BETHLEHEM, PA — Lehigh Valley Style Magazine, in partnership with The Perfect Fit for Working Women, hosted its annual Women’s Networking Event on August 15th at Wind Creek Bethlehem, bringing women together to meet and mingle.
“This event is really a great evening for women of the Lehigh Valley to come together, network, mix and mingle,” said Jen Fronheiser, marketing and events manager at Lehigh Valley Style Magazine, “It’s an opportunity for women to connect and to grow their own network, whether it’s professionally or personally.”
The event featured several women-owned local businesses. Including, but not limited to:
- Creating Crystals: Known for their handmade jewelry
- Kore Coffee & Flowers: Offered a hands-on experience for participants to create custom flower bouquets
- Scents by Sen: Provided a variety of unique candle scents
- Thriving Stationery: Showcased distinctive paper products
- Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe: Introduced products crafted by different local artisans
Brielle Baker, a local astrologist, was also present with her business, Light Space Collective, to chat with women and provide astrology insight about themselves.
Women gathered around the table for the YWCA’s The Perfect Fit for Working Women program to look at the clothes provided.
The Perfect Fit displayed a small shop representing their resale boutique in downtown Allentown.
With a mission to empower women by providing them with career skills and clothes as they enter the workforce, The Perfect Fit has collaborated with Lehigh Valley Style on the Women’s Networking Event for almost ten years.
“We make sure that we remove clothing as a barrier,” said Sarah Barret, the executive director of YWCA.
“Every woman that comes to our program is paired with a volunteer and they work one-on-one for hours to make sure that whatever that woman’s career goals are and however she wants to dress and present herself, that we are able to make that happen for her. It’s what she wants. It’s her voice. It’s her choice.”
Aside from helping women find the perfect fit, the program also provides them with networking, communication, and more skills to prepare them for starting new jobs.
“We help 1,000 women each year get back to work and our program has touched the lives of more than 13,000 women in the community,” said Barret. “So the chances are that no matter where you work, someone has gone through the Perfect Fit program.”
Representatives from St. Luke’s Penn Foundation mental health service line were there to inform women about their different services and programs.
“We’re here to educate the community on all of our services that we offer,” said Jennifer Getz, senior practice operations manager for the Acute Partial Hospitalization Program at St. Luke’s. “We want to let women know that St Luke’s is here for them for whatever they need, whether it be struggles at work, financial issues, relationship issues or children.”
Women were also in line to speak to Lynn Mull, a holistic career coach and former Wall Street executive, for a career clarity session.
“I’m all about women making sure that when they have a milestone, that they pivot in the right direction,” said Mull.
Mull expressed her excitement about attending the event. She looked forward to speaking to different women about their career goals and dreams.
“It’s really about lifting each other up and cutting through the small talk,” said Mull. “When you know you’re in a room of great people, you don’t have to ask what the weather is. You can get right to the point and help each other out.”
The Executive Director of the American Heart Association, Abby Silfies, was also in attendance as she encouraged all efforts to unite women.
“I think that we’re in the era of the need for crown straighteners, people that build each other up, so that’s why these events are vital for us,” said Silfies.
Attendees expressed enthusiasm and excitement about being at the event, emphasizing its importance for women’s empowerment.
“I think that this event is great and it’s so good for women to have a voice with each other,” said Brielle Schmidt as she enjoyed appetizers with her friends. “Sometimes we might get shut down so it’s just nice to be with the girls to support each other.”
