Women’s Expo fosters empowerment, inspires passion

County Commissioner Michelle Stone, left, and Allison Campbell, right, a member of the Marion County Public School Board, both spoke at the Women’s Expo on Saturday, June 25, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/OG]

Those seated in a classroom listening to Ocala Police Department Major Angy Scroble were rapt as she talked about personal safety and offered tips about awareness of your environment and paying attention to details, such as tag numbers, when using a ride service.

Scroble shared incidents from her life that, she said, brought her some of the valuable lessons she shared with audience members on Saturday, June 25, at the Ocala Style Women’s Expo at the College of Central Florida.

Other guest speakers included Katherine O’Brien, DVM, owner of Maricamp Animal Hospital; Marion County Commissioner Michelle Stone and Marion County School Board member Allison Campbell; attorneys Janet Behnke and Mary Catherine Landt; and business coach Stacey Ansley.

The expo also featured a wide variety of vendors, many of which offered gifts and treats along with information and even demonstrations about their services.

The event, which had a theme of fostering empowerment and inspiring passion, delivered on those topics as it served as a forum for sharing, socializing and bonding.

The PACE Center for Girls – Marion, a nationally recognized organization that provides young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy, was the beneficiary of proceeds from ticket sales and a raffle.

“Women face challenges unique to their gender. It’s uplifting when we can come together during events like these for frank, empathetic conversation about how to navigate those challenges,” said Jennifer Hunt Murty, publisher of “Ocala Style” magazine, the event’s organizer.