mark your calendars.
march 5, 2027 | Syracuse, NY
Being in the right room can lead to opportunities you never imagined.
Early-bird tickets open to Collective members on September 11, 2026, and to the public on September 18, 2026.
“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 step our of their comfort zone, learn something new, and create the kind of
connections that last.
Champion Women’s Leadership
in central new york
Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are now open for the 2027 CNY Women’s Summit & Market.
Get your business in front of hundreds of women while helping champion and empower women professionals across Central New York.
Previous Sponsors & Partners
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Nascentia Health
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Aqua spa float center & wellness boutique
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Central New York Community Foundation
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Crouse Health
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YWCA of Syracuse and Onondaga County, Inc.
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Wegmans
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Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST)
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NAVE Law Firm
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Marriott Syracuse Downtown
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BHG Financial
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nbt bank
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Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund
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Project LeanNation
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Bayberry Uniform & Shoe
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Medicine-Based Beauty
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Sentinel Security Group
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United Way of Central New York
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Giovanni's Tuxedos
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Full Swing Public Relations
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Palette Community
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WISE Women's Business Center
the inspiring
woman award
At the 2026 CNY Women’s Summit, we started something new: the Inspiring Woman Award.
Created by the CNY Women’s Network, this annual award honors one Central New York woman who leads with courage and vision while creating space for other women to rise.
we were honored to name Lisa Marie Newcomb as the recipient of the 2026 award.
Through her work with Thrive in Healing and the Syracuse Yoga Collective, Lisa marie creates spaces for rest, healing, and connection.
last year’s summit
Thank you to Our
2026 Sponsors
nascentia health | Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique | Crouse Health | NAVE LAW FIRM | MkT Law | bayberry uniform and Shoe | capital region entertainment | Project LeanNation syracuse | Marriott Syracuse Downtown | The MOST | Paige's Childhood Cancer Fund | Sentinel Security Group | Wegmans | BHG Financial | CNY Headshots | NBT Bank | Full Swing PR | amk floral | b’s daydream balloon co. | central new york community foundation | giovanni’s tuxedo | medicine-based beauty | palette community | united way of central new york | WISE Women's Business Center
2026 Brand Activations
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headshot booth sponsored by MkT Law
Thanks to our Empowerment Sponsor, MKT Law, attendees had the opportunity to receive a professional headshot onsite from Gregg Ordon of CNY Headshots.
Whether they were refreshing their LinkedIn, elevating their personal brand, or simply capturing a moment in their journey, attendees walked away with a polished, professional image.
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recovery lounge sponsored by aqua spa float center & wellness boutique
We brought Aqua Spa’s iconic Whisper Room to the Summit, giving attendees a dedicated wellness space to reset and recharge throughout the day.
Attendees enjoyed:
+ Massage chairs
+ LED facials
+ IV therapy with AquavIVe
+ Vitamin shots
+ Oxygen barIt was a space to step away from the energy of the Summit and return feeling refreshed, clear, and recharged.
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happy hour sponsored by nave law firm
We closed out the day with a celebratory Happy Hour experience sponsored by Nave Law Firm.
Guests enjoyed signature cocktails inspired by the Nave team, including The Verdict, The Advocate, and The Kelsey.
It was the perfect way to continue conversations, make new connections, and celebrate the day together.
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Our Summit Team, Outfitted by Bayberry Uniform & Shoe
Our team stayed comfortable and polished throughout the Summit thanks to Bayberry Uniform & Shoe.
They also contributed a special “Scrubs & Self-Care” giveaway bundle for healthcare and service professionals who spend their days caring for others.
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Fuel & Connection hour sponsored by project Lean Nation Syracuse
Attendees kicked off the Summit with our Coffee & Fuel Hour, sponsored by Project LeanNation Syracuse.
In addition to coffee and connection, attendees enjoyed protein shake and protein ball samples.
It was a chance to connect, settle in, and start the day energized.
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photo booth sponsored by capital region entertainment
Thanks to Capital Region Entertainment, attendees captured memories from the day with a modern photo booth.
They could send their photos straight to their phones to share or take home a custom CNY Women’s Summit photo strip to remember the day.
2026 Panels
Know your worth panel, sponsored by crouse health
Success looks different for every woman. This inspiring panel featured women who have built powerful careers and lives on their own terms. Through honest conversation and personal stories, panelists explored what it means to define success for yourself, claim your value, and build a life and career aligned with your goals and priorities.
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 featured women who have built strong professional communities and networks throughout their careers. They shared how meaningful relationships can lead to new opportunities, collaboration, and growth, and how to build connections that go beyond traditional networking.
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
This panel featured accomplished women sharing the strategies and lessons that helped them grow, pivot, and navigate pivotal moments in their careers. From negotiating raises to making career shifts and advocating for themselves, panelists shared real stories and practical advice from their own experiences.
Panelists
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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
This forward-looking panel explored how to stay relevant and adaptable in a changing professional landscape. Speakers discussed artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, personal branding, and new ways of working, with practical insight on preparing for what’s ahead.
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
2026 Workshops & breakouts
Navigating Company Culture
Company culture can shape everything from career satisfaction to long-term success. This interactive workshop began with a panel exploring workplace culture, navigating male-dominated industries, and how organizations can evolve.
Attendees then broke into small groups to share their own experiences, perspectives, and strategies for navigating culture within teams, organizations, 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
Make It Anywhere: The New York Playbook for Women Building a Brand
Session with Micaéla Birmingham
Micaela Birmingham, writer and four-time Emmy Award-winning host of The NYC Field Guide, shared the unspoken playbook of New Yorkers who don’t just survive the city, but thrive in it.
From the science-backed benefits of meeting a friend for coffee to building deep, reciprocal relationships that open unexpected doors, Micaela explored what New Yorkers know about connection, competition, and going after what they want.
Attendees walked away with practical tools to strengthen their relationships, sharpen their strategy, and pursue new opportunities with confidence.
Micaéla Birmingham
Executive Producer
The Wealth Consciousness High Ticket Sales Method
Session with Shamina Taylor
High-ticket sales aren’t just about strategy. They’re also about the mindset and confidence you bring into the room.
Wealth mentor, bestselling author, and podcast host Shamina Taylor shared how the way women see their value can shape the opportunities they pursue and how they communicate their work.
Drawing from her experience helping high-achieving women break through income ceilings, Shamina explored how shifting your relationship with money, success, and visibility can create opportunities for greater income, influence, and impact.
Shamina Taylor
CEO & Founder, Attorney, Wealth Expert & Business Mentor
2026 Committee
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![Alex Canavan - CNY Womens Network Committee]()
Alex Canavan
Founder & ceo, cny women’s network
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![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
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![LeaAnn Fuller - CNY Womens Network Committee]()
LeaAnn Fuller
Speaker Committee, Research
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![Tessa Harper - CNY Womens Network Committee]()
Tessa Harper
Speaker Committee, Onboarding
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![Caprice Hibbler - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Caprice Hibbler
Speaker Committee, Outreach
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![Olivia Mancabelli - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Olivia Mancabelli
Volunteer Coordinator
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![Morgan Montgomery - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Morgan Montgomery
Marketing Committee, Co-Chair
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![Shawnee Robert - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Shawnee Robert
Registration Committee, Lead
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![Annie Rotko - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Annie Rotko
Swag & Merchandise Committee, Lead
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![Aryal Smith - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Aryal Smith
Marketing & communications, CNY Women’s Network
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![Kera Wasserbach - CNY Womens Summit Committee]()
Kera Wasserbach
Event Coordinator
Take a peek at our 2025 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!”
2027 cny Women’s Market
saturday, March 6
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 6, 2027
9 am-2 pm
Where?
Marriott Syracuse Downtown — persian terrace
100 E Onondaga Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
about the CNY Women's Network
about the CNY Women's Network
The CNY Women’s Network is a media company & membership community built for growth-minded women across upstate 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 upstate New York.
provide spaces FOR ambitious women TO CONNECT, DEVELOP, AND THRIVE together.
Become a member
CNYWN Collective members receive first-access to summit tickets & partnership opportunities.