College of the Canyons is inviting women from across the Santa Clarita Valley to participate in an inspirational, hands-on day of information and support designed to empower attendees to successfully make important transitions in their lives, during the 2012 COC Women’s Conference, being sponsored by Boston Scientific, Valencia Neuromodulation.

Recognizing that transition is a constant factor in both a women’s personal and professional life, event organizers have focused this year’s Women’s Conference around five key information strands: Business, Education, Career Exploration, Financial Planning and Women’s Health.

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During the event attendees will have access to a variety of interactive breakout sessions, with each session led by a local subject expert or industry professional who will share their inspirational story of triumph and success, along with tips and information about how to:

• Match your skill set with a new career
• Receive job training
• Create an effective resume
• Prepare for an job intervie
• Start your own successful business
• Achieve financial peace and plan for retirement
• Improve your overall health and wellness

“The challenges women face in their lives often require them to consider new paths that may take their family, career and personal life into unchartered territories,” said Deborah Rio, the college’s Dean of Enrollment Services and chair of the conference. “College of the Canyons wants to provide the women, and men, in our community with a day dedicated to overcoming those challenges and provide them with the resources needed to transition to new ways of thinking that will allow them to realize their potential.”

The 2012 College of the Canyons Women’s Conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center, located on the college’s Valencia campus.

Admission to the event is $15 and includes access to the entire conference, including three morning breakout sessions of the attendee’s choice, a continental breakfast and entrance into the post-conference Resource Fair.

At the Resource Fair attendees will have additional opportunities to meet with conference presenters and network with representatives from various college departments and community organizations dedicated to helping individuals reach their career development goals, including:

• Apple One Staffing
• Sage Staffing
• Santa Clarita Work Source Center
• Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center
• COC Career Services
• COC Career Technical Education
• COC Fast Track Institute
• COC Cooperative Work Experience Education (CWEE) internship program
• COC Volunteer Bureau
• Single Mother’s Outreach

A selection of woman-owned gourmet food trucks, with food available for purchase, will also be on hand during this portion of the event.

“We look forward to interacting with other women in our community,” added Rio “on a day that promises to be uplifting, informative, inspirational and fun!”

For more information about the 2012 College of the Canyons Women’s Conference and the scheduled lineup of featured presenters and events, or to register to attend please visit www.canyons.edu/Offices/WC/ or contact the Women’s Conference event desk at (661) 362-3044.

For information about becoming an event sponsor, please contact Cathy Ritz, chair of the Women’s Conference sponsorship committee, at (661) 362-3639.