The audience numbered 275 women for RichnerLIVE’s third annual Women’s Summit, an all-day event dedicated to leadership, empowerment and connection, filled the Crescent Beach Club in Bayville.
This year’s theme, Next Level You, set the tone for the Sept. 9 program, which combined wellness activities, thought-provoking discussions, and opportunities to build professional networks. The event featured vendor booths, multiple raffle prizes, and morning sessions of beach yoga, meditation breathwork before attendees moved into panels and keynote talks.
Amy Amato, executive director of RichnerLIVE, opened the keynote lunch session by reminding the audience that the summit is as much about conversation as it is about the speakers on stage. “One of the best parts of the Summit is that it’s not just what happens on stage — it’s about the conversation and connections happening all around us,” Amato said. She credited the event’s sponsors for making the gathering possible and emphasized the importance of support systems. “One of the best ways to reach the next level is by surrounding ourselves with strong, supportive peers. Networks like ours thrive because of women who lead with purpose.”
Among those support networks highlighted was the Women’s Executive Network of Long Island, which Amato described as a premier organization “designed to connect, mentor, and empower leaders like those in this room.”
Stuart Richner, co-publisher of The Long Island Herald and CEO of Richner Communications, echoed that message by tracing his company’s own history of uplifting women’s voices. He noted that the Herald, founded by his parents, Edith and Robert Richner, in 1964, was built on a commitment to community journalism and inclusivity. “In fact, our company was co-founded by an incredible woman in her own right, my mother, Edith,” he said. “And today, women proudly comprise over 60 percent of our leadership team at Richner.”
Richner told the audience that the company’s mission to “lift all voices” continued at the summit, where attendees were encouraged to connect, learn and advance in their own leadership journeys.
The keynote address was delivered by Jennifer Watson, a former Division I athlete, two-time All-American and TEDx speaker who overcame years of depression to become a physical therapist, entrepreneur, coach and healer. As founder of Watson Worldwide, she now works with leaders across industries to reframe resilience.
“Resilience has often been taught as sacrifice, as pushing through until you burn out,” Watson said. “But what if resilience was not about sacrificing? What if it was about expanding — expanding a brilliance that’s already in you?”
Watson shared her own struggles with burnout, describing how the traditional mindset of “pushing harder” left her disconnected from her work and her team. “The harder I pushed to be more resilient, the further I was getting away from what I was connected to — what I was giving to the world.”
She urged attendees to listen to their bodies, reframe setbacks as communication, and approach challenges with receptivity rather than force. “When we do, we go from our true maturity to start trusting ourselves, working from honesty, and being resilient from a healthy space.”
Elizabeth Saitta and Kim Cottage — co-founders of the Philanthropy Network of New York — are this year’s recipients for the PointVOIP Community Impact Award. Their work has created real and lasting impact in our community.
The summit also explored topics ranging from financial confidence to leadership mindsets and the future of work with artificial intelligence. Panelists and speakers highlighted strategies for navigating personal growth, professional advancement and organizational change.
Sponsors, including our beach bag sponsor and photo booth sponsor, CLA, made this year’s event possible; along with lanyard sponsor, People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union; and community impact award sponsor, PointVoIP. Additional supporters included The Stefans Group, Forvis Mazars, Mending Hearts Counseling, Verron Law Group, Valley Bank, Alluring Age Anti-Aging and Wellness Center, Automatic Industries Inc., Vibrance 360, NHG Law Group, P.C., Nassau Community College, Disruptive Spark Business Academy, Meister Seelig & Fein, PLLC, Prager Metis, Form and Function Aesthetics and Wellness, Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery, PSEG Long Island, Catherine Candaeo Health and Wellness Corp., and State and Signal. And of course, a special thank you to our coffee sponsor – that keeps us going – Elegant King Brew, and our wine sponsor, Farm Wines!
For Amato, the day highlighted the collective strength in the room. “Everyone in this room contributes,” she said. “Together, we can push past limits and step into our full potential.”
To see a full list of speakers and photos visit: RichnerLive.com/wesummit
