Women in Leadership graduates honored at seventh annual Women's Business Conference

Graduates of the 2016 Women in Leadership: Focusing on the Future class were honored at the South Dakota Center for Enterprise Opportunity Seventh Annual Women's Business Conference on Friday, Oct. 21 at The Lodge at Deadwood. The SD CEO Women's Business Center at Black Hills State University partnered with Coeur-Wharf Resources to present this six month long educational series, which was launched in May 2016.

The leadership series offers personal and professional development opportunities for women. Participants were encouraged to step out of their comfort zone to gain new skills through the courses.

Melissa Scofield, Senior Operations Coordinator at Black Hills Corporation says, "SD CEO provided me with the tools to recognize my weaknesses and further utilize my talents. The opportunity to learn and grow from fellow participants in the class was invaluable."

Participants were exposed to topics including: emotional intelligence budgeting global ethics weathering change de-escalating verbal conflict communicating with credibility and project management.

One of the graduates from the 2016 class said, "I will use the information I learned in the course to mentor my staff and lead more productive fundraisers." Another leadership graduate said, "The class is very hands on, so you get a chance to utilize the skills you are learning right away."

Women in all stages of their careers attended the sessions and found the information to be indispensable.

"I recommend the SD CEO Women in Leadership program because it is a great way to meet and network with awesome female professionals in the area while learning tools to make me a better leader," says Michelle Minnerath, Senior Manager at Ketel Thorstenson, LLP.

For more information on the 2017 Women In Leadership: Focusing on the Future series, please visit  www.BHSU.edu/SDCEO.