9th Annual Women's Entrepreneur Summit Announces 2026 Speaker Lineup, Community Leaders and Sponsors | | "One Conversation Can Change Everything" Celebrating Women's Entrepreneurship Day, November 17, 2026, at Rio Park Events, South Bend, IN | | |
October 30, 2026, SOUTH BEND, IN — C2 Your Health Women's Initiative Inc. is excited to announce the speakers, women entrepreneurs, community leaders, and sponsors participating in the 9th Annual Women's Entrepreneur Summit on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at Rio Park Events in South Bend, Indiana.
This year's theme, “One Conversation Can Change Everything,” celebrates the power of relationships, mentoring, collaboration, and community support in helping women achieve their personal and entrepreneurial dreams.
The Summit brings together aspiring entrepreneurs, established business owners, community leaders, and organizations committed to helping women move forward.
Women Entrepreneurs Sharing Their Stories
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A total of 18 presentations will be featured, including (9) women entrepreneurs who will share their experiences, challenges, successes, and lessons learned through featured presentations and the Breaking Barriers Discussion panel.
Stacey Oberly Black of Michiana Women Rise will moderate the Breaking Barriers Discussion panel, encouraging meaningful conversations about overcoming challenges, building confidence, and moving forward.
Angie Lyons, owner of Mother's Little Helper, and Dinia Hester, owner of Senior Home Solutions, will serve as emcees for the event.
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Featured Women Entrepreneurs:
- Taylor Bailey — Tailored To You Consulting
- Ciara Ward — Caring Conversations LLC
- Kenyatta Sessom — Joined Enterprise
- Marsha Kellogg — OpenDoorRealty
- Cindy Cohen RN - C2YHWI
- Ylonda Scott — SheBoss Oasis Business Anchor LLC
- Jessica Aguilar — A Thriving Mind
- Andrea Hardy — Bridgepointe Solutions LLC
- Jazmine Hudson — Care More Hair Foundati
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Connecting Women With Resources and Opportunities
Knowledge opens doors, but the right connections can change everything!
The Summit will feature Heather Leer, Regional Vice President of Northwest Bank, as the keynote speaker, plus nine (9) powerful resource presenters.
This year's Summit brings together an outstanding lineup of community resource presenters who will share practical insights, valuable resources, and new opportunities to help women strengthen their businesses, overcome challenges, and move forward with confidence.
| | Our featured resource presenters include: Lorraine Day, Mid-West Family Marketing and Media; Bianca Jones, City of South Bend, Diversity & Inclusion; Cindy Cohen, RN, BS, BA, C2 Your Health Women's Initiative Inc.; Dr. Lee Smith, Ivy Tech Community College, Business; Nicholas Kuhn, Elevate Ventures; Sonya Smith, Inspire Mishawaka, Mishawaka Business Institute (MBI), and Wealth in Motion Consulting LLC; and Cecilia Brown, representing H.O.T. Hear Our Tears Inc. | | |
From marketing and business development to entrepreneurship resources, leadership, and overcoming personal and professional barriers, these presenters bring a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience to the table.
Because sometimes the resource you need, the answer you've been searching for, or the connection that opens your next door is just one conversation away!
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Celebrating Women Who Make a Difference
In addition to the speaker presentations, the Summit will feature the Women to Watch and Women Who Inspire Awards, recognizing women whose leadership, accomplishments, and contributions are making a difference in our communities.
The event will also celebrate graduates of the Women Entrepreneur Excellence™ Mentoring Program, recognizing their commitment to personal growth, business development, and entrepreneurial success.
Attendees will have opportunities to connect with business spotlight exhibitors, discover community resources, and build relationships that extend beyond the Summit.
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A Celebration of Community, Mentoring and Integrity
This year's Summit comes at an especially meaningful time for C2 Your Health Women's Initiative Inc., recently honored with the 2026 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics — Nonprofit of Integrity Award. The recognition reflects the organization's ongoing commitment to ethical leadership, mentoring, community engagement, and empowering women entrepreneurs.
"The Summit has never been just about bringing women together for one day," said Cindy Cohen, RN, BS, BA, Founder and President of C2 Your Health Women's Initiative Inc. "It's about what happens after that first conversation — the encouragement, mentoring, friendships, and opportunities that continue to grow. We've seen firsthand how one conversation really can change everything."
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Join Us at the Table!
The 9th Annual Women's Entrepreneur Summit welcomes aspiring entrepreneurs, established business owners, professionals, students, and community supporters.
Event Information:
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Location: Rio Park Events, South Bend, Indiana
Theme: One Conversation Can Change Everything
Registration, tickets, scholorships and additional information are available at www.womensentrepreneursummit.org
With Gratitude to Our 2026 Summit Sponsors
The 9th Annual Women's Entrepreneur Summit is made possible through the generous financial support of businesses and organizations that believe in empowering women entrepreneurs and strengthening our community.
Our 2026 Community Partner and Summit Sponsors:
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- The Pokagon Fund
- Better World Books
- Northwest Bank
- PNC Bank
- 1st Source Bank
- Rhino Consulting and Coaching
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- Mishawaka Business Association
- Inspire Mishawaka
- GW Solutions
- C2 Your Health LLC
- Ivy Tech Community College
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Their commitment and investment help create opportunities for women to connect, learn, grow, and move forward in their entrepreneurial journeys.
Special appreciation also goes to Zipp Printing for printing the Summit Resource Guidebooks and Ylonda Scott of SheBoss Oasis and SheBoss Inspirational Shop for creating the commemorative Summit T-shirts and contributing $5 from every shirt sold to support the Summit.
The organization also recognizes its community partners, mentors, volunteers, exhibitors, and supporters whose contributions help make the event possible.
We Did It Together!
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About C2 Your Health Women's Initiative Inc. d | |
Founded in 2018, C2 Your Health Women's Initiative Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs through mentoring, education, leadership development, health and wellness, and community engagement.
Through programs including Women Entrepreneur Excellence™, mentoring circles, and community partnerships, the organization helps women build confidence, strengthen businesses, and create opportunities for economic independence. Reach out ot us www.C2YHWI.org or cindy@cindycohenrn.com
One Conversation Can Change Everything!
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