Do you work with women or have women in your workplace?
Treat them to Northeast Alabama's premier women's conference:  Advancing Women to the Top Conference, a professional development event designed for women in every stage of their career. Join us on September 17, 2026 at The Venue at Coosa Landing for a day of inspiration, networking, and community.

Kick back and enjoy local food and wine, connect with coworkers and new friends, and hear from industry leaders across Alabama who will share insight on leadership, empowerment, and growth.

What is it?
Advancing Women to the Top is an annual conference created to inspire, equip, and empower women in the workplace. Attendees will gain tools for personal and professional development while building valuable connections with peers and local businesses from Etowah County and beyond.

What to expect:

• Engaging and dynamic speakers

• Networking opportunities throughout the day

• Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon “wine down” session

• Breaks with snacks from local caterers

• Vendor Village featuring local businesses (cash encouraged for purchases)

How to attend or support:
General admission is $85 per person, with a $20 early-bird discount through September 1st. Sponsorship opportunities are also available and include multiple seats, added benefits, and direct support for the event.

Speaker Bios & More Information 

Emcee: Farrah Hayes | Executive Director, Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama

Cierra Cottman | Alabama Regional Manager, NextOp Veterans
Cierra is a workforce strategist, speaker, and leadership architect passionate about helping people step fully into their voice and influence. After more than two decades working across workforce development, executive leadership, and generational dynamics, she saw firsthand how talented professionals — especially women — often shrink in rooms they were more than qualified to lead. That realization fueled her mission: to equip leaders with the clarity, confidence, and executive presence needed to command the boardroom, connect across generations, and lead at human speed. For Cierra, leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about impact, voice, and the courage to show up fully.

Angela McKenzie | Senior Vice President and Head of Accounting Operations, Regions Bank
Angela oversees enterprise-wide accounting functions with a focus on process optimization, system modernization, and strong internal controls. A 32-year Regions veteran, Angela began her career as an internal auditor and has held leadership roles across banking operations and human resource finance. She holds an Executive MBA from the University of North Alabama and a B.S. in Accounting from Alabama State University. Angela has served on the boards of Alabama State University and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and is actively involved in Women in Finance, the Birmingham DEI Network, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and her community. She is a recipient of the Regions Bank Better Life Award and is the proud mother of one daughter, Maya.

Ellen Skrmetti | Author, Comedian
Ellen is a Birmingham-based comedian, writer, and entertainer who turned her lifelong love of making people laugh into a comedy career in 2020. She honed her skills through comedy writing classes and Chicago’s renowned Second City, developing a distinctive voice and comedic style. Her popular sketches, including “Hey, Jesus” and “Kitty Potter,” have earned her a growing social media following, while her book, Hey Jesus, It’s Me, further showcases her humor and storytelling. Originally from Mississippi, Ellen lives in Birmingham with her husband, two children, and three dogs.

True Crime on Easy Street 

Meet the team behind True Crime on Easy Street: Katy Givens, Kelly Turner, and Scott Wright. Together, they bring a unique combination of legal expertise, psychology and criminology, journalism, and local history to their exploration of true crime stories from the region.

Katy Givens, Esq. is a Cedar Bluff native, Jacksonville State University graduate, and practicing attorney. A 2026 graduate of Birmingham School of Law, Katy provides a legal perspective and insight into the cases explored on the podcast.

Kelly Turner is a Centre native and Auburn University graduate with a BA in Psychology and minor in Criminology, as well as an MS in Psychology from Jacksonville State University. As the creator of True Crime on Easy Street, Kelly brings her background in psychology and criminology to the podcast and its exploration of criminal cases.

Scott Wright is the managing editor of the Cherokee Post-Herald in Centre, Alabama, with nearly three decades of experience in journalism. A 1993 University of Alabama graduate and author of two books on local history, Scott brings his experience in research, reporting, and storytelling to the podcast.

Together, the three hosts combine their professional backgrounds and knowledge of the local area to examine the people, events, and stories behind true crime cases close to home.

AGENDA
*subject to change

9am - Three Crow & Connections Breakfast
9:25am- Welcome, Farrah Hayes
9:30am – Speaker: Angela McKenzie
9:50am – Cherokee County Award
10:00am – Break
10:25am – Keynote Presenter: Cierra Cottman
11:25am – Calhoun County Award
11:35am - Lunch Break
12:35pm – Etowah County Award
12:55pm – True Crime on Easy Street
1:40pm – Marshall County Award
1:50 – Buffalo Rock Wine Down Hour
2:15pm – Headliner: Ellen Skrmetti
3:15pm – Conclusion
3:30pm – Attendees Dismissed 
 

Menu
Three Crow & Connections Breakfast
Fall Flavored Create-Your-Own Coffee Station by Three Crow Coffee
Chicken & Waffles
Variety of Croissants
Mini Muffins
Fruit & Yogurt Parfait

Lunch
Creamy Tuscan Chicken & Pasta
House Salad
Parmesan Green Beans
Cake by Sinful Sweetz

Break Bites

The Gathering Table by Local Joe's

• Sweet Potato Biscuits w/Maple Butter 
• Becky's Mini Donuts 
•  Ham and Cheese Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
• Garden Party Dip w/Pretzels and Veggie Straws 
• Pimento Cheese Pinwheels 
• Cream Cheese with Assorted Fruit Pepper Jellies & Crackers / Pita Chips

Baked Goods
Ice Cream Bar

Buffalo Rock Wine Down & Beverages by Buffalo Rock
All-Day Beverages
Unlimited Wine Hour

Vendors:
Etowah Pregnancy Testing Center
The Southern Bank
S5 Elite Performance
McClellan Family Chiropractic
A Golden Lady Boutique
Gadsden Pelvic Rehab
1641 Marketplace South
Mr Tee's Screen Printing
Downtown Tan & Boutique
Victory Cheer & Tumble
Gadsden Regional Medical Center
Riverview Regional Medical Center
Jacksonville State University
Gadsden State Community College
WKXX 102.9
Box Runners
Service Trek
New Image Weight Loss
Lyrical Forte

Sponsorships are available at the following levels:

• Company name or logo on event registration webpage, highest recognition at event, table with premiere seating for up to 8 seats with the option to include additional seats up to 16, choice of speaker slot and introduction, video recognition, constant mentions throughout programming, recognition in all promotional materials. Additional table giveaways.

• Company name or logo on event registration webpage, higher recognition at event, table with premiere seating for up to 8 seats with the option to include additional seats up to 16, video recognition, more mentions throughout programming, recognition in all promotional materials. Additional table giveaways.

• Company name or logo on event registration webpage, higher recognition at event, table for 8, mentions throughout programming, recognition in all promo materials. Additional table giveaways.

• Company name or logo on event registration webpage, table for 4, recognition at event

• Support the event with the option to attend! Company name or logo on event registration webpage, recognition at event. One optional seat.