Registration opens Monday for the North Idaho Women and Their Money Conference, a free event designed to promote financial confidence and competence for women of all ages and walks of life.

"It's so fascinating; the demographics are all over the board for who this is for," co-organizer Teresa Irish said in an April 18 phone interview.

The inaugural conference will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 9 at North Idaho College. The day will feature sessions exploring such topics as entrepreneurship, building wealth, insurance and creating plans for financial stability as well. Educational exhibits and resources will be on site as well.

A keynote presentation will be delivered by New York Times best-selling author and nationally recognized money expert Ellen Rogin, who will also participate in a breakout session.

"We're really excited," Irish said. "She’s very down to earth. She has such a commonsense approach to communication about money that makes you feel like it's a commonplace topic we should all be able to talk about."

Irish said Rogin is very disarming for people, a quality that makes a sometimes frustrating and formidable topic not so intimidating.

"Her laid-back style will make you think, 'This isn't that hard,'" Irish said.

The conference will have seats for 500 guests, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The conference committee set a goal of welcoming 400 participants, but overwhelming community interest and support led organizers to expand the event.

“Understanding the basics of financial terms and strategies will help bring a person to a feeling of security and provide a launching pad to achieve other life goals," co-organizer Jan Tymesen said. "It is our privilege to offer this to the women of North Idaho.”

Irish said the conference is for women who want to learn, connect and grow.

"Whether starting out, starting over, balancing life as a single mom, planning for retirement, this isn't just about money," she said. "It's about confidence that comes with knowledge, informed decision making and realizing your goals and dreams are within reach."

Those who attend the North Idaho Women and Their Money Conference will also be given opportunities to earn $1,000 NIC scholarships that will support vocational training, workforce development and credit-based educational programs. Attendees can include their interest in being considered for a scholarship directly on the registration form. At the close of the conference, winners will be randomly selected and announced live, adding a meaningful and memorable moment to an already empowering day. As contributions to the scholarship fund increase, so does the number of scholarships to be awarded to the 500 women attending the conference.

"We are blessed to be a blessing and to help others create lasting value in their own lives," Tymesen said. "We understand that financial literacy is a key driver of economic stability and empowerment. We are honored to support this conference with our time, talents and treasures.” 

Visit northidahowomenandtheirmoney.com for registration details and info.