The Turlock Journal is hosting an inaugural event that will bring women from varying positions and experiences together for a conversation about what it means to be a woman in leadership.

The Turlock Women's Leadership Round Table will feature a panel of 14 women leaders talking about their personal challenges and successes. The event will also include breakfast served by members of Turlock Firefighters Local #2434, who will talk about their breast cancer research fundraising efforts, and a presentation by Haven Women's Center of Stanislaus.

It's easy to find the inspiration for this event, as Turlock has quite a few women leaders.

City Hall boasts women holding the positions of Vice Mayor, City Attorney, Chief Financial Officer, City Clerk and City Treasurer. There are also women leading the City's Economic Development, Planning and Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities departments.

Female leadership in Turlock doesn't end at City Hall. Sue Micheletti  is the CEO of Turlock's only hospital, Emanuel Medical Center, and California State University, Stanislaus welcomed new president Ellen Junn earlier this year.

Karin Moss heads the Turlock Chamber of Commerce and there are many women business owners, bankers, Realtors and accountants. Women are also leaders in agriculture, arts and philanthropy.

The number of women in leadership roles in this small Valley community is really amazing — especially when you consider some recent statistics.

The gender wage gap has barely budged in the past decade or so, narrowing just two percentage points, from 76.3 percent in 2001 to 78.3 percent in 2013. In every state in the nation, women who work full-time, year-round still earn less than similarly-employed men. The percent of women in poverty has also increased over the past decade. In 2013, 14.5 percent of women had family incomes below the federal poverty line, compared with 12.1 percent in 2002.

The share of seats held by women in the U.S. Congress is well below women’s share of the overall population. At the rate of progress since 1960, women will not hold 50 percent of seats in the U.S. Congress until the year 2117.

Considering these statistics makes the successes of local women leaders even more impressive.

The Turlock Women's Leadership Round Table, presented by the Turlock Journal and sponsored by Emanuel Medical Center, Winton, Ireland, Strom & Green, Turlock Irrigation District and Yonan's Floral, will be held on Oct. 13 in the Event Center at Stanislaus State. Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. for coffee and pastries with breakfast served at 8 a.m. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased by calling 209-634-9141 or by emailing khacker@turlockjournal.com. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Haven Women's Center of Stanislaus.