Samolis will present "From Accidental Entrepreneur to Serial Entrepreneur: A Woman's Journey" detailing her business development from leaving a career with a weekly paycheck to becoming a “solopreneur” and then finally becoming the serial entrepreneur she is today.

After nine years in retail management Samolis began her entrepreneurial journey in 1996 when she founded The Events Company, an event planning firm headquartered in Syracuse. Over the years her ability to see opportunities led her to pursue new markets. Samolis along with her husband and business partner developed and opened SKY Armory in 2014, an event venue operating with a next-generation mindset. Ever the entrepreneur, her latest venture is Epicuse, an epicurean market and café.

In the past 20 years, the growth rate for women-owned business has dwarfed the national average - increasing by a staggering 141% compared to 44% for all businesses. Recent research suggests that women are as successful as their male counterparts despite not always being on a level playing field.

When making the decision to start a venture -- whether full time or as a side hustle -- women aren't only considering the viability of their idea, turning it into a business plan and securing clients. They're also considering how it will impact their lifestyle and that of their families, according to the SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center. They consider factors like who will take care of their kids and aging parents and a myriad of other concerns and challenges. This can be so overwhelming that the dream of entrepreneurship merely stays a dream.

A native of Canton, Samolis has experienced the challenges and doubts that every woman entrepreneur faces. She will share at the Bootcamp what she believes has led to her continued love of the challenge.

The Women's Business Bootcamp will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16 at the BOCES Education Services Center, 40 West Main St., Canton. The day will begin with the Mini-Marketplace where attendees showcase and sell their products and services. A fun networking activity will help participants make one-on-one connections and a lunch buffet will be catered by Soul Waffle of Potsdam.

Cost is $35 per person and pre-registration is required. To register, contact the SUNY Canton SBDC at 315-386-7312 or sbdc@canton.edu. Mini-Marketplace display tables are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.