SHERO Women’s Luncheon returns next month

Published 4:05 pm Thursday, October 19, 2023

Local women have an opportunity to take part in an empowering event when the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual SHERO Women’s Luncheon next month.

Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Kara Lassiter said the popular event was first held back in 2019, and, after a pause due to COVID-19, was brought back last year. The idea behind that first gathering was all about bringing women together while offering a chance for empowerment, networking and inspiration.

“As women, there’s just so much going on in our daily lives with work and family obligations, and we just thought it was a good chance to bring everybody together so they’d feel like they have support and that the community supports them…,” she said. “It’s really just a chance for us to get together for empowerment, community support and figuring out the balance in our lives.”

While the event will be similar to past meetings, this year there will be a networking hour prior to the official presentation in which women in attendance will have an opportunity to visit with local vendors while enjoying some delicious hors d’oeuvres. Lunch will also be provided by Morning Grind, and the women will also enjoy a delicious dessert. The keynote speaker for the event will be Christele Nicolas-Parham, an MBA graduate, who will guide attendees through an enlightening journey with her talk, “Empowering Balance: Navigating the Complex Dance of Life.” She’ll delve into the art of balance, uncovering the strategies and insights that can help women excel in all facets of life. Her message will include points such as learning how to harness unique strengths to find balance in life; practical tips to gain harmony between one’s career and personal life; and exploring the importance of building a supportive network of like-minded women and local businesses to create a better balance for all.

Nicolas-Parham is a visionary leader of Ham Designs, dedicated to creating safe spaces for community members in the Middle Georgia area and beyond through technology and innovation. With a background in human-centered design and a passion for community empowerment, Nicolas-Parham curates processes for various initiatives at the intersection of healthcare and social impact. In addition to her extensive community involvement, she has co-founded Macon Black Tech, where she spearheads ecosystem-building efforts and provides tech and innovation resources through programming and strategic partnerships. She combines her healthcare expertise with her entrepreneurial spirit to drive innovation and deliver impactful results. Recognized for her contributions, Nicolas-Parham has received accolades such as the 5 Under 40 award from Macon Magazine and the Young Business Leader of the Year award from the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce.

Lassiter said the cost of the event is $50, which includes hors d’oeuvres, lunch, dessert and a goodie bag for attendees to take home. The luncheon is open to the public; those wishing to attend do not

have to be a Chamber member. Vendor opportunities are open to all as well, though there is a different cost structure for Chamber member vendors versus non-Chamber member vendors.

The SHERO Women’s Luncheon will be held Wednesday, Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Simply Southern Barn. Deadline for vendor applications is Friday, Oct. 27. Registration is open for attendees now and can be found within the Facebook event or online at milledgevillega.com. Anyone interested in a sponsoring opportunity is asked to call the Chamber at 478-453-9311 or email klassiter@milledgevillega.com.

Lassiter said she hopes that women will leave the event knowing that they have a great support system both within the community and through the Chamber of Commerce.

“[I hope they make] those connections with other women as well in business, so that way they can talk to each other, hear each other out, work through struggles and celebrate successes, and [know] that we’re all here cheering on each other,” she said. “We’re all supportive as a community, and we want to see each other succeed.”