Womens Entrepreneurs and Leaders Expo comes to Jennifer’s Garden Jan. 24

H.E.R. (Helping Each Other Rise) is hosting its first Womens Entrepreneurs and Leaders Expo from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, at Jennifer’s Garden, 555 Gore Rd., Morris.

Presentations begin at 5:15 p.m. and include motivational speakers Kady Zumwalt and Jonelle Marie Carter. Exhibit booths open at 6 p.m., and a fashion show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Zumwalt is a Morris resident who, after a medical issue about a decade ago, has become a speaker. She will share her story along with Carter, a life coach and musician who is part of the band River Road Trio.

Organizer J.R. Hock, a financial advisor with Edward Jones, said the idea for an expo stemmed from an attempt to start a coffee club for women as a way to network.

“I wanted to try and get some ladies together, just to get to know each other, support each other, and I came up with that idea to create opportunities for us to network,” Hock said. “We all have different challenges, and there are a lot of women-owned businesses in downtown Morris. I was just thinking of ways for us to work together and support each other.”

The event is free and open to the public and operates to bring women of all ages together to share information about local businesses, opportunities to grow, and give women a push to start their own business.

The fashion show will feature clothing from Gigi’s and Oleander’s, featuring local volunteer models.

Hock said there will be 28 vendors, including Breaking Away, an organization that provides resources to women escaping domestic abuse situations.

There will also be vendor booths, refreshments, music, giveaways and more.