YPOWR-Young Professionals of Waterbury Region-To Host Speaker Event Feb. 21 w/Donna Palomba

“Persevere and Never Quit” is the topic of the February 2st Waterbury Regional Chamber’s Y.P.O.W.R. – Young Professionals of Waterbury Region - “Influential Business: CEO Speaker Series – Making It Happen” program. Donna Palomba, founder of Jane Doe No More, will give her presentation at Courtyard by Marriott, Downtown Waterbury at 63 Grand Street from 8:00 to 9:15 a.m.

Y.P.O.W.R’s newly-introduced CEO Speaker Series began on January 24th with a presentation by Charles Boulier III, president and CEO of Ion Bank on “Starting Over at the Top.” On February 7th Paul Van Ness, president and CEO of the Connecticut Community Foundation, presented “Making Dreams Come True.” Ion Bank has been sponsor of the series that has been hosted by the Connecticut Community Foundation.

The mission of Y.P.O.W.R. is to energize young professionals aged 21 to 39 who are looking to grow their careers in the Waterbury area by engaging them in positive opportunities for professional development, educational, social, and community service. Y.P.O.W.R.’s series of ongoing events are sponsored by Post University as partner, and corporate member sponsors are Belle Case Verde, Crowne Plaza Hotel in Southbury, Connecticut Community Foundation, and New Opportunities, Inc.

The February 21st “Persevere and Never Quit” program will be presented Donna Palomba, founder of the national nonprofit Jane Doe No More, an organization dedicated to improving the way society responds to victims of sexual assault. Palomba is recognized nationwide as a powerful voice for survivors of sexual assault. She is the face, founder and driving force behind Jane Doe No More, Inc. In her presentation, Palomba will help attendees find ways to have others hear their voice while sharing their drive and passion to make their next career step. Since first telling her story on a 2007 episode of Dateline NBC, Palomba has become a much sought-after author, public speaker and media resource, logging appearances on local and national television and radio shows, including NBC’s Today and Biography’s I Survived. She has also successfully lobbied for legislative changes that protect the rights of sexual assault survivors. Through Jane Doe No More, Inc., Palomba established Raising Awareness through Personal Experience (RAPE). Prior to founding Jane Doe No More, she co-founded The Worx Group, a marketing communications firm and served as a managing member from 1987 through 2009. She also released her book, Jane Doe No More: My 15-Year Fight to Reclaim My Identity – a True Story of Survival, Hope and Redemption.

Admission for Y.P.O.W.R’s final CEO Speaker Series program is $15/person. To register, visit www.ypowr.org, or contact Courtney Ligi at info@ypowr.org or call 203-757-0701.