Women's Conference will return to Long Beach

The California Women's Conference started by the wife of Gov. George Deukmejian in 1985, and made into a big event by Maria Shriver, will go on in September. "Under new organizers and without the governor's office," says the Press-Telegram.

The event, themed "The Women's Economy Starts Here," will feature about 35 speakers, including actresses Marcia Cross, Maria Bello and Patricia Arquette; fashion designer Donna Karan; U.S. Olympic champion Janet Evans; high-profile attorney Gloria Allred; John A. Walsh, creator of ESPN's "Sportscenter"; and Mark Victor Hansen, author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

More speakers will be announced in the coming months for the two-day event, which is anticipated to draw more than 20,000, said Michelle Patterson, CEO of EventComplete.