News Releases

Detroit, April 15, 2019 – Comerica Bank will host the third annual Women’s Business Symposium in Greater Detroit on Friday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cobo Center featuring Academy Award winning actor and advocate Geena Davis as the keynote speaker.

Now in its third year, the Comerica Bank Women’s Business Symposium has become one of the most sought-after events in Michigan and includes opportunities for valuable leadership development content and enhanced networking. The event provides a platform developed specifically for women business owners, executives and professionals at all levels looking to Learn, Connect & Grow professionally, personally and financially with other influential businesswomen within their communities.

As the Founder and Chair of the nonprofit Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media (seejane.org), Geena Davis engages film and television creators to dramatically increase the percentages of female characters—and reduce gender stereotyping—in media made for children 11 and under. At this year’s event, Davis will present “See Jane: Gender Equality and Why It Should Matter to All of Us.”

Davis, an Academy Award winning actor, film producer, writer and founder of multiple women's initiatives, earned the 2006 Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of the first female President of the United States in ABC's hit show "Commander in Chief." In 1989, Davis received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for "The Accidental Tourist." She was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe for her performance in "Thelma & Louise,” and went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of baseball phenomenon Dottie Hinson in "A League of Their Own."

A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit Alternatives for Girls. The Detroit-based nonprofit has served homeless and high-risk girls and young women since 1987. Driven by the goal to empower the girls and young women to make positive choices, AFG provides critical services, including safe shelter, street outreach and educational support, vocational guidance, mentoring, prevention activities, and counseling.

Chef Jamie Gwen will again serve as the emcee for the event. Gwen is a Culinary Institute of America graduate, celebrity chef, syndicated radio host, certified sommelier and a seven-time cookbook author.

The following speakers round out the all-star lineup for this year’s Comerica Bank Women’s Business Symposium in Greater Detroit:

• Mallika Chopra:  The media entrepreneur, speaker and founder of Intent.com authored “Living with Intent: My Somewhat Messy Journey to Purpose, Peace and Joy” that shared personal stories and insights gained while seeking balance as an entrepreneur who felt she was overwhelmed by work, family and too many responsibilities. Chopra recently wrote “Just Breathe: Meditation, Mindfulness, Movement and More,” which inspires kids to learn how to deal with stress, sleep better, build self-confidence, and manage the anxiety so many of them face today, as well as “100 Promises to My Baby” and “100 Questions from My Child.” She travels internationally for workshops on meditation and balance, as well as speaks regularly at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing.
• Crystal Washington:  Crystal Washington, CSP, is a Futurist, Technology Strategist, and Author. She works with organizations that want to leverage technology to increase profits and productivity. Technology includes social media, apps, smartphones, and the web. Hired by companies including Google, Microsoft, and GE, companies in North America, Africa and Europe book Crystal Washington when they want their teams to take action online! Crystal is the author of “One Tech Action: An Efficiency Guide for Busy Non-techie Professionals to Get More Done” and “The Social Media Why: A Busy Professional’s Practical Guide to Using Social Media.”

TICKET AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Tickets are available to the public. To register, visit: www.comerica.com/wbs.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The Comerica Bank Women's Business Symposium has become the business networking event of the year, and sponsorships for the 2019 Greater Detroit symposium are still available. Sponsorships support women business leaders and shape the future business landscape. For more information, visit http://www.comerica.com/wbs or e-mail wbsmi@comerica.com.

Comerica Bank, a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated, has served Michigan longer than any other bank with a continuous presence dating back 170 years to its Detroit founding in 1849. It is the largest bank employer in metro Detroit and has more than 4,800 employees (FTE) statewide. With one of the largest banking center networks in Michigan, Comerica nurtures lifelong relationships with unwavering integrity and financial prudence. Comerica positively impacts the lives of Michigan residents by helping customers be successful, providing financial support that assists hundreds of charitable organizations, and actively participating in Detroit’s downtown revitalization. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Comerica and Twitter @ComericaBank.