TAMPA, FL (WFLA) — The 4th annual Working Women Conference gets underway Thursday night in downtown Tampa, and Friday an impressive lineup of guest speakers will take the stage at the Straz Center.
It is a tremendous networking opportunity for working women in Tampa Bay, but some 28 speakers will take to the stage with many of them ready to motivate the crowd.
One of those speakers is known internationally for educating women about domestic violence.
Melissa Dohme survived being stabbed 32 times by her ex-boyfriend, while she tried to fight him off with a switch blade. Her miraculous recovery and inner spirit to persevere in life has brought her to the forefront of a very serious problem.
“I believe I was saved for a very special purpose and that I experienced a lot of miracles and a lot of different things and that is to speak out about domestic violence and speak out about my story and what I went through,” said survivor Melissa Dohme.RELATED: Clearwater first responder proposes at Rays game to domestic violence victim he saved
Dohme points out that the Working Womens Conference is about more than business, it’s about women learning the importance of supporting one another, and knowing with that support, they can do anything in life.
“I’ve just made the decision to become a survivor – I don’t call myself a survivor but I’m a sur-thriver because I will thrive and I want that message to go out to any woman who is going through some kind of struggle in their life – whether that be domestic violence or a change in a career or ending a relationship – whatever the life change maybe you can move forward you can find strength and lean on other women,” said Dohme.
The conference is held from September 8th through Friday September 9th, but the Tampa Working Women’s group holds events year-round.
