A sold-out event in past years, EWN’s annual event affords local entrepreneurs the opportunities to mingle during the cocktail hour, followed by networking during dinner as attendees share appetizers at one table, entrees at another, and enjoy the company of a third for dessert.

EWN is proud to present Debra Condren as the featured speaker and Bonnie Marcus, a Westport resident and founder of the Bonnie Marcus Collection, as the winner of EWN’s 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year Award.  

Dr Condren, sought-after speaker, business psychologist, researcher, career advisor, and recipient of the US Small Business Administration’s Women In Business Advocate of the Year Award, has coached thousands of women during her career.

She has found each woman possesses the same fear: If she goes after her dream, she will be seen — or even regard herself — as selfish, bitchy, a bad wife, or a bad mother. She will share her new message and mission: You can redefine your ambition without guilt and without sacrificing the rest of your life.

Dr Condren will offer tools for reclaiming one’s dreams and show how all of a woman’s priorities — personal and career — can fit together in harmony. She also invites participates to email her one burning question to have answered at this year’s GNE. She will do her best to cover it, and she will randomly select three submitters for a free half-hour phone coaching session. Send to: Debra@AmbitionIsNotaDirtyWord.com.

Recognized as a pioneer for women in business and a frequent mentor to other aspiring entrepreneurs, EWN is proud to recognize Bonnie Marcus and her success as EWN’s 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipient. A Westport resident, Ms Marcus launched her stationery company in 2002, while pregnant with her first child.

Seven years, three children, and more than 3,000 designs later, her award-winning collection is now sold in more than 1,000 retail stores around the world, including Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Harrods of London, and Destination Maternity. She more recently expanded with a collection of fashionable flip flops and licensed her “must have” tote bags in 2008.

Ms Marcus won the prestigious American Express “Make Mine a Million Dollar Business” contest in 2006 and has served as the small business spokesperson for the Bank of America. In 2009, she was featured in Entrepreneur magazine and won StartUp Nation’s “Leading Moms in Business Contest” as one of the top 100 “mom-owned” businesses in the country.

Proceeds from the Annual Grand Networking Event facilitate EWN monthly luncheons, workshops, after hours networking events, and business expos (holiday and spring), affording small business owners — experienced and novice — with expert advice, resources, and networking opportunities.

To be guaranteed a spot in the rotating tables, registration must be made online at www.ewn-ct.org no later than 5 pm on Friday, June 4. Members and nonmembers will pay the same discounted price of $60 in advance. 

Walk-ins are welcome subject to space availability, but are not guaranteed rotating table access. For more information, contact the EWN Administrator at 203-222-3404 or info@ewn-ct.org.