The 16th Annual Women’s Business Conference will be held at UW-Eau Claire’s Davies Student Center from 8am-5pm Thursday, May 16. The conference is expected to attract more than 500 business owners and aspiring business owners as well as over 100 exhibitors. This year’s event will launch with a continental breakfast and Power Panel of four well-known local businesswomen, including Becki Spina of Becki’s Kitchen, Inga Witscher of Wisconsin Public Television’s Around The Farm Table, Heather Mishefske of emBark, and Jess Gardner of Hello Adorn. The event will also feature 20 educational sessions taught by experts on business planning, marketing, legal issues, business finance, and current trends in business.  The conference will conclude with a small celebration and a networking happy hour where silent auction winners are announced. In addition, there are special events both before and after the conference. On May 15, Deb Clarke, a trainer and consultant at Chippewa Valley Technical College, will lead a session on Delivering Fantastic Customer Service from 1-5pm at CVTC’s Business Education Center, 620 W. Clairemont Ave. And from 5:30-8:30pm on the day of the conference the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce, and the Wisconsin Procurement Institute will host a networking event and mixer at CVTC’s Business Education Center.The cost to attend the conference starts at $69, and scholarships are available. To learn more or register, call (715) 836-7511, ext. 1171, or visit WomensBusinessConference.com.