USCA Hosts Inaugural Women in Business Luncheon

Aiken, SC (11/04/2021) — The School of Business Administration (SOBA) at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) recently hosted their inaugural Women in Business Luncheon.

The discussion panel was comprised of SOBA alumni and businesswomen Christen Engel, Kimberly Kanagy, Elizabeth Smith, and Melissa Oremus. Panelists discussed topics presented by the moderator, Sanela Porca, dean of SOBA, and participated in a question and answer session with audience members.

Engel is the interim vice president of communications and marketing for Augusta University and Augusta University Health. Kanagy is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial. Smith owns Rose Hill, a historic winter colony property, home to an inn and two restaurants. Oremus owns multiple small businesses to include The Big Red Barn, Bisquecuts & Glazy, and MLO Real Estate. She was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2019, serving District 84.

"SOBA took great pride in hosting the inaugural Women in Business panel," said Porca. "We dedicated this event to the generations of women before us who worked hard so we could have a chance to organize this event. We also dedicated the event to USCA and its 60th anniversary. So much has happened among the USCA halls in the past six decades. We have kept our promise of educating young minds and improving our students' lives.

"It is important to bring together the power of women to boost the economic power of our communities and to make further progress in our society. We are thankful to our panelists and attendees for supporting our network of diverse USCA female alumni who are entrepreneurs and leaders in our community."

Media Attachments

Left to right: Sanela Porca, Kimberly Kanagy, Christen Engel, Dan Heimmermann, Melissa Oremus, and Elizabeth Smith

Guests enjoyed a luncheon and discussion panel.