Working Women Gather for California Women's Conference

On May 19 and 20, women who are searching for opportunities to advance their careers will come together in Long Beach for the star-studded 29th Annual California Women's Conference. The theme of this year's conference is "Better Together," underscoring the importance of collaboration.

"With talented and thought-provoking speakers, strategic networking opportunities, exciting exhibits and engaging breakout sessions, this event offers attendees inspiration, resources and connections to take the next step in their career and personal development, health and wellness, and even philanthropic endeavors," said working women's advocate Michelle Patterson, President of The California Women's Conference and President and CEO of Women Network.

??Now in its 29th year, the California Women's Conference features widely respected thought leaders, talented entertainers and a marketplace of ideas, exhibits networking and panel discussions; the conference is designed to benefit women from all walks of life. ??

During this year's conference, attendees will discover how to lead a thriving life by learning from experts on how to balance the five essential elements of well being: Career Life, Social Life, Financial Life, Physical Life and Community Life.

Key event speakers include Arianna Huffington; Jane Pauley; Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul Series; actress Rosie Perez; Tracey Broughton, Miss America 201; Amanda Steinberg, Founder of Daily Worth; Van Moody, Author of 'The People Factor'; Lisa Nichols; Bob Proctor; JJ Virgin, NY Times Best Selling author; Patrice Washington, Financial Expert; Steve Harvey; Dr. Marissa Pei, Organizational Psychologist to Fortune 1000 Companies; and Phil Pallen, Celebrity Social Media Expert.

In addition to speakers, the conference has also received overwhelming sponsor support with the roster now including Delta, UCLA Health, Edwards Life Sciences, Google, Logitech, Luxe Travel, Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach, World Education University, Charter, KFWB Newstalk 980, Lead Like A Girl (LLG), The Success Transformation, Courtney Covan Skin Studios, and Custom Comfort Mattress.

In addition to speakers, the conference has also received overwhelming sponsor support with the roster now including Delta, UCLA Health, Edwards Life Sciences, Google, Logitech, Luxe Travel, Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach, World Education University, Charter, KFWB Newstalk 980, Lead Like A Girl (LLG), The Success Transformation, Courtney Covan Skin Studios, and Custom Comfort Mattress.

The 29th Annual California Women's Conference (CWC) will also stage the Creative Expressions Concert series at Long Beach Convention Center across both nights of this month's highly anticipated two-day event.

The Creative Expressions Concert series, showcasing performing artists including Mary Lambert, will be streamed live online. The Marriage Equality USA sanctioned "Love Is Love" PSA set to Jen Foster's SHE will be officially included in the program for May 20.

Also part of the program will be a live Q & A with the multiple award-winning writer/director Nicole Conn, Jane Wishon (Board President of Marriage Equality USA) and some of the cast members from SHE4ME including Mike C Manning (Disney), Gabrielle Christian (South Of Nowhere) and Traci Dinwiddie (Elena Undone).

The CWC was first launched in 1985 to address the high failure rate among women-owned businesses. Over the years the CWC has played host to a phenomenal list of speakers including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, first lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Duchess of York Sara Ferguson, Barbara Walters, Jane Fonda, Madeline Albright, Condoleeza Rice and Martha Stewart.

For nearly thirty years, women in California have enjoyed a conference that provided a forum for building successful businesses, strengthening careers, and positively influencing the world around them. The California Women's Conference will continue the tradition of empowering women and providing resources in every aspect of their lives, and embracing philanthropy by donating a portion of programming and proceeds to participating charitable organizations.

Patterson continues to produce the California Women's Conference and has taken her program global licensing the conference through WomenNetwork.com she created. The Women Network helps corporations engage women professionals from both a recruitment angle to attract the right talent, as well as a customer acquisition angle to increase their market share with identified sub-segments of the highly complex and sought after demographic. Emerging businesses frequently tap Patterson and the WomenNetwork.com to help them get connected to the right individuals and develop the right strategies to accelerate their growth.

??"Women can lead the future," said Patterson at the recent "Power of Collaboration Global Summit" held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City where IBM and other global organizations convened with dynamic international leaders to discuss and develop new, groundbreaking tactics for women to collaborate to accelerate to higher levels of impact.