LAS VEGAS, April 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning
broadcast journalist Natalie Allen
will return as host of the MGM Resorts Foundation's 11th
annual Women's Leadership Conference (WLC) Aug. 7-8 at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in
Las Vegas, NV.
Sponsored by the nonprofit MGM Resorts Foundation, the two-day
conference strives to provide women with the developmental tools
they need to advance their lives and careers. Each year, the
event's proceeds, after costs, are donated to a local nonprofit
that is devoted to the welfare and development of women and
girls.
This will be Ms. Allen's fourth year hosting the
conference. Organizers say her energy and stage presence have added
depth to the popular event, which has attracted sell-out crowds for
the past three years.
"Natalie is dynamic on stage," says conference organizer
Dawn Christensen, director of
National Diversity Relations for MGM Resorts International.
"Whether she's sharing a personal anecdote from the podium or
moderating a panel, she does a great job of connecting with the
audience. We're thrilled that she's hosting again."
Last year, registration for the conference sold out days in
advance, with more than 1,000 signing up to attend. Organizers
encourage early registration to those who plan to attend in
2017.
"I love hosting this conference," Ms. Allen says. "It's
incredible to connect with hundreds of women who are all coming
together to learn how to grow their careers and to support each
other. Every year, I leave WLC feeling inspired and energized. I'm
really looking forward to this year."
Women continue to lag behind men in leadership roles Corporate
America, according to the latest statistics from Catalyst, a
nonprofit organization that tracks worldwide gender representation
in the workforce. Women held 23 percent of senior roles in American
businesses last year, the highest recorded level since 2007.
However, the percentage of U.S. businesses with no women at all in
senior roles rose to its highest recorded level since 2011: almost
a third or 31 percent.
The conference, first established as the Women of Color
Conference in 2007, was meant to address some of these inequities
by providing women from all walks of life with education and
development opportunities, organizers say. Over the past decade, it
has grown in size, scope and reputation, drawing a devoted
following. In recent years, men have played an increasingly
important role in the conference, as supporters and attendees.
The 2017 Women's Leadership Conference theme is "Women Inspiring
Women." The conference will offer a wide range of learning
opportunities, career guidance and personal growth tools,
including:
- Exposure to diverse and nationally recognized speakers and
accomplished women role models.
- Two days of career-oriented workshops that will give women
hands-on opportunities to develop skills based on their career
needs.
- Three distinct learning tracks: Emerging Leaders, Emerging
Executives and Executives.
- Workshops for entrepreneurs who are well-established or just
thinking of starting their own businesses.
An award-winning journalist, Ms. Allen has more than 25 years of
experience in broadcast news. Before becoming an anchor and
correspondent for CNN International, Ms. Allen was an anchor for
CNN from 1992-2001. She also served as news anchor for MSNBC.
Ms. Allen started her career at WREG-TV in Memphis, Tenn., becoming the first newsroom
intern elevated to General Assignments Reporter while still a
student. Three years later, she was named Co-Anchor of WREG'S
10 p.m. News.
In 2010, Ms. Allen videotaped, produced and wrote a three-part
"Freedom Project" special for CNN International on child
trafficking from Vietnam and
Cambodia, primarily focusing on
one community in the Mekong Delta. As a correspondent for NBC, she
appeared on "The Nightly News," "The Today Show" and CNBC.
Beginning in 2007, Ms. Allen served as The Weather Channel's
first full-time environment and climate correspondent. As Primary
Anchor for the network's weekly news program, "Forecast Earth," she
traveled the country interviewing environmental pioneers and
leaders in sustainability.
The conference is open to women of all ethnicities, professions
and social backgrounds, locally and nationally, and men who support
them. The MGM Resorts Foundation is the conference's presenting
sponsor. Each year, proceeds from the conference after costs are
donated to one or more local nonprofit agencies devoted to the
welfare and development of women and children. Southern Nevada
Children First, a nonprofit organization that provides support to
homeless and pregnant youth, recently received a $30,000 gift from the 2015 conference.
Registration costs $485 and
includes the full conference and all workshops and lectures, a
networking reception, and continental breakfasts and lunches
catered by MGM Grand. Time is also allotted for attendees to build
key professional relationships with other women attending while
enjoying the hospitality and entertainment of MGM Grand and
other MGM Resorts International destinations.
Participating sponsorships are available to organizations
or companies who share the vision and goals of this conference.
Current sponsors include: The Coca-Cola Company, Las Vegas
Convention and Visitors Authority, Southwest Airlines, Bank of
America, R&R Partners Foundation and McCarran International
Airport.
For more information about WLC, please visit
www.mgmresorts.com/womensleadershipconference.
About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts
International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global
hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort
brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage.
The Company opened MGM National Harbor in Maryland on December 8,
2016, and is in the process of developing MGM Springfield in
Massachusetts. MGM Resorts
controls and holds a 76 percent economic interest in the operating
partnership of MGM Growth Properties LLC (NYSE: MGP), a premier
triple-net lease real estate investment trust engaged in the
acquisition, ownership and leasing of large-scale destination
entertainment and leisure resorts. The Company also owns 56 percent
of MGM China Holdings Limited (SEHK: 2282), which owns MGM
MACAU and is developing MGM COTAI,
and 50 percent of CityCenter in Las
Vegas, which features ARIA Resort & Casino. MGM Resorts
is named among FORTUNE® Magazine's 2016 list of World's Most
Admired Companies®. For more information about MGM Resorts
International, visit the Company's website at
www.mgmresorts.com.
About The MGM Resorts Foundation
The purpose of The
MGM Resorts Foundation is to collect and distribute monies and
assets donated by employees of MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM) for the aid
and support of qualified community nonprofit programs, agencies or
organizations designated exclusively by MGM Resorts employees. In
addition, the Foundation collects and distributes donations to the
Foundation by third-party non-employees to support charitable,
scientific, literary, and educational activities approved by the
Foundation's Board of Directors and organized by MGM Resorts
employees to benefit qualified non-profit charitable organizations
designated by the Foundation's Board.
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SOURCE MGM Resorts International