Nationwide, the ratio of women participating in business education is about 30 percent, according to the University of Utah. And the U. reports it is about on par with that.

But those statistics may be about to change.

The university's David Eccles School of Business has partnered with the National Association of Women Business Owners' Salt Lake Chapter to host the first annual NAWBO U event Friday at the Little America Hotel.

The half-day conference, "Moving Business Forward," will include seminars and break-out sessions designed for business owners and students alike. Topics range from leadership to starting and growing a business to effective networking strategies.

Featured panelists will include educators, entrepreneurs and veteran managers. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. also is scheduled to present NAWBO-Salt Lake's Woman Business Owner of the Year award at the event. This year's honoree is Barbara Baker, founder of Challenger School.

"There are, out there, some perceptions about what business training is, and they're not always positive for women," said Jack Brittain, dean of the David Eccles School of Business. "It's kind of funny. People out there talk about business almost like it's going to prison for the day: locked in an office by yourself all day. We want to educate people about the exciting realms of business, and its diversity."

Lori Teske Hudson, a NAWBO member and chairwoman of the event, said the goal of NAWBO U "is to bring together local business managers and university students to sharpen business skills, obtain proven methods for evaluating business ideas and opportunities and learn about critical local resources that are available to start or grow a business."

The NAWBO U curriculum was created based on feedback from business owners and university students, Hudson said. And she promises it won't be one of those life-affirming-yet-utterly-impractical seminars all too common on the rubber chicken circuit. Rather, she said, each session was designed to be interactive and provide attendees with "useful skills and practical ideas that they can put into action."

Presenters at the event include Brittain; Lori Chillingworth, senior vice president at Zions Bank and manager of the bank's Women's Financial Group; and Celeste Gleave, president and chief executive officer of FYVE Star Inc., a woman-owned business that manufactures and distributes products (such as de-icing and cleaning equipment) for the airline industry.

The cost to attend is $75 for NAWBO members, University of Utah faculty and staff, $15 for students and $90 for guests. For more information or to register, call 801-487-4600 or go online to www.nawboslc.org.

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E-mail: jnii@desnews.com