Alex Canavan, Founder & CEO of the CNY Women’s Network, Host of the Cultivate CNY Podcast

Alex Canavan is an entrepreneur and community leader dedicated to empowering women in Central New York. As the founder and CEO of CNY Women’s Network, she has created a platform that connects, promotes, and uplifts women professionals and business owners.

With a background in marketing, events, branding, and strategic partnerships, Alex saw a need for more visibility and support for women in Syracuse. In 2023, she launched CNY Women’s Network, fostering growth, collaboration, and mentorship.

Alex is also the creator of the CNY Women’s Summit, an inaugural event hosted by the CNY Women’s Network, that brings together over 500 professional women from across Upstate New York for a powerful day of inspiration, connection, and empowerment.

Alex is the host of the Cultivate CNY Podcast, where she interviews industry leaders and change-makers.

Recognized as a 40 Under 40 Class of 2024 honoree, Alex’s mission is to inspire and support women in all stages of their careers. “I hope women take away valuable insights from our events, but most importantly, I want every attendee to leave feeling empowered, inspired, and supported.”

Follow Alex Canavan on LinkedIn or Instagram and subscribe to Cultivate CNY. For media inquiries and partnership opportunities, please email media@cnywomensnetwork.com.

Rebecca LeMunyon is the Executive Assistant for Alex Canavan and the CNY Women’s Network. As the Executive Assistant, Rebecca plays a key role in maintaining smooth operations by managing contacts and inquiries, coordinating pre-production for the Cultivate CNY podcast, and providing Alex with administrative support and thoughtful planning so she can focus on advancing the mission of the CNY Women’s Network. 

Rebecca’s blend of organizational skill, creative problem-solving, and hospitality are essential for the CNY Women’s Network daily success and execution of our various events. With nearly a decade of experience in event production and venue management, she excels at elevating the guest experience behind the scenes, ensuring that every detail contributes to a welcoming and memorable atmosphere. 

Feel free to connect with Rebecca LeMunyon on LinkedIn, at rebecca@cnywomensnetwork.com, or say hello at our next event!

As Event Director, Kera Wasserbach leads the strategy, planning, and execution for the CNY Women’s Network events. Since 2024, Kera has led the CNY Women’s Summit, our annual event that brings together over 500 professional women from across Upstate New York for a day of inspiration, connection, and empowerment.

Kera is the owner of Traveling Event Planner LLC, where she helps clients host transformational, high-impact events. Her company specializes in a range of high-impact events whose approach to event coordination goes beyond managing logistics. Learn more at travelingeventplanner.com

Aryal Smith (uh-RYE-uhl), Marketing & Communications

If you’ve ever double-tapped one of our Instagram posts, partnered with us on a campaign, or attended a CNYWN event, there’s a good chance Aryal was behind the scenes making it happen.

Inspired by Alex’s mission to connect and empower women, Aryal joined the CNY Women’s Network team part-time when she moved back to Central New York in 2023. Since then, she’s worked closely with Alex to dream up and create our content, partnerships, events, and brand initiatives.

Previously, Aryal served as the Digital Marketing Manager at How To Cake It and the Marketing Director at Shokz. Today, Aryal helps direct-to-consumer brands grow their online presence and community. Feel free to connect with Aryal Smith on LinkedIn or at aryal@cnywomensnetwork.com.

Amy Canavan, Director of Operations

Amy Canavan serves as the Director of Operations for the CNY Women’s Network, bringing over four decades of leadership, coaching, and financial services experience to the organization. 

At the CNY Women’s Network, Amy’s operational leadership supports the organization’s continued growth, ensuring that the systems, partnerships, and events behind the scenes reflect the same care and intentionality that the CNYWN offers to its members.

A lifelong advocate for women’s empowerment, Amy is dedicated to advancing the mission of helping women live safe, joyful, and economically sustainable lives—lives where their passions are not only honored but serve as the foundation for generational stability and community growth.

Professionally, Amy holds multiple certifications and licenses that reflect her multifaceted expertise. She is a Certified Strategic Life Coach and a Certified Professional in Training and Development, with specialties in trauma-informed coaching, financial literacy, leadership, and personal growth. Amy is also a New York State Licensed Agent in Life, Health & Accident Insurance and Annuities, as well as a Licensed Relationship Banker, currently serving clients in her role with M&T Bank. 

Amy is a passionate community volunteer, with longstanding involvement in organizations such as the Women’s Opportunity Center, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, Zonta International, and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. She is also an active participant in campaigns like #16DaysOfActivism and initiatives that promote wellness, safety, and economic equity for women and families across Central New York.

Feel free to connect with Amy on LinkedIn.