Women in Business: The Power of Possibility Forum
Thursday, March 19 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM | Indiana Tech Keene Building | Hosted by Black Chamber Fort Wayne
For many entrepreneurs, building a business is a journey that unfolds overtime. Years filled with ideas, detours, and opportunities waiting for the right moment.
The Women in Business: The Power of Possibility Forum is a collaborative evening designed to empower, inspire, and elevate women entrepreneurs and leaders — highlighting the limitless opportunities available to women in business while fostering meaningful dialogue, networking, and cross-chamber community partnership.
Hosted by the Black Chamber Fort Wayne and the Greater Fort Wayne Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, this forum brings together women across industries, backgrounds, and business stages for a night of conversation that extends well beyond the event itself.
Because when women support each other in business, the entire community benefits.
Event Details
📋 WHAT: Women in Business: The Power of Possibility Forum
🗓️ DATES: Thursday, March 19, 2026
🕗 TIME: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST
📍 LOCATION: Indiana Tech Keene Building, 1120 E Washington Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46803
💵 COST: $5 Students | $7.50 VIP Members | $15 Members & Non-Members
🎟️ REGISTRATION: Register Now
Why Attend
Starting a business is about more than a great idea — it’s about community, guidance, and learning from people who have walked the path before you.
The Women in Business Forum is designed to give attendees:
✅ Real, personal stories from successful women entrepreneurs across multiple industries
✅ Practical strategies you can apply directly to your business
✅ Meaningful connections with women leaders and entrepreneurs in Fort Wayne and across the region
✅ Access to local resources and networks built to help businesses grow
✅ Cross-chamber community — an evening built on collaboration between the Black Chamber Fort Wayne and the Greater Fort Wayne Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Whether you’re just exploring entrepreneurship or already building a business, this forum provides insight, encouragement, and connections that matter.
Mistress of Ceremonies
Dr. DeShawn Moore
Morning Show Host
Rhythm & Praise 94.1
Dr. DeShawn Moore has been a fixture in Fort Wayne’s media and ministry landscape for decades. As the host of Mornings with Lady Moore on Rhythm & Praise 94.1 — Fort Wayne’s gospel radio station created to serve the African American community — she has built a platform rooted in encouragement, faith, and genuine connection with her listeners. A Radio Announcer of the Year award winner, actress, magazine publisher, and community voice, Dr. Moore brings warmth, energy, and a deep love for this community to everything she touches. She’ll be guiding the evening as your Mistress of Ceremonies.
Meet the Panelists
Catherine Hill
VP, Client & Community Relations Director
PNC Bank
Catherine Hill serves as Vice President and Client & Community Relations Director for PNC Bank in Fort Wayne. Her role sits at the intersection of financial services and community investment — a perspective that is directly relevant to women entrepreneurs navigating access to capital, business banking, and the resources needed to grow. We look forward to hearing what she brings to this conversation.
Shameka Royal, LMHCA
Founder
ECC Professional Tax Services
Shameka Royal is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate and the founder of ECC Professional Tax Services. The combination of a mental health credential and entrepreneurship in financial services is a distinctive one — and we’re looking forward to hearing her story and the perspective she brings to women building businesses of their own.
Flora Barron
Founder, Educator, Business Leader & Speaker
Kanela Blended Drinks, Coffee & Bites
Flora Barron spent nearly 20 years teaching math and business in Fort Wayne while holding onto an entrepreneurial dream rooted in her family’s juicery tradition in Mexico. In 2017, she co-founded the Flora & Lily’s Mexican Kitchen food truck. In 2020, she and her husband opened Kanela Blended Drinks, Coffee & Bites on The Landing — in the middle of a pandemic. Today, Kanela has grown to multiple locations and a mobile unit, and her family’s food ventures continue to expand across the city. Barron now channels her years in education and entrepreneurship into speaking and mentoring others who are finding their own way forward.
Gemma McClendon
Real Estate Broker
Century 21 Bradley Realty
Gemma McClendon has built her reputation in Fort Wayne real estate on something straightforward: she listens. Her clients consistently describe an experience rooted in patience, attentiveness, and genuine care for their goals — qualities that have made her one of the area’s trusted brokers. McClendon’s path from sales management to real estate entrepreneurship offers a practical, relatable lens on what it takes to build a client-centered business in a competitive industry.
Stefania Ackermann
Chief Executive Officer
Paradise Refill Water
Stefania Ackermann leads Paradise Refill Water, a family-owned water refill and beverage company serving Fort Wayne with alkaline, purified, and hydrogen water solutions. Founded by a family with roots in Peru and Croatia, Paradise Refill Water was built on a commitment to health, sustainability, and community — values that guide everything from their ingredient standards to their customer relationships. Ackermann’s story is a testament to what happens when pure entrepreneurship meets a clear sense of purpose.
Dr. Dawn Moore, MBA
Transformational Academic Leader | Director of Online Programs & Credit
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Dr. Dawn Moore has spent her career at the intersection of education and entrepreneurship. After nearly 20 years in big-box retail management, she pursued her MBA at Indiana Wesleyan University and transitioned to higher education — teaching marketing at Trine University, leading business faculty at Martin University, and currently serving as Director of Online Programs & Credit at Purdue University Fort Wayne. She is also a DEI consultant at IU Fort Wayne and is completing her Ph.D. in Global Leadership. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and a veteran of Leadership Fort Wayne, Dr. Moore brings an academic lens to entrepreneurship that is grounded, practical, and deeply invested in helping others grow.
Who Should Attend
- Women entrepreneurs and business owners
- Professionals exploring entrepreneurship
- Creatives and service providers building new ventures
- Students interested in entrepreneurship
- Women looking to connect with Fort Wayne’s business community
No matter where you are in your journey, there is a place for you in this conversation.
Register Now
Cost: $5 Students | $7.50 VIP Members | $15 Members & Non-Members
Seats are limited. Register today to secure your spot.
📞 Questions? Contact the Black Chamber Fort Wayne at (260) 366-6333 or email Talk2us@myfwbcc.org
About the Organizer
Black Chamber Fort Wayne
The Black Chamber Fort Wayne, led by Board President Ramadan Abdul-Azeez, is dedicated to fostering the growth and success of Black-owned businesses in the Fort Wayne community. Through networking events, advocacy, and educational opportunities, the Chamber helps entrepreneurs and professionals build valuable connections and access essential resources.
Our mission: To support member businesses, grow businesses, and attract and retain top talent to the region.
The Fort Wayne Black Chamber of Commerce
200 E Main St, Suite 800 | Fort Wayne, IN 46802
📞 (260) 366-6333 | 📧 Talk2us@myfwbcc.org
© Black Chamber Fort Wayne, 2026. All rights reserved.
