Women executives to headline COBE leadership conference

Three successful business women will lead a panel discussion, "Innovative Practices for Women in Leadership," at the inaugural Women Innovating Business and Leadership Conference on Thursday, April 11, at Radford University.

Sponsored by the College of Business and Economics (COBE), the free public event will be at 6 p.m. in the COBE multipurpose room. It is being organized by the 35-person COBE 471 Event Management class with the goal of giving RU students and guests a first-hand look at how these women have succeeded in the business community, said the Aaron Ouellette, co-marketing coordinator for the event and a senior marketing major from Chesapeake.

"The conference will be an ideal networking and professional opportunity for all female RU students, alumni and members of the community," Ouellette said. The panel members represent a variety of organizations:

• Christa Glassburn, chief operating officer at Piott-Boone Electronics of North Tazewell, a supplier of communication and monitoring systems for the mining industry.
• Gale Paige, solutions partner at CEXEC of Reston, a provider of professional services including acquisition support, program and contract management.
• Z. Kelly Queijo, founder and president at SmartCollegeVisit.com of Blacksburg, a college search and travel planning resource.

Danylle Kunkel, assistant professor of management, said, "These women have achieved great success by which all members of our community can be inspired. They are to be admired and heard, for they hold leadership positions that are considered to be at the peak of their professions."

Among the other events scheduled for the first conference of its kind at COBE is a luncheon panel featuring Glassburn, Paige and Queijo, and classroom visits by the panelists, who will take campus and building tours.

The New River Valley community and RU faculty, staff and students are invited to the noon luncheon panel, but registration is required because seating is limited. To register, contact Kunkel at dkunkel@radford.edu or (540) 831-2456.

Learn more about Radford University at www.radford.edu.