IRVING MAYOR BETH VAN DUYNE ENCOURAGES YOUNG WOMEN TO ASPIRE
Serves as panelist at the 2013 Ignite Political Power in Every Young Woman Conference
March 12, 2013
(IRVING, TEXAS)— Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne discussed her career path with young women Saturday during the 2013 Ignite Texas Young Women’s Leadership Conference, which was held at the University of North Texas at Dallas.
“I enjoy talking with young women because I want them to follow their dreams and excel in life,” said Van Duyne said. “Women can do anything they want to do. They just need to define their beliefs, set their vision and goals and focus. With hard work and tenacity, they can get there.”
Ignite serves young women from 14-22 years of age in their own communities, and places an emphasis on lower-income women. The organization was founded in 2009 to build young women’s political ambition and train them to run for office. Numbers show women don’t run for office at the same rates as men.
“Ignite is a valuable program because it helps build ambition among young women,” said Van Duyne. “It catches them early and helps encourage and inspire them to become leaders in whatever field they choose.”
About Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne
A nearly 30-year Irving resident, Beth Van Duyne was elected Mayor in 2011, having served as a city council representative from 2004-2010. She fought hard against tax and fee increases, championed the movement against more apartment complexes and promoted smart development.
Throughout her 20-year career, she has had the opportunity to work with small startup companies, mid-size private companies and Fortune 500 corporations. She also founded and ran her own consulting business, working with executives to develop strategic business plans, negotiation strategies, grassroots coalition building, and federal and state legislative policy strategies.
Beth is a magna cum laude graduate of Cornell University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with studies in City and Regional Planning, Government and Law.
About the City of Irving
Irving is the second city in the nation and the first in the State of Texas to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (2012) as well as the first municipality in Texas’ history to receive the Texas Award for Performance Excellence (2011). Irving is the 13th largest city in the state with 217,000 residents and is home to the largest office park in North Texas, where a number of Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered.