The California Women's Conference -- The Women's Economy Starts Here

The Nation's Premier Forum for Women Returns in 2012 With New Leadership and Bold Strategies for Empowering Women


LONG BEACH, CA--(Marketwire - Apr 23, 2012) - The California Women's Conference, an internationally acclaimed forum for the world's most influential voices, hearts and minds, returns to the Long Beach Convention Center for its 28th conference on September 23-24th, 2012. This year's theme is "The Women's Economy Starts Here."

Known as the "California Governor & First Lady's Conference on Women" for most of its 27 year history, this star-studded event was hosted by California's First Ladies. With each successive administration, the size and scope of the event grew exponentially. During Maria Shriver's term as California's First Lady, attendance mushroomed to tens of thousands and sold out within hours of opening ticket sales. It established itself as the largest conference of its kind in the world. The conference's survival then became imperiled when California's current First Lady, Anne Brown, declined to continue this hosting tradition, citing a desire to focus on other economic priorities.

With the fate of the conference in the balance, a producer of successful 30,000 in-attendance events, stepped into this void to ensure its continuation. Michelle Patterson, CEO of EventComplete, and her team, are now building innovative new traditions into the time-honored conference elements put in place by the former First Ladies.

"The women's economy starts here, and the future is happening now for all women committed to success," says Patterson, referencing this year's conference theme and tagline. "This conference has too rich a legacy, and is too valuable a resource for women dedicated to making a difference, to be allowed to vanish. Visionary women from all backgrounds will be exposed to new and valuable resources, insight and encouragement from other like-minded women, and gain the momentum they need for their next small step or large leap of faith in their personal venture for change."

Today, with so many anticipating its return, the 2012 conference will feature a vast marketplace of ideas, exhibits, and internationally known speakers.

The conference is now accepting sponsorships and exhibitors. For application details and to learn more visit www.californiawomensconference.com. Join the California Women's Conference community to stay informed of pre-sale ticket information.

About California Women's Conference
The California Women's Conference, an annual non-partisan event, was created in 1985 by then-Governor George Deukmejian, to address the high failure rate among women-owned businesses by giving women entrepreneurs greater access to funding and other helpful resources. Selecting the city of Long Beach as the event's host, city officials and businesses quickly became enthusiastic supporters. Then-First Lady Gloria Deukmejian assumed responsibility for the conference, which became known as the California Governor and First Lady's Conference. After Maria Shriver entered the Governor's Mansion, she transformed the conference into a star-studded event and renamed it "The Women's Conference." Past speakers have included: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, Barbara Walters, Jane Fonda, Queen Noor of Jordan, Tyra Banks, Martha Stewart, Madeline Albright, Condoleeza Rice, and many others. Today, the legacy continues under the stewardship of Michelle Patterson, CEO of EventComplete.

About EventComplete, LLC
EventComplete, LLC, is a full-service event production company specializing in strategy, production and marketing for large scale conferences, workshops, and festivals with an 'Edu-tainment' flair -- entertainment meets education. Although they have been the visionary and creator behind a multitude of successful events across the country, EventComplete's passion and expertise lies in bringing resources to women to help them live their dreams. To learn more about CEO, Michelle Patterson and EventComplete, visit www.EventComplete.com.