A POWER-PACKED DAY FOR FEMALE FOUNDERS & BUSINESS BOSSES
Get ready for a day of bold ideas, real talk, and game-changing connections! The Girl Gang Connections Conference is where female entrepreneurs and business owners come together to get inspired, level up their skills, and build a network that truly supports their journey.
From powerful speakers to actionable workshops and high-energy networking, this is more than a conference—it’s a movement. Come ready to dream big, take action, and walk away with the confidence and connections to make 2026 your best year yet!
2026 THEME
the ripple effect
The Ripple Effect celebrates how one woman's success, courage, or kindness creates waves that can lift entire communities.
It emphasizes that entrepreneurship isn't just about building your own business — it's about the collective impact we create through mentorship, collaboration, referrals, and showing up for each other.
Every action, from hiring your first employee to supporting a fellow entrepreneur or business owner, sends ripples through the South Shore community and beyond.
Conference AGENDA
GUEST SPEAKERS | PANELS OF EXPERTS | ACTIONABLE WORKSHOPS | NETWORKING + MORE
8:30 - 9:30 AM
(Optional)
Coffee Connections
Sponsor Showcase & Networking
9:30 - 9:50 AM
Welcome to the Girl Gang Conference Building the Wave: Two Founders, One Mission
Melissa Smith & Susan Davis
Co-founders of the Girl Gang Association
9:50 - 10:10 AM
Opening Keynote: The Ripple Effect of Real Connections
Darlene Hollywood of Hollywood Agency
We'll kick things off with practical strategies and real-world examples — covering how to deepen the relationships you already have, where to find new networks, how to approach contacts with confidence, and what it takes to keep connections from ever feeling transactional.
10:10 - 10:45 AM
Panel 1: The Pivot Ripple: When Your Business Shift Changes Everything
When you pivot your business, the effects ripple outward — creating unexpected opportunities for your team, your clients, and your community. This panel explores the courage it takes to close one door to open another, and what it really looks like to navigate a business shift with intention. We'll also talk about how to show up for the women in your network when they're in the middle of a pivot of their own.
Panelists:
Lily Leedom, Saltery
JoAnna LeTourneau, Merla
Amanda Barber, Pure Barre Hanover
10:45 - 10:55AM
Kneady Mama Cinnamon Bun Break!
10:55 - 11:30AM
Panel 2: Leveraging Your Community: Building a Network That Pays It Forward
Real networking isn't about collecting contacts — it's about building a community where genuine referrals flow naturally and everyone wins. This panel covers how to create a culture of authentic connection, ask for referrals in ways that feel true to who you are, and embrace the Girl Gang way of doing business: collaboration over competition, always.
Panelists:
Melissa McNamara, The Melissa McNamara Group
Sam Steinhage, Radius Group
Erin Waldner, Proving Ground
11:30AM-12:15PM
Lunch by Amanda Pratt of Elevated Eats
Sponsor Showcase & Networking
12:20PM-12:55PM
Panel 3: From Access to Impact: Leveraging Resources to Create Your Next Ripple
Having access to the right resources is only half the equation — knowing how to leverage them is where the real impact begins. This panel brings together three powerhouse women who have each turned available tools, technology, and community into meaningful momentum in their businesses and beyond.
Panelists:
Kelley Dawson, At Home South Shore
Megan Driscoll, AI Sales Transformation
Meryl Pinette, Merrily Blooms
12:55PM-1:30PM
Ripple Mapping Exercise
1:30PM-2:15PM
The Block & The Breakthrough Exercise
2:15PM-2:45PM
Closing Keynote: From Scarcity to Abundance: How Collaboration Multiplies Impact
Pam Denhelm, Executive Director of the South Shore Food Bank
Pam's work at the South Shore Food Bank is the ultimate ripple effect story—one meal becomes nutrition for a family, which becomes stability for children, which becomes better school performance, which becomes community strength. Her journey from running a food bank to becoming a regional convener demonstrates how breaking down silos creates exponential impact.
2:45PM-3PM
Sponsor Showcase & Networking
tickets
✱
tickets ✱
wednesday, May 20 | 9:30AM-3:00PM
Coffee Connection Hour from 8:30am-9:30am
The Cushing Center in Norwell at
673 Main St, Norwell, MA 02061
PRICING:
Girl Gang Member Ticket: $75
Non-Profit Ticket: $75
Non-Member Ticket: $175
Our SPONSORS
BECOME A SPONSOR OF THE CONNECTION CONFERENCE
Showcase your brand and support women in business by becoming a sponsor. Choose from various sponsorship levels to maximize your visibility and impact.
Silver Sponsorship $500.00
Includes 1 ticket to the event
Includes a table at the event
Logo placement on all event signage
One social media post pre and post-event
Quarter-page ad in the event program
Gold Sponsorship $1,000
Includes 2 tickets to the event
Includes a table at the event
Logo placement on all event signage
Two social media posts pre and post-event
Half-page ad in the event program
PLATINUM Sponsorship $5,000
Includes 5 tickets to the event
Logo featured on all promo materials
Dedicated email to all participants with your marketing message
Includes a table at the event
Two social media posts pre and post-event
Full-page ad in the event program
Recognition in all press releases/promotional emails
Join us for a day designed exclusively for female business owners and dreamers
MAKING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
INSPIRATION
Hear from industry experts and successful female entrepreneurs who will share their stories and insights.
Actionable SESSIONS
Participate in working sessions designed to help you enhance your skills, from marketing strategies to financial planning.
Meaningful Connections
Network with like-minded women, forge new partnerships, and build lasting relationships that will support your business growth.
