Mission:
"To empower the diverse working-women of our community to achieve their highest potential through collaborative initiatives focusing on networking, professional development and community outreach."
WE Meetings
The WE Committee meets the second Thursday of every month at various women owned/operated businesses in the community. FREE for Chamber Members; $10 for Potential Chamber Members. Click Here for our monthly newsletter.
For more information, please contact Cassie Hansen at the Chamber (321)724-5400, ext 231 or email her at: Cassie@melbourneregionalchamber.com
WE Resources
- Women's Business Center at Florida Tech
- Small Business Development Center at Brevard Community College
- Zonta Club of Melbourne
- South Brevard Women's Center
- Serene Harbor Domestic Violence Center
Upcoming Events
Next Monthly Meeting - July 8th from 8:00-10:00AM (Special Time!). Location: Brevard Zoo Nyami River Lodge (8225 N. Wickham Road Melbourne, FL 32940) July’s Women of Excellence Committee meeting will feature Guest Speaker Nancy Grzesik, Chief Operating and Financial Officer at the Brevard Zoo. The East Coast Zoological Society of Florida, Inc. (ECZS) was formed in 1984 with the goal of building a new zoo for Brevard County. Brevard Zoo celebrated its grand opening on March 26, 1994. Brevard Zoo boasts "The World's Largest Volunteer Community Build." Over 16,000 people of all ages joined forces to help build the Zoo in the spring of 1992. Join us July 8th for this special presentation and private tour of the zoo!
Recent Events
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU - Women Helping Women: A Career/Image Workshop for Women. Come learn from others, help others and make connections in the business community. Presentations on networking, image, & marketing yourself... Including a fashion show on how to dress business formal or business casual in your 20's, 30's, 40's, & 50's! Click Here for more information on the New Year, New You Event!
Tuesday, February 2nd, women from all over Brevard joined in this fun seminar at the Florida Institute of Technology. The second annual event was a great success with many partnering businesses and organizations.
Women of Excellence Celebration - Wednesday, June 23, 2010 the Women of Excellence Committee of the Melbourne Regional Chamber hosted it's 3rd Annual Women of Excellence Celebration at the Suntree Country Club. 90 local business men and women were in attendance to honor the local women who have shown dedication and commitment to excellence in professional endeavors, personal growth, community involvement, and helping other women achieve. The 10 dynamic women nominated for the Woman of Excellence Award this year included: Julie Braga, Residence Inn & Courtyard by Marriott; Mary L. Carter, Buena Vida Estates; Janice Everson, Congregations for Community Action; Betsy Farmer, Brevard Business Leadership Network; Pokey Gutjahr, Kiwanis Club of Melbourne; Lotte P. Lopez, Honor America, Inc.; Darlyne McGee, Silhouette Hair Design, Inc.; Sandra Michelson, Zonta Club of Melbourne; Nancy Peltonen, Serene Harbor; Dr. Hong Rosson, HR Enterprises.
Betsy Farmer was named the Woman of Excellence for 2010. Betsy is the Executive Director and founder of Brevard Business Leadership Network, an organization that connects employers and special needs individuals with jobs. Betsy was nominated by Donn Miller-Kermani, Director of the Women's Business Center at Florida Tech. For more than twenty years, Betsy has worked tirelessly to give individuals with special needs here in Brevard County a much better life. She thinks outside the box and is always envisioning a world where these individuals can be confident, self sufficient and safe. Betsy was the founder of Space Coast Early Intervention Center, based on her own life situation, as the mother of a child with special needs. Her son, Luke, was born with Down's Syndrome. She didn't accept that he could not lead a normal life and set out on a quest to make that a reality. Her new Vision "Promise in Brevard" is described as a "place where people with diverse abilities can have a fun-filled life, with opportunities and freedom never thought possible; an idea that provides home where caring neighbors can grow and share the meaning of community." Donn had this to say about Betsy, "Excellence cannot even begin to describe Betsy Farmer. She is an absolutely phenomenal person! When you meet her for the first time, you can feel her passion and excitement to fulfill her dream of a better, safe life for those with special needs."
Sponsors for the event included: Berman Hopkins Wright & LaHam; Brevard Community College; Symetrics Industries; JM Real Estate; Buena Vida Estates; Residence Inn by Marriott; & Wesche Jewelers. All of the beautiful centerpieces, the boquet of flowers for the winner, and the corsages worn by the nominees were made and donated by Roses Are Red Florist of Indialantic, FL.
