SCRANTON — The University of Scranton Women’s Entrepreneurship Center will host Coffee and Confidence, a free information session for women interested in exploring the idea of starting their own businesses, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, on the fifth floor of Brennan Hall, 320 Madison Ave.

Participants will meet with guest Ellen Clauss, CEO of Aya Fair Trade, a business that promotes a sustainable solution to poverty, one village at a time. Aya Fair Trade provides fashionable, ethically made bags for all women. Every bag sold funds one week of education for a child in Ghana. Their materials are purchased from local market places in Ghana and artisan seamstresses are paid fair wages for their work. Aya Fair Trade won first place in the TecBridge Business Plan Competition, 2016.

Designed for women with lower incomes, those in transition or those trying to make a better life for themselves and their families, the session will offer women support and guidance in determining if self-employment is an option for them.

For more information or to register, contact Francene Dudziec, special projects coordinator, at 570-941-4168 or francene.dudziec@scranton.edu or register online at scrantonsbdc.com.

Representatives from The University of Scranton’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Center and SBDC meet with Ellen Clauss, CEO of Aya Fair Trade, to plan for the upcoming Coffee and Confidence, a free information session on Wednesday, Jan. 25 for women interested in learning about self-employment. From left, first row, Donna Simpson, of Olyphant, consultant manager at the University’s SBDC; guest mentor Ellen Clauss, of Lake Ariel, CEO of Aya Fair Trade, and Francene Pisano Dudziec, of Moosic, special projects coordinator at the University’s SBDC. Second row, The University’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Center student interns Denise Rizzo, ’17, of Paramus, N.J. and Carolyn Giordano, ’19, of Annandale, N.J.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_ABJ-Coffee.jpg.optimal.jpgRepresentatives from The University of Scranton’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Center and SBDC meet with Ellen Clauss, CEO of Aya Fair Trade, to plan for the upcoming Coffee and Confidence, a free information session on Wednesday, Jan. 25 for women interested in learning about self-employment. From left, first row, Donna Simpson, of Olyphant, consultant manager at the University’s SBDC; guest mentor Ellen Clauss, of Lake Ariel, CEO of Aya Fair Trade, and Francene Pisano Dudziec, of Moosic, special projects coordinator at the University’s SBDC. Second row, The University’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Center student interns Denise Rizzo, ’17, of Paramus, N.J. and Carolyn Giordano, ’19, of Annandale, N.J. Submitted photo

For Abington Journal

Information provided by The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center.