About Us
Our Mission
The Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University (CWE) creates economic opportunities through entrepreneurial counseling, education, and training. Since 2005, the Center has provided high quality education and training to entrepreneurs at all stages of business. The Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University (CWE) is funded in part by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide services to entrepreneurs throughout Western Pennsylvania. CWE offers aspiring and existing business owners free business counseling and technical assistance in the areas of business management, digital marketing, accounting, legal, HR, funding, branding, certifications, child care operations and food business operations. CWE offers a suite of programs for early stage to established stage businesses. CWE's signature programs include Concept to Launch, Business of Child Care, Think Big Conference, Membership Program and Voices of Business Speaker Series. With the support of the SBA Women's Business Center award in 2016, CWE expanded its programming to offer free one-on-one business counseling and technical assistance.
CWE designs and implements programs and services are structured to meet the needs of regional communities and are offered with the assistance and support of community organizations, at no or minimal cost to the participants. CWE serves entrepreneurs within the 11 counties surrounding Pittsburgh, PA. CWE services and events are available to all.
CWE services and events are available to all.
Our Vision
In its 19 years of operation, the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University (CWE) has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and small businesses gain a foothold in business, while also serving to grow our regional economy.
CWE has met and exceeded the annual performance targets established by SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership. Since receiving SBA Women's Business Center award in 2016 the Center has offered 595 training programs from April 2016 through September 2024, to train entrepreneurs to start, manage and expand their businesses. Through these programs, CWE has served over 14,631 entrepreneurs with 1,600 training hours.
-
$1.4M
SBA Loans
-
58
Number of Capital Insusion
-
$2.1M
Total Loans
-
1,415
Small Business Owners Trained
-
275
Total Training Hours
-
615
Small Business Owners Counseled
-
800
Total Counseling Hours
-
944
Jobs Supported
-
91.8%
Identified as Female
-
49.8%
Identified as Minorities
Meet Our Staff
Anne Flynn Schlicht
Director
Anne brings a wealth of international experience as a professor of entrepreneurship and as a business consultant. Anne received her Masters of Business Studies in Entrepreneurship from the University of Limerick, Ireland and a Best Practice in Teaching Entrepreneurship Certificate from the University of Cambridge, UK. Anne has presented at seminars and conferences internationally on the topic of entrepreneurship education and women entrepreneurship. In January 2005, Anne was chosen as the second "Rooney International Visiting Scholar," which facilitated her move to the US. Anne joined the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship in 2008 as Assistant Director. In 2016, Anne secured the SBA Women Business Center Grant and in 2019 Anne was appointed Director of CWE.
Rachel Webber
Business Advisor
Rachel joined the Center in June 2022 as Business Advisor. Rachel has a background in community development, small business advocacy, and neighborhood planning. Rachel previously served as the Nighttime Economy Coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh and as Business District Manager at Lawrenceville Corporation. Rachel holds an undergraduate degree in English and Public Relations from Duquesne University.
Michelle Price
Community & Membership Engagement Coordinator
Michelle has a background in both industry & academia. She worked as a designer of fashion product before transitioning to academia where she taught Retail Merchandising & Fashion Product Development. She holds undergraduate degrees in Fine Arts, a Masters of Fine Arts in Design as well as a PhD in Instructional Technology.
Mitra Saeidi
Program Coordinator
Mitra joined the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship in August 2018 as a Chatham University Graduate Marketing Assistant while pursuing her Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management, which she earned in April 2019. With a professional background spanning the medical industry as a sales representative and experience as a technology consultant, Mitra brings a diverse skill set to her role. Originally moving to the United States in pursuit of advanced educational and career opportunities, she has seamlessly blended her global perspective with her expertise in service-oriented industries. In May 2019, Mitra transitioned to her current role as Program Coordinator for the Center, where she plays a pivotal role in program development, coordination, and community engagement. Her commitment to empowering entrepreneurs is enriched by her extensive experience in marketing, business operations, and client services. Mitra’s innovative approach and dedication make her an integral part of the Center’s mission to support business growth and success.
Ugurcan (John) Kalayci
Graduate Assistant
Ugurcan (John) Kalayci joined the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship in 2024 as a Graduate Student Assistant. He is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at Chatham University. Through his work at the CWE, Ugurcan has gained valuable insights into work ethic, teamwork, and professional productivity. His role has also provided him the opportunity to engage with CWE’s clients and network, deepening his understanding of the broader Pittsburgh region. He is committed to giving back by supporting CWE and its clients with dedication and enthusiasm.
Advisory Board
Advisory Board Chair | Director of Surface Land, EQT Corporation
Dana Donaldson
Senior SBA Business Development Officer, Regional Vice President, Northwest Bank
Aaron S. Aldrich
Principal, Good Future Innovation LLC, Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship
Donald Bonk
Yvonne Campos
President, Next Act Fund | Founder WPO Pittsburgh Chapter
SVP, Group Manager- Commercial Banking PNC Bank
Gayle Furer
Founder & President, Pitcher, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Blood Sweat & Tears
Nora DiNuzzo
Vice President Ballymoney Real Estate Services, Inc. President East Liberty Chamber of Commerce
Lori Moran
Retired Director, Project Olympus. Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, Carnegie Mellon University
Kit Needham
Partner, Meyer, Unkovic & Scott, LLP
Beth Slagle
Owner & CEO, Wright Childcare Solutions
Brittini Wright-Burley