25th Annual Conference Virtual Week Celebration May 10 ­ 14, 2021

Elevating and Empowering Women Business Leaders of Today and Tomorrow!

A Program of:

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Mon., May 10 9:00 am Virtual On­Demand Wellness Resource Library

Mon., May 10 3:00–4:00 pm Women Thrive Round Table Moderated by: Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO, MichBusiness Therese Marie Smith, Dir. of Education and Programs, MichBusiness

Tues., May 11 12:00–1:00 pm Keynote Presentation: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business! Keynote Speaker: Andi Simon, Founder and CEO Simon Associates Management Consultants

Tues., May 11 3:00–4:30 pm Women Moving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Forward Town Hall Moderated by: Michelle Richards, Fnding. Exec. Dir., Great Lakes Women’s Business Council Panelists: Duc Nguyen Abrahamson, Executive Director, APACC Dr. Mary Cooney, Founder, Creativa Charity Dean, President/CEO, Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance Dr. Hei-Ock Kim, Founder & Exec. Dir., Kim Center for Social Balance

Wed., May 12 9:30–10:30 am Strategies for Women with Aging Parents Presentation Presenters: Jill McNamara, Director of Senior Care, Care.com Farrah C. Ramdayal, Attorney, Schock Solaiman Ramdayal, PLLC

Wed., May 12 12:30–1:30 pm Mothers in the Workplace Panel Discussion Moderated by: Maria Fracassa Dwyer, Member in Charge, Clark Hill PLC Panelists: Kim Dudley, Human Resources Specialist, Greenleaf Trust Becka Klauber Richter, President, Helpr Duncan So, Co-Founder and Executive Director, The Burnout Clinic

Thurs., May 13 10:00–11:00 am Virtual Networking is the New Normal Speaker: Shanna Kabatznick International Speaker & Author, Founder of FABWOMEN

Thurs., May 13 1:00–2:30 pm Women Thrive Awards and Induction Ceremony MichBusiness annually honors Women Workplace Leaders who make significant contributions to their fields and the community. Established in 1996, the awards are bestowed in three categories: Shooting Stars – honoring young women on the move; Distinguished Leadership – honoring women who are change­makers and thought leaders in the workplace today; and The MichBusiness Women Leaders Hall of Fame – honoring women whose careers have reached exceptional levels of success and have elevated and encouraged women in the workplace.

Speakers

Keynote Presentation: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business! Andi Simon, Founder and CEO, Simon Associates Management Consultants Andi Simon is a Corporate Anthropologist who helps executives see their companies with more observant eyes, achieve “aha!” moments, and discover new and profitable opportunities. By applying the concepts, methods, and tools of anthropology to business environments, she turns observation into innovation and revitalizes businesses seeking growth.

Women Moving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Forward Town Hall Moderator: Michelle Richards, Founding Executive Direstor, Great Lakes Women’s Business Council Michelle Richards is a leading authority on women­owned and small businesses. She has successfully advocated for economic opportunities, provided much­needed resources, and built the credibility of community­based, women­owned and small businesses for nearly four decades. In 1984, Michelle founded the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council which provides business development resources, training, and opportunities to thousands of women business owners each year.

Panelist: Duc Nguyen Abrahamson, Executive Director, APACC As the Executive Director, Duc Nguyen Abrahamson acts as the spokesperson for APACC, manages and evaluates programs and activities, provides leadership to the board and staff, allocates necessary resources, and develops organizational policy and programs. Abrahamson is a member of the Board of Advisors for Corp! Magazine and the Inclusion Allies Coalition Advocacy Committee, focused on being a visible and vocal advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion globally.

Panelist: Dr. Mary Cooney, Founder, Creativa An educator by trade, Mary Cooney, Ph.D., spent the bulk of her career in higher education. She experienced the Millennials from the very beginning when they waltzed into her classroom and wanted to know why they needed her class. After studying the generations and many trial­and­ error experiences, she found ways to connect with Millennials. Now, she takes that experience and wisdom to teach companies and organizations how to maximize and leverage their generational differences for workplace wins. She is especially excited about emerging strengths seen in Gen Z.

Panelist: Charity Dean, President/CEO, Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance Charity Dean is the owner of Dean Law and Consulting established in 2018 in Detroit, and Founder of the Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance, established in 2021. She is the former Director of Civil Rights for the City of Detroit. Charity is an advisory member of the Detroit Women’s Leadership Network, the president of Grandmont Community Association and was recently appointed by Governor Whitmer to serve on the Michigan Women’s Commission.

Panelist: Dr. Hei­Ock Kim, Founder & Executive Director, Kim Center for Social Balance Hei­ock (Hay­oh) has devoted over a decade to nonprofit administration in social justice, environmental conservation, and the arts. She was also a passionate educator for more than 30 years as a teacher, professor, and lecturer. A frequent speaker, Hei­ock has served as a subject matter expert on workplace gender equity for KPBS Midday Edition, Employee Rights Center, Women in Public Finance, Lawyers Club and former San Diego Councilmember Barbara Bry.

Strategies for Women with Aging Parents Presentation Presenter: Jill McNamara, Director of Senior Care, Care.com Jill McNamara is the Director of Senior Care for Care.com, the world’s largest online destination for finding and managing high­quality family care. Since joining Care.com in 2011, Jill has expanded the company’s senior care services nationally, and has assisted in growing the Senior Care Planning program for Care.com’s enterprise arm, which builds customized family care benefits packages for employers supporting the caregiving responsibilities of their employees. The program provides families with customized and comprehensive guidance, strategies and local resources to meet individual needs. Speakers

Strategies for Women with Aging Parents Presentation Presenter: Farrah C. Ramdayal, Attorney, Schock Solaiman Ramdayal, PLLC Farrah specializes in Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate and Wealth Preservation. She is a member of the Macomb County Probate Bar Association and is a Trustee of the Macomb County Bar Foun­ dation. She is a member of the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Macomb and is currently a Director for the Macomb County Bar Association. She is a Past President of the Women Lawyers Association (Macomb Region) and is currently a Director at Large for the Women Lawyers Association (State Region). Farrah is an ICLE (Institute of Continuing Legal Education) speaker and has conducted several seminars throughout the state of Michigan.

Mothers in the Workplace Panel Discussion Moderator: Maria Fracassa Dwyer, Member in Charge, Clark Hill PLC Maria Dwyer litigates employment and business cases and advises senior management in employment and business considerations. She also conducts workplace investigations and serves as a certified Hearing Officer in Title IX claims and counsels educational organizations in Title IX issues. Maria advises clients across a wide range of industries including public and private employers and works with her clients to conduct workforce and senior management training, and to develop policies and strategies for workforce optimization.

Panelist: Kim Dudley, Human Resources Specialist, Greenleaf Trust Kim has been a team member at Greenleaf Trust for over 12 years. She helps lead the Human Re­ sources team and works with employee benefits, the wellness program, and leads the Greenleaf Trust Scholarship/Internship program. These areas allow her to do what she loves the most, which is to in­ teract with team members. Kim is also a member of the Communications and Culture Team at Green­ leaf Trust which is a workgroup dedicated to cultivating a caring workplace established by the founder.

Panelist: Becka Klauber Richter, President, Helpr Becka has been operating childcare brands for 15 years. Helpr was grown from a boutique domestic placement and babysitting agency into a global network of care professionals and family enterprise technology servicing the top media, retail, finance, and technology companies. As a former foster parent, new mom and power user of her own platform, Becka is driven by her mission of achieving universal parent inclusion and community in the workplace.

Panelist: Duncan So, Co­Founder and Executive Director, The Burnout Clinic Duncan has been a child of corporate burnout that has led him professionally into the field of human flourishing for over a decade working on systemic social change projects. He’s a social entrepreneur and change agent, on a mission to create more passionate world­building systems and programs for companies and communities on the path of making social good. Board Certified with the Association of Integrative Psychology. A Master Practitioner in Mental Emotional Release, NLP and Hypnosis. At the Burnout Clinic, we help HR Leaders develop and integrate burnout recovery programs within their organization. Our flagship 2­day burnout retreats stop the cycle of high anxiety, fatigue, creative slumps, and burnout, and rapidly returns leaders back happy, productive and creatively engaged at work.

Virtual Networking is the New Normal Speaker: Shanna Kabatznick, International Speaker & Author, Founder of FABWOMEN As a Latina woman who spent over 20 years in the male­dominated insurance and financial services industries, Shanna Kabatznick has turned her experience into a platform that encourages, empowers, and educates teams and leaders. A top producer in her field, Shanna was the rare Latina in the Million Dollar Round Table, Women Leaders’ Symposium and many other leadership conferences, who continuously broke records in sales and customer engagement. Shanna specializes in working with organizations and teams in the insurance, banking, and financial services industries. Her high energy and magnetic personality create an environment where attendees will feel not only connected but motivated and educated. Shanna is the Founder of FABWOMEN, a diverse organization for women that focuses on connecting women from all over the world to grow both personally and professionally. Michigan Business Women Hall of Fame Inductees

Debbie Dingell Congresswoman, U.S. House of Representatives Congresswoman Debbie Dingell represents Michigan’s 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she has made it a priority to be a voice for the Midwest on issues that matter most to working families.

A member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Debbie is a leader on efforts to grow manufacturing, improve access to quality affordable health care, support seniors and veterans and protect the Great Lakes. Recognized as one of the 25 hardest­working Members of Congress, Debbie is focused on forging bipartisan solutions that support Michigan’s families and economy, including improving long­term care and ushering in the future of the American auto industry.

Before being elected to Congress, Debbie worked in the auto industry for more than three decades, where she was President of the General Motors Foundation and a senior executive responsible for public affairs. She was also Chairman of the Wayne State University Board of Governors, and continues to fight to make education more affordable and accessible in Congress. Florine Mark President and CEO, The WW Co. Florine Mark is the former president and CEO of The WW (Weight Watchers) Group, Inc. She spent more than 50 years as the leading franchise holder of Weight Watch­ ers International. Mark created the company as a family business from the ground up in 1966, acquiring franchises throughout the Midwest, East Coast, Canada, and Mex­ ico. Some of these franchises were sold in 2003 to Weight Watchers International, but Mark retained all operations in her home state of Michigan, as well as in Northern Ontario, Canada. In March 2021, Mark and her family entered into an agreement with Weight Watchers International to sell the entire franchise. The sale includes all of Mark’s operations in Michigan and Canada. She continues to share her knowledge and expertise as a Weight Watchers International Consultant.

Mark serves as an adviser and board member on many philanthropic and civic organizations. Affiliated with some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions, Florine is active with the Business Leaders of Michigan, C200, the Jewish Federations of North America and serves on The Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy’s School of Government, where she works to globally advance women in leadership and public policy. Bridget Mary McCormack Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack joined the Michigan Supreme Court in January 2013, and became the Chief Justice in January 2019.

An NYU Law graduate, Chief Justice McCormack started her legal career in New York City. In 1996, she joined the Yale Law School faculty. She then joined the University of Michigan Law School faculty, in 1998, where she taught criminal law, legal ethics, and various clinics. She was named Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs in 2002.

Chief Justice McCormack was elected to The American Law Institute in 2013. The Attorney General of the United States appointed her to the National Commission on Forensic Science in 2014. She serves as an editor on the ABA’s preeminent journal, Litigation. In 2019, Governor Whitmer appointed her as Co­Chair of the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration. In 2020 she was appointed to the ABA Council on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar. In 2021, Governor Whitmer appointed her as Co­Chair of the Michigan Task Force on Forensic Science. Chief Justice McCormack continues to teach at the University of Michigan each year as well as publish in professional journals and law media.

Michigan Business Women Hall of Fame Inductees

Leslie Murphy, CPA, CGMA President and CEO, Murphy Consulting, Inc. Leslie A. Murphy, CPA, is a retired assurance partner and former member of the senior leadership team of Plante & Moran. During her tenure there, she held numerous leadership positions, including Group Managing Partner in charge of all client services. In October 2005, Leslie became only the third woman to chair the 350,000­member American Institute of Certified Public Accounting (AICPA). Leslie continues her service to the profession as a member of the AICPA Governing Council and the Relations with the Judiciary Subcommittee of the AICPA.

In October 2012, the AICPA presented Leslie with the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service, the highest individual award within the profession. She is a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Board Leadership Fellow and serves as a member of the NACD’s Advisory Council on Risk Oversight. Today, Leslie serves as President and CEO of Murphy Consulting, Inc. In addition, Leslie is on the Boards of numerous corporations and charitable organizations, in her community, including United Way for Southeastern Michigan, McGregor Foundation, Early Childhood Investment Corporation, Children’s Leadership Council and Covenant House Michigan. She is a graduate of University of Michigan and resides in Ann Arbor.

Rochelle Riley Director of Arts and Culture, City of Detroit Rochelle Riley is an author, essayist, blogger and arts advocate. She spent nearly a quarter century as a columnist when she left the Detroit Free Press in 2019 to focus on arts and culture.

She is now the Director of Arts and Culture for the City of Detroit. She left journalism with a bang, being inducted into the North Carolina Media and Journalism Hall of Fame and receiving the National Headliner Award for best local columns. She is also a member of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

Rochelle plans to make a similar splash in her current job. She also is co­founder of Letters to Black Girls, an initiative to give letters of advice and encouragement from women across the country to girls across the country.

Shirley Stancato Principal/Member, SRS Advisory Services/Wayne State University Board of Governors Shirley Stancato, Principal, SRS Advisory Services, is a seasoned executive, prominent civic leader, expert on race relations and social justice advocate. For almost 20 years, Stancato was president and chief executive officer of New Detroit Inc., metropolitan Detroit’s leadership coalition devoted solely to race relations serving as an essential forum for discussion and advocacy for racial equity.

Prior to joining New Detroit, Stancato enjoyed a long career at what is now Chase Bank, where she became Senior Vice President. Stancato received both a Bachelors and Masters from Wayne State University. In 2017, she received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Michigan.

Stancato serves on numerous boards including Fifth Third Bank of Eastern Michigan, Teach for America Detroit, The Detroit Symphony Orchestra Warrior Women Against Poverty, the Detroit Zoological Commission and The International Women’s Forum Michigan. In addition, Stancato is a member of the Wayne State University’s Board of Governors.

Women Leadership In The Workplace Honorees

Wendy Achatz Co-Founder, Achatz Handmade Pie Co.

Wendy, and her husband Dave, started Achatz Handmade Pie Company from their home 28 years ago. Every week they’d bake a few dozen pies and set up at the local farmers' markets. Today, their team of over one hundred, run six beautiful pie shops serving the Metro Detroit area and our 20 thousand square foot bake house creating tens of thousands of pies in small batches each week. Yes, they’ve grown some! Their special Achatz artisanal pies are still made the old fashion way and are distributed to over 1,000 grocery stores and restaurants across the U.S. and Canada. Wendy’s passion for food led her to study regenerative agriculture and in her spare time she stewards a 100 acre homestead with her 100 laying chickens, 3 sheep, 2 goats, and Odin, my Great Pyrenees! You can check out their adventures on YouTube! Tasha Blackmon President and Chief Executive Officer, Cherry Health

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mich., Tasha Blackmon is a dynamic, collaborative leader, mentor and coach who brings more than 20 years of business operations experience to her role as President and Chief Executive Officer of Michigan’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center. Cherry Health provides integrated health care services to 70,000 patients in Barry, Eaton, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Ottawa and Wayne counties. During her 15 years with Cherry Health, Blackmon has championed health justice through aggressively disrupting healthcare disparities. Her experience comes from an operational perspective, having established high standards of care and developed integrated healthcare systems that treat an individual’s health needs holistically, rather than symptomatically. She has led numerous large­scale expansion and development projects and held six positions within Cherry Health before becoming CEO in 2018. As an accom­ plished and mission­minded leader, it is imperative to Tasha that our community is healthier, one patient at a time. An eloquent and inspiring speaker, Tasha has a way of being heard on behalf of those who do not have voices, and for those whose voices have been silenced because of the barriers that they face. She is passionate and personally driven to ensure that all patients served in her home community, and surrounding areas, receive the highest quality of care. Katie Bowman Coleman President and Owner, Bowman Auto Group

As President, Katie Bowman Coleman oversees a team of nearly 120 employees, selling nearly 5,000 vehicles annually. Katie began working at the dealership with her father, John Bowman, in 1993, following a career in fashion retail with Ralph Lauren in New York and Australia. Katie was named president of the dealership in 2011. Under Katie’s leadership, new and used car sales have tripled and the dealership has received numerous awards, including Chevrolet Dealer of the Year for four consecutive years, Dealer Rater’s Consumer Satisfaction Award and Dealer Rater’s Michigan Chevrolet Dealer of the Year, and she has also received many accolades and recognitions. Katie believes in giving back to the community. Bowman Auto Group proudly supports Easterseals Michigan, Special Camp for Special Kids, My Habitat Clarkston, the Michigan Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, Horizon’s Upward Bound and other community organizations. Katie earned a bachelor’s degree from Denison University and a master’s degree from Walsh College. She and her husband have three children and reside in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Women Leadership In The Workplace Honorees

Meredith Bronk CEO and President, OST

Meredith Bronk, President and CEO of OST has been a leader at OST for over 20 years. As the company grew from 7 employees to over 300 operating around the globe, Meredith’s responsibility grew too. From Project Manager, to Chief Operating Officer, to her current role as CEO, “Mer” is a cultural teacher who walks the talk. Her love of people, of leadership, and of creating a thriving corporate culture is evident in everything she does. Meredith excels at ensuring OST’s culture is thriving every day and has a rare combination of empathy and business savvy, leading in a way that inspires everyone she works with to do their best. Her servant attitude and commitment to the success of others is an excellent representation of OST’s dedication to its employees and clients. She is also a passionate ad­ vocate for the community she calls home and well­known for her speaking and motivational skills.

As part of her transition to the CEO role, Meredith earned her MBA from the University of Notre Dame in 2014 In addition to following Irish football, Meredith serves on several boards, mentors leaders, and spends time with her husband and three daughters.

G. Christine Dowding-Metts CEO, DOWDING INDUSTRIES INC.

Christine Dowding Metts has been the CEO of her family business, Dowding Indus­ tries, Inc., since 2007. She began her career at Dowding in 1982 after graduating from Olivet College. She worked her way through the accounting and sales depart­ ments, then into customer account management before being promoted to CEO. During this time, she and her teams have grown the company from annual sales of 7 Million to 39 Million. She and her teams navigated multiple recessions including the worst recession since the great depression in 2008/2009, all while taking the keys to a brand new facility and equipment that equaled the company’s net worth at that time. Navi­ gating the loss of major businesses and customers during the downturn, Chris was able to maintain banking and cus­ tomer relationships that would lead to Dowding Industries celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2015. Since 2016, her team was on their way to seeing a 100% growth over a four year period, however with Covid­19 hitting in March 2020, the focus moved to creating and maintaining a safe work environment while meeting customers’ demands for products in key essential areas; such as power generation, trucking and agriculture.

Chris attended Olivet College and possesses a Masters in Management from Northwestern University.

Maria Fracassa Dwyer Member-In-Charge, Detroit, Clark Hill PLC

Maria Dwyer litigates employment and business cases and advises senior manage­ ment in employment and business considerations. She also conducts workplace in­ vestigations and investigates and serves as a certified Hearing Officer in Title IX claims and counsels educational organizations in Title IX issues.

Maria advises clients across a wide range of industries including public and private em­ ployers and works with her clients to conduct workforce and senior management training, and to develop policies and strategies for workforce optimization.

Maria is the Member­In­Charge of Clark Hill’s, Detroit Office, is the Co­Practice Leader of the Food, Beverage and Hospitality Team, and a Co­Chair of Clark Hill ­ Detroit, the firm's strategy to promote women within the firm, the legal profession, and the business community.

Women Leadership In The Workplace Honorees

Dr. Darienne Hudson President and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan Dr. Darienne Hudson is a high­energy nonprofit executive and life­long educator serving as President and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan, located in Detroit. Before joining United Way in July 2018, she spent four years as superintend­ ent of Milwaukee Public Schools. Dr. Hudson began her career as an elementary school teacher in Detroit Public Schools, a point of personal pride.

At United Way, Dr. Hudson is purposefully and intentionally developing and initiating programs to improve the lives of children and families in Southeastern Michigan. Dr. Hudson believes strongly in the power of collective impact and in the importance of public­ private partnerships to solve societal issues. Her ability to mobilize corporations, foundations, and individual donors to orchestrate a coordinated community­based effort in response to the coronavirus pandemic has garnered national and international praise and recognition. Under Dr. Hudson’s leadership, her organization raised over $37 million to support over 2.5 million people in southeastern Michigan.

Dr. Hudson proudly serves on the Mayor’s Workforce Investment Board, the Detroit Children’s Fund Board, the Detroit Public Schools Foundation Board, and is on the Board of Overseers for Harvard University. She was a 2019 DBusiness Powered by Women Honoree, a 2020 Michigan Chronicle Women of Excellence Honoree, and a 2020 WJR Women Who Lead award recipient.

Dr. Hudson's academic achievements include a doctorate from Harvard University in Urban Superintendency, a master's degree in education from Harvard University, and a master’s degree in curriculum development from the University of Michigan. Her undergraduate degree in child development is from Spelman College. Carrie Jones-Barber CEO, Dawn Foods Carrie Jones­Barber is the Chief Executive Officer of Dawn Foods, a global bakery ingredients leader, based in Jackson, Michigan. Carrie uses her intimate knowledge of the baking industry to drive growth and success for Dawn and its more than 50,000 customers around the world.

Leading more than 4,000 Team Members globally, Carrie is dedicated to Inspiring Bakery Success Every Day, and delivers on the company’s vision through her commit­ ment to Dawn’s people, products, and customers. She continues to drive growth for Dawn through transformational change and international expansion.

Throughout her 36 years at Dawn, Carrie has introduced significant organizational change, including global strategic planning processes and change management best practices. She was named Dawn’s CEO in 2006 and has helped build Dawn into a multi­billion­dollar leader in the baking industry. Debora Matthews President and CEO, Children’s Center of Wayne County Debora Matthews is the President & Chief Executive Officer of The Children’s Center of Wayne County. She has spent the better part of 35 years in service to The Chil­ dren’s Center, as a staff member for 18 years and as a volunteer Board Member for 17 years. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan Ross Business School.

Matthews has served in many leadership and advocacy roles in behavioral health and child welfare, including Board of Director positions for several organizations: Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and Michigan Federation for Children & Families, as well as membership in the Wayne County Behavioral Health & Wellness Collaborative. It is her dream to break down system barriers in state and local policies and government that get in the way of preven­ tion and early intervention for children and families.

Women Leadership In The Workplace Honorees

Uma Sharma, PhD Chief Scientific Officer, MMS Holdings Dr. Uma Sharma has more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in late stage drug development. Dr. Sharma worked at Parke­Davis and Pfizer prior to her current position and has led large phase 3 programs, navigating clinical teams through two mergers while strategically directing senior management through critical “Go” or “No Go” decisions at key stages in drug development.

As the Chief Scientific Officer at MMS, Dr. Sharma has led numerous submission proj­ ects successfully, including several advisory committee meetings for various sponsors. Dr. Sharma has participated in advisory boards for drug development, as well as product defense strategies. She has been an invited speaker at several national and International meetings throughout her career.

A visionary leader, she has been instrumental in defining the organization as one of the few ISO­9001 certified serv­ ice­providing organizations, and has also provided oversight for all clinical activities. Dr. Sharma earned her doctor­ ate in pharmacology from Wayne State University and the University of Michigan.

Lillian Epstein Stotland President and CEO, Vesco Oil Corporation Lilly Epstein Stotland is President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Vesco Oil Corporation, a third­generation family business founded in 1947. She joined the company in 2004 and under her leadership has spearheaded strategies to grow Vesco Oil through acquisitions, resulting in the geo­ graphic expansion of the company into four Midwest states. Prior to joining Vesco Oil, Lilly began her career as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York City. Lilly was named President of Vesco Oil in 2017, CEO in 2020, and is committed to keeping the company a family­owned business for future generations.

Lilly earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and graduated Cum Laude from Harvard College in 2000. She earned a Masters of Business Administration and graduated with Distinction from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in 2004.

Lilly and her husband Alex reside in Birmingham with their two children, Nathan and Elise. She has been a member of the Harvard Club of Detroit Board of Directors since 2004. Lilly was a longtime member of the Executive Board of the Anti­Defamation League, and is an Executive Board member of the Detroit Chapter of Young Presidents Organi­ zation. She has also been a regular guest on the Family Business Forum on WJR radio.

Rosalie Vicari Owner, Joe Vicari Restaurant Group Before she became the co­owner of one of the largest restaurant groups in the state, Rosalie Vicari was an educator, wife, and mother of three. She earned her undergrad­ uate degree in education at Oakland University, then went on to earn a master’s de­ gree at Saginaw Valley State University, as well as a certificate from the Michigan Dyslexia Institute.

While Vicari’s husband, Joe, started building the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group, she was working as a teacher and then later as a private tutor while raising her three children. As her children grew, the restaurant group did as well, so Vicari felt it was time to get involved in the business. In 2004, Vicari began as an Operating Partner at the Andiamo location in Sterling Heights. She became well­versed in all aspects of restaurant operations, successfully running that location for 10 years before taking on a more corporate role. Her role continued to grow as she oversaw operations for all Joe Vicari Restaurant Group properties. Women Leadership In The Workplace Honorees

Vicari feels it is important to give back to the community and is involved in many charity organizations like Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Henry Ford Neurology, Care House, Turning Point, and Impact 1000. Vicari was most recently recog­ nized in May 2019 for her dedication to the community by Variety the Children’s Charity Detroit which supports and offers services to children with special needs. The Andiamo Restaurant Group also hosts the Bernie Smilovitz Hunger Free Summer Golf Classic benefiting Gleaners Community Food Bank and other local Children’s Charities.

Marlin Williams Founder, Sisters Code Marlin Williams expertise and life calling is found at the intersection of technology, diversity and inclusion, organizational development and empowerment. Earlier in l ife, she transitioned from an aspiring mortician into a Mainframe Programmer (long story) and the leap into the field of technology changed the trajectory of her life.

Her experience spans from serving as a two­time Fortune 500 Global Diversity and In­ clusion Officer, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Tech Entrepreneur, and Founder of Sisters Code with the goal of “Awakening the Mature Geek” by empowering women ages 25­85 to explore the field of technology. Her Podcast, “My Peace is Non­Negotiable,” inspires women to find peace in what’s best for them today and help them conquer self­doubt, break old patterns, find their next step, and become more than they thought possible. In her down time, she is on a journey to become a Scotch Expert as the “Scotchanista.” Shooting Stars

Myka Burley Digital Equity & Inclusion Program Manager, Rocket Community Fund As a self­proclaimed advocate for economic and education equity, Myka Burley over­ sees and manages Digital Equity and Inclusion initiatives and investments as a Pro­ gram Manager on the Education and Employment team of the Rocket Community Fund and as the Community Manager for Connect 313, a collaborative effort created to bridge the digital divide in the city of Detroit. Myka is also the Co­Founder of The Genius Lab, an organization created by her son, Michael, to help children discover their intrinsic genius through exploratory learning, creativity, and curiosity.

As a native Detroiter, Myka has deep passion for the social and economic growth of Detroi­ ters, and uses her voice to create pathways of equity through her life’s work and advocacy efforts; she plans to am­ plify her voice further by engaging with educational policy reform in the future.

Myka currently serves on the Rising Achievers Advisory Board of Junior Achievement of Southeast Michigan, is Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum, and regularly volunteers at several organizations in the city of Detroit. She is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan, and is currently pursuing studies in Women’s Entrepreneur­ ship at Cornell University.

Abbey Renee Colville Vice President of Operations, Vision Computer Solutions Abbey Renee Colville is the Vice President of Operations for Vision Computer Solutions, based in Northville. Throughout her 8 years at the company, she has had a variety of roles, but most recently launched a development branch to the company, after self­teaching herself coding.

Abbey believes service leadership is a key element of being an effective leader, taught by her mentor, David Marino. Her alma mater, Central Michigan University, and her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, helped pave the way to her start of service leadership.

A proud Detroit resident, Abbey enjoys giving back to her community through her board work at Detroit Young Professionals, as well as staying active as a member of the Indian Village Tennis Club.

Lamija Grebovic Senior Relationship Strategist, PNC Wealth Management Lamija Grebovic coordinates a team to assist you and your family in pursuing the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the important aspects of your financial life are thoughtfully orchestrated. Through a dynamic discovery process, Lamija is able to help build and maintain a thorough understanding of your needs and priori­ ties. Helping you and your family with the successful achievement of your goals and aspirations is our primary focus. Lamija has the knowledge, experience and desire to help bring about successful outcomes as your trusted advisor.

Lamija has over 15 years of experience in the financial service industry. She joined PNC Bank in May 2005 and has held various roles in retail banking and asset management. For the last 10 years, Lamija has en­ joyed working with clients and their families to help provide solutions for their financial needs.

Lamija earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan. Shooting Stars

Whitney Griffin Associate Director, Partner Brand Management, Huge Whitney Griffin is the Associate Director of Partner Brand Management at Huge. She is also the founder and CEO of Maverick Marketing + Communications, a Detroit­based agency that specializes in producing strategic marketing initiatives on behalf of mission­driven organizations.

Whitney has honed her craft through a decade of delivering successful marketing programs for automotive, healthcare, nonprofit, and tech organizations. Through these engagements, Whitney has represented both global and national brands, including BMW Financial Services, General Motors, and Google. Locally, Whitney has supported mission­ driven organizations in increasing their impact on the community, such as Aadya Security, Center for Community Based Enterprise, the Downtown Detroit Partnership, and Matrix Human Services.

Whitney Griffin is also a devoted community servant and lends her marketing and communications expertise to a variety of causes to uplift Detroit. Since 2019, she has led special events initiatives for Matrix Human Services, which raises over $300,000 annually for their life­changing programming. Also since 2019, Whitney has served on the board of the Detroit Institute of Arts' Founders Junior Council. In April 2020, Whitney was appointed to the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities.

Alisyn Malek Executive Director, The Commission on the Future of Mobility Alisyn Malek is a founding member and the Executive Director for the Commission on the Future of Mobility. Malek focuses on driving consensus among automakers, global mobility players and regulators in advancing mobility policy. From EV product development, corporate venture, and strategy at General Motors to developing the first­of­its­kind autonomous vehicle transportation solution as the co­founder and COO of May Mobility, Malek has a deep understanding of the automotive and emerging transportation industries.

Malek is also the founder and CEO of Middle Third, a boutique consultancy focused on go­to­market mobility strategies. Malek received a 2019 Automotive News All Star award and was recognized as a top ten female innovator to watch by Smithsonian in 2018. Malek’s work in cutting­edge product development and corporate ventures also put her on the list of top automotive professionals under 35 to watch by LinkedIn.

Mary V. Pickard Associate, Honigman LLP* Mary Pickard is an attorney who concentrates her practice in the areas of business and corporate law representing middle market private and public companies in a variety of corporate matters. Particularly, she has experience in a wide range of mergers and acquisitions, and other strategic transactions, including stock and asset acquisitions and sales, membership interest purchases, business formation and dissolution, joint venture transactions, the formation, organization, and funding of startup businesses, and real estate matters. Mary is a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia. She is currently serving as a board member of First Independence Bank’s Next­Gen Advisory Board, Black United Fund’s BUFConnect Advisory Board, and volunteers as a literacy tutor for Gigi’s Playhouse, a down syndrome achievement center. *Effective May 17, 2021. Past Honorees

1997 Awardees Marcie Brogan Brogan & Partners Vernice Davis Anthony St. John Health System Denise Ilitch Ilitch Holdings, Inc. Elaine Baker Oldies 104.3 WOMC Cynthia Goodaker Crain’s Detroit Business Beverly Beltaire Founder, PR Associates Cindy Pasky Strategic Staffing Solutions Kathryn Elston Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Betsy DeVos Windquest Group, Inc. Eleanor Josaitis Focus: HOPE Dr. Maureen Fay University of Detroit Lorraine Schultz National Women’s Automotive Assn. 2005 Awardees 1998 Awardees Bettejean Ahee Edmund T. Ahee Jewlers Grace Gilchrist WXYZ TV­7 Carole Leigh Hutton Detroit Free Press Helen Love Ford Motor Company Christina Lovio Lovio George, Inc. J. Kay Felt Dykema Gossett, LLC Sr. Frances Nadolny, O.P. Archdiocese of Detroit AJ Jemison Fairlane Towne Center Pamela Rodgers Rodgers Chevrolet, Inc. Betty Jean Awrey Awrey Bakeries Nancy Schlichting Henry Ford Health System Linda Watters Office of Financial & Insurance Services 1999 Awardees Julia Darlow Dickinson Wright, LLC 2006 Awardees Dr. Lou Anna Simon Michigan State University Carmen Harlan WDIV­TV Channel 4 Verna Green WJLB­FM 98 Radio Jennifer Granholm Governor of Michigan Maryann Mahaffey Detroit City Council Anne Stevens Ford Motor Company Geneva Williams United Way Community Services Gail Torreano AT&T Michigan Catherine Roberts Research Federal Credit Union Marianne Udow Michigan Dept. of Human Services Sherry Washington Sherry Washington Gallery 2000 Awardees Rosa Parks Posthumously Margaret Byington Great Lakes Corporate Resources, Inc. Deborah Dingell General Motors Foundation 2007 Awardees Sister Mary Francilene Madonna University Desiree Cooper Detroit Free Press Edna Bell Wayne County Commissioner Sr. Rose Marie Kujawa Madonna University Maxine Niemeyer LTC Marketing, Inc. Terry Lynn Land Michigan Secretary of State Leslie Murphy Plante & Moran Sandra Pierce Charter One Bank Mona Gualtieri Executive Vehicle Sales Mary Jo Pulte Uno Restaurants of Southwest Mich. Mary Ball International Institute of Metro Detroit Shirley Stancato New Detroit, Inc. Cynthia Taueg St. John Health 2001 Awardees Irma Elder Elder Automotive Group 2008 Awardees Dr. Jane Thomas Wayne State University Dorothy Deremo Hospice of Michigan Hon. Dorothy Comstock Riley Michigan Supreme Court (Retired) Lydia Gutiérrez Hacienda Mexicn Foods Dr. Margaret Talburtt Michigan Women’s Foundation Danialle Karmanos Work It Out Patricia Allen Cole Cole Financial Services Mary Kramer Crain’s Detroit Business Dr. Gail Daly, RN Oakwood Healthcare Barbara Mieras Davenport University Roberta Jasina WWJ Newsradio 950 Juliette Okotie­Eboh MGM Grand Casino Francine Parker Health Alliance Plan 2002 Awardees Lisa Webb Sharpe State of Michigan Jane Kay Nugent Detroit Edison, Retired Janet Belcoure Roma Café 2009 Awardees Denise J. Lewis Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn Dr. Linda Thompson Adams Oakland University Nanette Lee Reynolds, EdD Michigan Department of Civil Rights J. Kay Felt Dykema, Retired Maggie Allesee Humanitarian Sue Marx Sue Marx Films, Inc. Dr. Glenda Price Marygrove College Dr. Patricia Maryland St. John Health Monica Gayle WJBK Fox 2 Sue Nine Philanthropist Andra Rush Rush Trucking 2003 Awardees Rhonda Walker WDIV – TV Florine Mark WW Group, Inc. Desma Reid­Coleman Quality Professional Services 2010 Awardees Gina Marie Torielli Howard and Howard Attorneys, PC Terry Barclay Inforum Michelle Engler Humanitarian Linda Burwell Nemeth Burwell, PC Waltraud Prechter Heinz Prechter Fund for Manic Depression Susie Ellwood Detroit Media Partnership Dr. Mary Sue Coleman University of Michigan Cheryl Gibson Fountain MD Wayne Cty Medical Society of SE MI Diana Lewis WXYZ­TV7 Faye Alexander Nelson Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Patricia Nemeth Nemeth Burwell, PC 2004 Awardees Mariam Noland Community Foundation for SE Mich. Bella Marshall Wayne County Kathleen Wilbur Central Michigan University

Past Honorees

2011 Awardees Karen Buscemi Detroit Garment Group/Detroit Sewn Lizabeth Ardisana ASG Renaissance Karen DiChiera Michigan Opera Theatre Kerry Doman After 5 Gwen MacKenzie Ascension Health Carol Goss The Skillman Foundation Dr. Tonya Matthews Michigan Science Center Shanelle Jackson State Representative, 9th District Barbara McQuade U.S. Attorney, Eastern Dist. of Mich. Margery Krevsky Productions Plus Rachel Perschetz LIVE Detroit Juanita Moore Charles H. Wright Museum Jeanette Pierce Detroit Experience Factory Dr. Bonita Stanton Wayne State Univ. School of Medicine Rebecca Smith Better Life Bags Carole Valade Gemini Publications Evonne Xu Howard & Howard Sonya Zanardelli US Army TARDEC 2017 Awardees 2012 Awardees Jen Baird Accio Energy Margarita Barry I Am Young Detroit/Detroit Design Lab Melanie Bergeron Two Men and a Truck Annis Brown Teach for America Monica Brown Breathe Enterprises Carol Cain Detroit Free Press/WWJ TV50 Melissa Fernandez Spectrum Juvenile Justice Services Theresa Chiang Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce Amy Good Alternatives For Girls Sandra Hermanoff Hermanoff & Associates Inc. Dr. Mona Hanna­Attisha Hurley Medical Center Judy Zehnder Keller Bavarian Inn Lodge & Conference Center Tricia Keith Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI The Hon. Marilyn J. Kelly Michigan Supreme Court Julie James DROUGHT Susan Martin Eastern Michigan University Caitlin James DROUGHT Dara Munson Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Detroit Jenny James DROUGHT Ora H. Pescovitz, M.D. U of M and Univ. of Michigan Health System Jessie James DROUGHT Vivian Pickard GM Foundation Khristi Miller Focus: HOPE Mary Ellen Sheets Two Men and a Truck 2013 Awardees Dawn White Accio Energy Amanda Christides Plymouth Technology Anne Doyle Anne Doyle Strategies 2018 Awardees Kathleen Stiso Mullins Edsel & Eleanor Ford House and Holly Gilmer, MD St. John Providence The Henry Ford Estate Evette Griffie DTE Energy Nancy Hickey Steelcase Margaret Kennedy PwC Linda Forte Comerica Foundation Carolyn Krieger CKC Agency Stephanie Bergeron Walsh College Monica L. Martinez Comerica Bank Rochelle Riley Detroit Free Press Amy Peterson Rebel Nell Kenyetta Campbell Cody Rough Community Action Alliance Carla Walker­Miller Walker­Miller Energy Services Maxine Gray HermanMiller Elissa Hillary Local First 2019 Awardees Dawn Stokes RBS Citizens Genevieve Anyiah Embrace the Natural You Camille Walker Banks Goldman Sachs 2014 Awardees Andrea Brimmer Ally Financial Loretta Davis Institute for Population Health Johanna Doderstrom Dow Chemical Donna Inch Ford Land Faith Fowler Cass Community Social Services Jayne Homco Kroger Laura Grannemann Quicken Loans Community Fund Alyssa Martina Metro Parent Gretchen Perkins Huron Capital Kristina Marshall Winning Futures Bailey Sisoy Isgro Detroit History Tours LLC Ann Thomas WJR Teresa Lucido Comcast Spotlight Clarinda Barnett­Harrison MEDC Barbara McQuade University of Michigan Erin O’Brien CMUResearch Corporation Juliette Okotie­Eboh MGM Grand Detroit Deirdre Greene Groves Challenge Detroit Ann Thomas News/Talk 760 WJR

2015 Awardees 2020 Awardees Annette Aronson Garden Fresh Gourmet Jackie Buchanan Genisys Credit Union Jessica Daniel FoodLab Detroit JoAnn Chavez DTE Lindsey Evert Detroit Symphony Orchestra Regina Gaines House of Pure Vin Linglong He Quicken Loans Lola Elzein Venture Title Agency, LLC Beth Morrison HAVEN Amanda Lewan Bamboo Detroit Kelly Rossman­McKinney Truscott Rossman Amber Lewis City of Detroit Mayor’s Office Veronika Scott The Empowerment Plan Sara Mahmood Motion Picture Institute Ruth Spencer WDIV Channel 4 Patricia Patti Poppe Consumers Energy Kathleen Straus Michigan State Board of Education Ellen Hill Zeringue Detroit Tigers Kym Worthy Wayne County Prosecutor Jan Garfinkle Aboretum Ventures Kathleen McCann United Road Services 2016 Awardees Patricia Mooradian The Henry Ford Tonya Allen Skillman Foundation Faye Alexander Nelson W.K. Kellogg Fdn.

Thanks to our Board of Advisors

Thank you to the Women Leaders Board of Advisors for providing advice to the Associations on all marketing and production that occurs during the planning of this program.

Lynn Drake Denise Fleckenstein Rachel Keller Compass Commercial United Way for Plante Moran Southeastern Michigan Tracey Durden Maureen Mahar Madonna University Amy Good Farbman Group Alternatives For Girls Maria Fracassa Dwyer Ivy Simmons Clark Hill PLC Bridget Hurd URGE Imprint Blue Cross Blue Shield Laura Eames of Michigan Lovasco Group Diane Karageozian Effectv

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