On Friday, March 7th, Taylor, our Office Manager and Marketing Assistant, attended the 2025 CNY Women’s Summit, organized by the CNY Women’s Network. The event took place at the Oncenter in Syracuse, New York, in celebration of National Women’s Month. This inspiring gathering honored and uplifted women in our community, recognizing their achievements and contributions. Attendees walked away with valuable takeaways, gaining inspiration and insights to continue making an impact in their personal and professional lives.
The day began with an inspiring keynote from Candy Valentino, a Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Author, Business Growth Expert, and Financial Analyst with over 26 years of experience in business and investing. Her insights set the tone for a day filled with learning, growth, and valuable takeaways.
Following the keynote, attendees had the opportunity to dive into specialized breakout sessions led by industry experts from the Central New York region. One particularly impactful session, that Taylor chose to attend, focused on handling difficult conversations. This session was led by Kristy Mandour, owner of Sow to Speak.
During the breakout, Taylor gained practical communication strategies that she later shared with the HighPoint Advisors Team. These insights aren’t just beneficial internally—they can enhance our interactions with one another, clients, partners, and the broader business community. Effective communication is at the heart of every successful organization, and we’re excited to implement some of the strategies Taylor learned moving forward.
After the breakout session, it was time for lunch. Attendees enjoyed delicious salads served in mason jars, which could be shaken up and eaten on the go. Following lunch, there was a 15-minute wellness session by Tammy Wilkinson of the Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique, followed by a live podcast recording. The podcast, CNY Cultivate, is hosted by Alex Canavan, Owner and CEO of the CNY Women’s Network. However, this time, Alex was the one being interviewed instead of conducting the interview! These midday activities were both fun and engaging, helping to maintain the excitement as the day continued into the final rounds of breakout sessions.
For the final breakout sessions, Taylor attended two insightful presentations—one on optimizing events, led by Kera Wasserbach, Traveling Event Planner, and another on headshots & media, presented by ana gil of ana gil studios. During these, she gained valuable knowledge on enhancing event experiences and learned about the importance of high-quality photo content, including tips for capturing better photos.
As someone who helps plan events for HighPoint Advisors and manages our social media accounts, these insights were incredibly beneficial to Taylor. She has even helped take team headshots, so the photography session provided useful tips that she can apply in the future. These takeaways will help her further elevate our events and visual content, ensuring we continue to create engaging experiences for both our team and our clients.
The event concluded with a happy hour and networking session, providing attendees with the opportunity to connect and unwind. A beautiful charcuterie board, expertly crafted by She Fancy, added a delicious touch to the celebration, making for a perfect end to an inspiring day!
Looking Forward
At HighPoint Advisors, we believe that continuous learning is essential for both personal and professional growth. Events like the CNY Women’s Summit provide valuable opportunities to stay ahead, refine our skills, and enhance the value we bring to our clients and community. Taylor left the event feeling inspired and looks forward to attending the 2026 CNY Women’s Summit next year!