Antonella Nester, QVC program host, will be the keynote speaker at Penn State Hazleton’s sixth annual Symposium on Contemporary Women’s Issues. The event, free and open to the public, will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 18, in the Evelyn Graham Academic Building at the campus.
This year’s theme, “Empowered for Life: Navigating YOUR Career Path,” will focus on various topics to help women of all ages and backgrounds achieve personal and professional success.
Nester was discovered during QVC’s “America’s Host Search” auditions and joined the company as a program host in November 2004. In this position, Nester presents product information, conducts demonstrations and interacts with QVC’s on-air guests, vendors, celebrities and viewers.
Prior to joining QVC, Nester spent more than 15 years as a medical technologist. Additionally, she served as an actor in internal instructional videos for a major drug store chain.
Nester attended Penn State Mont Alto, completed an internship through the Hazleton campus, and earned her associate degree in science in medical technology from Penn State. She is certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathology.
Following the keynote address, three breakout sessions will be held. Sessions include:
-- Using LinkedIn© to positively advertise YOU, presented by Penn State alumna Jackie Ritzko, instructional designer at Penn State Hazleton. Ritzko will discuss what people see when they Google you. In one survey, 85 percent of employers say that a positive online reputation influences their hiring decisions. Attendees will learn how to use LinkedIn© to advertise a professional persona in a positive and effective format.
-- Get the Advantage with SIGI 3, presented by Kathryn Maxwell, career counselor/academic adviser and instructor in kinesiology at Penn State Hazleton. SIGI 3 = System of Integrated Guidance and Information (computer-assisted career exploration). SIGI 3 integrates self-assessment with in-depth and up-to-date career information that provides students and adults with a realistic view of the best educational and career options for their future success. SIGI 3 helps each user examine key motivators and matches work-related values, interests, personality, and skills to educational and career pathways. Individuals explore a range of options based on their personal choices.
-- Effective Job Search Strategies, presented by Cheryl Clark Bonner, director of Alumni Career Services at the Penn State Alumni Association. This resource session will help to answer basic and advanced questions regarding your career search. The session will explore resources for career searches at any age. Also highlighted are the career planning and resource advantages available to Penn State students and alumni, as well as Penn State Alumni Association members.
A panel discussion with the keynote speaker, presenters and additional guests will close the event and will include Q&A time for participants. Additional professional participants include:
-- Eileen Chapman, U.S. Marines, retired; lawyer and executive director of AGAPE, Bloomsburg. The AGAPE mission is to “fill in the gaps” which currently exist between people in need and the community services available to assist them.
-- Beth Terrell, owner and design director, Lizden Industries, Inc. Based in New York City, Lizden is a designer and manufacturer of women’s separates and accessories.
The event will feature free refreshments, door prizes from Vera Bradley™ and Lizden™ (must be present to win), giveaways from local supporting merchants and informational handouts.
Funded through an endowment established by local businesswoman E. Lee Beard, the Women’s Symposium at Penn State Hazleton is designed to engage women’s interest in topics related to professional and personal development. Each year, the symposium focuses on a different theme, and all women are encouraged to support and attend the events. This year marks the sixth anniversary of the event.
Additional support for this year’s event is provided by the Penn State Commission for Women, Penn State Hazleton Student Activities Fund, and Penn State Hazleton Women’s Symposium Committee. Locally, PPL has been a sponsor of the event since its inception.
On the day of the event, check-in begins at 12:30 p.m., with the symposium starting at 1 p.m. Reservations are required by Monday, March 12, and seating is limited. For more information or to register, call Penn State Hazleton’s Office of University Relations at 570-450-3180.