East Idaho Women in Leadership Summit to be held for the first time later this month
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IDAHO FALLS — An event coming to Idaho Falls is geared toward women in the community and offers them an opportunity to connect with others.
Bethany Stone and Holly Wirth are co-hosting the East Idaho Women in Leadership Summit on Oct. 23. The summit will take place at The Waterfront at Snake River Landing, located at 1220 Event Center Drive in Idaho Falls. The main event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“This date (of the event) was not chosen by accident,” Stone explained. “This date, October 23, (1915), is when all the women gathered on Fifth Avenue (in New York City) and demanded that they had a right to vote. We all have a voice. And when you come together, women really make an impact.”
Stone, a leadership development coach who has hosted online and in-person summits across the country, said these events need to happen more often in eastern Idaho for local women.
“We need more women’s leadership awareness and community,” she added.
The event will feature four speakers who all have ties to eastern Idaho. There will be Lacey Marie, a transformational speaker, resilience mentor, breast cancer survivor and the executive director of Recon Marketing. Candy Pedersen, who hosts the Heart & Backbone Podcast, will be there as well to speak about doing things that align with yourself.
Mandy Anderson, who is Mrs. America United Nations and the founder and creator of a suicide-prevention nonprofit called Unfinished Wings, will also take the stage. Along with Tifanie Maupin, an entrepreneur who, after a divorce, transformed her life and is now a six or seven-figure earner, Stone said.
“I was very picky about the people that I asked to be on this stage,” Stone mentioned. “I didn’t just want to have a bunch of coaches. … I really wanted to have real women who are very diverse who have walked this walk.”
Stone hopes those who attend the event can connect with the speakers and see themselves in them.
“Right now, the world is heavy. … Yes, it’s hard for everyone, but for women, we have extra responsibilities. We have extra everything — family, home, businesses. There’s a lot,” Stone said. “And (it’s) knowing that we’re not alone walking this path. There are people here that are walking this with us and building this community and this awareness and this support for each other in this community.”
Those who purchase VIP tickets can arrive at 9 a.m. to get a headshot taken, attend a panel with the speakers, and enjoy brunch before the main event at 11 a.m. Along with the networking opportunities, there will be door prizes too.
After the main event, VIPs are invited to return to the event center later that evening with their plus-one. Dinner will be served, and Jazz House Big Band will perform.
“The thing that I find frustrating is every time I go to these amazing events, I go home and tell my husband, ‘This was so awesome… There was this lady and this lady,'” Stone explained. “(Our partner) They are our other half, and so to be able to leave (after the main event), tell them about it, then bring them back and introduce them, that is what builds community.”
There are VIP tickets or general admission tickets. For more information and to buy tickets, click here. Enter coupon code “LEADER2026” to get 34% off of everything.
“If you are wanting to come to an event like this that means you want more in your life because the people that you surround yourself with are the people that are the ones who influence you and change your life,” Stone said. “I think every woman that wants to achieve high goals and be in proximity of leaders, they need to be in this room because that’s what’s going to make you a leader.”
Stone said they never want cost to be the reason a woman misses this event. If one feels called to be in the room but purchasing a ticket is out of reach right now, there are a small number of scholarship seats available to apply for.
“We would love for you to apply,” Stone stated. “There is no shame in this, only welcome. Tell us a little about yourself, and we will do our best to make room for you. To apply, email us at eiwlsummit@gmail.com and share a bit about yourself and why you would love to be there.”
There are sponsorship opportunities available as well. For more information, email Stone and Wirth.
