Virginia O'Rourke-Cookson Named Chairwoman of 2016 Business Women's Forum (BWF)

Virginia “Ginny” O’Rourke Cookson, owner and president of O’Rourke & Birch Florist Inc. in Waterbury, celebrating 93 years in business in 2016, has been named chairwoman of the non-profit 2016 Business Women’s Forum's (BWF).

O’Rourke Cookson is leading the BWF Board of Directors in creation of Connecticut’s largest and longest-running full-day annual conference for women which will be held Friday, October 21, 2016. The 2016 BWF (www.2016bwf.com) is anticipated to attract over 500 business people from across Connecticut, and will be held at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, Connecticut from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This 34th annual BWF will feature a luncheon keynote address by author Judy Smith, inspiration for television’s “Scandal” program, and crisis management expert. The morning’s opening motivational speaker will be Christine Cashen, author of “The Good Stuff: Quips and Tips on Life, Love, Work and Happiness”.

Celebrating 34 years of prestigious success, the BWF is a program of the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Waterbury. The thriving organization is led by female executives dedicated to the professional and personal growth of working women. The mission of the non-profit Business Women’s Forum’s has been to raise funds for scholarships for female Post University students to pursuing degrees in business. “The BWF’s continual commitment has been to the equality of opportunity and advancement for women in business,” explained O’Rourke Cookson. “During the past 34 years, the BWF has generated in excess of $190,000 toward those scholarships.”

A respected member of the Waterbury Regional Chamber for 22 years, in 2013, O’Rourke Cookson was awarded one of the Chamber’s most prestigious awards, Volunteer of the Year. She is a previous Chamber Ambassador, long-standing member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Business Women’s Forum (BWF) and St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary. She is also recipient of many honorable and recognized community and leadership awards including the 2000 Waterbury Regional Chamber Business Woman of the Year Award.

Also in 2013, O’Rourke Cookson’s O’Rourke & Birch Florist received nationally-prestigious recognition as an elite, top-quality FTD Master Florist, making it one of only eight florists in Connecticut to receive this unique distinction. That year the company also accomplished the notable status of being a nationally-recognized Vera Wang Wedding floral designer. The Florist is a member of the national Society of American Florists, Connecticut Florists Association (CFA), FTD-Florist Transworld Delivery, Teleflora Inc., and Flower Shop Network.

Daughter of one of the first charter members of the Waterbury Exchange Club, O’Rourke Cookson joined the organization in 1994 and in 2004 was named Exchangite of the Year and “Mayor for the Day”. Currently she is Club President and chair of the Membership Committee. She has also been a long-time member of the Club’s charitable foundation and chairs their Annual Wine & Beer Tasting event which raises funds for Child Abuse Prevention programs. O’Rourke Cookson is also an active member of the ProfNet, Inc. independent business networking organization in Waterbury.

Virginia O’Rourke Cookson is a licensed Justice of the Peace. She is mother to John Edward Cookson, mother-in-law to Marta Cookson and grandmother to their son Hunter Alan Cookson of Rockville, Maryland; and mother to Marci Cookson, PA-C of Cheshire, Connecticut.

Admission to the 2016 BWF on October 21 is $195/person and includes keynote presentations, six workshops, day-long networking, breakfast, lunch, and a high-energy closing reception with raffle and door prizes. To register, visit www.2016bwf.com, or call the Waterbury Regional Chamber at 203-757-0701.

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Submitted by Newtown, CT

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