Events

Inspiring Conversation + Fast, Meaningful Connections Join us for a meaningful and engaging WBN Speaker Series event that brings together purpose, community, and connection. We’re honored to welcome Carleah Summers, Founder & CEO of Andrea’s House, who will share her powerful story and the mission behind creating a safe, supportive space for women and children in recovery. Following a brief and inspiring talk, we’ll transition into a fun and interactive Speed Connections session—designed to help you meet new people, spark conversations, and build authentic relationships in a relaxed and welcoming environment. What to Expect: Inspiring Speaker Moment Hear from Carleah Summers as she shares the story and impact of Andrea’s House and the importance of community support. Speed Connections A guided, fast-paced networking experience to help you meet and connect with other women in the room. Meaningful Conversations Build relationships that go beyond business and create lasting connections within WBN. This event is perfect for anyone looking to: ✔ Connect with other women in a more intentional way ✔ Be inspired by a powerful local mission ✔ Grow their network in a fun and supportive environment About the Speaker Carleah Summers, Founder & CEO of Andrea’s House Carleah Summers founded Andrea’s House: Transitional Living for Women and Children in Frederick, MD, in March 2019, turning her deep faith and life journey into a transformative mission. Guided by her unwavering belief in redemption, Carleah created Andrea’s House as a beacon of hope for women recovering from substance use disorders—a place where they can heal, grow, and thrive alongside their children in a safe, supportive environment. With extensive experience in the addiction and recovery field, Carleah brings both professional expertise and deep compassion to her work. Her holistic approach supports the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of recovery, while her personal journey as a mother in long-term recovery allows her to connect with the women she serves in a meaningful way. Andrea’s House is more than a program—it is a community where women rediscover their purpose, rebuild confidence, and develop the skills needed for a brighter future. 💛 Optional: Support Andrea’s House Donations for Andrea’s House will be accepted at this event. Contributions help provide essential resources and support for women and families in our community. The following items are especially helpful: Personal care items (shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products) Laundry supplies (detergent, dryer sheets) Household essentials (paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning products) Gift cards (grocery, pharmacy, gas) New towels or bedding  

Connection • Community • Purpose Join us for a relaxed evening at Rak Brewing Co., where connection comes easy and conversations flow naturally. Enjoy a laid-back atmosphere, great company, and your favorite brew while spending time with women who value community and purpose. This is a come-as-you-are gathering—no formal networking, no program—just an opportunity to unwind, connect, and enjoy the moment. We’ll come together to continue supporting Andrea’s House, an organization making a meaningful difference for women and families in our community. Through your attendance and donations, you help provide essential resources and support to those working toward stability and independence. Bring a friend, meet someone new, and be part of a Social that feels good—and does good. Registration Options $10 to Attend All registration proceeds will benefit Andrea’s House. OR Attend Free with an In-Kind Donation Bring a much-needed item to support Andrea’s House in place of registration. In-Kind Donation Ideas Andrea’s House supports women and families as they transition toward stability. The following items are especially helpful: Personal care items (shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products) Laundry supplies (detergent, dryer sheets) Household essentials (paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning products) Gift cards (grocery, pharmacy, gas) New towels or bedding All donated items will be delivered directly to Andrea’s House.

WBN Skills Series: Women’s Safety & Self-Defense Training with Aly Breggin, Happiness Is Balance Massage & Fitness Join Women’s Business Network of Frederick for an empowering and interactive Skills Series focused on practical women’s safety and self-defense techniques. Led by Aly Breggin of Happiness Is Balance Massage & Fitness, this hands-on training experience will provide real-world strategies designed to help participants feel more aware, prepared, and confident in everyday situations. This session will involve active participation and movement-based instruction on the mats. Aly will guide attendees through practical techniques, situational awareness exercises, and self-defense fundamentals that can be applied in real-life scenarios. Participants will learn: 🔹 Situational awareness and conflict avoidance 🔹 Personal safety strategies for public spaces and everyday environments 🔹 Basic self-defense concepts and response techniques 🔹 The importance of repetition and muscle memory in stressful situations Event Details 📅 Date: Sunday, September 27 🕞 Time: 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM 📍 Location: Bowerhouse MMA, 7311 Grove Rd, Units C&D, Frederick, MD What to Wear This is an active, mat-based training session. Participants will be barefoot during portions of the class. Please wear comfortable, tighter-fitting athletic clothing that allows movement and avoids loose fabric getting caught during exercises. Suggested attire includes leggings, yoga pants, or stretch pants, along with athletic tops, crew neck tees, or higher V-neck workout tops. About Aly Breggin Aly Breggin, owner of Happiness Is Balance Massage & Fitness, is passionate about helping people empower themselves physically, mentally, and personally. With more than 25 years of experience as a massage therapist and over 10 years as a personal trainer, Aly has dedicated her career to helping clients improve their overall health, confidence, and quality of life. A lifelong fitness enthusiast, gym advocate, and personal safety educator, Aly also brings extensive knowledge and experience in personal protection, situational awareness, and self-defense strategies. Her approach combines practical real-world techniques with education designed to help individuals feel more prepared and confident in everyday situations. Whether you are looking to build confidence, improve awareness, or learn practical safety skills in a supportive environment, this session is designed to meet you where you are and help you feel more prepared in everyday life.

IGNITE! Every successful journey begins with a spark. Join Women's Business Network of Frederick for an inspiring afternoon featuring three accomplished women leaders who will share the experiences, challenges, and defining moments that shaped their journeys. Through honest conversations, practical strategies, and real-world insight, our featured sessions explore vision, leadership, resilience, reinvention, and growth. You'll leave with fresh perspectives, practical tools, and renewed confidence to take your next step. Whether you're growing your business, advancing your career, leading others, navigating change, or simply seeking renewed inspiration, IGNITE! is designed to leave you encouraged, empowered, and ready to ignite what's next. Featured Sessions The Spark - Carrie Delente Turning Vision into momentum thorough creativity, confidence, and action.  Every successful business, movement, and career begins with a spark - an idea, a dream, or a moment of possibility. But vision alone is never enough. In this inspiring and practical session, Carrie shares how she has transformed bold ideas into thriving businesses, revitalized organizations, and launched  community-changing initiatives. Through personal stories and practical strategies, you'll learn how to turn inspiration into action, build momentum, and bring  others along with your vision. You'll leave with renewed confidence and a roadmap for turning possibility into purposeful action.       About Carrie Carrie Delente is the Founder and CEO of Celerate, an award-winning technology company she launched in 1997 to help mission-driven organizations leverage technology for greater impact. A lifelong entrepreneur, Carrie has founded multiple successful ventures, including pioneering healthcare technologies, community nonprofits, and creative initiatives. She is also the co-founder of SilverVox.org and co-owner of 7th Sister in Frederick. Known for turning bold ideas into reality, Carrie is passionate about helping leaders create a clear vision, build momentum, and drive meaningful change. Her work has earned national recognition, including Webby Awards and numerous industry honors, but her greatest joy comes from helping people transform possibility into action. Fanning the Flame - Julie Gaver Navigating leadership, stress, and resilence while staying grounded through challenge and change. Success isn't just about starting strong, it's about keeping the flame alive. In this light-hearted and interactive session, Julie shares how effective communication, a positive attitude, and a healthy sense of humor can help you navigate  change, strengthen relationships, and lead with confidence. Through engaging stories, practical insights, and humor, you'll discover practical ways to stay  energized, connected, and resilient. Whether you're leading a business, a team, or simply navigating your next chapter, you'll leave inspired to fan the flame that keeps your passion, purpose, and  leadership burning bright.     About Julie Julie Gaver is an award-winning speaker, author, leadership trainer, and master storyteller with more than 30 years of experience inspiring audiences through engaging, high-energy presentations. Her career includes serving as a corporate trainer focused on workplace culture and employee engagement and as an instructor for Dale Carnegie Systems, teaching communication and human relations. Today, Julie creates curated lifestyle experiences for women, including retreats, wellness workshops, and international travel adventures. She is the author of the Must Love Shoes humor series and co-author of Seasons at Meadow Branch Farm. A passionate community leader, Julie founded Soles of Love, providing new shoes and winter boots to children in need throughout Frederick and Washington Counties. The initiative continues today through Key City Rotary as Soles of JOY. Phoenix Rising - Tina Fraley Finding strength through reinvention, resilience, and transformation What if the fire wasn't sent to destroy you - but to build the strongest version of you? Through heartfelt storytelling, guided reflection, and an interactive experience, Tina helps participants discover how every setback, celebration, loss, and victory  has shaped who they are today. As individual journeys come together in one shared experience, you'll recognize that healing isn't about erasing the past—it's  about embracing how every chapter has prepared you for what's next. You'll leave inspired to rise stronger, embrace your resilience, and remember that resilience isn't born in comfort—it's forged through adversity and strengthened  in community.     About Tina Tina Fraley is the founder of FitMinded Living and Solara Nexus Wellness & Healing Center, an author, counselor, speaker, and transformational coach who has spent more than two decades helping people navigate life's most defining transitions. A survivor of domestic violence, cancer, and profound personal transformation, Tina's work bridges mind, body, and spirit to help people move beyond survival and into purposeful living. She is the author of Broken Road to Badass, where she shares her belief that our greatest setbacks often become the foundation of our greatest strength. Known for creating experiences that move audiences beyond inspiration into lasting personal insight, Tina combines storytelling, psychology, movement, and reflection to help people recognize that healing isn't about erasing the past—it's about discovering how every chapter has prepared them for what comes next. Three women. Three journeys. One unforgettable afternoon.   Women Supporting Women At Women's Business Network of Frederick, we believe that when women invest in one another, entire communities grow stronger. That's why proceeds from IGNITE! will benefit Andrea's House, a Frederick nonprofit dedicated to empowering women as they rebuild their lives through recovery. By providing safe housing, compassionate support, life skills, and opportunities for lasting independence, Andrea's House helps women and their families build brighter futures. Your attendance is more than a ticket to an inspiring afternoon, it's an investment in women who are working to create a new beginning. Learn more about Andrea's House: Andrea's House Every woman deserves the opportunity to discover her spark, keep her flame burning, and rise stronger than before. Thank you for joining Women's Business Network of Frederick as we inspire one another, empower our community, and help make that possible.   SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES  - CLICK ON THUMBNAIL TO OPEN -->                         

Charging Your Worth: Pricing with Confidence   Many women business owners are brilliant at what they do, but when it comes to pricing their work, self-doubt, limiting beliefs, and fear of losing clients can keep them stuck charging far less than they are worth. In this presentation, Rachel Collins cuts through the confusion with a practical, straightforward framework for setting prices that reflect your true value and support the business you are building. Using her signature reverse-engineering approach, Rachel will help attendees take a clear look at what is really behind pricing hesitation and how to begin turning that around. She will walk through the calculations needed to determine what you actually need to charge in order to pay yourself consistently, cover expenses, and create real profit. Key Takeaways: Why you may be undercharging, and why the reason is often not what you think A simple formula for working backward from your income goals to price with confidence How to stop making buying decisions for your clients and start pricing for the people you want to serve Which pricing model fits your business and how to think creatively about it Rachel Collins is a Certified Financial and Business Accountability Coach, with Living Well Financial Coaching who helps women business owners navigate the financial realities of entrepreneurship. She works with driven entrepreneurs who are making decent money but still feel broke and are tired of the feast-or-famine cycle. Rachel creates a shame-free space where clients can get unstuck, build systems that work, and run businesses that are both profitable and sustainable, so they can stop stressing and start living with greater intention and purpose. Giving Back: Supporting Andrea’s House We are proud to support Andrea’s House, a local nonprofit providing transitional housing and resources for women and children in our community. We are always collecting supplies and gift cards to help meet everyday needs. Suggested Donation Items: • Cleaning supplies • Laundry detergent • Handbags and tote bags • Facial and personal care products • Gift cards (grocery, gas, or general retail) Donations are always appreciated and help make a meaningful impact.

WBN December Social – Holiday Sweater Party Connection • Community • Purpose Join us for a festive evening at Oscar’s Alehouse as we celebrate the season together at our WBN Holiday Social! This month, it’s a Holiday Sweater Party! 🎄 Wear your favorite (or funniest!) holiday sweater and enjoy a relaxed, come-as-you-are evening filled with connection, laughter, and great conversation. No formal networking, no program, just time to unwind and celebrate with women who value community and purpose. We’ll continue supporting Andrea’s House, an organization making a meaningful difference for women and families in our community. Through your attendance and donations, you help provide essential resources and support to those working toward stability and independence. Grab a drink, show off your holiday spirit, and be part of a Social that feels good—and does good. Registration Options $10 to Attend All registration proceeds will benefit Andrea’s House. OR Attend Free with an In-Kind Donation Bring a much-needed item to support Andrea’s House in place of registration. In-Kind Donation Ideas Andrea’s House supports women and families as they transition toward stability. The following items are especially helpful: Personal care items (shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products) Laundry supplies (detergent, dryer sheets) Household essentials (paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning products) Gift cards (grocery, pharmacy, gas) New towels or bedding All donated items will be delivered directly to Andrea’s House.