Mar 23, 2024 By Rick Shrum 4 min read

The inspiration to inspire and empower women across the region came in a vision several years ago.

“The chamber had this dream since COVID arrived,” said Leanna Spada, executive director of the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. “The original idea was to have an event where women come together to network and be uplifted.”

Spada’s organization is based in Charleroi, where cfsbank is headquartered. She shared the idea with two bank officials, Kelly Moore, manager of the Charleroi branch, and Danielle Maurer, chief marketing officer.

“They loved it,” Spada said.

Parties from both sides started discussing the possibilities about a year ago and by the end of 2023, they had formulated a plan. A plan that came to exhilarating fruition recently.

The Women in Leadership Series debuted March 13 at Nemacolin Country Club during a luncheon that evolved into a rollicking good time. It featured animated discussions, a highly regarded speaker, heaps of networking and empowering – and, essentially, a capacity crowd of guests.

“We thought we’d love to get 100 people,” said Spada, co-founder of the series with Moore. “We got almost 180, and ended up having to close registration because the venue can hold only so many. We exceeded expectations.”

She said gatherings are not limited to members of her chamber, which has about 350 members. “This is pretty much for anyone who is interested. You don’t have to be from the Mon Valley. People from Pittsburgh were here.”

The series opener attracted 22 vendors – women-owned and supported businesses. Organizers also decided to have a different women-based charity partner for each get-together.

Dress for Success Pittsburgh was selected for this first event. Guests were encouraged to bring an item for Dress for Success, and cfsbank donated $500 to the social services organization.

This was the first of three scheduled events, the next two likewise slated for Nemacolin Country Club, on July 10 and Nov. 13. (For more information, call the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, 724-483-3507.)

Carole DeAngelo, director of advertising and events at the Observer-Reporter and Herald-Standard, was the featured speaker. She and Spada know each other well.

In her capacity with Reimagine Main Street, a marketing agency based in the O-R building in Washington, DeAngelo said: “We’ve worked with Leanna on digital seminars with the chamber. She is very open and cooperative and collaborative with us.

“I have been so impressed with her tenacity, her ideas and creativity. She cares about local business. Leanna had the vision to put this (series) together years ago.”

DeAngelo praised the chamber-cfsbank partnership for having the diligence to launch this project. “These two forces together have been dynamite.”

She said she was “proud” to be selected the first series speaker – there will be a new one for each event. Spada was not disappointed. “Carole spoke for about 40 minutes and the audience was as devoted to her in minute one as in minute 40.

“We wanted to have someone come in and talk on a very personal level, an open, raw kind of talk. She really put it out there on the struggles we put up with. Everyone tries to balance work and life.

“Women need collaboration. One of Carole’s messages is not to compete with each other, but to collaborate – and not just in business but life.”

“For the record,” DeAngelo said, “it’s 2024 and it’s about empowering each other to make a difference to be the community we are. Some men attended the program and they got empowered too.

“Businesses were struggling during COVID. Now they’re shaking it off and asking how can we help each other?”

Events such as this appear to be one resource.

Moore of cfsbank said in a statement: “When women unite and celebrate each other, it not only creates empowerment, but it also allows us the opportunity for others to forge ahead and develop new relationships. And that can have a positive ripple effect for years to come.”