Founder and CEO of Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS ), Evelyn O’Toole, will speak at the upcoming Female Empower Programme launch on September 13 at the Connacht Hotel, Galway.
The inaugural Empower Programme, a new female entrepreneur programme organised by the GMIT Innovation Hub, is for female entrepreneurs in the West of Ireland. The programme has been set up to assist female-led businesses to overcome challenges and fast track their business for success.
Commenting on the event, Evelyn O’Toole, founder and CEO of CLS and EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 finalist said: “I’m honoured to be invited to speak at the Empower Programme and very much look forward to sharing my business story with new and upcoming entrepreneurs. At CLS we are very proud of our West of Ireland roots so I’ll be sharing my insights into how entrepreneurs can leverage our location to grow and expand their company.”
Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS ) was set up by Evelyn O’Toole in 1994 and has two facilities in Galway - CLS in Ros Muc, Connemara and CLS MedPharma on the Tuam Road - and employs 140 staff. CLS is the largest privately owned contract laboratory in Ireland and provides sampling, analysis and fully trained micro and analytical analysts on contract to clients in the food, environmental, medical device and pharmaceutical industries in Ireland and internationally.
Maria Staunton, Manager of the GMIT Innovation Hub said: “The Empower Programme is targeted at aspiring female entrepreneurs and women in business so we are delighted to have Evelyn present as one of our key speakers to share her entrepreneurial expertise with our guests. We want to see more female led businesses in the West of Ireland and to help them grow. Hearing how Evelyn has succeeded in growing her business to the size it is today, with over 140 employees, will surely give a lot of inspiration to many at the event - she is a great example to follow.”
Other speakers announced to date at the event include Chanelle McCoy of Chanelle Pharmaceuticals and Dragon’s Den and Breege O’Donoghue, former Director of Primark and Chair of the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland along with a panel of other female entrepreneurs. The event will provide attendees with an overview of the Empower Programme and provide networking opportunities for guests in attendance on the day. For more information and to register visit www.empowerher.ie .
