Nearly 2,500 attend 13 NEW regional events in October

Friday, November 12, 2010  

October was a busy month for the Network of Executive Women’s regional groups, as 13 educational and networking events drew some 2,500 members and supporters.

On Oct. 7, more than 200 men and women came together at the Greater Philadelphia Networking Event, held at Campbell Soup Company’s World Headquarters Center in Camden, N.J. Some of the region’s largest consumer products and retail companies, including Campbell, Hershey, SuperValu and Johnson & Johnson, sent large contingents. St. Joseph's University also was well represented by students and staff.

Attendees were welcomed by Campbell's Executive Vice President and COO Denise Morrison, who reflected on the positive role that informal and formal women's networks have played in her career.

Participants then heard from Dan Sanders, president of Acme Markets; Ed Herr, president of Herr Foods Inc; and Irene Chang Britt, Campbell's senior vice president and chief strategy officer, who discussed "Leading in an Ever-Changing Environment.” Among the topics covered were the impact of the currently improving economy on consumer business, motivating a multi-generational workforce and the impact of social media on business. The panel discussion was moderated by Neeti Dewan, associate vice president of tax, Aramark Corporation.

"It sounds a little bit old-fashioned," Britt told attendees, "but when you are consistent in the application of a high-integrity leadership model, it tends to work in good times and in bad."

Added Sanders: "Organizations have to do more than pay lip service, not only in recruiting, but training and retaining people, by getting eyeball to eyeball and talking specifically about each individual's desires, their wants, their needs and doing a better job at connecting what they do every day to the higher purpose of the organization."

On the same day, the Mid-Atlantic Networking Event at the Renditions Golf Course in Davidson, Md., drew 50 retail/cpg players, including significant numbers from Coca-Coca and Safeway. Members and supporters enjoyed some tee time while networking and connecting with others in the industry.