Chamber’s series focuses on roles of women in society

The Greater Richmond Chamber is launching an unplugged, informal speaker's series for women.

The inaugural event of the Extraordinary Women's Exchange will take place Sept. 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond.

Joan Barnes, founder and former CEO of Gymboree, is the first speaker.

The series was launched as a way to target and engage women about their roles in society, be they students, moms or professionals.

"Some of the sectors that were hit hardest were male-dominated," said Lori Amirshahi, the chamber's director of marketing and research. "That is now creating a different dynamic and a shift on women in the work force."

Barnes started Gymboree when she was a mom and a wife in search of a way to spend time with the family and make money. What began as offering exercises for babies and toddlers turned into a chain offering exercise and retail clothing outlets.

Attendees will be able to ask questions in advance or suggest topics.

The hope is that the quarterly series will turn into a local version of Bravo's "Inside the Actors Studio."

"It's more of an unplugged format than a speakers circuit," Amirshahi said.

Art will also be a part of the exchange. A new artist will be chosen each session to donate a piece of original artwork or create a new piece focusing on the uniqueness of being a woman. The first 100 people to register for the event will receive a poster reproduction of the artist's work.

The September artist is Richmond artist Holly Camp who graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2004.

The cost is $30 for chamber members; $35 for nonmembers. Men are allowed to attend.

Speakers for the January, March and May events have not been finalized.

-- Emily C. Dooley