National Girlfriends Networking Day is a nationwide celebration of the power of building connections.
Join thousands of women around the country by attending interactive, networking events. We’ll feature a panel of renowned, diverse women leaders discussing how to plan your career path, and then taking questions via social media from nationwide participants.
Meet the Panelists
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Christine Romans
Host and Anchor
CNNChristine Romans
Host and Anchor
CNN
Christine Romans is the anchor of “Early Start” with John Berman, CNN’s chief business correspondent and the host of Your Money, CNN’s Saturday and Sunday business program. In addition, Romans reports on the economy, politics and international business for CNN’s morning shows. Her reporting is also regularly featured on CNN International. She is the author of two books: How to Speak Money (Wiley 2011) and Smart is the New Rich (Wiley 2010).
Romans’ coverage focuses on the latest breaking developments in the current economic crises and what they mean to Americans and their money. She is known for her “Romans’ Numeral” segment where she deconstructs complex stories and explains what they mean for the viewer. When President Obama talks about the economic crisis and the road ahead, CNN relies on Christine Romans for her perspective and instant analysis of the administration’s efforts to rescue the American economy. Reporting on, among other issues, the bank crisis, the AIG bailout, the intricacies of the derivative markets, and the economic stimulus and its effect on American wallets, Romans brings an award-winning career in business reporting. In 2010, Romans co-hosted “Madoff: Secrets of a Scandal,” a special hour-long investigative report examining disgraced financier Bernard Madoff and how he perpetrated one of the largest investor frauds ever committed by an individual. In 2009, her special “In God We Trust: Faith & Money in America” explored the intersection of how our religious values govern the way we think about and spend our money.
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Sarinya Srisakul
President
United Women FirefightersSarinya Srisakul
President
United Women Firefighters
Sarinya Srisakul has been serving NYC as a firefighter since 2005. She is the first and is still the only woman firefighter of Asian descent in the FDNY.
Srisakul is President of the United Women Firefighters. She has been a dedicated member of the United Women Firefighters since the beginning of her career and has held the positions of Secretary, Borough Representative and Vice President before her current presidency.
As a lifelong activist, she is continuing her mission in creating social justice and gender equality through her work with the United Women Firefighters.
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Tammy Jones
President
Basis Investment GroupTammy Jones
President
Basis Investment Group
Tammy K. Jones (formerly Tammy K. Heyman), President of Basis Investment Group (Basis): Ms. Jones founded and launched Basis in 2009 in partnership with lead investor, JEMB Realty Corporation. Ms. Jones has more than 23 years of experience in the CRE finance industry and under her leadership; Basis has succeeded in closing approximately $1.5 billion in CRE debt related investments. Prior to joining Basis, Ms. Jones spent five years with CWCapital LLC (“CW”), where she was the head of CW’s fixed and floating rate Capital Markets Lending Division. Prior to CW, Ms. Jones was a Senior Vice President of Commercial Capital Initiatives, Inc., a GMACCM subsidiary (now Berkadia) (“GMAC”), and held senior positions at Equitable Real Estate and AMRESCO Management, Inc. Ms. Jones holds a BA in Economics from Cornell University and an MBA with a concentration in Real Estate Finance from Georgia State University.
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Gretchen Carlson
Host
FOX NewsGretchen Carlson
Host
FOX News
Gretchen Carlson is the host of FOX News show The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson weekdays. Previously, Gretchen was co-anchor of “FOX & Friends,” the No. 1 cable morning program 6-9am EST. She is a regular contributor “The O’Reilly Factor” with Bill O’Reilly in the Culture Warrior segment every Thursday night. Prior to joining FOX News, Carlson worked at CBS News where she served as a correspondent and co-anchor of the “CBS Saturday Early Show.” Before her tenure at CBS, Carlson served as an anchor/reporter for KXAS-TV (NBC) in Dallas, WOIO-TV (CBS) in Cleveland, and WCPO-TV (ABC) in Cincinnati. She began her television career in Richmond, VA as a political reporter for WRIC-TV (ABC). She was the recipient of the prestigious American Women in Radio and Television “Best Series” award for her 30-part series on domestic violence. She also won two National Emmy awards for her work at CBS News. In 1989, before beginning her career in television, she was the first classical violinist to be crowned Miss America. Carlson graduated with honors from Stanford University and also studied at Oxford University in England. She is a national celebrity spokesperson for the March of Dimes, serves on the Miss America Organization Board and continues to be an advocate of the arts. Carlson hails from Minnesota, is married and has two small children.
Thanks to our sponsors
Host Sponsor
Silver
Bronze
Contributing
Media Sponsor
Angel Investors
PERIDOT ANGEL
Dr. Susan Fleming
Karen Gerringer
Michelle Hendrix
Deb Gerardi Kemper
TOPAZ ANGEL
Heather Capell Bramble
Lara Brown
Kathleen CarrolL
Jo Anne Martin-ODell
Victoria May
Helen Rafferty
Lisa Rangel
Betsy Sokolow Sherman
Mission Statement
To engage college and young professional women in building and expanding their networks of connections with both colleagues and mentors.
How it Works
A panel featuring renowned, diverse women leaders discussing their personal experiences with taking risks and building connections will be streamed to 30+ events, around the country, hosted by corporations and women entrepreneurs. During the hour long event (12-1 pm ET), thousands of women will tune in and interact with the panel, then network with others.
Goals
- Encourage tens of thousands of women nationwide to recognize the importance of building their network, either by attending a hosted event or by connecting one-on-one.
- Host 30+ interactive events in major cities across the country which provide women with an opportunity to network in a collegial, enjoyable atmosphere.
- Enable corporations to participate by engaging their employees, interns and college women.
- Educate the public about the necessity of women building their network of connections through media releases, articles and video content.
- Establish the connections necessary for women to advance into leadership.
- Encourage women to stay connected and grow their network all year round on The Mentor Exchange.