DALLAS, March 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank today announced the launch and all-star speaker lineup of its 2018 Comerica Bank Women's Business Symposiums, which are signature thought leadership events for businesswomen in multiple bank markets. Featured speakers include Academy Award winner Geena Davis, Emmy Award winner Leeza Gibbons, philanthropist, cosmetics mogul and best-selling author Bobbi Brown, and philanthropist, entrepreneur and best-selling author Cookie Johnson.

• Cookie Johnson, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur and NY Times Bestselling Author
  "Believing in Magic"
  April 27, 2018
  Greater Detroit, Michigan
  Register Today
• Leeza Gibbons, Emmy Winning TV Host and New York Times Bestselling Author
  "Fierce Optimism: Seven Secrets for Playing Nice and Winning Big"
  May 18, 2018
  Huntington Beach, California
  Register Today
• Geena Davis, Award-Winning Actor and Founder, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
  "See Jane: Gender Equality and Why It Should Matter to All of Us"
  September 20, 2018
  Houston, Texas
  Register Today
• Bobbi Brown, Makeup Artist, Entrepreneur and NY Times Bestselling Author
  October 5, 2018
  Dallas, Texas
  Register Today

"Bringing thought leadership events to our markets demonstrates our continued investment in our local business community and its future," said James. H. Weber, Comerica's executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "The expansion of these events ties directly to increasing requests for important, relevant content and networking opportunities.  We are proud to support the development of women in leadership and, at the same time, give back locally to charitable organizations benefitting women and girls."

Comerica began the Symposiums more than 10 years ago in California. The sell-out success of the event prompted the bank to expand the initiative in other key markets across the country, giving women professionals more opportunities for valuable leadership development content and enhanced networking. The events allow participants to "Learn, Connect & Grow" with other influential businesswomen within their communities.

Cookie Johnson Cookie Johnson is a devoted philanthropist, on the Board of Directors for the Magic Johnson Foundation, and a passionate spokesperson. Cookie is founder of CJ by Cookie Johnson, a premium denim line. Now a NY Times Best-selling author of "Believing in Magic." The Michigan State University graduate lives with her husband Earvin "Magic" Johnson in California; she is mother to their three children, André, Earvin Johnson III (EJ), and Elisa.

Leeza Gibbons, an instrumental advocate for healthcare, wellness, and caregiving. The Emmy Award winner is a wife, mother, businesswoman and a New York Times bestselling author. Her on-camera hosting dominance in the entertainment‐news and talk‐show arenas, ranges from the most popular entertainment news show in history, "Entertainment Tonight," to her award‐winning daytime talk show, "Leeza." More recently, in 2013, Leeza published her first New York Times bestseller, "Take 2," a personal growth guide designed to help people recreate themselves and hit the reset button on their lives. Gibbons won the 2013 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host for the PBS show "My Generation". Recognized as a social entrepreneur, Gibbons has become one of the leading voices for issues facing family caregivers.

Geena Davis, Academy Award winning actor, film producer, writer and founder of multiple women's initiatives. Earning the 2006 Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of the first female President of the United States in ABC's hit show "Commander in Chief." In 1989, Davis received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for "The Accidental Tourist." She was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe for her performance in "Thelma & Louise." Davis went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of baseball phenomenon Dottie Hinson in "A League of Their Own." Davis is the Founder and Chair of the non-profit Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which engages film and television creators to dramatically increase the percentages of female characters — and reduce gender stereotyping — in media made for children 11 and under.

Bobbi Brown Bobbi Brown is a beauty industry titan, world renowned makeup artist, best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and serial entrepreneur. As a professional makeup artist, Bobbi created 10 simple lipsticks that evolved into a global beauty empire. She has written nine beauty and wellness books, and has launched Beauty Evolution LLC since leaving eponymously named Bobbi Brown Cosmetics in October 2016. Bobbi's message remains the same today as it was when she launched in 1991: "The secret to beauty is simple—be who you are."

For more information on the Comerica Bank Women's Business Symposiums that are open to the public, visit the website at www.comerica.com/wbs.

Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $71.6 billion at Dec. 31, 2017.

SOURCE Comerica Bank