Women in Entrepreneurship is dedicated to celebrating and empowering female founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or just starting out, this annual event offers invaluable resources and networking opportunities to help you thrive in your entrepreneurial journey.
Since its start, Women in Entrepreneurship has been focused on bringing together powerful women in the Marquette community to build an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem where all women feel empowered to blazer their own trail and start their own business.
Innovate Marquette events and programs are made possible with support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the City of Marquette.
Coffee and Conversation | February 26, 2026
Schedule:
8:00-8:30a – Accounting Best Practices Presentation with Sue Beckstrom
8:30-9:00a – Social Media Strategies for Small Business Owners Presentation with Kate Pouliot
9:00-10:00a – Networking
Social Media Strategies for Small Business Owners with Kate Pouliot
This presentation will cover best practices for managing and growing your business’ social media presence with a focus on authentically representing your business on social media, crafting messages that resonate, driving engagement, and building an engaged audience that’s right for your brand. Whether you’re just getting started with your business on social media or are looking to grow your presence online, this session will offer actionable tips for any small business owners.
About Kate Pouliot:
Kate is an Account Executive at Siren—a Marquette-based strategic communications firm that connects organizations and communities through clear, powerful communication. Her focus is to activate communication strategy to help Siren’s clients reach their goals and connect with those who need to hear from them most. With an approach rooted in strategy, she assists with strategy and message development, media relations, executive visibility, and social media management. Kate has played a key role in launching and scaling digital presences for businesses and organizations across the region—enabling audience growth, meaningful engagement, and increased visibility for their impact. Beyond her role at Siren, Kate enjoys being outdoors, exploring Marquette, spending time with Lake Superior, and engaging with her community.
Accounting Best Practices with Sue Beckstrom
This presentation will cover best practices for managing your business finances with a focus on understanding financial statements, maintaining accurate records, and managing cash flow. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to strengthen your financial systems, this session will offer practical tips for small business owners.
About Sue Beckstrom:
Sue Beckstrom Noel is an experienced accountant and bookkeeper who helps small business owners take the stress out of their finances. She was a CPA and worked in public accounting on both audit and tax engagements for many years. She now focuses on providing bookkeeping, payroll, and financial reporting services. Sue enjoys working closely with her clients to ensure everything is accurate, compliant, and on-time, and explaining numbers in plain language so clients can focus on running and growing their business with confidence.
New for 2025, we are expanding Women in Entrepreneurship from a one-day event to multiple events throughout the year. Each quarter, we’ll host Women in Entrepreneurship: Coffee & Conversation, a morning event focused on casual connection and conversation with inspiring women in our community. On June 4, we’re excited to welcome back Lane Clark for a morning presentation on the power of imperfection!
Throughout 2025 and beyond, we plan to host multiple Women in Entrepreneurship events with programming like keynote speakers, networking sessions, pitch competitions, and more. The events are free and open to the public, family-friendly and welcomes women of all ages and backgrounds. Thank you to our partners and sponsors who make Women in Entrepreneurship a reality!
Stay tuned for more information about Women in Entrepreneurship events coming soon!
Innovate Marquette’s Women in Entrepreneurship event returned Wednesday, June 4, 2025, with a guided Anti Excellence talk with Lane Clark.
Since its start, Women in Entrepreneurship has focused on bringing together women in the Marquette community to build an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem where all women feel empowered to blaze their own trail and start their businesses.
Lane Clark is a social worker turned Anti-Excellence advocate and right-hand-woman to leaders and high performers.
Lane uses her professional training as an MSW, 12 years of experience supporting business owners and professionals, and her intuitive powers to increase the bandwidth of her clients and help recovering perfectionists breathe easier (just a little).
Thank you for attending Women in Entrepreneurship 2024!
Women in Entrepreneurship is dedicated to celebrating and empowering female founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or just starting out, this annual event offers invaluable resources and networking opportunities to help you thrive in your entrepreneurial journey.
Free and open to the public, our most recent Women in Entrepreneurship event was held on May 16, 2024. This year, we took a new approach to the classic event by expanding the programming to feature three sessions in a “choose your own adventure” format. Attendees had the chance to register for one, two, or all three sessions:
- Coffee & Conversation: The Power of Imperfection with Lane Clark
- Lunch & Learn: Small Business Resources with Vicki Schwab
- Evening Keynote with Georgia Grace Edwards, CEO & Co-Founder of Gnara
View photos, meet our speakers, and watch a recording of the keynote address to relive the inspiring moments and insights from our Women in Entrepreneurship 2024. Keep scrolling for highlights from this year’s event!
Meet the Trailblazers: Our 2024 Women in Entrepreneurship Speakers
Lane Clark
Founder of Lane Clark Consulting and Knot Work Studio
Lane Clark is a social worker turned CEO’s best friend and right-hand-woman to leaders and high performers and Anti-Excellence advocate.
Lane uses her professional training as an MSW, 10 years of experience supporting business owners, and her intuitive powers to increase the bandwidth of her clients and help recovering perfectionists breathe easier (just a little). She creates a dedicated time (and space) for all of them to relax their shoulders and unburden their minds. Lane provides high-level support so CEOs and high-performing professionals are free to spend their time serving and leading.
When not at her desk, find Lane traveling, out in the woods with her two unschooled children, or reading with a cup of hot Earl Grey.
Vicki Schwab
Managing Director for Regional Development at the MEDC
Vicki Schwab is the Managing Director for Regional Development at the MEDC, leading a team of business and community economic development professionals that cover all 15 counties of the U.P. Based in her hometown of Nahma, she grew up on her family farm and attended college at Lake Superior State University. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration – Information Systems Management she started her career in the technology industry working for companies including Apple Computer, Oracle, and Peoplesoft. She returned home to start a small business which evolved into a position as Executive Director for the Delta County Economic Development Alliance.
After focusing on community and business development for 7 years, Vicki joined the MEDC Growth and Development team in 2018 as a Business Development Manager and was promoted to her current position in 2022. In her spare time, she enjoys beach walks with her dogs and golfing with her husband John and grandkids.
Georgia Grace Edwards
CEO and Co-Founder of Gnara
Georgia Grace (GG) Edwards is the CEO and Co-Founder of Gnara (formerly SheFly), a venture capital-backed, Colorado-based startup whose mission is to help everyone answer nature’s call – quite literally. GG got the idea for the GoFly – Gnara’s internationally patented zipper technology – while working as one of few female glacier guides in Alaska. Prototyped from her Middlebury College dorm room in Vermont, the GoFly can now be found in Gnara apparel online, on the floors of the largest retailers in North America, including Moosejaw Mountaineering, Title Nine, Public Lands, and REI, and soon, as a licensed feature in other brands’ products.
Gnara and their line of Go There products have won back-to-back Outdoor Retailer Awards, as well as Top Product Awards and recognition by Women’s Health, CNN, USA Today, GearJunkie, the U.S. Senate, Forbes, Blister, Outside Business Journal, and more. GG brings experience as a former Fulbright Fellow, Wild Gift Fellow, Futurist Project Fellow, economic consultant, and TEDxTalk speaker.
Evening Keynote with Georgia Grace Edwards
On May 16, 2024, nearly 100 attendees gathered at the Northern Center on the Northern Michigan University campus for networking and Georgia Grace Edwards’ keynote address.
The evening began with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and networking at 5 PM, followed by Georgia Grace Edwards’ keynote address at 6 PM. Georgia Grace Edwards is the CEO and Co-Founder of Gnara (formerly SheFly), a venture capital-backed, Colorado-based startup whose mission is to help everyone answer nature’s call – quite literally.
Watch the video recording to hear the lessons Georgia Grace learned on her entrepreneurial journey.
2024 Resources & Event Highlights
Not able to attend this year? Or perhaps you want to relive the inspiring moments of the day? Check out the resources and highlights captured below.
Resources:
- Watch Georgia Grace Edwards’ keynote address
- View Vicki Schwab’s Small Business Resources presentation
- Check out the official 2024 program
- View the photo gallery
Event Highlights:
- Family-friendly environment created a welcome space for emerging entrepreneurs of all ages
- Proudly collaborated with women-owned businesses including Botánica Quetzalli, Dead River Coffee, and Emmoon Creative
- Co-working space was available between sessions
- 3 unique sessions featuring 3 incredible speakers
Grateful for the Support of our 2024 Sponsors
Women in Entrepreneurship 2024 was proudly sponsored by Botánica Quetzalli, Dead River Coffee, Double Trouble Entertainment, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Northern Initiatives, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, and the Zonta Club of the Marquette Area, with support from the City of Marquette. Thank you to all our generous sponsors. Our annual Women in Entrepreneurship event wouldn’t be possible without your support.