A group of female community members who have made a significant impact in Carbon County imparted their wisdom on a group of Lehighton Area High School students on Wednesday.

The panel of women, including small-business owners, a lawyer and professional cyclist, a dentist, and an engineering professor at Lehigh University, spoke about their lives and careers as part of the school's first Women's Symposium.Dr. Laura Moyer, the director of metallography, light optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction in the Materials Science Department at Lehigh University, told the students she always had a love for math and science.Moyer said networking is key, and that there were three things she hoped the students would take with them for her presentation."No matter what you do, love what you do; fight for you; and no matter what you plan, plans change," Moyer said.Gail Christman, a broker senior real estate specialist, owns Gene Durigan Real Estate and has been licensed for more than 40 years.Christman told the students there are many facets to the real estate business."The best thing about the real estate business is when you can help someone purchase a property that never thought they could own a home," Christman said. "Those are the kind of people who really make it rewarding, and also young couples who are just starting out."Arley Kemmerer owns her own practice that specializes in family law and is a professional cyclist in the discipline of cyclocross.Kemmerer said that growing up, athletics always interested her.She said being a lawyer isn't necessarily a matter of how intelligent someone is, but, rather, being willing to put in the time and effort.Kerri Jahelka, owner and founder of Dedicated Fitness Inc. in Palmerton, is a motivational speaker.Jahelka inspires, encourages, and motivates students and adults to become the best version of themselves.She told the students, "I run to the beat of my own drum."Jahelka said it's important to have courage, have a heart and be passionate, and to learn how to use your brain."Don't be a judge," she said. "Have a different perspective on things."Dr. Meredith Traube works as a general dentist for Dr. William Howland in Lehighton.Traube said dentistry is still dominated by men, but that will soon change as more and more male dentists retire.She told the students that one of the best parts of being a dentist for her is that the profession works from a family and scheduling standpoint.Dr. Cheryl Lipson is a nephrologist in Carbon and Schuylkill counties who has been practicing medicine for 25 years.Lipson told the students that her profession can be "very rewarding."But it took plenty of hard work to reach the level she has attained, said Lipson, who noted that she spent her time studying rather than in bars and on the nightclub scene.That, Lipson said, helped her become "a lot more grounded, and a lot less superficial."Barbara Green, president and CEO of Blue Mountain Resort, has over 30 years of management experience.Green told the students that the keys to being successful are to be assertive, work hard and like what they're doing."I think it's so important that whatever you go into, you have fun at it," Green said. "You can start a new career at any time."Afterward, the students had an opportunity to ask the speakers questions.