2019 Virginia Women Veterans Summit Coming To Hampton May 16&17
Hundreds of Women Who Served in the Military Expected at Annual Event
Hundreds of women veterans from across the Commonwealth are expected to attend the 2019 Virginia Women Veterans Summit May 16 and 17 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Hampton Hotel and Convention Center in Hampton, Virginia.
Hosted by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) in partnership with premier sponsor, Cox Communications, the theme of this sixth annual summit is “Empowered: Virginia Women Veterans Lead The Way.”
The program kicks off at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 16 and concludes at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 17. Included are presentations on a wide variety of topics of interest to Virginia’s growing women veteran segment such as career strategies, education, entrepreneurship, finance, personal health and wellness, workplace fashion, and more.
There is no charge to attend the 2019 Virginia Women Veterans Summit. Pre-registration is required and seating is limited. For more information, go to www.dvs.virginia.gov. Online registration is available at https://aap.events/womenvetsummit.
Summit speakers and panelists include nationally-renown career coaches, professional women and motivational speakers. The program will also include a “Shark Tank” inspired competition among veteran and spouse-owned businesses who will compete for a cash prize as the business most likely to succeed. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is scheduled to present prizes to the winning women veteran or military spouse entrepreneurs.
“Virginia is proud to be home to more than 104,000 women veterans,” said Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins. “In fact, the Commonwealth has the largest percentage of women veterans of any state in the U.S. Women veterans face unique challenges as they transition from active duty to civilian life. The goal of this annual summit is to give our women veterans the information, resources, and confidence they need to overcome challenges and obtain the success they aspire to reach in the civilian world.”
“Our mission at the Virginia Department of Veterans Services is to ensure that Virginia continues to be the most veteran friendly state in America,” said John Newby, DVS Commissioner. “Recognizing the importance of our women veteran population, the Governor and the Virginia General Assembly created the new position of DVS Women Veterans Program Manager last year. Hosting an annual Virginia Women Veterans Summit demonstrates how we value the service of women veterans and in fact, all veterans, and helps ensure they receive the respect, recognition and benefits they earned.”
“I encourage every women veteran in Virginia to attend the 2019 Summit and take advantage of the speakers, panel discussions, benefit information, employment opportunities and the opportunity to meet and network with fellow women veterans,” said Annie Walker, DVS Director of Veterans Education, Transition and Employment. “As a proud Army veteran myself, I know this Summit can be an inspiring and life changing experience.”
In addition to Cox Communications, participating partners in the 2019 Virginia Women Veterans Summit include the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Virginia National Guard, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), U.S. Army Soldier for Life, the Women Veterans Initiative, and First Data Corporation. Additional partners include PROMOTE Leadership.org and the offices of U.S. Senator Mark Warner and Congressman A. Donald McEachin.
About the Virginia Department of Veterans Services
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is a state government agency with more than 40 locations across the Commonwealth of Virginia. DVS traces its history to 1928 and the establishment of the Virginia War Service Bureau to assist Virginia’s World War I veterans. Today, DVS assists veterans and their families in filing claims for federal veterans benefits; provides veterans and family members with linkages to services including behavioral healthcare, housing, employment, education and other programs. The agency operates two long-term care facilities offering in-patient skilled nursing care, Alzheimer’s/memory care, and short-term rehabilitation for veterans; provides an honored final resting place for veterans and their families at three state veterans cemeteries. It also oversees the Virginia War Memorial, the Commonwealth’s tribute to Virginia’s men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice from World War II to the present. For more information, please visit www.dvs.virginia.gov.