Special Interest Groups, or SIGs, are a hallmark of the RWN experience, and a unique opportunity for RWN members to meet and discuss a shared career focus or personal interest. These member-driven, member-facilitated groups meet regularly to form strong connections and support one another, while gaining insight into professional development, expanding business networks, and having fun.
With a wide variety of topics and times to meet, you can pick what interests you and what works best with your schedule. Don’t see a group that interests you? Have an idea for a new Special Interest Group other members might enjoy? Work with us to start a new group by completing a New SIG Suggestion Form. Our SIG Support Committee Chair will contact you to assist with the details.
Special Interest Groups are a member-only benefit. Before attending a SIG meeting for the first time, members should contact the SIG Chair. Read more about each of our current Special Interest Groups:
Board of Advisors
Chair: Dawn Hampsey Dawn@HampseyCPA.com
The Board of Advisors SIG is a group for small business owners. BOA SIG members act as a confidential advisory board for each other. We meet monthly to discuss our goals, track our progress, and talk through any business question a group member needs advice or input on. Membership is open to individuals who are business owners working full-time at their business. Attendance at meetings is required, with two absences a year allowed. Members can call in for a meeting if they are unable to attend in person.
Date: first Wednesday of each month
Time: 3 PM to 5 PM
Location: RWN office
Career Transition
Chairs: Teresa Delibert, Miranda Wilcox
teresa@delibertemployment.com
miranda@thrivepotential.com
Is a change in your future? Exploring new professional opportunities? Find new paths with us! Discuss how to take advantage of current opportunities and move forward in a way that honors you and your skills. Share, learn, and listen to make the most of this time for professional growth, realizing opportunities, and reaching goals. This SIG will be facilitated by Teresa Delibert, Certified Personnel Consultant & Miranda Wilcox, Professional Certified Coach.
Date: second Wednesday of each month
Time: 5:30 PM to 7 PM
Community Service
Chair: Brigid Ryan
brigidsryan@gmail.com
This SIG provides volunteer assistance to women's organizations or organizations that support women's issues in the Rochester community as a way to give back and make a positive difference. Together as a SIG we identify events and coordinate volunteers.
This group meets as needed throughout the year.
Finance
Chair: Holly Hewins
HollisHewins@gmail.com
This SIG is for women with careers that deal with some aspect of finance. We are all about networking and sharing information pertinent to our profession. The world of finance is rapidly changing and we help keep each other current.
Date: third Wednesday of the month
Time: Noon to 1 PM
Location: The King & I Restaurant, 1455 E. Henrietta Road
Geek Squad
Chair: Terra Osterling
terra@suddenwriteturn.com
Do you have action figures on display in your workspace? Can you easily shift between a 'galaxy far, far away' and 'Platform 9 and 3/4'? Is your other car a Tardis? Then you might fit in with the Geek Squad SIG. This is a social group that meets quarterly at the pleasure of the members, who share a love for the sci-fi, fantasy, and super hero worlds of books, movies, tv shows, comics, and video games. Meetups have occurred at POP ROC Cereal Bar; future meetups might include movies at theaters or in-home screenings. Please contact Terra Osterling to be included on the next meetup discussion. Introverts welcome!
Date: Quarterly, as determined by the group
Time: Saturday mornings
Leading With a Purpose
Chair: Michelle Wescott
michelle.l.wescott@gmail.com
We are an interactive group. We provide peer support, conscious leadership development, and problem-solving. Members are encouraged to request help and/or encouragement, share leadership or management challenges, be open to receiving thoughts, ideas, and suggestions from members. Our purpose is to help each member become conscious of her/his leadership skills, provide support and peer guidance, provide a forum for problem-solving, and share best practices_ *Members are required to maintain confidentiality.
Date: third Friday of the month
Time: 7:30 AM to 9 AM (Networking 7:30 AM to 8 AM, meeting 8 AM to 9 AM)
Location: RWN office
Restauranteers
Chair: Joanne Madonia
jmmral@rit.edu
Conquering Rochester one restaurant at a time! Interested in great food, great company, and a chance to try new restaurants? Then join us! We enjoy a different restaurant each month while getting to know each other. Everyone pays for their own food and drink.
Date: second Wednesday of the month
Location: varies each month
Rochester Women Refer 1 & 2
Refer 1 Chairs: April Wiesner, Tricia TenEyck
April@roccitypopalock.com
Info@LifeMadeSimple.com
Refer 2 Chair: Sarah Marché
smarche@leadershiplogicNY.com
RWN's Referral SIGs are for members who want to foster relationships, build their business, and become brand advocates for their fellow members. Only one representative from each industry is allowed in each group. Attendance is required, with an occasional sub when you can’t make it to ensure that the group stays robust and interactive with the members.
Refer SIG 1
Date: second and fourth Fridays of the month
Time: Noon to 1:30 PM
Location: The Perkins Mansion, 494 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607
Refer SIG 2
Date: first and third Thursdays of the month
Time: Location: Browncroft Diner, 2501 Browncroft Blvd, Rochester, NY 14625
Sales & Marketing
Chairs: Jackie Johnson, Melanie Watson
jackie@offsiteaccounting.co
mwatsondesigner@gmail.com
The RWN Sales and Marketing SIG is for anyone who would like to learn about marketing, sales, and how to grow their business. We provide you with tips on branding, marketing, prospecting, converting calls into appointments, how to close more deals, how to use social media, website management, SEOs, and more. We also share ideas and develop our own best practices. All you need are a notebook, pen, and a winning attitude. The “sky is the limit.”
Date: third Thursday of every month.
Time: 11:45 AM to 1 PM
Location: Browncroft Family Restaurant, 2501 Browncroft Blvd, Rochester, NY 14625
Pricing: Members pay for their own meals and drinks
Support Imparting Growth
Lori Sussle Bonanni
lori@elssus.com
Part referral group, part peer support, and part professional development, the Success in Giving SIG provides a forum and inspiration for RWN members to contribute to each other’s success by sharing referrals, best practices, and strategic connections in a safe and supportive environment. Members who naturally give to others—without compromising their own success—will be the best fit for this group. A group of people who want to give help and receive contacts and information to achieve their professional goals will fulfill the SIG’s purpose. Interested members must contact SIG chair to seek group approval in order to maintain a safe environment that is free of competition.
Date: first and third Thursdays of the month
Time: 8 AM to 9:30 AM (Networking 8 AM to 8:30 AM and the formal agenda at 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM)
Location: RWN office
Wine & Wisdom
Chair: Carol Kennedy
Carol.Kennedylmt@gmail.com
The more wines people taste, the better they become at recognizing the characteristics of the wines they enjoy. SIG members have the opportunity to taste several wines a month. We study wine regions around the world, grape varietals, food and wine pairings, reading wine labels, and the wine making process.
This group meets at member homes. For more information, please contact Carol Kennedy.
Wine SIG, Part Deux
Chair: Katie Rudow
katie.rudow@morganstanley.com
We’re a drinking group with a networking problem. Due to popular demand, Rochester Women's Network has started a second Wine SIG! We learn about wine, food, and each other as we sip around the wine bars and restaurants of Rochester.
Date: third Thursday of the month
Time: 5 PM
Location: location varies each month
Young Professionals
Chairs: Victoria Frankiewich, Taylor Garlock
vfrankiewich@fpuny.com
taylor@rochra.com
Networking dedicated to the personal and professional growth of today’s modern young professional woman. Because YP’s of today are heavily focused on a work/life balance, we decided we plan to hold two meetings a month: one will focus on professional growth and one will be more of a fun, networking opportunity. Our goal is to create a variety of events for young professional women to grow and network, opportunities that move beyond traditional bar “meet-ups.”
Date: Date: 4th Thursday of the Month, Time: Early evening meeting
RWN Book Club
Chair: Preeya Gholkar
pgholkar@yahoo.com
This SIG will meet to discuss books and articles, primarily by female authors and about female-specific topics. The readings will be jointly decided upon by the group members, and will be a mix of fiction and non-fiction.
Dates & times coming soon.
Connect. Grow. Succeed.