BLM Rangeland Specialist Patricia Hattle conducts a breakout session during the
Young Women's Career Fair co-hosted by the Wyoming Council for Women's
Issues and Northwest College on September 15, 2011 in Powell.

CHEYENNE -- In partnership with Northwest College, the Wyoming Council for Women's Issues hosted its sixth annual Young Women's Career Fair on Sept. 15 on the college campus in Powell.

More than 350 girls in grades nine and 10 from the college's service area were treated to nontraditional and traditional career information, inspiring messages and entertainment from keynote speaker and small business expert Melinda Emerson of Philadelphia, 23 workshop presenters, a Wall of Women and a trio of comedy a cappella singers, Plumbers of Rome. Presenters included Lisa Osvold, deputy director for the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services; Patricia L. Hattie, rangeland management specialist; Liz Flom, athletic trainer; Rowene Weems, museum director and curator; M. Jalie Meinecke, attorney; Reanne Wolff, Certified Public Accountant; Keri Wilson, CPA; Bethany Sondeno, senior staff/partner; Brittany Kobbe, children and family therapist; Chris Addison, marriage and family therapist; Kristin Startin, addiction therapist; Astrid Northrup, college engineering and mathematics professor; Juliette Vibe, detective; Tessa Schweigert, newspaper managing editor; Carla Wensky, graphic designer/photographer; Jamie Smith, press operator; Dr. Diane Noton, physician; Leslie Nistico, owner and landscape design consultant; Dr. Kamme Jeffries, dentist; Dr. Tori Lewis, veterinarian; Karen Burk, pharmacist; Judith LaPlante, computer scientist; and Joneen Costigan, registered nurse.

During the opening remarks, WCWI Chair Carma Corra of Cheyenne told participants they had the opportunity to learn from women who had opened doors and blazed trails, many of them in careers where fewer than 25 percent of their gender work. "We want to encourage and inspire you to defy gender stereotypes - no one has a lock on any occupation," she said. "Consider today an exploration, pick up some new knowledge, allow yourself to really experience what is offered, put some energy into this event and soak it all in - this could be an important day of discovery."

Coordinators for the 2011 Young Women's Career Fair were West Hernandez, admissions manager for NWC, and Jan Torres, WCWI vice chair. The annual event is co-hosted by WCWI's Educational Opportunities Committee and one of Wyoming's seven community colleges on a rotating basis, with Riverton's Central Wyoming College planning the 2012 fair. WCWI is supported by the Wyoming Business Council; for additional information, contact Annie Wood at the Business Council at 307-777-2844 or annie.wood@wyo.gov.