CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (October 18, 2017) — Lehigh Valley LaunchBox (LVLB) now offers an educational event series focusing on the unique challenges and victories of female entrepreneurs called LaunchBox Ladies: From Passion to Profit.
Using multiple formats including conversational interviews, videos and events, LaunchBox Ladies will share the stories of women at all stages of their businesses and careers. A series of conversations are scheduled through summer 2018 and are free to students and the public on a limited first-come, first-served basis.
All events take place at the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and include lunch.
The first event will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, featuring Tanya Wright, best known for her roles as Crystal Burset on the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black”, and as Deputy Kenya Jones on HBO’s “True Blood.” She is the author of “Butterfly Rising,” “I Found God in My Hair,” and founder of the haircare line, HAIRiette©. She is currently building a philanthropic distribution line of haircare products and became a micro-grant recipient of Lehigh Valley LaunchBox earlier this year.
She will be interviewed by Ashley Russo, three-time Emmy® award-winning executive producer, president of ASR Media Productions, and host of The PEAK TV and St. Luke’s HealthNow. The full 2018 schedule will be announced later this year.
According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, females represent 36 percent of businesses in the U.S. and will generate more than half of the 10 million new small business jobs by 2018, yet face loan approval rates 20 percent lower than their male counterparts and have decreased access to elected officials.
With a mission of community facing support for entrepreneurs invested in the economic growth of the Lehigh Valley, LVLB and Invent Penn State develop programming that supports the start-up process. LVLB also acts as a business accelerator by awarding micro-grants biannually.
To register for the event, visit the LaunchBox Ladies website, launchbox.lv.psu.edu/ladies.
For more information, visit the Lehigh Valley LaunchBox website, email LVLaunchBox@psu.edu or email Valerie Peters at vpeters@psu.edu.
Information regarding the Invent Penn State initiative is available online.
About Penn State Lehigh Valley
Penn State Lehigh Valley provides a world-class education in a small campus setting that integrates innovative teaching, research and community outreach. With its convenient location in Center Valley, traditional students and adult learners can choose from many options including 9 bachelor’s programs, which can be completed at the campus, as well as access to 160 academic programs offered by Penn State University. The campus’ diverse Continuing Education and Outreach programs offer opportunities for professional development, business training, and youth programming. For more information, visit lehighvalley.psu.edu.
About Invent Penn State Invent Penn State is a Commonwealth-wide initiative to spur economic development, job creation and student career success. The initiative facilitates the challenging process of turning research discoveries into valuable products and services that can benefit Pennsylvanians and humankind. Invent Penn State blends entrepreneurship-focused academic programs, business startup training and incubation, funding for commercialization, and university-community collaborations. In 2015. Penn State was issued 55 U.S. patents, executed 30 licenses and options, formed 10 startup companies, and received 117 invention disclosures. If you’d like to connect with the initiative, visit invent.psu.edu.
Information provided to TVL by:
Mary Harvilla
University Relations Intern
Penn State Lehigh Valley
2809 Saucon Valley Road
Center Valley, PA 18034
