WOW! is Back

—By Popular demand

A Source of Inspiration, Motivation, Networking, Empowerment, Education & Encouragement for Women

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20+ Years of Empowering Women!

This Year’s Theme: Unmasking Your True Self: Owning Your Story

Friday, October 23, 2026
8:30am-2pm
CT State Community College, Northwestern Campus — Winsted

Seats are limited. 

register now
MEET OUR SPEAKERS

We Missed You

After a year off, we’re thrilled to bring WOW! Forum back. Join the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce for this half-day professional development event, designed to motivate and educate women across careers and industries. Together, we’re advancing women’s leadership by sharing knowledge, building connections, and creating opportunities to grow — personally and professionally.

This year’s forum is built around the theme: Unmasking Your True Self: Owning Your Story, and brings together keynote speaker Kara Sundlun of WFSB alongside four dynamic voices in self-worth, style, finance, and storytelling.

It’s educational — and fun. Enjoy raffle prizes, book signings with speakers, and a fireside chat panel discussion to close out the day. Register now to lock in your spot and get a head start on networking with other attendees.

Why Attend

  • Hear a stirring keynote from WFSB’s Kara Sundlun, and nationally and locally recognized voices in finance, psychology, style, and journalism
  • Choose two breakout sessions tailored to what matters most to you
  • Walk away with practical tools you can use — not just inspiration
  • Connect with hundreds of women across the region building careers and businesses
  • Enjoy book signings, raffle prizes, and a fireside chat with the full speaker panel
  • Support a 20+ year regional tradition, back for its return year

Help Make WOW! Forum Happen

Every WOW! Forum is made possible by volunteers who donate their time, expertise, and energy. Whether you can help for a single day or throughout the year, we’d love to have you on our team.

  • Event planning
  • Registration and guest services
  • Speaker and VIP support
  • Marketing and social media
  • Scholarship committee
  • Sponsorship outreach
  • Photography and videography
  • Community partnerships

Meet the team behind wOW! Forum 2026

More than 20 volunteers are donating their time to bring this year’s conference to life. From welcoming attendees and coordinating speakers to reviewing scholarship applications and supporting sponsors, their work makes every part of the event possible. 

Left photo, from left: Weld Royal, Founder, Weld Royal LLC (content marketing); Anna McCard, Financial Representative, Northwestern Mutual; Carla DuBois, Board Chair, Northwest CT Chamber of Commerce, Region Banker Team Lead at Webster Bank, a division of Santander Bank N.A; Annie Hurley, AVP and Branch Manager, NBT Bank. Right photo, from left: Ali Mica, Accounting Administrative Assistant, Northwest CT Chamber of Commerce; Gail Kulas, CEO and Founder, Leading to Unlock LLC, Associate Professor, CT State –  Northwestern; Carla DuBois; Anna McCard; Gina Bunch, Owner, Daley Moving & Storage.