2026 CNY Women’s Summit
March 27
8am-6:30pm
The Oncenter, Syracuse, NY
Being in the right room can lead to opportunities you never imagined.
Registration ends march 21.
Explore the Summit
Thank you to
Our Sponsors
Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique | Crouse Health | NAVE LAW FIRM
MkT Law | bayberry uniform and Shoe | capital region entertainment | Project Lean Nation
Central New York Community Foundation
Marriott Syracuse Downtown | The MOST | Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund | Sentinel Security Group
Wegmans | BHG Financial | CNY Headshots | NBT Bank | Full Swing PR | Giovanni’s Tuxedo | B's Daydream Balloons
Palette Community | WISE | United Way of CNY | YWCA
“The CNY Women's Summit is an extraordinary opportunity to make new connections, network for personal and professional growth, discover local businesses and receive an immense amount of valuable advice from powerful female leaders in our region. It's time and money well-spent.”
Amy Grover
The CNY Women's Summit is
where growth-minded women
across Upstate New York come to challenge themselves, connect
authentically, and create the kind of
legacy that lasts.
Hosted by CNY Women’s Network, the 2026 CNY Women’s Summit marks five years of impact, connection, and momentum.
This year, we’re going deeper — with high-level programming led by industry experts, designed to sharpen your skills, expand your influence, and reignite your purpose.
Expect transformational conversations, immersive breakout sessions, and hot-seat coaching opportunities reserved exclusively for our VIP and Executive ticket holders.
Shamina Taylor
2026 Keynote speaker
wealth consciousness, visibility, and stepping fully into your value as a woman in leadership.
We are honored to welcome Shamina Taylor as the keynote speaker for the 2026 CNY Women’s Summit.
Shamina Taylor is a Wealth Consciousness Mentor, bestselling author, and host of the globally recognized podcast The Unapologetically Rich Show. She is known for helping high-achieving women expand their financial capacity, shift their relationship with money, and break through income ceilings in business and leadership.
Through her work, Shamina has supported thousands of women around the world in stepping into greater confidence, visibility, and financial empowerment. She also hosts international masterminds and large-scale events for women entrepreneurs and leaders.
Keynote Conversation:
Wealth, Visibility & Owning Your Value
In this keynote session, Shamina will explore how the way women see themselves directly influences the opportunities they attract.
Drawing from her work with high-performing women across industries, she will share insights on:
redefining your relationship with money and success
expanding your capacity to receive opportunity and abundance
communicating your value with clarity and confidence
stepping into greater influence, leadership, and impact
This keynote is designed to spark a powerful shift in how women think about wealth, ambition, and what's possible for their careers and businesses.
VIP & Executive Workshop:
The Wealth Consciousness High Ticket Sales Method
Available exclusively to VIP and Executive ticket holders
In addition to her keynote conversation, Shamina will lead a special interactive workshop designed for women who want to elevate their income, influence, and leadership.
In this session, Shamina will share her High Ticket Sales Method, a framework that focuses on the identity, mindset, and communication strategies required to confidently sell and position high-value offers.
Attendees will learn:
how mindset and wealth identity influence sales outcomes
how to communicate value without over-explaining or over-delivering
how to attract high-level opportunities and aligned clients
how to step into a more powerful relationship with visibility and pricing
This workshop is designed to be interactive, practical, and transformational.
Executive-Level Experience:
Front Row Hot Seat Coaching
Available exclusively to Executive ticket holders
Executive ticket holders will have access to front row seating during Shamina’s workshop, with select opportunities for live hot seat coaching.
During these moments, Shamina will work directly with participants to help them:
refine their messaging and positioning
shift limiting beliefs around money and visibility
identify opportunities for growth and expansion
These live coaching conversations create an incredibly powerful learning experience — not just for the participant in the hot seat, but for the entire room.
Get your executive or VIP ticket
before March 21
You can expect…
Main stage Conversations
Honest, high-impact dialogue with women shaping the future of business, leadership, and community.
Interactive Breakouts & Coaching Labs
Small-group sessions exclusive to VIP and Executive ticket holders where you’ll connect, collaborate, and leave with actionable takeaways.
Professional Development Workshops
Learn from experts across finance, communications, branding, and wellness.
Real Connections
Build relationships that go beyond the day and open doors for years to come.
NAVE LAW FIRM Happy Hour Celebration
NAVE Law Firm wants you to Close the day in good company with a glass raised to your next chapter.
Main Stage Panels
Know your worth panel, sponsored by crouse health
Success looks different for every woman. This inspiring panel features women who have built powerful careers and lives on their own terms. Through honest conversation and personal stories, our panelists will explore what it means to define success for yourself, claim your value, and create a life and career that align with your goals, priorities, and vision.
Panelists
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Tamika Goode-Otis, Moderator
VP of Corporate Responsibility & Community Relations, KeyBank
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Stephanie Crockett
President & CEO, Mower
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Holly Conti
Co-founder, Full Swing PR
The Relationship Economy panel
At the CNY Women’s Network, we believe relationships are everything. This panel explores the power of meaningful connection and how strong networks can transform careers and lives. Our panelists have built thriving professional communities and know how to turn simple networking into authentic, lasting relationships that support collaboration, opportunity, and growth.
Panelists
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Kelly Springer, moderator
CEO, Kelly's Choice
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Gianna Michalak
CEO, Autoimmune Babe
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Lauren Cobello
CEO, Leverage with Media PR
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Tanya Hembree
Founder and Principal Designer, ONYX + ALABASTER
The Modern Woman's
Career Playbook panel
What does it really take to grow, pivot, and thrive in today’s professional landscape? In this candid panel, accomplished women share the strategies that helped them advance their careers and navigate pivotal moments along the way. From negotiating raises and recognizing when it’s time for a shift, to building confidence and advocating for yourself, this conversation offers real stories and practical insight from women who have learned the plays and are ready to share the playbook.
Panelists
-
Shawnee Robert, Moderator
Site Quality Head, Baxter Healthcare
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Kate Houck
Executive Director, David's Refuge
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Adrienne Bitar
Co-founder and CEO of Seen Nutrition, Lecturer of Food Studies at Cornell University
Future-Proofing Your Career
The professional world is evolving faster than ever. In this forward-looking panel, our speakers will explore how to stay relevant and adaptable in a rapidly changing landscape. From artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to personal branding and new ways of working, this conversation will help you think strategically about how to position yourself for the opportunities of the future.
Panelists
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Heather Wood, Moderator
Founder, Stupendous Love
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Stephanie Armstrong
Founder and Owner
Moxie Creative Studios -
Elizabeth Ruscitto
Founder, 2122 Coaching
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Katharine Chajka
Founder, Chajka Enterprises
Workshops & breakouts
only available to VIP & executive-level ticket holders.
Navigating Company Culture
Breakout panel
Company culture can shape everything from career satisfaction to long-term success. In this interactive workshop, a short panel discussion will kick off the conversation by exploring topics such as measuring and improving workplace culture, navigating male-dominated industries, and bringing in professionals who help organizations evolve. Following the panel, attendees will break into small groups to continue the conversation, sharing experiences and strategies for navigating culture within corporations, teams, and professional communities.
Rachel Johnson
LMSW, MFT, CD
owner Half Hood, Half Holistic
Kate Houck
Executive Director
David's Refuge
Brittany Alvarez, moderator
Accessibility & Inclusion Specialist
Social That Sells
Workshop with Tamara Zantell & Zandra Cunningham
After years of pouring her dedication, leadership, and problem-solving skills into the corporate world, Tamara Zantell made a bold decision to bet on her family instead. She began using the same strategy, grit, and business instincts she developed in corporate to help build her daughter’s passion into a real business. What started as supporting her daughter’s dream quickly grew into a booming venture, leading Tamara to leave corporate and step fully into building the business alongside her.
In this workshop, Tamara and her daughter share how they leveraged social media to create visibility, build a loyal audience, and turn authentic connection into real sales. You’ll walk away with real skills you can implement to turn your social platforms into powerful tools for both impact and income.
Tamara ZanTell
founder, Raising A Mogul
and Legacy Brand Creators
Zandra Cunningham
founder and CEO
Zandra Beauty
Make It Anywhere: The New York Playbook for Women Building a Brand
Session with Micaéla Birmingham
New York City is the ultimate proving ground — a place where nearly 9 million people compete, collaborate, and somehow make it work. In this talk, Micaela Birmingham, Writer and 4x Emmy Award-winning Host of The NYC Field Guide, reveals the unspoken playbook of those who don't just survive the city, but thrive in it.
From the science-backed cognitive benefits of meeting a friend for coffee to the art of cultivating deep, reciprocal relationships that open unexpected doors, Micaela unpacks what New Yorkers instinctively know about connection, competition and closing.
Whether you're navigating a corporate ladder, building a brand, or seeking greater fulfillment in everyday life, this talk will leave you with actionable tools to deepen your relationships, sharpen your strategy, and go after exactly what you want with the confidence of a true New Yorker.
Micaéla Birmingham
Executive Producer
The Wealth Consciousness High Ticket Sales Method
Session with Shamina Taylor
High-ticket sales are not just about strategy. They are about the mindset and identity you bring into the room. In this session, Wealth Mentor, bestselling author, and podcast host Shamina Taylor shares insights on how the way women see their value influences the opportunities they attract and the way they communicate their work.
Drawing from her experience helping high-achieving women expand their financial capacity and break through income ceilings, Shamina explores how shifting your relationship with money, success, and visibility can open the door to greater income, influence, and impact.
Shamina Taylor
CEO & Founder, Attorney,
Wealth Expert & Business Mentor
Executive Level Exclusives
Lunch & Learn:
Leadership sacrifice & success
This intimate Lunch & Learn is designed exclusively for Executive-level attendees. During this beautifully curated lunch experience, participants will engage in guided roundtable conversations about the realities of leadership. From difficult decisions and personal sacrifice to the loneliness that can sometimes accompany success, these facilitated discussions create a safe space for leaders to speak openly with peers who truly understand the responsibility of leading.
Strengthen Your Marketing Strategy: Where to Focus for Better Results
Marketing can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re putting in the effort but not seeing consistent results.
In this interactive workshop with Aryal Smith, we’ll simplify your marketing strategy into three key areas: visibility, conversion, and retention so you can quickly identify what’s working, what’s not, and where to focus next.
Whether you’re building a business or leading within one, this workshop will help you see where opportunities exist and what to do about them.
You’ll evaluate your current approach, take part in focused small group problem-solving, and walk away with a clear, specific action as well as a simple way to measure if it’s working.
Tickets
Tickets
Available Until march 21
summit experience
powerful programming
The essentials—powerful programming and meaningful connection.
Includes
+ Full-day access to all main stage sessions and panels
+ grab-and-go light lunch
+ journal & pen
+ complimentary coffee hour
+ access to networking
+ activities
$197
VIP experience
more than a seat
For women who want more than
a seat—presence, polish,
and premium access.
Includes
+ All Summit Experience perks
+ front section Priority seating
+ VIP welcome & early access
+ premium tote with curated gifts ($75+ value)
+ sit-down, private lunch
+ 1 Happy Hour drink ticket
+ priority line for headshots
$337
Executive experience
Lead from the front
For women ready to lead from
the front—all-access,
high-touch, highly visible.
Includes
+ All Summit and VIP Perks
+ Welcome Reception, exclusive networking on Friday, march 26
+ front-row reserved seating
+ concierge check-in
+ custom name badge
+ complimentary headshot session, Priority line
+ private content creation + strategy session with the CNYWN team
+ Post-Summit follow-up session
+ one featured post on CNYWN social media after the summit
$597
Visibility Boost
Promote your Business
for brands looking to establish presence within our audience—without onsite activation
Includes
+ Business listed & linked in the digital program
+ Business listed & linked on Summit webpage
+ Invitation to our Welcome Ceremony on March 26, 2026
+ Choice of ticket: Experience, VIP or Executive
Starting at
$1,000
Brand Activations
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headshot booth sponsored by MkT Law
Capture your next-level presence.
Thanks to our Empowerment Sponsor, MKT Law, we’re offering a professional headshot experience onsite at the Summit, hosted by Gregg Gordon of CNY Headshots.
Whether you're refreshing your LinkedIn, elevating your personal brand, or simply capturing this moment in your journey, this is your opportunity to walk away with a polished, professional image.
Access Details:
Executive Ticket Holders: Priority access + one complimentary headshot
GA & VIP Ticket Holders: Headshots available for a special rate of $50 (first-come, first-served)
This is more than a photo — it’s an investment in how you show up.
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recovery lounge sponsored by aqua spa float center & wellness boutique
We’re bringing Aqua Spa’s iconic Whisper Room to the Summit.
attendees will have access to a dedicated wellness space designed to help you reset and recharge throughout the day.
Enjoy:
+ Massage chairs
+ LED facials
+ IV therapy with AquavIVe
+ Vitamin shots
+ Oxygen barStep away from the energy when you need it — and return feeling refreshed, clear, and recharged.
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happy hour sponsored by nave law firm
Join us as we close out the day with a celebratory Happy Hour experience sponsored by Nave Law Firm.
This is your time to connect, unwind, and reflect on the day alongside an incredible community of women.
Enjoy a curated cocktail menu featuring signature drinks inspired by the Nave team, including:
+ The Verdict
+ The Advocate
+ The Kelsey (inspired by CEO Sean Kelsey)Whether you’re continuing conversations from earlier in the day or making new connections, this is a moment to celebrate the energy, ambition, and community that defines the Summit.
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you’re in good hands, thanks to bayberry uniform and Shoe
Look for our team in Bayberry Uniform — they’ll be there to guide you.
In addition to keeping our team comfortable and polished throughout the event, Bayberry Uniform is also contributing a special giveaway:
The “Scrubs & Self-Care” Bundle
Because even the busiest women in scrubs deserve a moment for themselves, this bundle is curated for healthcare and service professionals who spend their days caring for others — and deserve care of their own. -
Fuel & Connection hour sponsored by project Lean Nation Syracuse
Start your Summit experience feeling energized and ready for the day ahead.
From 8:00–9:00 AM, join us for our Coffee & Fuel Hour, sponsored by Project Lean Nation. In addition to coffee and connection, attendees can enjoy protein shake and protein ball samples to fuel up before the day begins.
This is your time to settle in, connect with other attendees, and step into the Summit with clarity, energy, and intention.
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photo booth sponsored by capital region entertainment
Thanks to Capital Region Entertainment, attendees can enjoy a modern photo booth experience designed to celebrate the energy, connection, and memories made throughout the Summit.
Grab your Summit bestie, step in front of the camera, and walk away with a custom CNY Women’s Summit branded photo strip — the perfect keepsake from an unforgettable day.
the inspiring
woman award
in honor of our 5th Annual CNY Women's Summit, we are proud to introduce something new this year: The Inspiring Woman Award.
This award will be presented annually to honor one woman who is unapologetically herself, who leads with courage and vision, and who creates space for other women to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
The recipient will be announced live at the 2026 CNY Women's Summit on March 27 at The Oncenter in Syracuse.
Take a peek at last years summit
Krista Fountain, CEO of Freyja-LUXE
“The CNY Women’s Summit is an incredible experience for all women in business alike. The impact that Alex has on bringing together like-minded women is nothing we’ve ever seen in the Syracuse area. I am so grateful for CNY Women’s NETWORK’S continued effort to support women in business.”
Maria Wheeler, NBT Bank
“It was such a wonderful and inspiring event. From the keynote speaker, Candy Valentino, to the breakout sessions, the summit was a success!!! I can see this event growing!! We look forward to 2026!”
about the CNY Women's Network
about the CNY Women's Network
The CNY Women’s Network is an independent media company based in syracuse, ny committed to connecting, supporting, and empowering women professionals and entrepreneurs across Central New York.
We’re on a mission
To shine a spotlight on local leaders making waves in our community.
enhance the entrepreneurial landscape and professional community in Central New York.
provide spaces FOR ambitious women TO CONNECT, DEVELOP, AND THRIVE together.
expand your network, find inspiration, promote your business
Become a member
The Collective by CNYwn the premier membership community for growth-minded women that live, work, and play in Central New York.
2026 Women’s Market
March 28, 10am-4pm
The MaRRIOTT sYRACUSE dOWNTOWN
about
Open to all and free to attend, the cny women’s market showcases an incredible lineup of local, women-owned businesses—artists, makers, and entrepreneurs from across the region.
When?
March 28th, 2025
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Where?
Marriott Syracuse Downtown
100 E Onondaga Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
Meet the Committee
-
![Emma Martens - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Emma Martens
Marketing Committee, Web & Graphic Design
HOSPITALITY & BRANDING Committee -
![Elena Bombardier - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Elena Bombardier
Marketing Committee, Graphic Designer
-
![Alex Canavan - CNY Womens Network Committee]()
Alex Canavan
Founder & ceo, cny women’s network
-
![LeaAnn Fuller - CNY Womens Network Committee]()
LeaAnn Fuller
Speaker Committee, Research
-
![Tessa Harper - CNY Womens Network Committee]()
Tessa Harper
Speaker Committee, Onboarding
-
![Caprice Hibbler - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Caprice Hibbler
Speaker Committee, Outreach
-
![Olivia Mancabelli - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Olivia Mancabelli
Volunteer Coordinator
-
![Morgan Montgomery - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Morgan Montgomery
Marketing Committee, Co-Chair
-
![Shawnee Robert - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Shawnee Robert
Registration Committee, Lead
-
![Annie Rotko - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Annie Rotko
Swag & Merchandise Committee, Lead
-
![Aryal Smith - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Aryal Smith
Marketing & communications, CNY Women’s Network
-
![Kera Wasserbach - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Kera Wasserbach
Event Coordinator
Thank you to our community partners
about us
The CNY Women’s Summit is the region’s must-attend event for women — and this year, it’s bigger than ever. We’re expecting 500 women professionals for a powerful day of connection, inspiration, and actionable growth. Learn from women driving change in their industries, develop your skills in hands-on workshops, and build the kind of network that opens doors.
When?
8:00 am - 6:30 pm
March 27th, 2026
registration ends march 21.
Where?
The Oncenter Convention Center
800 State Street, Syracuse NY 13202