“A free gold mine!” chanted more than 50 women during one of the most popular and energetic workshops conducted during Seton Hill University’s 11th annual E-Magnify “Building a World-Class Business” Conference. “What’s online?” was the question posed by Web mistress Donna Baxter of Soul Pitt Media as she educated the audience on the latest technology benefits during her session, “Blogging and Other Online Tools to Power up Your Business.”

“Our goal is to educate and empower entrepreneurs,” said Baxter. Her session focused on making the best of online tools to market oneself, business and ideas in creative and inexpensive ways.

READ THIS—Workshop facilitator Cassandra Washington shares her book, “How to Manage Unacceptable Employee Behavior” with PNC Bank business manager, Areesha Hunter.

Since its inception in 1992 as The National Education Center for Women in Business, the center has reached thousands of women of all ages through its initiatives for women entrepreneurs. In March 2006, the center adopted the name of its fast-growing and well-respected Web site to become E-Magnify.

One of 19 Women Business Centers in the country and one of three in Pennsylvania, E- Magnify received U.S. Small Business Administration designation in 2006. The center provides training, counseling and other technical assistance services with special emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged women.

The E-Magnify Web site provides best practice expertise and information with its focal points on three components for success: entrepreneurship, experience and education.

E-Magnify is committed to preparing working professionals for the challenges of business ownership. The organization is positioned to address the specific challenges women in business face through innovative programs that serve the needs of current and aspiring entrepreneurs.

This year’s E-Magnify Conference theme, “The Power of Women: One and All,” reflects on the women who have grown to become capable competitors in business, individually and as a collective economic force, according to Jayne Huston, director of Seton Hill University E-Magnify. According to E-Magnify, within the past two decades majority women-owned firms have continued to grow at twice the rate of all firms.

Keynote luncheon speaker Marti Barletta, president of the TrendSight Group, pointed out that women bring in half (or more) of household income in 55 percent of American households. Her research also indicated that 31 percent of all married women earn more than their husbands, 60 percent of women have MBAs, and 70 percent of women earn more than $100,000.

Her statistics also indicated that women are the household’s chief purchasing officer, doing 80 percent of household buying, even in male domains such as stock market investments, consumer electronics and home improvement purchases.

Barletta’s business focuses on marketing to women and is recognized as the international authority. A Wharton MBA, she is the author of “Prime Time Women—How to Win the Hearts, Minds, and Business of Boomer Big Spenders;” “Marketing to Women” and has co-authored “Trends” with Tom Peters.

Sandra Yancey, founder and CEO of eWomenNetwork and the speaker for the conference breakfast, pointed out that women have to honor their own power. Her advice as a networking expert suggested that women should look at their future and fortune in people they don’t know. She says relationships need to be nurtured, that your smile should be used as your most powerful and valuable asset, that women have to persevere and not to give up to soon, that you should do what you say you are going to do, keep your promises and to follow up.

Yancey is known for operating the number one resource for connecting and promoting women and their businesses worldwide and is ranked as the best online community for women business owners and professionals in North America. Her site, eWomenNetwork.com is the most visited women’s business Web site.

Throughout the day, the conference featured concurrent sessions focusing on areas of interest to women trying to grow their business. The workshops were designed to provide tools for entrepreneurs to put to work in moving their business into the future. Conference organizers estimate that more than 400 entrepreneurs, professionals and students participated in the activities.

“Do what you say and say what you mean,” was the advice provided by Cassandra Washington of Exceed Resource, Inc. in her session, “Communicating with Power.” To a standing room only crowd, she addressed overcoming stereotypes and biases while demonstrating a business handshake and speaking with confidence.

Seton Hill University, located in Greensburg, was named one of the top 100 U.S. colleges and universities for entrepreneurs by Entrepreneur Magazine for the past three years.

Its mission is to strengthen the economic impact of women business owners as a collective force and to advance their growth through innovative programming in entrepreneurship and new venture creation.