International Women’s Weekend

International Women’s Weekend

March 7 – 8, 2020

The National Museum of Industrial History will kick-off a month-long commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in March with International Women’s Weekend on March 7th and 8th. Women’s Weekend will celebrate the voices and stories of women in industry through a full schedule of youth educational activities, guided tours and exhibit enhancements, live historical reenactments, Girl Scout badge programs, film screenings and lectures.

About the Programs

Saturday, March 7th at 11:00am – “No F.E.A.R. Just Progress.” -Veronica Moore, Owner & Curator—Alma & Eve
Sometimes there are self limiting beliefs that hold us back from moving forward with a goal or dream that we have in our lives. What if you became a bold believer and dreamer of the intrinsic ability and motivation inside of you to follow your passion and purpose? Come to this interactive session to learn how to start moving past the false ideas you may have convinced ourselves of and into action.

Saturday, March 7th at 1:0opm – “Victorian Fake News and FeminineTrash Talk: How I Studied Emma Allison, Centennial Steam Engineer” – Dr. Louise Krasniewicz, Department of Anthropology— UPenn
At first glance, Miss Emma Allison seemed the perfect New Woman when she was working as a steam engineer at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. Accounts of her unusual work combined with her pleasant appearance and demeanor seemed to signal new and exciting possibilities for working women in the late 19th century. She was briefly celebrated in newspapers across the country but beneath the surface was a complex tale of feminist infighting, fabrications of history, and complex tales of oppression and political machinations. Emma’s story, which I have researched for 10 years, reveals the thrills and pitfalls of studying historic women, especially with new archives available online. We just have to be ready for what we find.

Saturday, March 7th at 3:00pm – “Changing Lives” – Lisa Scheller, President & CEO—Silberline Mfg Co
Silberline is a third-generation family-owned and operated business since 1945. It is a world leader and global supplier of high-quality special effect and performance pigments with world headquarters located in Tamaqua. Lisa possesses a Master of Science Degree in Manufacturing System Engineering from Lehigh University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Math from the University of Colorado. On a personal level, Lisa participated in the Women’s Entrepreneur’s Group in the Lehigh Valley and currently participates in the World Presidents Organization.

Sunday, March 8th at 11:00am – “Thinking Courageously About Entrepreneurship” – Debrah Cummins Stellato, President—The Think Good Company
Deb brings robust experience to organizations as a success coach, facilitator and speaker. She specializes in igniting potential in people and organizations. A certified professional iPEC Coach, Deb has extensive experience around leadership coaching for both profit and non-profit leaders and has worked in diverse business sectors including non-profit, higher education and corporate consulting. Deb is passionate about developing leadership mindsets for emerging leaders.

Sunday, March 8th at 1:00pm – “Packaging with PEEPS®!” – Charlotte Edwards, CPP, Senior Packaging Engineer—Just Born
Learn how an obsession with simulation computer games as a kid and go karts tied to office chairs led to a career in engineering. You’ll hear how the science of packaging combines mechanical and industrial engineering, materials science, robotics, and physics to deliver a product into the hands of a consumer. The presentation will conclude with a packaged egg drop demonstration, sure to be a “smash hit.”

Sunday, March 8th at 3:00pm – “Modern Day Sheroes: Women of Color Creating a Better Future through Manufacturing”- Constance Thompson, CCDP Senior Director, Women’s Engagement —The Manufacturing Institute
Women of Color have played groundbreaking, life saving and often pivotal roles in improving the design and manufacturing of vehicles, aircraft and life-saving medical equipment that make the world a better place for us now and in the future. Join us as we introduce you to three modern day Sheroes who work each day to improve the cars that we drive, the way we design and manufacture aircraft and save lives through the design of life saving medical equipment. What were they like as kids? Who/What inspired them? What did they invent or help to manufacture to help make the world a better place for us now and in the future? How can girls today start to make a better future through manufacturing?

Saturday, March 7th and Sunday, March 8th at 4:00pm – Hello Girls film screening
In 1918, the U.S. Army Signal Corps sent 223 women to France as telephone operators to help win the Great War. They swore Army oaths, wore uniforms, held rank, and were subject to military justice. By war’s end, they had connected over 26 million calls and were recognized by General John J. Pershing for their service. This documentary features rare 100-year old film footage of America’s first female soldiers courtesy of the National Archives and never-before-seen photos from family archives.

About the Speakers

Debrah Cummins Stellato specializes in igniting potential in people and organizations. A certified professional iPEC Coach, Deb has extensive experience around leadership coaching for both profit and non-profit leaders. She has worked in diverse business sectors including non-profit, higher education and corporate consulting. In her tenure as CEO of Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley, Deb provided the vision to launch the Habitat Lehigh Valley Re-Store and Neighborhood Revitalization program. As interim Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Lehigh County, Deb’s experience as a change management agent helped move the agency forward in forging strategic partnerships.

Charlotte Edwards is the Senior Packaging Engineer at Just Born Quality Confections, makers of PEEPS® Brand Marshmallow and MIKE AND IKE® Brand Candies. She earned her B.S. in Packaging Science from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2015, and most recently obtained the Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) designation from the Institute of Packaging Professionals. In her role, she oversees the structural packaging development and graphic design team, responsible for ensuring each package type processes through production automation, protects the product in the distribution stream, and meets customer expectations on shelf. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, auto enthusiast events, and convincing her two lazy dogs to quit watching TV and go play outside.

Dr. Louise Krasniewicz is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania and a Consulting Scholar in the Penn Cultural Heritage Center at the Penn Museum. Her areas of research include American popular culture and visual media, women’s history, and issues of narrative and representation. She has published biographies of cultural figures including Walt Disney as well as an account of the feminist anti-nuclear protest know as the Women’s Peace Camp (available free at: https://cornellopen.org/9781501727979/nuclear-summer/)

Veronica Moore is the Owner & Curator of Alma & Eva. Her gift in life is helping others to address False Evidence Appearing Real (F.E.A.R.) and actively pursue and discover their passion and purpose in life.With over 13 years of experience coaching and mentoring others, I help women to take ACTION to strategically achieve their goals, build their confidence and gain more fulfillment in work, life and business.

Lisa Jane Scheller is currently the Chairman and President of Silberline Manufacturing Co., Inc. Silberline is a third-generation family-owned and operated business since 1945. It is a world leader and global supplier of high-quality special effect and performance pigments with world headquarters located in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. Silberline has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Scotland, and China, with sales and representative offices in Brazil, Mexico, and India, and employs over 600 employees worldwide. Lisa possesses a Master of Science Degree in Manufacturing System Engineering from Lehigh University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Math from the University of Colorado.

Constance Thompson, CCDP/AP serves as the Senior Director of Women’s Engagement for The National Manufacturing Institute (NMI) the non-profit workforce and education-focused affiliate of The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)- the nation’s largest industrial trade association. Thompson is responsible for partnering with The VP of Strategic Engagement and Manager of Women’s Engagement to lead the Institutes’ rapidly expanding work with The STEP Women’s Initiative and support the overall growth of diversity and inclusion solutions in the manufacturing sector. Thompson is noted for her considerable expertise in the development, integration, measurement, and sustainment of successful D&I workforce, strategic partnership and culture change focused initiatives.

Presented in partnership with

This event was funded in part with funding from the Hotel Tax Grant Program through the County of Northampton Department of Community & Economic Development.