The Hampton Roads Chamber’s Power of Women program brings successful women in the business community to a platform to share lessons learned, failures and successes.

The event on Sept. 23 brought first lady Suzanne Youngkin to the podium followed by a panel discussion with Lynn Clements, president of Clements Consulting; Marcia Conston, president of Tidewater Community College; and Angie Lombardi, vice president of marketing for The Franklin Johnston Group.

About 150 attendees, mostly women, gathered at the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center to garner words of wisdom from the leading women. A grateful Youngkin introduced herself as the wife of the 74th governor of the commonwealth.

“One of the most exciting things that I get to do in this role is meet outstanding people just like you,” she said.

She thanked the audience for leading in their lives, companies and in the state.

“You really are the engine that makes this commonwealth what it is today,” Youngkin said.

Youngkin reflected back to the campaign days in 2021 as the Women for Glenn coalition grew to more than 27,000 women throughout Virginia. She recalled concerns she heard, including educational opportunities, cost of living, nutritious food for children, access to elder care and mental health stability for youth amid the pandemic.

She was quiet on issues that the General Assembly may face, including stronger restrictions on abortion. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has been vocal that he would support a ban on most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, except for in the cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is at risk.

She boasted that Boeing, Raytheon and Plenty Unlimited are all moving their headquarters to Virginia; Google and Amazon have both invested heavily in the state; and Lego will put its largest U.S. manufacturing facility — with a zero carbon footprint — outside of Richmond.

“One of the things Glenn and I are laser-focused on is keeping our young people in the commonwealth,” she told attendees. “So many of the companies you’re involved in are going to be places where we want our community college, trade school and higher ed institutions to feed our young people …”

Youngkin said the workforce needs to be reinvigorated and in many cases, retooled. She encouraged the women to sign up for her Sisterhood monthly newsletter, which spotlights women working in various sectors across the state.

“My job is to amplify what is happening in Virginia,” she said. “I need your help in this; I need your partnership.”

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com