'A Wonderful Show': 39th Annual Tulsa Women's Expo Wraps Up

In a celebration of female empowerment, the 39th annual Tulsa Women’s Expo attracts women from various walks of life.

“We celebrate women and we’re all about women,” said Event Organizer Barbara Donnell.

“It's a girls' day out…let's say that” laughed vendor Ann Schlitt. 

The event showcases an array of products and services specifically tailored to women's interests and needs.

 “All types of things for women to live a great life…health, education, fashion, finance, beauty,” Donnell said.  

Donnell says, for hard-working women, the expo gives them a chance to unwind.

“Women have agendas and not a lot of free time and the one thing is, when they come here, the environment is so that they’re having a good time and they’re having fun,” she said.

And there’s a reason some vendors come back year after year.

“This has been a wonderful show, we’ve done this for 39 years,” said Schlitt, who has taken part in the expo since the very beginning.

“A few of us have been here a long time and we know each other and it's like, good ol' home week,” she said. 

Like Donnell, Schlitt believes events like these are groundbreaking for women and along with building a years-long sisterhood. That's what keeps her booth running.

“Barbara has really started, I think, an amazing thing for women, most all the booths are here for women. We have desperately needed that,” she said 

Both these women hope those who come feel even more empowered walking out than when they walked in.

“When women support women, we always say wonderful things happen, and I think that's what this really is all about…women supporting women,” said Donnell. 

Proving that this expo inspires a future where women can thrive in all aspects of life.

“It's just fun to be here…very fun,” said Schlitt.