Rose Sabin, right, talked about the mother archetype at the 2023 Women’s Leadership Conference, asking Ottawa County Improvement Corporation Manager of Communications and Programs Jessica Grzechowiak, who is expecting her first child, to join her at the front of the room.

BY SHERI TRUSTY

Guest speaker Rose Sabin encouraged women to “Honor Your Story” at the 2023 Women’s Leadership Conference at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center on Friday, Jan. 20. The event was hosted by the Port Clinton Chamber Ambassadors and was sponsored by Lakelynn Design. This is the second year Chamber Ambassadors offered the event.

“Last year, we wanted to have something to bring women in leadership and women business owners together for networking,” said Chamber Ambassador Chrystal Petersen. “It’s just bringing women together to learn leadership skills from other women in the community.

Women sit knee-to-knee during an activity on connection during Rose Sabin’s talk at the Women’s Leadership Conference. (Photos by Sheri Trusty)

“It’s a good turnout. We have about 65 women here,” she said.

The Port Clinton Chamber Ambassadors work to promote the chamber and support chamber members by attending ribbon cuttings and connecting with member businesses.

“And we welcome new businesses to town. We’re like a Welcome Wagon,” said Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce Operations Manager Jennifer Gutman.

Sabin owns Soul Stretch Yoga, Soul Stretch Cycle and Root to Rise Wellness Bar. During her talk, she described the different stages of womanhood and spoke about attaining peace, balance and power.

“The most important lesson you can teach your daughter is the importance of honoring your story and the importance of self-care,” Sabin said.

Women’s Leadership Conference attendees learned to shoot air rifles at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center at Camp Perry.

Kami Sayre, the Director at Salvation Army Port Clinton Service Center, was impressed that Sabin encouraged women to understand their place in the world at each stage of life.

“A lot of women can’t figure out what their piece is,” Sayre said. “I love Rose. She’s so passionate.”

During a breakout session, attendees had the opportunity to shoot air rifles on the Civilian Marksmanship Program range. This is the second year the Chamber Ambassadors incorporated shooting into the conference.

“It’s one of our most loved events,” said Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce President Nicole Kochensparger. “We have it here to include shooting and to teach women that shooting is not just a man’s sport.”

The event also gives exposure to the Civilian Marksmanship Program and Camp Perry, both chamber members.

“We wanted to get women comfortable coming here. Outside the National Matches, people don’t know there’s a lot of activity here for the public,” Kochensparger said. “We wanted to show the women that CMP is here for the community.”