20th Annual Women in Business Summit - MA

Mission: To develop a strong community of women professionals by providing quality programming and resources that inspire and elevate opportunities for equity.

Who Attends: Diverse women who are part-time or full-time entrepreneurs, or professionals who are looking to change their lives in a positive direction through learning, inspiration, and genuine connections with other women leaders.

Schedule:

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

6:00pm - 9:00pm - VIP Reception and Networking - This option is only available when you purchase a VIP ticket. Space is LIMITED.

Thursday, September 25, 2025 (Conference)

Agenda:

This year you can choose Leadership, Entrepreneurship or Wellness tracks for your breakout sessions.

8:00 am - Breakfast and Registration

9:00 am - Opening Remarks

10:00 am - Breakout Sessions

11:00 am - Breakout Sessions

12:00 pm - Panel Discussion - "Future of Work"

12:45 pm - Lunch

1:45 pm - Breakout Sessions

3:00 pm - Keynote

4:00 pm - Networking Session

5:00 pm - Event Ends

Keynote: Endia DeCordova

Endia serves as Morgan State University’s vice president for Institutional

Advancement and executive director for the Morgan State University Foundation, Inc.

DeCordova oversees operations for the University’s Division of Institutional Advancement,

which includes the Offices of Alumni Relations and Strategic Engagement, Development, and

Public Relations and Strategic Communications, in addition to the MSU Foundation and

Advancement Services. She also serves as a member of the University President’s senior

administrative team.

Prior to coming to Morgan, DeCordova served as vice chancellor for Advancement at Rutgers

University, Camden, where she worked on behalf of the institution and the Rutgers University

Foundation to advance the campus’s priorities through annual giving, major and principal

giving, alumni engagement, and corporate and foundation relations. Prior to her time at

Rutgers, she served as assistant vice president for Development and Strategic Initiatives for the

University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc. In all, she brings nearly two decades of leadership

experience in institutional advancement, primarily in the higher education sector, with

positions held at Mitchell College as vice president of Advancement, Georgian Court University

as assistant vice president of Development, and Manchester Community College as dean of

Institutional Advancement and Community Engagement.

Among the honors she has accumulated throughout her professional career includes being

named a 100 Women of Color Honoree (Connecticut and Massachusetts), a Hartford Business

Journal 40 under 40 awardee, and the West Indian Social Club Educator of the Year (2016).

As a class of 1999 graduate of Morgan State University DeCordova received her B.S. in

Communications/Public Relations. She would matriculate on to receive her Master of Business

Administration, Marketing Management from the University of Hartford’s Barney School of

Business.

Emcee - Tiffany Joy Murchison

As the founder and principal public relations strategist for TJM & Co. Media Boutique, Tiffany Joy leads a team to empower brands to flourish by exposing them to ideal audiences through fully integrated, purpose-focused public relations and digital marketing strategies.

Tiffany Joy's professional experience spans several industries, from communications, technology, and financial services to publishing and entertainment. She also has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit board management. In 2019, TJ published her first e-book, PRY Until...The small business owner's guide to DIY public relations until you're ready to hire a pro. A second edition, which discusses managing reputation during social unrest and a health pandemic, was published in 2020.

Tiffany Joy is a Goldman Sachs 10k Small Business Program graduate and holds a Bachelor's in Public Administration and Communications from The City College of New York. Her most notable certifications include a Project Management Certificate from Villanova University, Business Certificates in Entrepreneurship from Cornell University and Babson College, and a certification in DEI Communication Strategies from PRSA.

Recognized as one of Crain's New York 2023 Notable Leaders in Marketing, Advertising, and PR, Tiffany Joy believes in serving the community and embodies her company's tagline, "Where PR meets purpose." She is actively involved in various organizations, including serving on the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and several Chamber committees. Tiffany Joy is a Digital Girl, Inc. board member, leading their PR and fundraising committee. Moreover, she mentors Black and women entrepreneurs through programs with NYC Small Business Services. In 2024, Tiffany Joy joined the executive board of the Black Public Relations Society as Vice President and Chair of Professional Development Programs. Her favorite role, however, is being a mom. Tiffany and her family currently live in Brooklyn, NY.

Patsy L. Mundy is currently an Assistant Vice President for BI Workers Compensation Product Development at Travelers. Prior to this role, she spent her entire career as an attorney and worked in a number areas throughout Travelers to include Business Insurance Legal Services (BILS), Claim Legal Workers’ Compensation and Staff Counsel. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Patsy currently serves as a Board Member for the Hartford Public Library.

Patsy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison University and a Juris Doctorate from University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law.

Patsy currently resides in Connecticut.

Jen Bouquot, SHRM-SCP

VP, Talent Development

Liberty Bank

30 plus years of experience working as a leader in Human Resources.  Jen focuses on partnering with business leaders to build cultures that unlock the full potential for each employee inclusively and creatively inspiring people to be their best selves.

Lisa Carrol - Founder & CEO, LIVLY

Lisa Carrol is the founder and CEO of LIVLY, a premium baby clothing brand born from her personal journey as a mother to twin girls, Liv and Lilly, who were born prematurely with sensitive skin. On a mission to create clothing that would be both gentle and protective, her search took her to Peru, where she discovered 100% Pima cotton—a fabric known for its unmatched softness and purity.

In 2011, Lisa launched LIVLY with its first store in Stockholm, Sweden, a brand focused on delivering exceptional comfort and quality for newborns and children. Today, LIVLY offers a curated selection of baby clothing, gift sets, accessories, and more—each piece thoughtfully designed to support the health and happiness of babies while celebrating life’s precious moments. Before founding LIVLY, Lisa played basketball at Fordham University, where she developed the resilience, discipline, and drive that would fuel her entrepreneurial journey. These qualities helped her build LIVLY into a trusted brand that blends thoughtful design with exceptional softness and quality.

Lisa’s dedication as a mother remains central to LIVLY’s mission to create clothing that prioritizes both comfort and care for babies’ delicate skin. She remains dedicated to ensuring each product supports the health and happiness of little ones around the world.

With a B.S. from Stanford University, Iquo B. Essien began her career at a communications firm representing global health clients such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Driven to combine her passion for social change and the arts, she received her MFA in Film from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. While in film school, Iquo raised $15,000 in 4 weeks for her short film and unlocked a passion for helping people raise money. 

When she’s not making films, she teaches people how to tell their story, market their work, and raise money through her online course and consultancy, Crowdfund Your Dream.

Ms. Essien recently launched a fundraising campaign that raised $35k to turn her family’s historical land in Calabar, Nigeria into the Elizabeth's Daughter Memoir Gallery & Artist Residency.

Michelle Wirth

After a 15-year career with Mercedes-Benz USA, Michelle and her husband relocated to Western MA from northern NJ in 2017 to open Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, a dealership dedicated to sales and service of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and vans.

At MBUSA, Michelle held positions in engineering, public relations and led the team responsible for producing and placing Mercedes-Benz integrated marketing campaigns nationally.

In 2022, she launched FeelGoodShopLocal.com - an innovative online website with a mission - to help local businesses thrive by making it fun and easy to shop a curated selection of local, small merchants and makers online, anytime.

Both businesses have won numerous awards. Most recently, Feel Good Shop Local was awarded the A+ Innovation Award by the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and both Mercedes-Benz of Springfield and FeelGoodShopLocal.com were awarded the Super60 Award in the same year by the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Michelle was awarded BusinessWest 40 Under Forty (2018), Working Mother of the Year (2015) by the Advertising Women of New York and Working Mother Magazine. She holds various volunteer positions including Chair of the YPO International Business SubNetwork, officer on the YPO Northeast regional board and held positions in the local CT River Valley Chapter of the Young Presidents Association (YPO) since 2018. She serves in the Cooley Dickinson Development committee, served as a Corporator for Florence Bank and as a Trustee of the Board of Directors at Bay Path University in Longmeadow, MA.

She speaks three languages, is blissfully married and has 4 children - three boysages 15, 14, 11 and a 8 year old girl.

María Elena Gavilán Alfonso is a business-minded technology leader and Technical Program Manager at MathWorks, where she drives global initiatives that empower academic and research institutions to adopt innovative solutions using MATLAB and Simulink. With a strong foundation in engineering and applied science, María bridges the gap between complex technology and real-world impact—helping entrepreneurs, educators, and researchers bring smarter, AI-powered systems to life.

Her background includes over a decade of experience leading simulation and modeling projects in the automotive and aerospace industries, where she specialized in high-impact technologies such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD), finite element analysis (FEA), and AI-integrated systems. Today, María is passionate about the intersection of autonomous systems, sustainability, and climate-tech innovation.

A firm believer in the power of inclusive entrepreneurship, María is dedicated to helping women leverage technology to grow their businesses and amplify their leadership. She holds a BSc in Physics from the National University of Colombia, an MSc in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University, and an MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Whitney S. Wilfred, LCSW is a passionate therapist, clinical leader, and founder of Climbing Out Solutions, where she partners with women to navigate the healing journey from trauma, shame, and emotional overwhelm toward empowerment and inner restoration. She believes that healing is not linear and never “one-size-fits-all”—each path is deeply personal, and Whitney is committed to walking alongside her clients every step of the way.

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in the Greater Hartford area, Whitney brings extensive experience working with diverse populations across a range of clinical settings. Her professional journey includes roles as an in-home clinician, senior intensive outpatient provider, clinical supervisor, and group facilitator. She has trained healthcare workers on grief and secondary trauma, provided individual counseling, led recovery-focused groups, developed behavior support plans, and advocated fiercely for parents and families navigating complex systems of care.

In her current role, Whitney not only leads a team of clinicians but also offers individual psychotherapy for women seeking transformation and healing. Her therapeutic approach is enriched by a unique combination of personal lived experience, academic depth, and hands-on expertise. Grounded in principles of compassion, advocacy, and faith, she creates a space where women feel seen, heard, and supported.

Whitney is deeply committed to mentoring future mental health professionals and helping women reconnect with their inherent worth and strength. She believes that adversity can be a refining fire—one that sharpens, strengthens, and propels us toward purpose. Her mission is to help women clear away the emotional debris of past wounds and rediscover the resilient, radiant self beneath.

Whitney is honored to do this work—and to witness the courageous transformation of every woman who chooses to rise and reclaim her story.

Veronica Garcia

CEO of Latino Marketing Agency LLC

Award-winning executive producer and host of, Presencia on NEPM (PBS)

International Public relations specialist, Worked for Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa.

Creator of Viviendo Sin Límites, reaching over 950 radio and TV stations internationally.

Prominent business leader and Executive Director of Latino Marketing Agency, dedicated to empowering the Latino community.

Award-winning presenter, recipient of the Águila Award for Best Audiovisual Presenter and two Telly Awards for her bilingual program Presencia.

Founder of Cruzando Puentes INC. (2022), a nonprofit organization connecting Latinos with global opportunities.

Director of the International Women’s Movement, advocating for women's empowerment globally.

Executive producer of the film series Detrás de Mi Verdad.

Inspiring public speaker, sharing her story and passion for community transformation.

Based in Massachusetts and mother of two, she balances family life with a strong commitment to social impact.

Tessa Murphy-Romboletti says she was just 8 years old when she had her first experience with effecting change in Holyoke.

Telling the story, she said she had a real affection for Friendly’s ice-cream treats. To get to the Friendly’s, she had to cross busy Route 5, which wasn’t a problem until a certain traffic light stopped working as it should.

Missing her ice cream compelled her to ask her grandfather what could be done to get the light fixed, and upon being told that she should call the mayor’s office … she did just that. And her phone call promoted some action.

And it did more than that. Much more. It empowered her, and, in many ways, it put her on a path to occupying an at-large seat on her hometown’s City Council; she won election last fall.

“From that traffic-light experience, I was like, ‘what else can I fix?’” she recalled, adding that she quickly moved on to the vacant field across from her house. When a candidate for City Council knocked on the door, she informed him that she would like to see it turned into a park. It took a while, but that’s just what that space became.

“I always had a deep love for local government, and I’ve always cared about improving my neighborhood,” said Murphy-Romboletti, adding that this passion eventually led to taking an internship with then-mayor Mike Sullivan while she was in college, which led to a job in the mayor’s office and, later, another job with the Planning and Economic Development department.

Her love of Holyoke and desire to build its business community took a different path when, in 2016, she became director of SPARK, a nonprofit that was part of the region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, and merged it into EforAll, now a national organization.

Sara Diaz ,LCSW, CFSW

Sara Diaz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Financial Social Worker, and a dedicated advocate for mental health education and awareness within underrepresented communities. She serves as the founder and visionary behind The First Gen Madrina, LLC, a mental health consulting firm.

With a deep commitment to fostering inclusivity, Sara has led numerous workshops on critical topics such as breaking barriers in mental health, overcoming imposter syndrome, and managing burnout. In addition, Sara is SIFI-certified, which enables her to provide supervision for social work students during their internships. In her role as a liaison for college students, Sara offers guidance to help them navigate academic and internship challenges successfully.

Sara’s expertise also extends to training social workers on adopting culturally responsive approaches when working with the Latine community. She has designed and implemented various programs specifically tailored to support social workers and has facilitated impactful conversations surrounding mental health and money. Her professional experience spans non-profits, higher education, child welfare, and clinical social work.

Sara holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Rutgers University. Her podcast, The First Gen Madrina, can be found on Spotify, iHeartRadio and Apple Podcasts. To learn more about her work or inquire about services, visit thefirstgenmadrina.com.

Choc'late Allen

Author | Activist | Collaborator

The legacy Choc'late Allen carries is grounded in the enduring spirit of the Caribbean — a spirit defined by resilience, unity, and the quiet determination to transform words into meaningful action. From her earliest youth activism to her current role as an educator abroad, her work reflects a generational commitment to building not just movements, but mindsets that empower communities to lead with clarity, culture, and collaboration.
As an author, educator, and community leader, Choc'late is recognized for creating platforms that mobilize change, nurture sustainability, and amplify authentic Caribbean voices. She serves as CEO of Caribbean Vizion (CV) and is the Founder of C.E.F., both dedicated to youth development, cultural preservation, and regional empowerment. Her leadership is defined by her ability to bridge generations, sectors, and communities — always with intention, always with heart.
Over the past two decades, Choc'late has designed and led initiatives such as the “Do The Right Thing” school tour, the Caribbean Youth Summit, and regional dialogues that have empowered young people to challenge social barriers, protect their identity, and cultivate leadership from the ground up. Whether addressing policymakers or engaging students in rural villages, her approach has always been rooted in partnership and respect — knowing that real change cannot be imposed, it must be built together.
Now based in the United States, Choc'late continues that legacy as an educator within the U.S. high school system, bringing her experience, cultural insight, and unwavering belief in youth potential into classrooms and communities abroad. Through her work, she remains a trusted voice — ensuring that wherever she stands, the values of unity, sustainability, and cultural integrity stay firmly at the center of the conversation.

Latonia Y. Tabb, MSOL

CEO, Cooke Consulting Management, LLC

With over 27 years of experience in the non-profit sector, our founder has dedicated her career to servicing youth and families, specializing in leadership development and staff dynamics. As an advisory board member of The Urban League of Springfield’s Department of Education and Youth Development’s Project Ready Mentor Program and a committee member for the Farmington Public Schools Board of Education Community Council for Equity & Inclusion (CCEI), she is committed to working with diverse populations. A mother of twin daughters, she holds a BA from Central Connecticut State University and an MSOL from Springfield College School of Human Services, reflecting her lifelong commitment to youth and families, education, and community service.

Orlena Cowan-Bailey, SHRM-SCP

Chief Elevation Officer (CEO)

HR Zoom Consulting LLC and HR Swag Shop

These ventures allow Orlena to maximize her passion, innovation and expertise to positively impact workplace cultures, strategy and business results with the support of an esteemed team and network of experts and professionals.

Orlena is a multifaceted culture architect with experience in various industries in the public and private sector, across multiple U.S. and global regions and Fortune 100+ companies. She demonstrates expertise in Employee Relations, Talent Management & Development, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Training, Corporate Communications, Event & Program Management, Leadership Coaching & Development. She currently serves as the Executive Director of CT Human Resources Council (CTSHRM), a regional affiliate of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Orlena is a life-long stakeholder, advocate and change agent advancing social justice, equity and cultural competence in the community and behind corporate walls. Her passion is fueled by her own experiences empowering her mission to elevate workplaces and results one culture at a time.

Out of the many crowns she wears her most important role is Wife and Mom which keep her heart and hands full beyond measure. Visit www.OrlenaOfficial.com for more!

Music Provided by:

Qiana Coachman-Strickland

DJ Q-BOOGIE

Corporate & Special Events DJ

Founder & CEO, Female DJ Association

Home of the Female DJ Directory — discover, book talent, build community, and support women in music.

femaledjassociation.com