The Central California Women's Conference is coming to Fresno in September. This morning on KSEE Sunrise, we talked with some of the organizers and presenters.

Morning news host Robin Roberts will be the keynote speaker for this year’s one-day event on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, at the Fresno Convention Center. It is the largest conference of its kind in the Valley and the fifth largest in the state.

Roberts became a symbol of courage and strength as she publicly shared her personal fight against breast cancer to champion early detection. She was one of the first female anchors on SportsCenter and Wide World of Sports and is also a best-selling author.

“Our research shows that people want to hear some good news,” said Conference Coordinator Mary Stabelfeld. “They want to be inspired in these hard times. Who doesn’t remember when Robin bravely shaved her head on national TV and then hit the cat walk with her bald head to raise awareness for early breast cancer detection? Fresno, get ready to be inspired by Robin’s message of hope.”

Noted for her down-to-earth style and warmth, Roberts considers her faith, family and fundamental values as the cornerstones of her emotional and professional achievement. Her message is titled, FROM THE HEART: RULES TO LIVE BY. “There is no magical reason why I am where I am,” said Roberts.” And there is absolutely no reason why you can't be where you want to be. If it can happen for me, it can happen for you, too. And it would be a privilege for me to help you get there."

The Central California Women’s Conference is celebrating its 22nd anniversary with this year’s theme Reinvest in You. This full-day event offers seminars given by national and local experts. How-to topics range from creating healthy financial strategies to mastering time management, learning to use social media to boosting presentation skills, and “greening” your house to simplifying shopping for a wardrobe update.

The day offers a full slate of events from 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. beginning with a continental breakfast. The morning “Warm-Up” session opens with speaker/author Karyn Buxman, whose message is “Amazed & Amused: How to Survive & Thrive as a Woman Today.” Attendees will then choose three sessions from the 24 offered throughout the day, with special “green” sessions back by popular demand.

The keynote luncheon will be held in the new Exhibit Hall with Robin Roberts. Networking breaks occur at “Marketplace” which offers conference-goers more than 150 vendors sharing information and products. The day will wind down with comedian Juliet Funt entertaining with her message “Overcommitted, Overwhelmed and Over It! Success Skills for the Blisteringly Busy.”

Attendees will have a chance to meet and purchase books from their favorite speakers at the “Speaker’s Corner” in the remodeled Saroyan Theatre. The adjacent “Community Corner” offers attendees a connection with non-profit organizations.

This year’s event is expected to be another early sellout and tickets are available on the Web at www.ccwc-fresno.org.The $85 price includes continental breakfast, seminars, the keynote-speaker luncheon and the afternoon reception. Tickets are limited to the first 3,400 attendees. The event has sold-out quickly the past two years and organizers stress early registration.

The conference is made possible through the support of national and Valley businesses, and, as expected, this year’s support was touch and go due to the troubled economy. Gottschalks, a Founding Sponsor, went out of business this year. Gottschalks executive and Valley philanthropist, Joe Levy, helped convince Macy’s to sponsor the event in lieu of Gottschalks’ departure.

“The conference could not happen without the amazing and generous support of our sponsors,” said Development Director Jan Edwards.

The Central California Women’s Conference, founded in 1988 by then State Senator Ken Maddy of Fresno, Calif. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, non-political organization designed to educate, motivate and inspire women to reach their potential in their personal and professional lives. The mission of the conference is to empower and educate women. During the past 22 years, the conference has given hundreds of thousands of dollars back to the community in an effort to support the causes of women in all stages of their growth.

For additional information on CCWC, visit the Web site at ccwc-fresno.org or call (559) 265-6888.