SoPark Corporation was founded in 1981 by Robert Stevenson with just two employees. It has grown to 78 employees today. And later this year, current president and COO, Rupa Shanmugam will become the majority owner.

Danise C. Wilson, MPH is a lifelong resident of Buffalo, NY and has committed the last 20 years to the enhancement and enrichment of her community through outreach and mentorship. Mrs. Wilson is a graduate of the Buffalo Public School system, Daemen College, and the University at Buffalo, Masters of Public Health degree program.

Rahwa Ghirmatzion was born in Asmera, Eritrea in the middle of a civil war. She came to Western New York as a refugee at the age of eight with her family, after living in Sudan. She was educated in Buffalo Public Schools and SUNY Buffalo State.

Danise C. Wilson, MPH is a lifelong resident of Buffalo, NY and has committed the last 20 years to the enhancement and enrichment of her community through outreach and mentorship. Mrs. Wilson is a graduate of the Buffalo Public School system, Daemen College, and the University at Buffalo, Masters of Public Health degree program. Her education and experience in Program Management, Community Engagement and Human Resource Management has allowed her to develop, manage and implement innovative statewide programs focused on increasing the diversity and number of health and STEM professionals in under served urban and rural communities.

Presenters are Sara Komoroske Nappa and Kiera Duckworth, both Founding Consultants of Birch Consulting Group, LLC, will be speaking about Gender Inclusive Strategies to Move Your Organization Ahead. Come enjoy a night of networking and dinner with the Buffalo-Niagara Chapter.. Join Buffalo-Niagara Chapter as we enjoy their presentation along with dinner and great networking.

As a Lockport-based freelance journalist and writer, Keah Brown has written articles and essays for a variety of publications, including Lenny Letter, Teen Vogue, Catapult, Lit Hub, Harper’s Bazaar, Essence Magazine, The National Eating Disorders Association and more.

Annette Pinder is the President and Publisher of Buffalo Healthy Living, a free full-color magazine established in 2010, and read by about 150,000 people each month in print, and online. A benefit corporation, Buffalo Healthy Living is a for-profit entity that is devoted to health, fitness, and nutrition for people of all ages. Benefit corporations are authorized in only 33 states and the District of Columbia, and are unique in that they have a social responsibility to positively impact the community and the environment.

Time to shake off the winter blues and rev your networking engine in 2018! Enjoy an evening of fun, laughs and networking with the NYS Women, Inc. Buffalo-Niagara Chapter 716 style with a Buffalo Paint Night at Pinot's Palette.

Ms. Anita Lucky Lakareber was born in Northern Uganda, and she lived through the decades of armed conflict between the Government of Uganda and Lord's Resistance Army. Anita relocated to safety in New York State from where she graduated with Honors in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Erie Community College. Currently, Anita is a student at D’Youville College pursuing a bachelor’s of science in nursing. Before relocating to the US, Anita co-founded the United Youth Entertainment—a non-profit organization in her native Uganda, with a group of war affected orphans.

Jennifer Parker is the owner of Jackson Parker Communications which has introduced a number of memorable program brands such as “Think Big with 43North” (encouraging minority and women entrepreneurship), “I’m a Woman in Charge” (a family planning program targeted to women), “Taking Care of You” (medical outreach campaign to the minority community), and “Success Looks Like Me,” a program designed to provide urban youth of color with access to successful professionals of color.