(David Gomez, News Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News)
Odessa, Texas/March 7, 2026-This is DRB Media Communications Digital News. The Odessa Chamber of Commerce held its fifth annual SheCan Women’s Conference. Vanessa Rodriguez has the story.
(Vanessa Rodriguez, Reporting)
The She Can Women’s Conference was a day-long event that focused on topics that included business, leadership, and empowerment.
This event was created as part of International Women’s Week to inspire women in the workforce by featuring local speakers and a keynote presenter who address topics such as perseverance, overcoming adversity in male-dominated environments, entrepreneurship, mental health, and more.
Mari Spivy-Willis, a former Ector County ISD educator and former Odessa City Councilwoman, was honored at the Odessa Chamber of Commerce Women’s Conference She Can event for her lasting contributions to the Odessa community and for inspiring young women to pursue their goals and achieve success.
(Mari Spivey-Willis, SheCan Women’s Conference Honoree)
“To be recognized is truly an honor and a humbling experience, because people who know me know that I say to whom much is given; much is required. And so, I’m just thankful that someone saw something in me to recognize, and I’m happy that it was because of what I give back to the city that I love so much.”
The She Can Women’s Conference featured keynote speaker Nancy Kerrigan, a two-time Olympic Medalist.
(Nancy Kerrigan, Two-time Olympic Medalist, Author and Producer)
“My message is to inspire them and to just have them leave here believing in themselves and knowing that if something ever is difficult, they are stronger than they think and we can get through things. And in skating, I learned right away you fall down a lot of times and you get back up and you keep on trying. And that is success. Um, it isn’t always about the outcome. It’s about that journey. And the success is that you try and and give it your all.”
The She Can Women’s Conference finale was a fashion show by Liliana Marquez that featured the painted image of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo on shirts and painted western themes on denim skirts.
(Liliana Marquez, Painter-From Odessa, Texas)
“I’m bringing a walking canvas. Uh, our models have actually a dress that actually hand-painted. Hand spray painted, uh, designed. Uh, some of it’s a lot of denim with the leopard hand painted leopard on there. Uh, we have a lot of. It’s West Texas. Uh, Frida Kahlo is an inspiration that has through, uh, the time I started painting, uh, been very important because of the endurance that she had to go through. Uh, it makes it, like, such an inspiration to me.”
(Vanessa Rodriguez, Reporting)
This year’s She Can Women’s Conference had a wide variety of vendors from clothing, Jewelry, Juices and more. For DRB Media Communications Digital News, I’m Vanessa Rodriguez.
(David Gomez, News Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News)
Follow us on Facebook, X Formally Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and visit drbmediacommunicationsdigitalnews.tv. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watching.
