The Chenango Women’s Leadership Conference consisted of three panels and speaker focused on: Leadership, Wealth, and Health. Barbara Schindler, Chief Operating Officer of Golden Artist Colors, gives the keynote address. (Submitted photo)

by Sophia Root,

Commerce Chenango

NORWICH - Last week, Commerce Chenango and the Chenango Foundation hosted the second annual Chenango Women’s Leadership Conference. The event, held at the Canasawacta Country Club, boasted 245 attendees of all ages and from all corners of the county.

The second annual conference was sponsored by Unison, a GE Aerospace Company, Preferred Mutual, New York State Women’s Inc, Heather McShane Events & Weddings, and the Women’s Fund from the Community Foundation for South and Central New York.

The conference consisted of three educational panels with guest speakers who shared their experiences in leadership, wealth, and health.

Barbara Schindler, Chief Operating Officer of Golden Artist Colors, gave a keynote address regarding the turns in her career, and the women who inspired her along the way.

The following businesses were represented by the women in Leadership panelists: Shannon Slack (Unison, a GE Aerospace Company), Kecia Burton (Chobani), Shauna Hyle (NBT Bank), Michelle Raue (Preferred Mutual Insurance Company), and Dr. Sheila Marshman (SUNY Morrisville). The panel discussion, moderated by Amy Howard, former panelist (Achieve), focused on challenges women may face in the workplace, how to shape a career path, and inspiring stories of how each panelist came into their current position.

After a brief leadership exercise was the “Women in Wealth” panel, moderated by Jill Eddy of NBT Bank. The panel included Marci Lauren Riddell (Norwich Wealth Management), Beth Westfall, Esq. and Caroline Guiles, Esq. (Coughlin & Gerhart), and Allison Gunther, CPA (Piaker & Lyons). Their presentation followed steps a woman should follow for personal financial security, such as signing a prenup, adding a spouse to a deed, setting up a will and planning their estate.

Students from nine districts were present at the event, and they attended a breakout session during lunch where they could network among each other. After the students reconvened, there was a special presentation from Martha Ryan (DCMO BOCES). Ryan asked the audience to identify their superpower, kryptonite, and encouraged them to use each to make Chenango County a better place.

Following Ryan’s engaging presentation was a session of guided movement by Allison O’Neill, PT (UHS Therapies Norwich/SECO). This exercise encouraged all attendees to rise out of their seats, stretch and reenergize before sitting for the rest of the conference. O’Neill gave some examples of simple changes attendees could make to be more active, such as stretches to do at their desks or choosing to take the stairs.

The Women in Health panel included MaryLou Stanton, FNP-BC (UHS Chenango Memorial), Allison O’Neill, PT, Amy Rowe, PA (Community Memorial Hospital) and Amanda Hoover, Mental Health Coordinator (DCMO BOCES). The discussion, moderated by Alexandra Erath, former panelist, (Hearth Financial Partners) included topics such as common issues that affect Women’s health, mental health, and comparison/contrast between eastern and western medicine.

The main event closed with remarks from Julia Miller (Blueox Corporation) and Mellissa Stagnaro (UHS Chenango Memorial). Miller and Stagnaro thanked the sponsors of the day, as well as the organizing committee: Marci Lauren Riddell, Jenifer Telesky (NBT Bank), Martha Ryan, Mary Branham (Pivotel), Julia Miller, Melissa Stagnaro, Gina Goldman (Alvogen), Sophia Root and Barb Knowles (Commerce Chenango).

After the presentations ended, attendees received a free drink and had the opportunity to network among themselves, and with exhibitors from the community who were tabling in the bar area.

Want to stay up to date with the attendees and get the newest information about the 2026 conference? Follow the Chenango Women’s Leadership Conference on Facebook.