Post Falls native named Pacific Northwest regional ambassador of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, plans CdA event

Bay Area businesswoman Latish Taylor grew up in Post Falls and is returning to the area next week as part of an international effort to recognize and encourage other entrepreneurs.

Taylor, who recently was named an ambassador for Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, has organized a conference on Tuesday Coeur d’Alene for area entrepreneurs.

She attended Falls Christian Academy and graduated from the University of Idaho before moving to San Francisco and starting the multimillion-dollar health care practice management company HCPN Alliance.

Taylor said she was approached about involvement in WED last year after she gave a presentation in San Francisco.

“It was amazing,” she said. “It brings together a whole community.”

Taylor said WED events help entrepreneurs get to know each other and share experiences. She said listening to women from many different fields and backgrounds discuss what inspired them to persevere can help other entrepreneur overcome obstacles.

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day was started in San Francisco in 2014 to recognize and discuss the work of women entrepreneurs. The organization behind WED has since partnered with the United Nations and has started holding events around the world to support female business owners.

During a Nov. 19 event at the U.N., Taylor was named WED’s Pacific Northwest regional ambassador, serving Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. As an ambassador, Taylor organizes events such as the one in Coeur d’Alene and finds ways to support women entrepreneurs in the Northwest.

Taylor said the event is meant for “women and men who are business owners or who have a entrepreneurial mindset.” The speakers at the event in Couer d’Alene will include Eve Knudtsen, president of Knudtsen Chevrolet Co. in Post Falls; Sarah Wollnick, co-founder of Etailz Inc.; and FOX 28 anchor Kjerstin Bell.

By inviting speakers from different business sectors, Taylor said, diverse thoughts and experiences are shared.

“We want to make sure people are hearing from and can relate to the people on the panel,” she said.