She Is: A Woman in Action March 10, 2021 - 12 to 5 p.m. VIRTUAL … · 2021. 3. 9. · She Is: A Woman in Action March 10, 2021 - 12 to 5 p.m. VIRTUAL EVENT Attendees will hear from

She Is: A Woman in Action March 10, 2021 - 12 to 5 p.m.

VIRTUAL EVENT

Attendees will hear from a distinguished panel of women who are passionate about supporting and empowering femme lives through diversity, equity and inclusion. Breakout

sessions offered in a wide variety of topics will provide opportunities for conference participants to focus on their unique wellness, personal or professional goals or other areas

of interest.Everyone is welcome to attend this phenomenal event – regardless of gender identity or

background. Participants should expect to leave feeling emboldened and supported after a day of basking in what it means to be one’s best self.

Sponsorship proceeds will support scholarships for women who enter male-dominated fields or professions.

Noon-12:30 p.m.

Opening: Host and MCC Criminal Justice Faculty Member Dr. Karen Curls

Welcome: MCC Chancellor Dr. Kimberly Beatty

12:30-1:30 p.m.

Motivational Speaker – Bridgette Williams

1:45-2:45 p.m. Sessions

• Women and Finances - Facilitator: Marquita Miller-Joshua

• Social Justice - Panelists: Cynthia Heddlesten, Courtney Yount McGinnis, Jennifer Merrigan, Moderator: Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove

• Cultivating Feminine Power - Facilitator: Diane Breneman

• FearLess Negotiators Ask For It! - Facilitator: Mary Redmond

• Women in the Arts - Panelists: Amy Kligman, Melanie Miller, Moderator: Sonié Joi Thompson-Ruffin

• Women in Male-Dominated Fields - Panelists: Judge Lisa Hardwick, Je-anné Rueckert and Susan Blaser, Moderator: Carolyn Watley

• Passing the Torch: Activist Voices for the Next Generation - Panelists: Gwen Grant, Nia Richardson and Melissa Robinson, Moderator: Dachia Busch

• Building Rhythm and Resilience - Facilitator: Dr. Michelle Robin

3-4 p.m. Sessions

• Power of the Purse - Facilitator: Ethel Davis

• Millennial Conversations - Panelists: Jasmine Diane and Aja James, Moderator: Ghadeer Garcia

• Owning Your Career Path and Preparing for the Boardroom/Allyship - Facilitators: Denise Mills and Robin Sterneck

• Women in Sports - Panelists: Jessica Blubaugh, Thalia Cherry and Nikki Romolo, Moderator: Patti Phillips

• Five Tips for Networking Success: The Coffee Lunch Coffee Approach - Facilitator: Alana Muller

• Post Election Unity Amongst Women - Facilitator: Nicole Jacobs Silvey

4-5 p.m.

• Closing and Motivational Boost - Speaker Joni Wickham

She Is Conference Agenda

Presented by the MCC Office of Institutional Equity and Inclusion and the MCC Foundation • Page 3

A Woman in Action

Keynote Speaker - Bridgette WilliamsExecutive Director, Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City

With more than 30 years’ experience in transportation, construction, economic development policy, problem-solving, contract negotiations

and people management, Bridgette Williams is a respected force in the region’s construction industry. She is the first female and first African American to lead the 68-year-old HCAGKC (AKA “The Heavies”), and among the first in the country to lead a major contractor’s association. The Heavies includes some 150 contractors and product and service

suppliers who are responsible for constructing the region’s critical public and private infrastructure, having built most of the highways, bridges,

streets, airports, dams, utilities and clean and wastewater systems in both Kansas and Missouri. Ms. Williams believes that while current circumstances are challenging, conditions are ripe for leaders – like local governments, leaders of our nation and even individuals – to step up and make changes that will save lives and lead to economic prosperity for the future.

SPEAKERS

The Barbara Anne Washington Women Making History AwardTo honor MCC Board of Trustees Member and Missouri State Senator (9th District) Barbara Anne Washington, MCC and the She Is planning

committee are establishing an award bearing her name to be given at each year’s She Is women’s conference. The award recognizes Sen. Washington’s history-making accomplishments, including her commitment to public service, advancement of educational causes and

advocacy for her constituents. Before being sworn in as a state senator Jan. 6, 2021, Washington served as a Missouri state representative for the

23rd District for three years (2018-2020). She has served on MCC’s Board of Trustees representing Subdistrict 3 since 2016.

Ellen Forrest Martin Day at MCCIn recognition of MCC Board of Trustees Member Ellen Forrest Martin, MCC and the She Is planning committee are establishing a day named in

her honor to be held each March starting in 2022. On Ellen Forrest Martin Day, a selected student will shadow a female mentor who is excelling in a traditionally male-dominated career field. Trustee Martin has served as a member of MCC’s Board of Trustees representing

Subdistrict 5 since 2018 and is a retired, longtime MCC faculty member and administrator.

MCC’s WOMEN IN ACTION


A Woman in Action

Dr. Kimberly BeattyChancellor, Metropolitan Community College

Dr. Kimberly Beatty became Metropolitan Community College’s eighth chancellor July 1, 2017. A champion of access and equity, she is devoted to the community

college mission of providing access to higher education for all. In 2019, she penned “The Path Forward,” a vision of MCC’s future that calls for better alignment of workforce programs with industry needs, greater student access to those programs, and enhanced MCC learning environments. In 2020, the Path Forward

also became the name of a capital building campaign launched by the MCC Foundation. Dr. Beatty is heavily engaged in the Kansas City community, holds

leadership positions in a number of civic organizations, and is a member of the board of directors of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Susan Blaser Lineman Program Coordinator, MCC-Blue River

There was not a single woman who climbed poles and repaired electric lines in Missouri until Susan Blaser became a journeyman line worker with Kansas City Power

and Light in 1992. Nearly 30 years later, there still are few women line workers in Missouri and across the country, but Blaser, the lead instructor of Metropolitan Community College’s Lineman program, is trying to change this by encouraging more women to consider entering the profession. She started her career as a meter

reader for the Kansas City utility company and became an apprentice in line work in 1989. Blaser spent 14 years working in the field and eventually also started training

apprentices. Her goal was to encourage more women and minorities to enter the program. Susan continues in her thirteenth year at MCC, promoting the opportunities that

the lineman program offers for women and minorities. The program has become widely recognized by the industry, providing direct pipelines for utilities and contractors to hire safe, qualified candidates to start their apprenticeships.

Jessica Blubaugh Director, WIN for KC

Jessica has spent 18 years in the nonprofit sector, specifically in events and marketing. She’s had the opportunity to build event experiences for 50 – 15,000

people. Jessica has been Director of WIN for KC, the Women’s Intersport Network for Kansas City, since 2018. She has worked for organizations including the Women’s Sports Foundation in New York and then, Atlanta, as well as Teach for America, where she led the national events marketing team that served the organization’s 54 regional offices and five national departments. She later joined the team at Visit

KC, allowing her to focus her time and efforts back in the Kansas City community. Jessica grew up in Manhattan, Kansas, played softball at Johnson County Community

College, and graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s in Communications. She has master’s in Organizational Development & Leadership from Rockhurst University.


A Woman in Action

Diane M. BrenemanFounder and CEO, Meditative Science

Diane Breneman is a counselor and business consultant who practiced as an attorney in the area of burn injury litigation for over 25 years. Eighty percent of her

law practice was devoted to representing catastrophically burned children or parents who lost children. In this practice she engaged world-renowned authorities in the area of stress and trauma, causing her to become fascinated with the science surrounding these issues and our societal failures to deliver effective methods for

managing the internal experiences of life. Ultimately, she left the practice of law and completed a Masters in Counseling from Wake Forest University. She created her own

practical tools for cultivating increased inner intelligence to address everything from daily stress to deep trauma. Her modality combines traditional as well as somatic psychology

with contemplative practices from mindfulness and meta meditation and has been taught on six different continents.

Dachia BuschFaculty Intern Program Coordinator, MCC Office of Institutional Equity & Inclusion

Dachia joined MCC’s Office of Institutional Equity & Inclusion (OIE) in June 2020 as the Faculty Intern Program Coordinator, overseeing the management and

development of Collegewide initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion, cultural competence, social justice, unconscious bias, recruitment and retention and community partnerships & engagement. Prior to working in OIE, Dachia served as a Counselor at MCC-Penn Valley, which included instruction of guided career

courses, first year experience courses and counseling support to athletics teams. She serves as President of the African American Faculty Staff Association affinity

group and is currently serving a third term on Faculty Senate at MCC. Dachia truly believes in living out the mission of MCC in her district role: preparing students, serving

communities and creating opportunities.

Thalia CherryFounder and CEO, Cherry Co.

Thalia has significant experience in connecting and mobilizing key stakeholders to achieve collective goals. Cherry Co., headquartered in Kansas City, is a nationally licensed clothing and merchandise company. Established in 2012, Cherry designs and distributes licensed products, inclusive of customized apparel and accessories for Major League Baseball, Negro League Baseball and hundreds of collegiate and high school associations across the country. In 2020, the company extended the

brand to retail outlets, such as Made in Kansas City (Plaza and Lee’s Summit) and Halls Crown Center. As CEO of Cherry, Thalia Cherry has secured numerous contracts

with cities, municipalities, counties and state governments, as well as large retail companies. She has significant experience in managing large-scale projects, developing and implementing strategies that align with companies’ organizational goals and producing large-scale product distribution. The company established the Cherry Foundation in 2012 as a method to support education and athletic initiatives across the nation, and the company has invested 10% of revenue on an annual basis since its inception.


A Woman in Action

Dr. Karen CurlsCriminal Justice Faculty Member at MCC-Penn Valley

MCC-Penn Valley faculty member Karen Curls’ three-decade career at the College began when former criminal justice instructor Dr. Carroll Price asked her to speak to a class. After Price became chair, he hired her as an adjunct instructor. In 1989, she joined the faculty full time. Later she was asked to “run” for social science division chair. She remained in that post 16 years, stepping down in 2017. She is currently the criminal justice program coordinator at Penn Valley. Her accomplishments

include co-founding MCC’s African American Faculty and Staff Association, the Brooks Institute at MCC, and the College’s annual Civil Rights Pilgrimage, which

takes students to historic civil rights landmarks throughout the country. Curls was also responsible for the creation of the Corinthian B. Nutter Scholarship, awarded to students interested in civil rights. She has been honored with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Missouri Community College Association.

Ethel J. DavisCEO and Portfolio Manager, VZD Capital Management, LLC

Ethel J. Davis is the CEO and portfolio manager of VZD Capital Management, LLC. She is the first African American female to own 100% of a registered investment advisory firm in the Midwest and one of few within the United States. She brings 25 years of investment experience from respected firms – American Century, Fidelity Investments, Charles Schwab & Co, Inc., and Paragon Capital Management Inc. Being a fee-based investment advisor, Ethel’s compensation is tied solely to

her ability to grow her client’s assets under management. Ethel named the firm after her deceased parents for their principles, values and legacy, which serve as the

firm’s cornerstone. She is a respected author, speaker, and philanthropist within and outside the Greater Kansas City community. She is a member of the Kansas City’s Business Journal Women Who Mean Business; Rotary’s Paul Harris and Service Above Self recipient; the KC Business Magazine Influential Woman, Five Star Wealth Manager, and a Woman in Wealth by Fortune Magazine.

Jasmine DianeSenior Social Strategist, Zambezi, LLC

Jasmine Diane is a social strategist and nationally recognized influencer who specializes in teaching everyday women how to use social media for business. She teaches entrepreneurs how to brand and build their social-media presence by embracing their God-given talents. She has been blogging for more than eight years and is known for her social-media tips, style inspiration and lifestyle content.

She has worked with brands like Dove, Starbucks, Pepsi, KC Fashion Week and others. Ms. Diane was featured in Marie Claire magazine and was named one of

Kansas City’s “30 Under 30.”


A Woman in Action

Ghadeer GarciaExecutive Director, The BrandLab

Ghadeer M. Garcia is the Executive Director for The BrandLab in Kansas City, whose mission is to change the face and voice of the marketing and advertising industry. Ghadeer believes in deliberate and purposeful action to create necessary change, which is why she is so passionate about her work and civic engagement. Some of her strengths lie in making connections and building relationships across networks

to create meaningful associations that serve many, not just a few. Her most proud and rewarding role is as mother to 15-year-old Joshua and 13-year-old Gabriella.

Gwendolyn GrantPresident and CEO, Urban League of Greater Kansas City

In addition to providing leadership and direction for advancing all Urban League programs and its mission, Gwen is engaged in numerous civic and community organizations, including the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education and Workforce Development, Founder of the COVID-19 Collective Impact Collaborative and more. Ms. Grant is a Ruckette on KCPT’s RUCKUS show – a weekly political free-for-all that looks at the news of the day and the issues that face Kansas City in

a lively roundtable format. The first female CEO in the affiliate’s 100-year history, Gwendolyn is a strong and passionate advocate for social justice and economic

empowerment for African Americans and women. She is the recipient of numerous honors including the National Urban League’s Whitney M. Young Leadership Award for Advancing Racial Equity, William Jewel College Yates Medallion for Distinguished Service, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Community Service Award, 435 Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful, and the National Urban League Association of Executives Academy of Fellows designation.

Judge Lisa White HardwickMissouri Court of Appeals, Western District

The Honorable Lisa White Hardwick has served as judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals since 2001. With more than 35 years of experience in the legal profession, she previously served as a trial court judge and as a litigation partner with the Shook Hardy Bacon law firm. She also was twice-elected as a representative on the Jackson County Legislature. A Kansas City native, Judge Hardwick is a graduate of

the University of Missouri-Columbia and the Harvard Law School.

Cynthia HeddlestenSociology Instructor at MCC-Blue River

Cynthia Heddlesten received her B.A. and M.A. in Sociology at the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Her research focuses on social theory, social class, race relations and Ah-ha! Learning moments in the classroom. She is the author of The Social World Unmasked, an introduction to sociology textbook, and is currently doing research on the proliferation of Ah-ha! Moments in the college classroom.

Mrs. Heddlesten is actively engaged in the Kansas City Community facilitating workshops on social justice issues and assisting organizations in outcome

measurements.


A Woman in Action

Aja JamesCo-owner of Flexy

Aja James is a Kansas City native and entrepreneur. As the co-owner of Flexy, a Kansas City based fitness company that works directly with residential communities, office buildings and hotels to provide on-site personal health and fitness services, she aims to help people feel confident and achieve a balanced lifestyle. Aja and her business partner, Mallory Jansen, started Flexy in 2016 after discovering a gap in the personal health and fitness world that they could fill. Aside from Flexy, Aja has a

huge passion for animals and is the co-chair of the Black Dog Lovers Club of Kansas City, a social club for African-American dog owners and dog lovers to break down

barriers, forge new relationships and build a better community. She is also a local commercial model and uses social media to promote and encourage following your true passion in life.

Amy KligmanExecutive Artistic Director, Charlotte Street Foundation

Amy Kligman has been the Executive Artistic Director at Charlotte Street Foundation since 2015. Kligman’s career and experience as an exhibiting artist and grassroots curator/arts administrator spans 20 years of studio & exhibition work, independent curating and organizing and artist-run projects. In 2011 Kligman was one of a team of 5 artist-curators who established Plug Projects, an artist-run project space in Kansas City’s West Bottoms that hosted a robust & nationally recognized calendar

of exhibitions and artist-centered programming. She also worked in creative leadership in the greeting card industry, across departments emphasizing innovation,

strategy and social awareness, having built a 15-year career across two of the industry’s most influential brands before leaving that work for the nonprofit sector. Amy serves on the boards of the Latino Arts Foundation and Nonprofit Connect. She is an alumnus of the Centurions leadership program facilitated by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

Rep. Ashley Bland ManloveDistrict 26, Missouri House of Representatives

Ashley Bland Manlove, a Democrat, represents Jackson County (District 26) in the Missouri House of Representatives. She was elected to her first two-year term in November 2018. Before serving in the legislature, Manlove worked in the accounting industry, public and private sector. She also served as an intelligence analyst for the Missouri National Guard. She was recognized in 2013 with the Army Achievement Medal for outstanding service as an intelligence analyst. Manlove is dedicated to

addressing the critical issues that are creating crises in her district. She is focused on the criminal justice system, and has placed a priority focus on the education of young

people in the urban core with an eye on the school funding formula and job development. She is a graduate of MCC-Penn Valley and is currently working toward a bachelor’s degree in accounting.


A Woman in Action

Courtney M. Yount McGinnisAcademic Success Advisor with TRiO-Project Success at MCC-Penn Valley and Founder, Equity Action Collective

Courtney Yount McGinnis is a higher educational professional and community organizer. She completed her undergraduate studies at Stephens College, one of the oldest women’s colleges in the United States. She went on to complete a masters of public affairs from Park University and a juris doctorate from Widener University School of Law, graduating with Pro Bono Distinction. For the past 25 years, Courtney has actively engaged in fighting for social, economic and educational justice for all

individuals and empowered others to do the same. Through paid and volunteer experiences in higher education, nonprofits, the courts, and at every level of

government, she has continued to work to end discrimination and dismantle systemic racism in youth services, housing, education and the justice system. Courtney recently founded the Equity Action Collective, which is dedicated to building inclusive communities through civic education and engagement. She currently works for TRiO-Project Success at MCC-Penn Valley.

Jennifer MerriganFounding Attorney, Phillips Black

Jennifer Merrigan is a founding attorney with Phillips Black, a nonprofit, public interest organization dedicated to representing individuals facing sentences of death and life without parole throughout the country. For more than 15 years she has provided zealous advocacy in state and federal post-conviction proceedings. She helped research and develop the Supplementary Guidelines for the Mitigation Function of Defense Teams in Death Penalty Cases and has co-written several

scholarly articles about capital proceedings in Missouri. She received the 2010 Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer’s “Atticus Finch Award,” the 2016

Saint Louis University Public Interest Lawyers Group “Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Service Award,” and the 2011 Missouri State Fair Blue Ribbon, fruit pie division.

Marquita Miller-JoshuaPresident, Five Star Tax & Business Solutions

Marquita is President of Five Star Tax & Business Solutions, a bestselling author and international speaker. Marquita has been named a Kansas City 2010 Rising Star, 2011 Influential Woman, 2014 Woman Who Means Business, 2017 National Speaker Association Referral Champion of the Year and received the 2018 Inspirational Influencer Award. Marquita holds a bachelor’s in Accounting & MBA, is a monthly contributor on CBS & FOX morning shows, and a contributing writer for Black

Enterprise Magazine. Marquita is a Board of Director and Past President of National Speaker Association Kansas City Chapter. She is a Board Member for Missouri Society

of Accountants, the Metropolitan Community College Foundation, KCMO Habitat for Humanity, and Economic Development Loan Corp. An active member of one of the nation’s largest volunteer service organization, The Links, Incorporated, Marquita is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.


A Woman in Action

Denise MillsFounder and Chief Mindset Officer, The LeaderFuel Center

Denise Mills, is Founder and Chief Mindset Officer of The LeaderFuel Center. Her primary focus is working with women in leadership roles providing tools for more effective leadership, navigating workplace culture and embracing their unique leadership style. In 2020, Denise’s focus has shifted to working across the country with health care workers, teachers and police officers dealing with the stress of Covid-19 which has created two pandemics – the disease and the disease of

isolation, social unrest and uncertainty. Internationally, Denise facilitates leadership programs for the U.S. State Department, the Pacific Institute, and the United Nations

Celebrate Positive Movement; as well as companies such as DuPont, Amazon, Toyota and many local organizations as well. She has been recognized locally as a Woman Who Means Business and one of the most Influential Women in Kansas City.

Alana MullerFounder and CEO of Coffee Lunch Coffee

Alana Muller, an entrepreneurial executive leader whose primary focus is to connect, inspire and empower community, is Founder and CEO of Coffee Lunch Coffee. She is a networking speaker, workshop facilitator, coach and author of the book Coffee Lunch Coffee: A Practical Field Guide for Master Networking and a companion blog, CoffeeLunchCoffee.com. Her accessible, relevant, immediately actionable approach to professional networking for those interested in connecting with others, getting

involved in their communities, seeking to advance their careers or looking to build social relationships, has helped thousands of people formulate a strategic mindset

around networking while creating a game plan to get out there and Connect. Coffee Lunch Coffee is a WBENC-Certified WBE. Alana is a weekly columnist for Bizwomen.com and has

been a contributor to Forbes.com, HuffPost, CNBC and other publications and was a featured speaker at TEDxOverlandPark. She has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago and an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Smith College. She is actively engaged in the community and serves on a number of corporate and volunteer boards.

Deanna Munoz CEO and Founder, Latino Arts Foundation and Owner, Midwest Chicana Brand+Podcast

Deanna is a lifelong resident of Kansas City. She has supported the arts all her life, but, due to events in her life, she unfortunately was never able to fulfill her dream of becoming an artist herself. Now, for the last 10+ years, she has been working hard (and with no funding) to create a no-cost space for the arts and community engagement for aspiring artists who otherwise would not be able to attend or afford such programming. Latino Arts Foundation is a nonprofit organization

created to bring forth the fiercely authentic voice of underrepresented artists through their diverse stories, cultures and beliefs creating an artist-based space OF

their community FOR their community. She also founded the Midwest Chicana Brand and podcast, created to represent Chicano/a/x culture, our neighborhoods and our love for family through the expression of art and our stories.


A Woman in Action

Patti PhillipsCEO, Women Leaders in College Sports

Patti is a sports executive and an industry leader on women’s career advancement with more than 30 years of experience. She has been the CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports since 2010. Under her leadership, the organization changed its name, has seen triple-digit growth in membership, has grown the National Convention attendance by 250%, and expanded its membership to include men and women from professional sports leagues and corporations. Phillips is a well-known keynote

speaker on topics such as leadership, teamwork and culture. She has a TEDx Talk on the subject of potential, hosts the Women Leaders podcast, and was named a 2020

GameChanger by the Sports Business Journal. She created and leads the Women Leaders Performance Institute – a leadership development program for all business industries designed through the lens of sports. Patti has worked in the sports industry in various capacities, first as a collegiate coach, next at the NCAA and then the Kansas City Sports Commission. She has dedicated her career to coaching, mentoring and empowering women at all levels and industries.

Mary RedmondThe Fearless Negotiator and Body Language Expert

Mary is a negotiation and body language expert who instills confidence, inspiration and expert knowledge to prepare her clients for success. With more than 30 years of business experience, Mary understands the challenges that executives, managers and team players face daily. For more than 25 years she worked for some of the largest financial institutions in the world as a top sales producer. She’s intimately

familiar with corporate culture and the complexities of Fortune 500 decision-making. Clients turn to Mary to train their teams because she has experience from

the trenches. She’s done it. She’ll inspire you to fearlessly take on negotiations using her personal negotiation stories that sound a lot like the ones you face each day. Mary

negotiates with anyone for anything. She’s faced attorneys, accountants, corporate executives, hotel front desk clerks, airline gate agents, discount store managers, customer service associates and ruthless, aggressive tow truck drivers. That’s how she earned the reputation as the Fearless Negotiator.

Nia RichardsonAssistant to the Director for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, KC BizCare Office (City of Kansas City)

Ms. Richardson oversees the day-to-day operations of the KC BizCare Office, the City’s Business Customer Service Center, a free business resource, advocacy and information center for new and existing businesses operating within Kansas City. Established in 2009, BizCare provides guidance and assistance for businesses navigating the City’s licensing, permitting and vendor approval processes. Her work also includes streamlining initiatives to remove barriers to entry and systemic issues

that impede a business’s ability to grow in Kansas City. She is an advocate between businesses and City departments to coordinate business-related concerns. Her work is

vital to the City’s goal of becoming the “Most Entrepreneurial City in America.” Nia started with the City in November of 2018.


A Woman in Action

Dr. Michelle RobinFounder, Your Wellness Connection

Dr. Michelle Robin believes “you cannot heal the body without healing the heart” – meaning all of the thoughts, emotions, and memories inside your heart that have kept you from discovering the best version of yourself. As a chiropractor, author, teacher, holistic healer, podcast host, unshakable optimist, international speaker, and founder of Your Wellness Connection, Small Changes Big Shifts ®, and Big Shifts Foundation ®, Dr. Robin has left an impression on thousands of lives for

helping them find a way to live a vibrant, happy and healthy life. For 30 years, she has guided people to create small changes that ultimately shift their habits and their life.

Your Wellness Connection has become one of the nation’s most successful integrative healing centers. Visit YourWellnessConnection.com, SmallChangesBigShifts.com, and BigShifts.org for more information.

Melissa Robinson3rd District Councilwoman, City of Kansas City, Missouri

In addition to serving Kansas City as councilwoman for the 3rd District, Melissa Robinson is currently employed as president of the Black Health Care Coalition where community partnerships and health equity are priorities. Councilwoman Robinson began her social service career at the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime where she served as the Director of Crisis Intervention. While working for Ad Hoc, she decided to pursue a master’s in business administration with the goal of assisting nonprofit

organizations in operating from a business and customer service framework. Robinson formerly served on the Public Improvement Advisory Council (PIAC), the

Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City Community Advisory Committee and is also the former Board President for Kansas City Public Schools. Ms. Robinson has received leadership awards from a variety of institutions and organizations including the Kansas City, Missouri, Chapter of the NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Health Literacy Missouri. Melissa was also named a “Top Forty Under Forty” by Ingrams Magazine.

Nikki RomoloVice President, Hospitality Revenue and Events

Nikki Romolo has served as vice president of Hospitality Revenue and Events for three years, overseeing Hospitality Revenue for all Sporting Kansas City properties. Consisting of concessions, private and public events at Children’s Mercy Park, Pinnacle National Development Center, Sporting Wyandotte Fields and Swope Soccer Village, Nikki leads a team that plans and executes over 1200 events – match

days included. Nikki was previously the senior director for Sporting Club Events, a subsidiary of Sporting Kansas City. As senior director, Nikki oversaw the sales and

execution of all private events in three of Sporting’s facilities: Children’s Mercy Park, Pinnacle and Three Points. Nikki is a member of the 2020 Centurion Class and the 2017

Leadership Kansas Class.


A Woman in Action

Je-anné RueckertBuilding Maintenance & Construction Technology Program Coordinator, MCC-Business & Technology

Je-anné Rueckert, who goes by the nickname “J,” is the coordinator of MCC’s Building Maintenance and Construction Technology program. She leads the Kansas City Construction Career Academy (KCCCA), a partnership between MCC and North Kansas City schools in which students earn their associate degree and high school diploma at the same time. She has more than 15 years of experience in HVAC as well as residential and light commercial renovation and remodeling. J has been

with MCC for six years, including three years as a full-time faculty member in multiple career and technology programs.

Nicole Jacobs SilveyPresident and Founder, Connection Coach KC

Nicole Jacobs Silvey is a community-minded connector who strives to empower others to live their best lives. She is most passionate about empowering women,

access to quality education, and issues of social justice. With 20+ years in the nonprofit sector, she is both mission-driven and passionate about Kansas City, the community she calls home. In 2018, Nicole launched Connection Coach KC where she serves as the president and founder. As a connection coach, Nicole connects people to their purpose and passion so they can reach their full potential. Among

other honors, she has been named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in KC and Woman to Watch by the Central Exchange. Most recently, she was selected to be a part

of the inaugural class of the Band of Angels Rock Stars.

Robin Peppe SterneckPresident and Co-owner, Sterneck Capital Management, LLC

Robin Sterneck is a seasoned executive and board director who brings 35 years of business and leadership experience to her financial planning services and executive

leadership keynotes, workshops, roundtables, best practice coaching sessions and real-life story telling. Robin’s work as an investment banker at Lehman Brothers and her roles in Financial Services at GE and Swiss Re, arm her with a broad breadth of firsthand experience and strategies. Today she enables others to

optimize their financial lives and professional careers through her work at Sterneck Capital Management. Robin also currently serves on the board of EPR Properties and

as a Director for SurveySaurus, a technology firm that is bringing culture insights to life. She is a founding member of the Kansas City Chapter of Women Corporate Directors and a

Director on the National Association of Corporate Directors Heartland Chapter Board. As the co-facilitator of the Emerging Leaders Program at the Central Exchange, she has helped advance the careers of more than 700 high potential leaders.


A Woman in Action

Sonié Joi Thompson-RuffinArtist and Co-founder, African American Artists Collective

Sonié Joi Thompson-Ruffin is an American fiber artist, author, designer, community organizer and curator. Ruffin creates quilts using fabric, symbolism and references to African textile motifs that explore issues dealing with human rights, race and gender. Her work has been exhibited across the United States, Africa and Europe, at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the White House Rotunda, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. She has been a resident artist at

the Charlotte Street Foundation and a resident curator at the American Jazz Museum. Thompson-Ruffin is one of the founding members of the African American

Artists Collective, a group of African American artists in Kansas City. Thompson-Ruffin was selected to create the Nelson Mandela memorial coverlet by the South African Consulate and the Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. Her latest public art project appears on the front of the Kansas City Leon Mercer Jordan East Patrol and Crime Lab Campus.

Carolyn WatleyVice President of Community Engagement, CBIZ

During her more than 30 years with CBIZ, Carolyn has held many roles ranging from Office Manager to Manager of Corporate Accounts to Chief Facilitating Officer. In 2000, Carolyn became President of CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services in Kansas City and currently represents CBIZ as Vice President of Community Engagement. In this capacity, Carolyn focuses on public-facing business development initiatives, board participation roles and community stewardship. Carolyn enjoys many civic

and community roles including as Board Chair of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, KC Rising Steering Committee, KCPS Foundation, MCC Foundation,

First Tee Foundation, KC Campus for Animal Health and the Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy. Joni Wickham Co-founder, Wickham James Strategies & Solutions and former Chief of Staff for KC Mayor Sly James

Joni is all about grit, grace and getting things done. A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Joni and her indisputable southern accent arrived in Kansas City almost 10 years ago after leading initiatives within state and federal government as well as advocacy organizations. In her eight years with the mayor’s office—the majority of them spent as Chief of Staff—Joni has proven herself as an accomplished political strategist, communications expert and organizational leader. She directed public

policy initiatives, communications tactics and administrative decision-making during her tenure, all while promoting women’s leadership and empowerment issues.

An artful negotiator, Joni helped steer Sly’s major development projects in Kansas City while raising the city’s profile at the national and international levels. Her front-row seat at city hall

shed light on how local government is still very much a man’s world, and this motivated her to create a first-of-its-kind women’s empowerment initiative, which has been implemented in several major cities. She has also written a LinkedIn series addressing the unique workplace challenges women face surrounding conflict. Joni was the recipient of the 2019 University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs Mel Carnahan Public Service Award.

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She Is: A Woman in Action March 10, 2021 - 12 to 5 p.m. VIRTUAL … · 2021. 3. 9. · She Is: A Woman in Action March 10, 2021 - 12 to 5 p.m. VIRTUAL EVENT Attendees will hear from