Serino’s Annual Networking Event Draws Over 140

POUGHKEEPSIE – In an ongoing effort to help local women bolster their own personal and professional networks, candidate for Dutchess County Executive and former State Senator Sue Serino hosted her 7th Annual Women’s Networking Event last Thursday, July 20, 2023 at the Locust Grove Estate in Poughkeepsie. Over 140 women were in attendance and heard from three dynamic speakers who spoke to the theme of ‘breaking barriers.’

“The stories and personal experiences shared at this event always inspire me, and this year’s trailblazing speakers each made their impact on everyone in attendance,” said Sue Serino. “By outlining how they each have broken barriers in both their personal and professional lives, they truly showed how we can all accomplish anything that we put our mind to.”

Speakers for this year’s event included:
Lisa Tarricone, Executive Director of Taconic Resources for Independence, Inc., detailed the events of a personal injury and how the effects of that injury drew her to a career in advocacy for individuals with disabilities; Kimberely Williams, Senior Vice President for Retail Operations and Marketing for Williams Lumber and Home Centers, discussed her own experiences as a woman working in a male-dominated industry and how she has paved her own path forward.

* G. Angela Henry, Executive Director of the Poughkeepsie Public Schools Foundation, detailed how often individuals serve as their own barrier, and the steps she has taken to overcome her own self doubt to become a voice-actor and a voice for students.
During the event, Sue Serino outlined her plan, titled ‘She Leads,’ to empower women in our community as the Dutchess County Executive. Her proposals include:

* Continue to host Annual Women Networking Events to help women build on their personal and professional networks

* Host speakers series around the County to provide opportunities to hear from trailblazing speakers

* Expand these networking events to include youth initiatives in the County ‘Path to Promise’ Program

* Establish a mentorship program between professional women and young adults looking to learn and expand their professional careers

* Increase education efforts regarding civil service exam opportunities

* Explore additional child care assistance services

“When womencome together, we are a force to be reckoned with, and as Dutchess County Executive, I will be committed to doing all that I can to empower women to reach their full potential,” continued Serino. “By expanding our annual networking events to incorporate women of all ages and to offer ways to connect all across our County, we can ensure that individuals have a network they can truly count on and increase their professional opportunities.”

Serino launched the ‘Women’s Networking Event’ in 2018 while serving in the State Senate to connect women in the community with one another in an effort to help build and expand their own personal and professional networks. Since its creation, over one thousand local women have participated in the event.