Women’s Business Center Hosts Unit of the U.S. Department of Labor

The Women’s Business Center at Florida Institute of Technology recently hosted the Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor with a facilitated panel presentation and roundtable discussions. The primary focus on green and nontraditional resources and opportunities for women. 

The mission of the Women’s Bureau is to help ensure that women have access to jobs and other opportunities created as a result of the greening economy with funds allocated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The group will continue to convene a series of roundtables around the country to hear from women’s advocates and community leaders about regional green issues, and nontraditional and apprenticeship opportunities for women in their communities.  

Attendees included Mary Sharpe, City of Cocoa; Jan Pagano, Indian River State College; Jenny Gessler, South Brevard Women’s Center; Pamela Shoemaker, Brevard County Recycling Department; Michael Means, president and CEO, Health First; Ryan Greenough, TRDA; and Dawn Hamilton, Brevard Workforce Development.

Also participating were Carol Craig, Craig Technologies, Inc.; Vicky Peake, Brevard Community College; Loretta Kish, Sea-Watch Technologies, Inc.; Rosalind Lanthorne, The Zen of Clean; Debbie Wells, PetroAlgae; Roberta Chaildin, Parrish Medical Center; and Denise Young, University of Central Florida–Brevard.

Participating faculty from Florida Tech included S. Annie Becker, Mary Helen McCay, and Niescja Turner.

Donn Miller-Kermani and Renee’ Couperthwaite, both of the Women’s Business Center managed and coordinated the half-day event

The discussions held identified best practices, training, entrepreneurial opportunities, grants or other funds, emerging jobs and careers, resources, and any obstacles to professional opportunities for women.  All information was documented and submitted to the Women’s Bureau national office and the Secretary of Labor as additional guidance in the formulation of policy and funding decisions.

The Women’s Business Center at Florida Tech can be reached at dkermani@fit.edu, (321) 674-7006 or visit http://wbc.fit.edu.