Women's Conference held in new downtown Pottsville venue

Mar. 24—POTTSVILLE — A motivational speaker urged women to step out of their comfort zone Friday at the Schuylkill 2023 Women's Conference in Arrow Studio and Events.

"Do one thing every day that scares you," Tiffany J. Cresswell-Yeager advised, borrowing a quote from first lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Cresswell-Yeager led the 65 women attending the daylong conference in activities designed to encourage women to reach out to one another and share common experiences.

"Challenge yourself," said Cresswell-Yeager, assistant professor of higher education and leadership at Gwynedd Mercy University in Montgomery County. "We need to hear other voices."

Sponsored by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, the conference drew women from businesses, corporations and nonprofits across the county.

Cynthia M. Mensch, director of Alvernia University's Pottsville CollegeTowne campus, welcomed the women to Arrow Studio & Events, a new venue in the city's downtown district.

"I'm thrilled to see the way we're growing," said Mensch, first vice chair of the chamber.

Samantha Chivinski, the Chamber's executive vice president, said opportunities for women in county businesses are on the rise.

"I've watched them grow over the last five years," she said. "Today we have a cross-section of women business owners, managers and staff."

The conference has been held in March, Women's History Month, for the last three years.

Discovering opportunity

Arrow Studios & Events, located in the former Nathan's Furniture Store on North Centre Street, opened its doors last month.

The Dorans, who live in Pottsville, saw opportunity in a former furniture store that stood vacant for years.

"People are abandoning the 'big city' mentality," Allie Doran said. "They want to be more connected in smaller places like Pottsville."

With assistance from the Pottsville Redevelopment Authority, the Dorans gutted the furniture store and transformed it into a spacious venue for events up to about 200 people.

"We originally envisioned something smaller," said Doran, 31, a cookbook author. "But everyone was saying there's no place for a wedding, class reunion or family gathering."

Jared Doran's company, JMD Contracting, of Pottsville, worked with subcontractors to renovate the structure. Starting in July 2022, it was awarded an occupancy permit in early February.

One of four projects unveiled in the Launch Pottsville Competition in April 2022, the renovation cost around $500,000, Doran said.

"Our vision was to create a space where people could gather for an affordable, luxurious experience in downtown Pottsville," said Doran, author of the "Venison Every Day" cookbook.

In the month since it opened, Arrow Studio & Events has hosted several events with 100 or more people.

Focus on youth

One of the conference highlights was a panel discussion entitled "Young Professionals: Our Impact."

Responding to questions by Dominique Hughes, a Chamber staffer, were Katie Weachock, marketing manager at Sterman Masser Potato Farms; Marley Mikovich, owner of Mar Creative Co.; Jamie Johns, a vice president at M&T Bank in Wilkes-Barre; and Sarah Barket, chief public affairs officer at Schuylkill Hope.

"Women of our generation are concerned about flexible work schedules, transparency and balancing the demands of a career with personal life," Barket said.

Debbie Daniels said EMD Electronics in Hometown, where she works, has started a Women's Success Network.

"It's about wellness, service and networking," Daniels said, "and about women supporting one another."

A quote by the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, displayed on a table at the conference, captured the spirit of the gathering.

"Women belong in all places when decisions are being made," it read. "It shouldn't be that women are the exception."

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007