‘Scandal’ inspiration headed here

Judy Smith, the crisis management expert who inspired the character portrayed by Kerry Washington on ABC’s huge political drama hit “Scandal, is heading our way.

Smith will be the keynote speaker at the Women’s Empowerment Luncheon at the 28^th annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference, presented by the Women’s Business Development Center on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at McCormick Place.

Smith, the founder and CEO of her Smith & Company strategic and crisis management firm, has dealt with some of the biggest sensational political events of the past few decades — including the Iran Contra investigation, the 1991 Gulf War, Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court confirmation hearings, President Clinton’s Monica Lewinsky scandal and the CIA scandal involving Gen. David Petraeus.