The CNY Women’s Network is an independent for-profit media company dedicated to connecting and amplifying brands across upstate new york.
Contact us at partnerships@cnywomensnetwork.com to explore how we can promote your brand, strengthen your community impact, and drive meaningful connections.
we are on a mission to:
shine a spotlight on local leaders making waves in our communities.
enhance the entrepreneurial landscape and professional community in Upstate New York.
provide spaces FOR ambitious women TO CONNECT, DEVELOP, AND THRIVE together.
who we areCNY Women’s Network (CNYWN) is an independent for-profit media platform dedicated to amplifying businesses and brands in Upstate New York.
what we doWe are a strategic marketing partner, collaborating with local brands on events, media campaigns, and experiential initiatives that resonate with our audience of women professionals and entrepreneurs.
how we do itThrough our signature events, podcast, newsletter, and social media content — we create opportunities for brands and individuals to connect authentically, build trust, and grow their reach while contributing to a thriving community of growth-minded women.
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Since establishment in 2023, we’ve built a vibrant community of more than 15,000 engaged followers and host signature events that attract hundreds of attendees, including the CNY Women’s Summit — the region’s largest gathering of women leaders. Through a mix of experiential events and digital media, we create innovative platforms for companies to tell their stories and connect with decision-makers.
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Meet the team
Alex Canavan, Founder + Host of Cultivate
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 Cultivate, a podcast show produced in syracuse, ny 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. For media inquiries and partnership opportunities, please email media@cnywomensnetwork.com.
Rebecca LeMunyon, Smooth Operator
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!
Kera Wasserbach, Event strategist & coordinator
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, 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. connect with Aryal Smith on LinkedIn, Instagram, or at aryal@cnywomensnetwork.com.
Maggie Robinson, Podcast Production & Strategy Intern
Maggie Robinson is a graduate student at Syracuse University studying broadcast journalism. She joins the team as a podcast production and strategy intern with a background in audio and video production.
She previously worked at the NFL on the broadcasting team, focusing on the production and operations of all games and live events. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a member of the D1 women's soccer team and is passionate about social impact work! Connect with maggie on LinkedIn and follow her journey on Instagram.
cypris Wilkinson, Short Form Producer & Media Production Intern
Cypris Wilkinson is a graduate student at Syracuse University studying Arts, Style, and Culture Journalism with a focus on food journalism. She joins the CNY Women’s Network as a short-form social media producer and media production intern and is excited to gain hands-on experience in media production while helping highlight and tell stories to empower women.
Cypris earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Montevallo in Mass Communication, with concentrations in Multimedia Journalism and Social Media Administration. She is currently the executive producer of Cooking with Cuse on Orange Television Network.
Connect with Cypris on LinkedIn, Instagram, or through her website!
Peyton Bond, social media Intern
Peyton Bond is a senior at Oswego High School and a participant in the new Vision Specialized Careers program for college-bound seniors. Through this program, she has the opportunity to earn college credit while gaining exceptional hands-on learning experiences through a variety of internship opportunities.
Peyton plans to attend Le Moyne College next year, where she intends to major in Business and minor in Sports Marketing, while also playing lacrosse. She is excited to contribute her skills and enthusiasm for social media as a member of the CNY Women’s Network team.
Andriana Cannon, President of Cannon Advisory Group
andriana cannon is the president of cannon advisory group. she is a Graduate from Le Moyne College with a Bachelors of Science in Accounting.
She joined the CNY Women’s Network team to provide business consulting and accounting services, helping local businesses adapt to industry-specific changes impacting the Syracuse community. Andriana is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the team and is passionate about giving back—both personally and by supporting other local businesses.
learn more about cannon advisory group here and Connect with Andriana on Facebook and Instagram.
Questions? get in touch with our team
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