Michelle Cohen, partner, Thompson Hine
• Jill Foster (@jillfoster), principal, Live Your Talk and founding editor, Women Grow Business
• Patricia A. Frame, founder, Strategies for Human Resources
• Shana Glickfield (@dcconcierge), partner, Beekeeper Group
• Rachel Hofstatter, associate, Steptoe & Johnson LLP
• Terri Holley (@creativeblogs), owner, Creative Blog Solutions
• Kimberly Houghton Berry, managing partner, Berry & Berry, PLLC
• Marissa Levin (@marissalevin), founder & CEO, Information Experts
• Shannon Mouton (@ShannonRenee), principal, Topaz Consulting
• Emily Murray, IP Trademark coordinator, Steptoe & Johnson LLP
• Joanna Pineda (@jmpineda), CEO, Matrix Group
• Mayra Ruiz (@mayraruiz), founder, Ruiz McPherson Communications
• Liz Scherer (@lizscherer), principal, Digital Copy LLC
• Melanie Spring (@sisarina), principal, Sisarina, Inc.

Sponsors

Many thanks to our sponsors Network Solutions and the Intellectual Property Group and Diversity Committee of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, whose generous support allows us to make this event available free to you.