6th annual WCCOC women’s event celebrates empowerment and community

The Washington County Chamber of Commerce’s sixth annual women’s event with the theme “Empowered Women, Thriving Communities” brought together women from across the community for a day of connection, inspiration, and encouragement, featuring engaging panel discussions, a keynote presentation by Karen Key Smith, and lunch prepared and served by Chipley High School culinary students. The event also included a $1,000 check presentation to Girls with Goals in support of its work empowering and mentoring young women in the community.

The Mind Panel, moderated by Penny Bryan and featuring panelists Connie Fulford, Tamekia McKinnie, and Jan Page, offered a thoughtful conversation on prioritizing mental health while balancing work, family, leadership, and community responsibilities. Panelists emphasized that women do not have to be “everything to everybody,” encouraging participants to set boundaries, say no when necessary, ask for help, and delegate responsibilities. They also highlighted gratitude, rest, supportive relationships, and choosing collaboration over competition as essential to personal well-being and effective leadership. A recurring message was the importance of women looking out for one another, recognizing when someone is struggling, and creating supportive spaces where asking for help is encouraged.

The Body Panel, moderated by Carol Kent Smith and featuring panelists Lindsey Banta, Dusty Stewart, and Farrah Suggs, explored the importance of listening to and caring for the body while balancing work, family, and community responsibilities. Panelists encouraged women to recognize their bodies’ signals, make time for movement and rest, prioritize preventive care, and focus on feeling strong and capable rather than conforming to societal expectations about appearance. They emphasized finding physical activities that are enjoyable and sustainable, keeping promises to oneself, and recognizing that mental, physical, and spiritual well-being are interconnected. A key message was the importance of positive reinforcement, both in how women speak to themselves and how they encourage others, while modeling healthy self-image and self-care for the next generation.

The Spirit Panel, moderated by Staci Harrison and featuring panelists Jenna Baker, Juanita Finney, and Tierra Franklin, explored how faith, prayer, and spiritual grounding can guide women through leadership, family, and life’s challenges. Panelists emphasized the importance of being willing to be led, creating a safe space for prayer and reflection, and recognizing that strength comes not from doing everything alone but from relying on God and supportive relationships. They also highlighted the value of sisterhood, encouraging women to make themselves available to one another, share their testimonies, and build relationships rooted in trust, vulnerability, and mutual support. A central message was that “you cannot lead if you are not willing to be led,” along with the reminder that “your blessing doesn’t always look like what your expectation is.”

Keynote speaker Karen Key Smith shared a message about the impact of words, mindset, joy, gratitude, and grace. Drawing from her own experiences with addiction in her family, loss and grief, single motherhood, financial hardship, and adversity, Smith shared how faith and intentional thinking helped shape her life. She encouraged the audience to remember that the words spoken become the life lived, that joy can be chosen and practiced every day, and that grace and forgiveness can change the way difficult situations are experienced. Smith challenged attendees to replace negative self-talk with words that give the future somewhere hopeful to go, to believe that life is working out for them, and to offer more grace than necessary. She closed by reminding attendees to live from a place of overflow and allow their words, joy, faith, and grace to strengthen themselves and those around them.

At the end of the program, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce recognized Fresh Start Coalition Inc. and its Girls with Goals program for the meaningful work being done to support and empower young women in the community. The Chamber presented Girls with Goals with a $1,000 investment to help continue its mentorship and leadership efforts. The program provides young women with opportunities to develop leadership skills, participate in community service, gain real-world experience, and build confidence for their futures. Juanita Finney shared the program’s beginnings and expressed gratitude for the continued support of the Chamber and community. She encouraged families to connect with the program and highlighted its ongoing efforts to mentor girls from across the surrounding communities. The presentation served as a reminder of the importance of investing in young women and creating opportunities for them to grow into confident leaders and community builders.