Get the latest delivered to your inbox
Privacy Policy

Now Reading

Lily Tomlin, Christine Todd Whitman and Judge Glenda A. Hatchett to Headline Office Depot's Sixth Annual Success Strategies for Businesswomen Conference

Lily Tomlin, Christine Todd Whitman and Judge Glenda A. Hatchett to Headline Office Depot's Sixth Annual Success Strategies for Businesswomen Conference

Published 01-31-06

Submitted by Office Depot, Inc.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2006--Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, today announced its lineup of keynote speakers, panelists and other presenters for the Company's sixth annual Success Strategies for Businesswomen Conference.

Registration

The conference will be held at the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Fla. March 26-28, 2006. It is open to the public, but limited to the first 1,500 registrants. Those interested in registering may do so online at www.officedepotsuccess.com or by calling 1-877-846-2367. Registrants can take advantage of Savvy Saver pricing at $499 now through February 14. Early Bird pricing for the three-day conference will be $649 through March 1, and $749 from March 2 through March 26.

Theme

The theme for 2006 is Connecting for Growth, Innovation and Inspiration.

"The annual conference builds on Office Depot's vision of 'Delivering Winning Solutions That Inspire Worklife' by providing a forum to share the knowledge and wisdom of some of the most dynamic women in business today," noted Chuck Rubin, President, North American Retail for Office Depot.

Keynote Speakers

-- Lily Tomlin -- Actress and Comedienne

-- Judge Glenda A. Hatchett -- Judge, Lawyer, Author, TV Host,
Judge Hatchett

-- Christine Todd Whitman -- President, The Whitman Strategy
Group

Panelists and Presenters

This year's conference is a diverse program filled with informative panel sessions and outstanding presentations to be delivered by more than 40 prominent women business leaders. Featured speakers include:

-- Sara Blakely, Creator and Founder of Spanx

-- Marsha Evans, Former President and CEO, American Red Cross

-- Maxine Clark, Founder and Chief Executive Bear from
Build-A-Bear Workshop(R)

-- Linda Kaplan Thaler, CEO and CCO, The Kaplan Thaler Group

-- B. Smith, Chairman of the Board and CCO, B. Smith Enterprises

-- Lisa Price, Founder Carol's Daughter Cosmetics

-- Antoinette Zel, Senior Executive Vice President, Network
Strategy, Telemundo

-- Violy McCausland-Seve, CEO & President, Violy & Company

-- Nina McLemore, President of the Nina McLemore Collection

-- A'Lelia Bundles, Author of On Her Own Ground: The Life and
Times of Madam C.J. Walker and Madam C.J. Walker, Entrepreneur

-- Cathy Areu, Publisher, Catalina Magazine

-- Susan Handley, Founder Beijo Bags

Also, returning for the third year as emcee is Alexis M. Herman, Former U.S. Secretary of Labor (1997-2001).

Business Sessions

Planned business sessions will address topics focused on building your business and your brand, sales strategies, and lessons learned from leading CEO's on achieving a healthier work/life balance.

Matchmaker Session

The conference offers an enhanced Matchmaker Session whereby certified women business owners are pre-selected and invited to meet with procurement officers and present their products and services. (Women-business owners eligible for consideration must have certification from the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Women's Business Enterprise National Council or Small Business Administration.)

In the past, this invitation-only session provided an opportunity for women to meet exclusively with Office Depot procurement executives. This year, several Fortune 500 companies will be on hand as well to participate in the session. Companies expected to participate include Xerox Corporation, NACO, Scripps and North Broward Hospital.

Certified women-business owners interested in participating should visit www.officedepotsuccess.com and apply online for consideration.

All submissions must be received no later than February 17, 2006.
Those selected will be contacted by Office Depot no later than March 10, 2006.

Break-Out Sessions and Workshops

New elements to the conference agenda this year are Corporate Track break-out sessions and interactive workshops for female corporate professionals. Also offered will be an Entrepreneurial Track that will provide tips on how to write effective business and marketing plans; insight on franchising, licensing and funding; and secrets to secure government and corporate contracts.

To learn more about the planned business sessions, corporate and entrepreneurial tracks, please visit http://www.officedepotsuccess.com/bizsessions.html.

Businesswomen of the Year Awards

Another highlight of the conference is the presentation of Office Depot's "Businesswomen of the Year." The awards are presented to women who demonstrate outstanding leadership within the community, business or respective association. The winners will be selected by Office Depot and a panel of distinguished women's associations. Office Depot is proud to partner with the following women's associations in presenting the 2006 awards:

-- National Association of Women Business Owners

-- Executive Women's Golf Association

-- Women's Leadership Exchange

-- Women Impacting Public Policy

-- eWomenNetwork

-- Women's Business Enterprise National Council

-- National Association for Female Executives

-- Business Women's Network

-- The Committee of 200

Office Depot is soliciting nominations to identify the most qualified recipients for consideration and will accept nominations through February 6. All women who are active members of the participating women's associations are eligible to submit nominations and are advised to contact their association for a nomination form.

All nominations must be mailed to Office Depot BWOY Award c/o Medelia Communications, 2029 Taft Street, Hollywood, FL 33020 or via email to officedepotsuccessstrategies@medelia.com. The selected winners will be notified no later than February 17, 2006.

Exposition Area

The conference will also include an exposition area featuring more than 50 exhibitor booths and a special Wellness Center. For more information on exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities please call 954-922-0846.

Silent Auction

Office Depot will once again host a Silent Auction with proceeds benefiting Count-Me-In, a non-profit organization that provides online nationwide access to micro business loans for women starting their own business.

About the Conference

The Office Depot Success Strategies for Businesswomen Conference was created in 2001 and is recognized as one of the nation's most prominent events for women business owners as well as corporate female professionals. The three-day event attracts more than 1,000 women from around the country and features keynote presentations, business panel sessions and workshops delivered by chief executive officers, presidents and vice presidents of national multi-million dollar companies founded by women, as well as Fortune 500 companies and women's associations. According to past attendees, the conference is an invaluable networking tool to educate, encourage and empower women to grow and achieve greater success in business.

The conference also honors top women in business with Office Depot Visionary Awards. Leading sponsors for the 2006 conference are: Xerox Corporation, MassMutual, Microsoft, Washington Mutual and HON.

About Office Depot

With annual sales of over $14 billion, Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, Office Depot conducts business in 23 countries and employs 47,000 people worldwide. The Company operates under the Office Depot(R), Viking Office Products(R), Viking Direct(R), Guilbert(R), and Tech Depot(R) brand names.

Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel - from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. With over $3.1 billion in online sales, the Company is the world's number three Internet retailer. As of September 24, 2005, Office Depot has 1,009 retail stores in North America. Internationally, the Company conducts wholly-owned operations in 14 countries, and operates retail stores under joint venture and license arrangements in another seven countries.

The company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com.

Copyright Business Wire 2006

Office Depot, Inc. logo

Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., Office Depot has annual sales of nearly $15 billion, and employs approximately 50,000 associates around the world. Currently, the Company sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 42 countries. Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel -- from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. Office Depot serves a wide range of customers through a dedicated sales force, telephone account managers, direct mail offerings, and multiple web sites.

More from Office Depot, Inc.

Join today and get the latest delivered to your inbox