**Deadline to enter the Lifetime Moms Contest is 4:59:59PM ET on 7/30/12. Entries submitted after this will not be accepted.**

Register today to take advantage of the EARLY BIRD rate – $77.00 for the one-day event (regularly $97.00).

PURCHASE EARLY BIRD TICKETS NOW

Or try our PERFECT PAIR. Save money and purchase two tickets to bring a friend, family member, partner, client, collaborator—or someone you’d like to thank or honor. Just $134.00 for two tickets (regularly $174.00).

PURCHASE A PERFECT PAIR OF TICKETS NOW

Here’s what you can expect:

• Ideas are a dime a dozen, so we’ll assess your action steps and execution plans so you know when to pause and when to pounce to make big things happen.
• There’s no time to get tripped up, so we’ll reveal powerful time management techniques and we’ll bust the real fears that may be preventing you from tackling all you want.
• Standing out among the cluttered masses is key, so we’ll plot branding, social media, marketing and traditional PR strategies that actually work to get you noticed by the right people.
• This isn’t a hobby, so we’ll talk openly about money—from readily available funding sources to pricing for profit to sales techniques that are anything but sleazy.
• Going it alone sucks, so we’ll introduce you to the best group of BBFs—business best friends—the people who’ll hold you accountable and fuel your success.

Date: Thursday, August 9, 2012

Time: Doors open at 8:15 AM for registration and the program will begin promptly at 9:00 AM. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis so make sure to be on time! The day will conclude at approximately 5:00 PM.

Event Schedule

• 8:00 AM – Registration Begins
• 9:00 AM – Welcome
• 10:00 AM – Morning Programs Begin
• 12:00 PM – Lunch and Activities
• 1:00 PM – Afternoon Programs Begin
• 5:30 PM – Event Ends

Want to Volunteer? At each event, we have a limited number of spots for volunteers to assist our staff. If you’re interested, you must be willing to arrive by 7am and stay until as late as 7pm. You will enjoy bits and pieces of the event, but you’ll also be assigned a designated role with various tasks that will prevent you from experiencing the program like a registered attendee. It’s a fast-paced day with lots to juggle. If you’ve worked in client-facing roles and aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves to help execute an amazing event, send us an email to info@sparkandhustle.com telling us about yourself in 200 words or less. Explain why you’d be the perfect volunteer. Include your contact details too. Thanks!

Tory Johnson will moderate the full day, share her expertise and introduce attendees to our all-star line-up of experts who are running successful businesses and will explain how you can do it too.

BUSINESS BASICS KEYNOTE
Vonda Wright, orthopedic surgeon and nationally known expert
Dr. Vonda Wright has gained national prominence as an expert in active aging and dramatically changes the lives of patients and athletes over 40 everyday. Her approach to living vital, active and thriving lives is praised by medical experts, fitness gurus and adult onset exercisers alike. Orthopaedic surgeon, author, dynamic speaker, team sports doc, researcher and entrepreneur, Dr. Wright is the whole package!
@DrVondaWright

BRANDING
Pam Peters, president and CEO of MarketSpace Communications
Pam Peters, president and CEO of MarketSpace Communications, has been brainstorming big ideas and embracing her creativity since she was a child, thanks to her zest for artistic beauty and a passion for communicating through design. It was in 2005 that she unleashed her entrepreneurial spirit and launched MarketSpace, after having worked for years as a creative director, developing and managing creative strategy for hundreds of brands. In 2011, the Women’s Small Business Association named Pam “Best Business Woman in Pittsburgh,” and in 2012, she received a Pittsburgh Business Times Diamond Award.

• When the going gets tough, I: “I call in reinforcements. I trust and value the leaders in my company, and we solve problems together.”
• Little known fact: “I used to raise and show steers for 4-H and was on the meat judging team.”

@marketspacecom

Shannon Shaffer, founder of For The Mommas
*This speaker was selected by LifetimeMoms.com
Shannon Shaffer is the mom behind forthemommas.com, a website dedicated to helping families spend time and money wisely. Shannon has an MBA in finance and 10 years of corporate accounting experience. Shannon understands the need to make every dollar and every moment count. From grocery store deals to time-saving recipes, she encourages her readers to save money on things they need, so they can afford the things they want.
@4themommas

ENGAGEMENT MARKETING
David Yunghans, Reg. Dev. Dir. of Constant Contact
With experience as a small business owner, David brings a wealth of knowledge in the areas of business development, professional training, and corporate meeting planning to help small businesses and nonprofits achieve success. He has served as a training and development resource and has built customized team building programs for numerous small businesses in the insurance, property management and hotel industries. As Constant Contact’s Philadelphia-area Regional Development Director, David leverages his training and business development expertise to help local businesses maximize the power of relationship marketing through the use of online communication tools like email marketing and online surveys.

• The most daring thing I’ve ever done: “Had children!”
• Little known fact: “I have survived cancer and war.”

@ConstantContact

SALES AND SCALE
Molly Enos, founder of Paul Bunyan’s Maple Syrup
Molly Enos and her family purchased a farm 10 years ago that contained numerous maple trees. Molly suggested that they tap the trees for sap. Years later, Paul Bunyan Maple Syrup came into being and produced 600 gallons of syrup during its first year in business, and in 2011, it made 2,200 gallons. Molly has received recognition as the Maple King at a Meyersdale maple festival, she continues to grow her list of clientele, selling to local companies.

MONEY MATTERS
Stacy Kildal, founder of Kildal Services LLC
Stacy lives in Michigan with her fabulous husband and 2 great kids. She is owner/operator of Kildal Services LLC and co-host of Radio Free QuickBooks — she specializes in technology consulting and all things QuickBooks.

• Five fitting words: “Watches any Law and Order.”
• Little known fact: “I’m a very good tap dancer.”

@StacyKildal

Dawn Brolin, operator of Professional Accounting Solutions
*This speaker was selected by Intuit GoPayment
Dawn W. Brolin, MSA, is the member/operator of Professional Accounting Solutions, LLC in Windham, CT. With more than twelve years in the field, Dawn has in-depth accounting expertise, coupled with a personal understanding of the challenges of running a business. Through her experiences as a business owner, she has discovered the importance of the relationship between good accounting records, good business processes, and running a successful business.

• When the going gets tough, I: “Make the decision to push forward and get the job done, whatever it takes.”
• Little known fact: “I was a member of the 1990 Eastern Connecticut State University Women’s Softball Division III National Champions.”

@qbexpert

SOCIAL MEDIA
Cindy Morrison, Social Media Strategist
Emmy-winning journalist Cindy Morrison teaches everyone from network TV journalists to corporate CEOs how to strategically use social media to build brand loyalty, raving fans and their bottom line. Her social media savvy has been highlighted on national media like CBS’s “The Talk” & The Washington Post and she’s even helped create social media buzz at star-studded Hollywood fundraisers.
@CindyWMorrison

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Rachel Blaufeld, founder of Back’nGrooveMom
Rachel Blaufeld is the Founder, Writer, and Editor behind the blog, Back’nGrooveMom, on the intersection of family centricity and entrepreneurship where no topic is off limits.  Originally a personal blog detailing her own adventures of inventing a product and starting a business, Rachel discovered she had a wide audience of moms looking for tips and conversation on remaining relevant while growing a business and a family.  The Back’nGrooveMom brand quickly expanded to be a part of the Federated Media Publishing Network and The Daily Buzz for Moms, syndicated on Modern Mom, and providing promotion to brands while continuing to be an outpost at the crossroads of being a mom and business owner.

• Ever almost throw in the towel?: “Whenever I hear the word ‘no,’ I have a split second in which I think to myself  - I am done, finished.  It only lasts a second because immediately I think to myself that I am not going to let anyone stand in my way.  This is how I push forward.  The no’s propel me.”
• Little known fact: “I am a pretty big germaphobe.  All that hand shaking at conferences keeps the hand sanitizer industry in business.”

@backngroovemom

OVERCOMING FEARS AND BUILDING CONFIDENCE
Rebecca Harris, director of the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University
Rebecca U. Harris was appointed as the Director of the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University in March 2009. Rebecca has 20 years experience as an entrepreneur, consultant, and marketing specialist. She has started and managed a number of businesses including a publishing company, a marine business, and a food company. As a marketing consultant Rebecca gained expertise in business development, marketing, sales management and strategic planning. Rebecca was awarded the Marketer of the Year Award from the Northwestern Ohio Chapter of the American Marketing Association and was a YWCA Milestones Business Honoree.

• I almost threw in the towel when: “I was cleaning out a warehouse full of pigeon….to prepare the space to manufacture one of the products I invented, a portable net to swim in so you can’t get stung by jellyfish! I don’t like pigeons to this day.”
• When the going gets tough, I: “Work harder, keep at a task, never give up, AND eat dark chocolate.”
• The most daring thing I’ve ever done: “Take a huge business loan in my own name. But the business turned into to a million dollar + business, so it was all worthwhile.”

@cwechatham

YOUNG AND WILDLY SUCCESSFUL
Lani Lazzari, founder of Simple Sugars
Lani Lazzari is the CEO and founder of Simple Sugars, her company that manufactures and sells all-natural skincare products especially for sensitive skin. She started her company is December of 2005 when she was 11 years old, and over the past 7 years she has grown Simple Sugars into a company that is distributed nationally and has been featured by Allure, Lucky, Teen Vogue, Entrepreneur and Forbes. Lani’s goal is to one day have the best company in America for women to work for.

• When the going gets tough, I: “Grab my jar of nutella and keep going.”
• The most daring thing I’ve ever done: “Taking 6 weeks of my senior year of high school off to do “The Smoothest Road Trip Ever”, the 6 week, cross-country, promotional tour that I took last fall where I drove around the entire country and visited 26 cities between Pittsburgh and LA – all in my great grandmothers old Chevy Prism (now the Simple Sugars Super Smooth Mobile).”

@simplesugargirl

TABLE HOSTS FOR INFORMAL LUNCH DISCUSSIONS ON SPECIFIC TOPICS:
Hashtags and Twitter
Cindy Morrison, Social Media Strategist
Emmy-winning journalist Cindy Morrison teaches everyone from network TV journalists to corporate CEOs how to strategically use social media to build brand loyalty, raving fans and their bottom line. Her social media savvy has been highlighted on national media like CBS’s “The Talk” & The Washington Post and she’s even helped create social media buzz at star-studded Hollywood fundraisers.
@CindyWMorrison

Simple Best Practices for Basic Bookkeeping
Dawn Brolin, operator of Professional Accounting Solutions
Dawn W. Brolin, MSA, is the member/operator of Professional Accounting Solutions, LLC in Windham, CT. With more than twelve years in the field, Dawn has in-depth accounting expertise, coupled with a personal understanding of the challenges of running a business. Through her experiences as a business owner, she has discovered the importance of the relationship between good accounting records, good business processes, and running a successful business.

Stacy Kildal, founder of Kildal Services LLC
Stacy lives in Michigan with her fabulous husband and 2 great kids. She is owner/operator of Kildal Services LLC and co-host of Radio Free QuickBooks — she specializes in technology consulting and all things QuickBooks.
@StacyKildal
BONUS EXPERTS: Benefit from the expertise of lunchtime table hosts who will share deep knowledge on specific topics with attendees. You’ll have the option to choose the table of your choice.

How to Profit from Presentations
Jenn Lee, www.coachjennlee.com
National speaker, small business advisor, media correspondent and life coach, Jenn Lee isn’t letting anyone or anything stop her from helping Americans shift their thinking, boldly move forward and bring sanity back into their everyday lives! Right to the point with a good dose of humor, Jenn’s authentically honest approach and down to earth tips quickly landed her a regular spot on Orlando’s FOX Morning show, BLOG talk radio shows and as an on-line contributor for Working Mother Media.
@coachjennlee

Get The Balance You Want To Excel at Home and Work Life
Deborah Gilboa, founder of Ask Doctor G
An international speaker on parenting and life-balance topics, Dr. G is a board certified Family Physician and mother of four. Her seminars lift the guilt out of family relationships, and use straight-talk and humor to empower women to get the behaviors they want, without becoming people they hate! This direct, practical approach has made her part of HuffPost Parents blog team, as well as a recurring expert for Your Teen magazine, and a regular speaker for moms groups, corporations and the US Army.
@AskDocG

Meet directly with our sponsors and vendors at this event!

National Sponsors:

Local Sponsors:

Vendors:

Stella & Dot

Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University

Silpada Designs Jewelry

Utoria

W by Worth

Signature Homestyles

Bronze Body Mobile

Simple Sugars

Fullbody Fitness

National Association of Mothers & Daughters in Business

Rachel’s Cure by Design

Lia Sophia Jewelry

Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation

Pittsburgh Business Times

Gold Buying Girl

Deal & Associates/Amway Global

Clean Green Cleaning

 

If you’d like to become a sponsor or vendor, contact us today.

Partners:

Location: The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh-Greentree, only three miles west of downtown Pittsburgh, PA. Spark & Hustle will be held in the Grand Ballroom on the first floor.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh-Greentree
101 DoubleTree Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
(412) 922-8400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View Larger Map

Parking: There is ample complimentary parking on site.

Partner Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh Green Tree

101 DoubleTree Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
(412) 922-8400

Click here to visit the DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh Green Tree.

We’ve negotiated super low rates just for you!

Standard Single/Double rooms are available for $109.00 per night.

These rates are available until July 18, 2012 or until all rooms are filled.

To reserve your room, call the Reservations Dept. (866) 486-4361 or Hotel (412) 922-8400. Don’t forget to mention our group name – SPARK & HUSTLE CONFERENCE – to receive the exclusive rate.

Register today to reserve your room. Space is limited.

Customer Service
Call: 212-290-2600
Email: info@sparkandhustle.com

How long will tickets be available?
Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and space is limited in each location. We cannot guarantee that tickets will be available until a certain date.

Will food be provided?
Lunch, light snacks and beverages will be provided. Be sure to have breakfast prior to arriving to the conference as it will not be served.

What should I wear?
Our event is business casual. No sweats, sneakers or sloppy attire! Check Accuweather.com the night before you pack.

What should I bring?
We suggest you bring business cards and/or any other marketing materials that might be helpful when networking with the other attendees. You never know who you’ll meet, but we know incredible connections are always made. If you have a laptop, you’re welcome to bring it, but it’s by no means necessary.

Is early check-in available?
No, registration will open at 8:15 AM. Entry is not permitted prior to that time.

What if I’m late?
The conference will begin promptly at 9:00 AM and we strongly recommend that you arrive on time so as not to miss any of the sessions! However, if you do arrive late, (these things happen!) don’t worry, registration will remain open from 8:15 AM – 5:00 PM.

Will the conference be available on DVD?
No, the conference will not be available on DVD. Designed to be highly interactive, Spark & Hustle conferences are in-person events only. We’ve selected 20 cities around the country to make it easy for everyone to experience the Spark & Hustle energy!

Will I be able to re-enter the event if I need to step out for a moment?
Yes, just make sure your name badge is visible. This will allow conference staff to confirm that you are a registered attendee of the event.

Are cameras allowed?
Yes, but we have one rule around here about cameras – and we’re pretty strict about it. You may only post photos of us that look good! No half-closed eyes, no double-chins, you get the idea. And we’ll do the same for you. Our staff will share photos of you looking your absolute best. Deal? Deal.

Are cell phones allowed?
Yes, but we ask that you kindly turn your phone to silent before entering the event out of respect for our speakers and for your fellow attendees.

Are laptops allowed?
Yes, but we cannot guarantee that the venue will have wireless internet. Please contact a Spark & Hustle team member at (212) 290-2600 for questions on internet availability in a specific location.

Can men attend?
Men are welcome and encouraged to attend Spark & Hustle!

Will the event have wheelchair access?
Yes, all event spaces have wheelchair access. For questions about accommodations for the impaired, contact the Spark & Hustle team at (212) 290-2600.

Can I cancel my ticket if I’ve already paid?
Since space is limited at each of our events, we do not offer refunds if you opt not to attend. You may transfer your fully paid ticket to another person as long as it’s prior to five days before the event start.To make any kind of transfer, you must notify the Spark & Hustle event management team by phone at 212.290.2600 or email at info@sparkandhustle.com. Your request is not confirmed until you receive an acknowledgment of receipt from our staff. By registering for an event, you acknowledge that you understand and agree to these terms.

Can I purchase tickets on site?
No, tickets must be purchased online.

Spark & Hustle draws on community and builds camaraderie unlike any other conference series. The attendees Tory Johnson attracts to her events are a rare breed. Yes, they’re serious about small business and they’re eager to expand their influence and boost their bottom line. But there’s a whole lot more. These are kind, curious, nice, fun, quirky, candid, determined, loyal, big-hearted, really good women—plus a handful of great men. They’re the people you want to hang out with and do business with. You don’t find that everywhere.

If this describes people you know, then we’d love for you to join the Spark & Hustle Host Committee and become one of Tory’s Top 20 at the event in your area.

It’s pretty simple: register yourself for at least one event and then refer registrants by reaching out to the people you know and believe would benefit from attending. (We’ll gladly send you tips on how to easily accomplish this.)

As a token of our appreciation, we’ve created a sensational benefits package to honor your support.

If you’re interested and ready to rock, please send an email to host@sparkandhustle.com letting us know which event(s) you’ve registered for and include your name, email, phone, location, a bit about you personally and professionally. Also tell us why you’re an ideal Spark & Hustle host to join Tory’s Top 20. You’ll hear back within 24 hours tops.