AWMA Launches Women’s Leadership Initiative

Marianne Cooper

LAS VEGAS -- The American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) will launch a new Women's Leadership Initiative with a special breakfast event at this year's AWMA Marketplace & Solutions Expo.

Sociologist and women's work expert Marianne Cooper will serve as keynote speaker for the Women's Leadership Initiative Kickoff Breakfast, slated to take place at 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27.

"AWMA is launching its new Women's Leadership Initiative because we recognize the importance of providing support to the many women who are rising in the ranks of our member companies and who will play an increasingly important role in our industry in the future," said AWMA President and CEO Scott Ramminger.

Cooper, a research associate at the Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University and lead researcher for Sheryl Sandberg's book "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead," will discuss the barriers women face while trying to reach the top and what can be done to support them in achieving their goals and ambitions, according to the announcement.

The Women's Leadership Initiative is part of AWMA's redesigned convention format that will feature a wider variety of educational and networking opportunities. The Kickoff Breakfast will be held concurrently with two other seminars: a peer-to-peer discussion for smaller distributors to discuss cost-saving ideas and innovative products for the warehouse, and the workshop "Designing Today's Sales Calls: Purpose, Passion and Techniques."

The 2014 AWMA Marketplace & Solutions Expo will take place Feb. 25-27 at The Paris Las Vegas. Details and registration are available at www.awmamarketplace.com.