The Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce is preparing to host its annual Women in Business Luncheon on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, bringing together women from across the Bowling Green business community for an afternoon focused on professional journeys, leadership, networking, and inspiration.
The annual event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Stone Ridge Golf Club and will be held in celebration of October as National Women’s Small Business Month. The luncheon will feature three women from different professional backgrounds who will share their experiences, career accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned along the way.
The Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Luncheon has become an opportunity for local professionals to connect with one another while hearing firsthand stories from women who have built careers in business, healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and community leadership.
Bowling Green Women in Business Luncheon Set for October 20
The 2026 Women in Business Luncheon is scheduled for October 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Stone Ridge Golf Club.
The event is being presented by the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce with support from UBS Financial Services. Women affiliated with Chamber investors are invited to attend the luncheon at no charge, making the event an accessible opportunity for local professionals to meet other women in the business community.
Registration opened September 14 and is scheduled to close October 5 or when the event reaches capacity, whichever comes first. Attendees are also encouraged to bring business cards and marketing materials for the networking table, adding a practical business networking component to the luncheon.
For professionals looking to expand their connections in Bowling Green, events such as this can provide an informal setting to meet business owners, employees, entrepreneurs, educators, community leaders, and other professionals.
A Celebration of Women in Business and Leadership
The Women in Business Luncheon was created to recognize the accomplishments of women in the Bowling Green area and give them an opportunity to learn from one another.
The program originally began as a virtual event in 2020. Since then, it has continued as an annual gathering designed to highlight the professional experiences of local women and encourage leadership within the community.
For 2026, the program will feature three speakers whose careers represent different paths to professional success.
The featured speakers are Dot Barnes of All About You Aesthetics and Wellness, Liz Sworden of BioFit, BG Pedal Company and Angels in Arms, and Dr. Sandra Earle of Bowling Green State University and the University of Findlay College of Pharmacy.
Their different professional backgrounds are expected to give attendees a broad look at career development, entrepreneurship, education, mentorship, leadership, and community involvement.
Meet the 2026 Women in Business Luncheon Speakers
One of this year’s featured speakers is Dot Barnes, owner of All About You Aesthetics and Wellness.
Barnes has built a career that includes healthcare, leadership, recruitment, advanced practice nursing, and entrepreneurship. She also serves as chair of the Otterbein Sunset Communities board of directors and as a board member of the Adopt America Network.
Her career reflects how professional paths can change over time. Rather than remaining within one role or industry, Barnes has continued developing new skills and taking on new responsibilities.
She has also been involved in initiatives supporting women in business education. Barnes helped create the Galentines Gala, an event designed to provide financial and mentorship support to women students at Bowling Green State University who are studying business.
Her story offers an example of how entrepreneurship and community involvement can develop alongside a professional career.
Liz Sworden Brings Entrepreneurship and Community Experience
The 2026 Women in Business Luncheon will also feature Liz Sworden, whose professional involvement includes BioFit, BG Pedal Company, and Angels in Arms.
Sworden’s participation adds an entrepreneurial and business-focused perspective to the program. Her career and community involvement demonstrate the variety of ways women contribute to the local economy and professional community.
For women attending the luncheon, hearing from business leaders with different professional experiences can provide ideas about career development and the different paths available in today’s business environment.
Women in business may move between industries, establish their own companies, take on leadership positions, or combine professional responsibilities with community service. Events that bring these experiences together can help create opportunities for connection and knowledge sharing.
Dr. Sandra Earle Highlights Education and Mentorship
Another featured speaker is Dr. Sandra Earle, associate dean of assessment and student success and associate professor of pharmacy at the University of Findlay. She is also associated with Bowling Green State University.
As a pharmacist and educator, Earle has worked in leadership, teaching, mentoring, and student success.
Her professional experience highlights another important part of women in leadership: helping the next generation develop confidence and discover their own professional potential.
Earle has spoken about the importance of supporting students beyond academics. Her work includes advocacy related to students’ basic needs, including access to food, healthcare, and housing, so they can concentrate on their education.
Her interest in connecting young people, particularly young women, with professional fields and science also reflects the broader role mentorship can play in career development.
Why Women in Business Events Matter
Professional networking can play an important role in career development, especially for people who are building businesses, changing careers, entering leadership positions, or looking for opportunities to learn from other professionals.
The Bowling Green Women in Business Luncheon provides a setting where those connections can happen while attendees listen to speakers discuss their own experiences.
The event’s organizers have emphasized the inspiration attendees can gain from hearing the speakers’ professional journeys. Mary Hinkelman, executive director of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, said women attending the event have valued the opportunity to hear these stories and leave encouraged as they continue their own careers.
That focus on shared experiences is one of the central themes of the annual luncheon.
Rather than focusing on a single industry, the event brings together women from different areas of the professional community. This creates an opportunity for attendees to see how leadership, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and community involvement can take different forms.
Networking Opportunities for Bowling Green Businesswomen
Networking is another important component of the 2026 Women in Business Luncheon.
Attendees are encouraged to bring business cards and marketing materials for the networking table. This gives local professionals an opportunity to introduce themselves, share information about their businesses or organizations, and connect with other attendees.
For small business owners and entrepreneurs, networking events can be especially useful for building relationships within the local business community.
Connections made at professional events can lead to conversations about partnerships, services, mentorship, employment opportunities, community projects, or simply the exchange of ideas.
The luncheon also provides an opportunity for professionals who may work in very different industries to discover common challenges and experiences.
Women’s Small Business Month Adds to the Significance
The 2026 event is being held in recognition of National Women’s Small Business Month, making October a fitting time for the Bowling Green Chamber to highlight women entrepreneurs and professionals.
Women-owned businesses contribute to local communities through employment, services, innovation, and community involvement. Events that recognize women in business can also create opportunities to highlight the people behind those businesses.
For Bowling Green, the Women in Business Luncheon provides a local platform for that recognition.
The event also reflects a broader interest in creating opportunities for women to develop professional relationships and leadership skills while learning from established business and community leaders.
From Virtual Beginnings to an Annual Bowling Green Tradition
The Women in Business Luncheon has an interesting history.
The event began on a virtual platform in 2020 as a way to celebrate the accomplishments and successes of women in the Bowling Green area. Since then, it has developed into an annual event where women can gather in person and hear directly from local professionals.
The 2025 luncheon similarly focused on inspiration and professional journeys. Three speakers shared personal stories about the experiences and people who influenced their careers.
The continuation of the event shows how the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce has maintained a dedicated program for recognizing women across the local professional community.
What Attendees Can Expect at the 2026 Luncheon
The October 20 event will combine a luncheon with speaker presentations and networking opportunities.
Attendees can expect to hear from three women representing different professional fields while having the opportunity to connect with other women affiliated with Bowling Green Chamber investors.
The format allows the event to serve several purposes at once: recognizing professional accomplishments, sharing career experiences, encouraging mentorship, and creating opportunities for business networking.
For someone attending for the first time, bringing business cards and marketing materials can be a simple way to make the most of the networking portion of the event.
How to Register for the Bowling Green Women in Business Luncheon
Women affiliated with Chamber investors can attend the 2026 Women in Business Luncheon at no charge.
Registration opened September 14 through the Bowling Green Chamber’s event registration system. Registration is scheduled to close on October 5 or when capacity is reached.
The event will take place at Stone Ridge Golf Club on Tuesday, October 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Those interested in attending should register through the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce before the registration deadline or capacity limit.
Celebrating the Future of Women in Business in Bowling Green
The 2026 Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Luncheon will bring together professionals with different careers, experiences, and perspectives for an afternoon centered on business, leadership, mentorship, and connection.
With speakers including Dot Barnes, Liz Sworden, and Dr. Sandra Earle, this year’s program will showcase several different approaches to building a meaningful professional career and contributing to the community.
The event also demonstrates how local business organizations can create spaces where professionals learn from one another and build relationships beyond their individual industries.
As Bowling Green continues to recognize women entrepreneurs, business owners, educators, healthcare professionals, and community leaders, the annual Women in Business Luncheon provides an opportunity to celebrate their contributions while encouraging the next generation of women professionals.
For those attending on October 20, the luncheon will be more than a meal. It will be an opportunity to hear real career stories, make professional connections, and take part in a Bowling Green tradition focused on women in business and leadership.
Sources
Sentinel-Tribune: “Chamber hosts Women in Business luncheon” Read the original article
BG Independent News: “Registration to open Sept. 14 for free BG Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Luncheon” Read the event details
BG Independent News: “Local businesswomen find support in each other at annual luncheon” Read the 2025 coverage
Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce: Event Registration View registration information
