A guest speaker: explains ways to achieve financial success during “Today’s Decision for Tomorrow’s Money,” a symposium held at The Hotel at Auburn University at Dixon Conference Center. Pete Riley / PHOTO EDITOR
The Auburn Women’s Philanthropy Board hosted the sixth annual spring symposium on “Today’s Decisions for Tomorrow’s Money” Monday in The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.
Women and men, from college students to the elderly, attended the speeches, which began at 8 a.m. and lasted until 2 p.m.
The focus and theme of the WPB events, held once in the spring and once in the fall, are to teach women financial independence and the spirit of “giving for a quality of life,” according to the organization’s motto.
“WPB, through its educational and philanthropic purpose, seeks to develop leadership potential, achieve independence as financial decision makers and develop and mentor students to do the same,” said Sidney James-Nakhjavan, director of the Women’s Philanthropy Board.
Dave Dennis, the CEO of Contractors Inc. and past member of the New Orleans Federal Reserve Board, spoke on the importance of keeping up with the economy.
He and his family are familiar with the importance of women being in touch with the economy as his wife, Jan, was recognized by the Mississippi Business Journal as Mississippi’s 2007 “Business Woman of the Year” for her community, civic and business activities.
She is also a member in the College of Human Sciences Women’s Philanthropy Board.
He praised WPB for “all the energy that emits from the organization” and the symposiums held. He also offered advice.
“If you’re in the financial market, you’re on call 24-7,” Dennis said. “You have to be ready for what comes up.”
Speakers, such as Katye Delashaw, a financial adviser and financial planning specialist, focused topics such as “Living solo: important financial decisions facing women in transition.”
More speakers included that of the keynote speaker, David G. Bronner, chief executive officer of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, who spoke about leadership and world problems, as well as Lauren Bush and Ellen Gustafson, co-founders of Feed Projects, LLC, Jera G. Stribling of Joseph S. Bruno Charitable Foundation, Maria Eugenia Pichardo De Estevez of Pichardo Asset Management, John L. Manley Jr., an equity strategist, and Kay Ivey, Alabama’s State Treasurer.
“We are thrilled to have had such phenomenal speakers at this year’s symposium,” James-Nakhjavan said.
“It’s a great networking program,” said Tess Davidson, a junior in apparel merchandising and a mentee of the program for two years. “It helps us become incorporated job-wise. Most of WPB’s women are involved with apparel and interior design, for example, and help point us in the right direction as far as finding the right job and financial coaching.”
The board also awards a number of scholarships each year, as well as grants, scholarships for tuition, faculty awards and study abroad scholarships, Davidson said.
Davidson was awarded with a study abroad scholarship and traveled to Ariccia, Italy in the fall of 2007.
“The study abroad experience is the biggest gain from all of this because I have learned so much,” Davidson said. “The WPB has given me a great opportunity to grow and learn about my future potential as a women philanthropist.”
For more information on the WPB, visit its Web site at http://www.humsci.auburn.edu/wpb/index.html.
