Young Professional Women in Energy’s West Virginia chapter (YPWE-WV) announces today plans for its inaugural event Thursday, September 20 from 6–8 p.m. at the law offices of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC.
“This is our first chance to share the mission—empowering women in the energy industry—with West Virginia and the women who help power the energy business here in our state,” said the organization’s president and founder, Amanda Marks-Cunningham. “Our long term goals focus on preparing those women to compete in a dynamic marketplace by providing professional development opportunities through education, mentoring, and networking.”
Thursday’s event will be a jumping-off point for women employed by energy companies, but as well as women in industries with supporting roles like tourism, law, government, hotel, and food service. The open house is leading up to November’s large-scale conference, Exploring Leadership: A Woman’s Insight— featuring keynote industry and motivational speakers.
“In West Virginia alone, the oil and natural gas industry supports 63,000 jobs and over 7,000 new ones are expected to be created through Marcellus Shale development,” Cunningham said. “The female workforce in energy is powerful, and YPWE-WV provides a supportive setting in which women can learn from one another as well as successful male leaders.”
YPWE-WV and YPWE-PA are non-profit organizations that make philanthropic efforts for other organizations such as Dress for Success. They are the efforts of Amanda Marks-Cunningham, Public Affairs Director for Waste Management, and Amelia Roncone, General Manager of Specialty Oilfield Services’ Northeast Division. Currently, the YPWE-WV board of directors is comprised of five experienced and ambitious women covering a broad spectrum of West Virginia’s energy industry.
The organization intends to fill a niche need in West Virginia’s energy industry by providing monthly networking opportunities and bigger educational conferences throughout the year for the women of YPWE-WV. No issue is off limits—from navigating a male-dominated workplace to juggling family responsibility, YPWE creates a safe-haven for this important dialogue.
For more information on YPWE, visit YPWE.org or like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/YoungProfessionalWomenInEnergy. View open house details at our event link here: http://ypwe.eventbrite.com.
