$25 Members/$35 Guests

Kathleen T. Osborn is Executive Director of the Regional Business Council (RBC) in St. Louis, Missouri. Osborn spearheaded the establishment of the Regional Business Council in 1999.

 

The Regional Business Council is a consortium of presidents and CEOs representing 100 of the region’s largest companies. The RBC’s mission is to unite and engage members to act on high-impact business, civic and philanthropic affairs for the betterment of the St. Louis region.

  

Prior to serving in this position, Osborn was Vice Chancellor of University Relations at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Osborn oversaw several major mergers, collaborations and partnerships such as the Southwestern Bell Telecommunity Center and the endowed professorship program. She raised over $70 million and implemented an extensive regional and national marketing effort.

 

Osborn serves on the Board of Directors for DHR International.  She is also very active within the St. Louis community and serves on a variety of business and civic boards including: UMB Bank Board of Directors, St. Mary’s Hospital Community Advisory Board, St. Louis Sports Commission Board and Executive Committee, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Board of Trustees,  Urban League of Greater St. Louis, St. Louis County Economic Council, Des Lee Collaboration Advisory Board, United Way of Greater St. Louis, St. Louis Airport Commission, St. Louis University Board of Trustees and Executive Committee, St. Louis Police Foundation Board, Forest Park Forever Board and Executive Committee, Eisenhower Fellowships St. Louis International Leadership Initiative Steering Committee and University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor’s Council.

 

A frequent speaker, Osborn has received a host of distinguished awards, including: the Links Excellence in Service Award for Outstanding Women Leaders in 2009; Hellenic Spirit Athena Award in 2009; the St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Business Women in 2004 and 2007; Recipient of UM-St. Louis Distinguished Alumni Award in 2000; the 1999 University of Missouri Presidential Citation for Alumni Service; YWCA’s Women of Achievement Award in 1998; UM-St. Louis Woman Trailblazer Award in 1997; the 1997 John Berry Meachum Award from the African-American Alumni Chapter of the UM-St. Louis Alumni Association; the 1998 UM-St. Louis School of Education Distinguished Alumna Award; and several others.

 

Osborn received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. In addition, she earned a postgraduate certificate from the Institute for Education Management at Harvard University.

 

Register below before 11:00 PM Thursday, February 25th.  Late RSVPs will have an additional $5.00 charge. 

All meetings will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis.  100 Carondelet Plaza St. Louis, MO 63105.  Free valet parking or garage parking is included. 

Register for Lunch

                                        

Leading a Company Through Tough Times

Presented by

Deanna Daughhetee

President/Chief Executive Officer

Deanna Daughhetee stands out as a leader in the mortgage industry with nearly 20 years of experience. She founded American Equity Mortgage, Inc. in 1992 in St. Louis, Mo., and has grown the company into one of the nation’s leading mortgage bankers.

Daughhetee’s leadership as well as her straight-forward approach to business, have gained her multiple recognitions. In 2009, she was named one of the St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Business Women. She has been named Businesswoman of the Year by National Association of Female Executives and Entrepreneur of the Year in the St. Louis region of Ernst & Young’s prestigious awards program. She also has been listed among the top women business owners by St. Louis Small Business Monthly and has been on the Working Women 500 list of top women-owned businesses in the country.

Daughhetee’s career highlights her ability to break through barriers, as she is one of a small number of female CEOs in the industry. She has a proven track record of helping her company embrace challenges and opportunities, which has enabled the company to grow at a time when other mortgage companies were folding and Americans were most in need of financial assistance.

One of the hallmarks of Daughhetee’s leadership is her passion to help Americans get to a better place financially. She has built a team of long-time home loan experts who partner with customers to help them achieve their financial goals.

Known for its dedication to customers, American Equity Mortgage has been recognized for excellence in customer service and in 2005 was named Best Overall Company in the American Business Awards.

A CPA with an undergraduate degree in business from Eastern Illinois University, Daughhetee received her MBA from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She is a member of the Regional Business Council (RBC) and is currently the Chair for the St. Louis Social Venture Partners (SVP). She also served as chair for Old Newsboys’ Day in both 2003 and 2004 and has served on the boards of the Ronald McDonald House Charities, YWCA and the Advisory Board of UMB.

For more information, visit  www.americanequity.com

All meetings will be held in Clayton at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis which is located at 100 Carondelet Plaza St. Louis, MO 63105.  Valet parking is included at no addiitonal cost.

Please register by Thursday, December 31st!

Rebecca Kousky

Founder & Executive Director, Nest

Rebecca Kousky is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization Nest (buildanest.com). Nest provides microfinance loans to women in developing countries to begin or maintain art- or craft- based businesses. Unique in the microlending world, Nest also provides business and financial training, product development and access to the Western marketplace. The loans are repaid in products that are marketed and sold on the Nest website. Kousky founded Nest at age 24 after receiving her Masters in Social Work at Washington University. It has been operating since 2006

How did you start Nest?
I graduated at 24 with a master’s degree in social work and I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do next. I applied to several jobs. Then one day I went to a coffee shop and just ended up listing all the things I liked on a sheet of paper and trying to come up with something that fulfilled many of my interests: working with women and children, social activism, international travel, fashion, design, art, and the “green” movement. I knew I was at a point in my life where I could take risks, so I started the business in June (two weeks after graduation), and by August was selling goods from 40 designers. We grew really fast: At our year anniversary, we had 80 designers.

Why this business?
Nest provides micro-credit loans to women in developing nations to help them start art or craft-based businesses. Many of the societies where these women come from are patriarchal — the women’s husbands and fathers handle money, so they are reliant upon them for everything. Working with Nest helps the loan recipients ease into self-sufficiency. Our business model is unique in that we try really hard not just to be a bank; we want to help council the women, learn about their dreams and hopes and family lives. And the women are able to pay back their loans to us by selling their goods on our site.

What was your best resource for getting started?
Ladies Who Launch is a fantastic group. I found out about them before they even started a chapter in St. Louis, where I live. I reached out to them, and as soon as they found someone who was interested in starting a St. Louis chapter, I got involved. Now, the head of our chapter is a member of Nest’s advisory board. And in May, the group is sponsoring a trunk show of products made by local artists, and part of the proceeds will go toward the Nest.

What has been your greatest success?
I didn’t take a salary for a year and a half so we could start giving loans right away. The fact that we’ve been able to help so many people (55 so far) in such a short amount of time is a major success. There’s a huge need — I’d like to help more women, but never at the expense of the personal care we give to the women we currently work with.

Register below before 11:00 PM Thursday, November 1.  Late RSVPs will have an additional $5.00 charge. 

All meetings will be held at Ces & Judy's.  Ces & Judy's is located on Clayton Road just west of Lindbergh Boulevard in the Le Chateau Village. Ces & Judy's is just steps away from the Frontenac Hilton Hotel, across from Plaza Frontenac.  Please enter near the "Red Flags". 

Merry Mosbacher

Principal, Edward Jones

If you look in your heart; And do what you truly want to do; And focus on having it work out; For you and everyone around you; Better than you could have imagined; Miracles happen

Stop Trying to Be a Millionaire and Start Creating a Life You Love

How many of us have said “I want to be a millionaire”? Most of us! It’s a great goal. But we’ve found in our work that most people don’t just want the “Millionaire Package” (it has its own plusses and minuses.) Most of us want what (we think) only a million dollars can bring—freedom, peace of mind, and fulfillment.

The good news is, most of those experiences can be had without requiring a million dollars. We’re not saying that you shouldn’t go after being wealthy. We’re saying; don’t put your life on hold until the money shows up. So let’s look…What does it really take to have a life that works for you, your business, and your family?

·         Learn a simple 3-step process for making deeply satisfying decisions

·         Find out how to have what you really want

·         Discover the most important ingredients to lasting success

Suzanne Tipton Offner is the Director of Community Outreach for Exactly Right LLC, and co-author of the forthcoming book Exactly Right. She encourages us to find our unique purpose, and build that purpose into the fabric of our lives and businesses to achieve peace, freedom, and our personal brand of success.

PWA would like to invite you to our next networking event Wednesday, June 17^th at the St. Louis Cellars from 5:30-7:30p.m.   Come join us for an evening of wine and cheese tasting along with a great opportunity to network with other professional woman. You’ll learn a little about wines in the process!

Everyone is welcome!! 

www.stlouiscellars.com

Stop by our Maplewood location for daily wine tastings
M-F 5pm - 7pm and Sat 10am - 7pm.
All of our wines are under $20 dollars per bottle.
We also feature gift wrap with all purchases!

2640 South Big Bend Blvd, Maplewood, MO 63143 | t 314.880.9000
Store Hours | M-F 11am - 7pm and Sat 10am - 7pm

jennifer Q. Williams

Jennifer Williams is a successful entrepreneur who will share her secrets for building her business through marketing.

Jennifer Quinn Williams was born and raised in Kirkwood, Missouri, graduating from Kirkwood High School then continuing on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Louis University in 1991. While attending graduate school at SLU, Jennifer came up with the idea for a custom closet business—what would soon become Saint Louis Closet Co. She was so confident in her idea that she dropped out of graduate school to pursue her entrepreneurial venture.

In 1994—just three short years after starting her business with just herself and a van—Williams was recognized by Arthur Andersen with a Top 25 Business Award. After seeing so much growth, Jennifer moved out of her building in Kirkwood and into a new location in Maplewood.

The move to Maplewood was an easy choice for Jennifer.  She saw great upward potential in this centrally located area.  The historical buildings, the eclectic mix of locally owned businesses and the central location were all signs to Jennifer that the area would become a more prominent force in St. Louis in the future.  The only problem was that the majority of the city was in need of a massive makeover.

Armed with the desire to better her surroundings while preserving the integrity and small town feel of the city—and with the success in business to actually do something about it—Williams and her husband created 22 Company in 1996, a property management company which now owns and operates over 150 rental units in Maplewood.  Jennifer recognized how central the area was to St. Louis, including its close proximity to the major universities—Saint Louis University, Washington University, Webster University—and that the area was within the financial means of people who could not afford to live in the more expensive areas like Clayton or Webster Groves.  By rehabbing these units and increasing rents, Williams has played a major role in bringing life back to the city of Maplewood.

In November 2007, Jennifer branched out of closets and real estate to open another Maplewood business: Saint Louis Cellars, a retail wine store, which is connected to the newly renovated $6 million Saint Louis Closet Co. building. The store prides itself on its non-intimidating atmosphere and is divided up by taste—Cool, Rich, Sweet, Bubbly, Fruit, etc.—and everything in the store retails for under $20.  Saint Louis Cellars aims to attract customers who are either new to wine drinking or who just want to be able to get a good bottle of wine at a reasonable price. The business is fast becoming a neighborhood staple and an easy hangout for St. Louisans.

Since opening Saint Louis Closet Co. in 1991 with just herself and a van, Jennifer Williams has grown Saint Louis Closet Co. to a multi-million dollar company that employs over 50 people, opened a brand new wine store and helped to reinvigorate a city. She has become not only one of the most respected businesswomen the bi-state area, but one of the most respected businesspeople, period.

Community Involvement

Jennifer's hometown connection makes a difference, especially when it comes to the company's charitable and civic endeavors. Her main passions today are City of Maplewood and reviving the business community as well as the residential community. Saint Louis Closet Company has also installed closets at The Magic House, Glendale Lutheran Early Learning Center, St. Peter's Catholic Church and is a contributor to St. Louis Children's Hospital, the Maplewood Betterment Foundation, the Kirkwood Library, the Maplewood Library, the Kirkwood School District, The Susan G. Koman Foundation and The Leukemia Foundation. Jennifer's serves on the honorary board of Friends of Wings Pediatric Hospice Care and has been the Honorary Chair for two years running for the Big Bear Brunch, and in 2008, she was named the President of the Friends of Wings Honorary Board.  She also spends much of her time speaking to college and high school students about the benefits and challenges of Entrepreneurship and women about the challenges of business ownership.

                                     “Is Your Life Chocolate?”

Come hear for yourself how the spirit of chocolate can enhance virtually every aspect of your life.

Kelley Lamm- A resident of St. Charles for over 20 years is a self admitted “chocoholic” so passionate about its many flavors, secrets and incarnations that she made it her business. Kelley is the founder and proprietress of the sweet successful Chocolate Cafe & Coffee House located in O’Fallon, Missouri.  Kelley, a graduate with a Bachelor of Science earned a degree in Speech Communications & Marketing from the University of Illinois-Edwardsville.  She founded Visual Events, a fashion show and event production firm, owned and operated Beverly Hills Salon in St. Charles, Missouri.  Kelley’s specialty has been retail development, event planning, fund raising and a deep passion for inspirational speaking.

Kelley's upbeat presentation for business and community is called,

"Is Your Life Chocolate"?™ Subtitled "A Recipe for Greater Reward,"™ it is fun, fact-filled and uplifting presentation about how the spirit of chocolate can enhance and improve virtually every aspect of working your business and living your life.  Her goal is to create an environment where family and friends can indulge in the sweet things life has to offer and be inspired by the rewards of living every day.

Kelley resides in St. Charles with her two amazing daughters and one chocolate Lab, named Kocoa.  Kelley has been involved in many areas in the business world, both in owning her own businesses and working for others to maximize their business.  Kelley is involved with the community to help bring awareness and raise much needed funds for local and national charities. 

Kelley believes, “life is a chocolate buffet waiting for you to choose your favorite pieces, unwrap it, take a bite and savor it.”

“Life is a game with many pieces & we do not always win.  We play till the end hoping that during our life we have made great contributions, & beautiful memories.

Winning is not the answer, having fun playing is the goal. Never regret a single move you make just know each piece is a perfect move to an amazing finish!”

Sharon Wingron, CPLP and president of Wings of Success LLC, is a Leadership Consultant focused on PEOPLE Development:  Personal Excellence – Organizational Performance – Leadership Effectiveness™.  This includes Leadership and Management Development, Organizational Culture, Personality Dynamics, Emotional Intelligence, Teambuilding, Performance Excellence through the application of Baldrige criteria, and Process Improvement.  Sharon provides value by bringing a fresh perspective and realistic guidance accompanied by practical knowledge and skills.  Her engaging presence quickly builds rapport with clients and enables them to build trust and take strategic risks which enable growth.

Meet a woman who will inspire your team to "Think, Work and Live - Powerfully!"
Passionately Pursuing Her Purpose
Lethia has lived a resilient life even in the face of adversity. Despite seemingly hopeless odds, she knows what it means to achieve success. She elevated herself from being a teenage mother and high school dropout to graduating among the top of her high school class and being awarded a Presidential Scholarship to attend Albany State University.

Her tenacious drive for excellence and her commitment to life long learning empowered her to rise in triumph over poverty and the limited thinking of people who told her she would never succeed.

Lethia Owens is the founder and CEO of a successful personal and organizational development firm based out of the St. Louis Metropolitan area. As a professional speaker and trainer, Lethia uses the power of life lessons and real world business experience to motivate, inspire and empower audiences to:
         better their best;
         do more than they're paid to;
         give more than they have to;
         try harder than they want to;
         aim higher than they think possible.

She has served organizations across the country for more than 14 years. Her enthusiasm is contagious and she has the amazing ability to engage audiences in a way that makes her message stick. Lethia is passionately committed to helping people succeed in life by equipping them with the tools and resources needed to Think, Work and Live – Powerfully!™ Her experience in the area of personal and organizational development enables her to deliver practical, high value content that produces lasting positive changes in the lives of others.

Lethia holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Albany State University, a Master of Science degree in Managerial Leadership from National Louis University and is in the pursuit of a Doctorate in Leadership from Capella University.

Lethia specializes in the development of human potential and the enhancement of personal effectiveness, bringing her expertise to a wide range of audiences at conferences, conventions, corporations, non-profits and universities. She has taught a Lindenwood University and has lectured at National Louis University. She is an Advanced Toastmaster, and the chartering past president of a Toastmaster’s International chapter. She is the author of the Think, Work and Live – Powerfully!™ audio program, the Successful Student interactive learning program and has written articles for Christian and business publications.

With clients such as the Good News Herald, The National African-American Women’s Leadership Institute, The Impact Group, Houston Kirk Financial Group, YWMC, Mission Missouri and the My Girlfriend Gina TV Show, Lethia speaks from first-hand experience with a unique blend of realism and humor that consistently inspires, entertains and engages her audiences to take action!

Lethia is a member of the International Coach Federation and is licensed through Corporate Coach U. She is also a member of the National Association of Female Executives, the American Society for Training & Development, the Project Management Institute and she is a National African-American Women’s Leadership Institute Fellow.

Book Lethia for your next event and watch your people, productivity and profits GROW! Register below before 11:00 PM Thursday, September 4th. Late RSVPs will have an additional $5.00 charge.

Madolena Key presents: Be Selfish !

It’s like I tell my husband; When all is said and done and you get down to it; it really is all about ME!  Seriously ladies, you should see yourselves as the best product there is to offer. Don’t put yourself on the shelf, its time we start advertising. At this interactive etiquette session, we will focus on YOU and give you the Etiquette Edge.

Ladies we are honored to have with us tonight Madolena Key. Madolena is the principal owner of Mannerisms LLC. Mannerisms LLCs primary goal is to change the world as we know it.

Madolena is on a mission to remind you (yes the key term here is to Remind), she is here to remind you of what you already know. Her sense of humor and quick wit style of sure to transform the way you thought of Etiquette in the past. Madolena is an accomplished Etiquette columnist for The St. Louis American and writes a weekly e-letter titled Mannerisms Monday.

Tonight, be ready for anything because she may single you out as the good example. Please join me by welcoming, Madolena Key to ……

Christine Buck Mason has been a member of the CW 11 News team for nearly 30 years, and has worn many hats throughout her broadcasting career. During her employment at KPLR-TV, Christine's positions have included Weathercaster, News Anchor, General Assignment Reporter, and she is currently working as a Feature Reporter, three days a week.

Christine is the recipient of numerous, prestigious awards, including four Regional Emmy Awards. Her passion for the community extends far beyond the newsroom, and has her serving as mistress of ceremonies for many local events and speaking engagements throughout the area. She is also actively involved with several charitable organizations all dealing with children's issues, including the American Heart Association, Matthews Dickey Boys and Girls Club, the station-sponsored Children's Miracle Network and Kids In The Middle, for which she received the 2002 Champion of Kids Award.

A talented writer and avid reader, Christine's favorite book is That's a Winner, written by her favorite author, her father, Baseball Broadcast Hall of Famer, the late Jack Buck. Christine is married to architect, David Mason and they have two sons, Taylor and Spencer.

You can watch Christine Buck on CW 11 News weeknights at 9pm.

"This speaker was introduced to the Professional Women's Alliance by Karen Hoffman, City of Experts."

PWA LEADERSHIP SERIES 

High Impact Presentation Training by

Dale Carnegie-St.Louis

June 18, 2008, 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM

(Members Only)

A continental breakfast will be provided;

Lunch at 12:00 PM

Whether you’re persuading colleagues, energizing a team or showing an idea to senior management, your ability to present can mean the difference between success and failure.

Michelle Rogers is the Director of Training and a Performance consultant with Dale Carnegie-St. Louis. She is a certified trainer with Dale Carnegie. She specializes in building relationships and helping key employees develop skills that will accelerate their careers.

In the High Impact Presentation Skills Training participants will learn how to:

·        Project a positive image

·        Assess the audience

·        Define the goals of the presentation

·        Structure the presentation

·        Persuade the audience with supporting

facts and examples

·        Urge the audience to action

WANT TO FIRE-UP THOSE REVENUES?   "GAINING NEW CLIENTS FOR BOTH THE SELLING AND NON-SELLING PROFESSIONAL!"   This four hour talk & workshop is for anyone who must effectively represent themselves and their ideas, products or services to others. We'll give you some  HOT IDEAS  about... * questioning strategies that turn prospects into clients * how to move clients and prospects into revenue positions * getting decision makers to actually make decisions! * end unpaid consulting and expensive presentations!       The Sandler Selling System (SM) is easily the best  selling system in the country. It does not rely on the traditional sales system in general use or on short term motivational gimmicks. It relies instead upon sustained, reinforced sales development coupled with the real science that selling is built upon

Dr. Marjorie Wolter has been focused on improving the health of her patients for over twenty years.  Practicing dentistry in St. Louis, Missouri and Quincy, Illinois, she is a member of the American Dental Association, the Missouri Dental Association, and the Greater St. Louis Dental Society.  Dr. Wolter was awarded fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry.

Public Speaking and writing are also areas of passionate interest.  Her first book, My Man-gels: The Men Who Erased the Myth is available online and is an outflow of her mission to create ever greater harmony between men and women.  Profits from her book support charitable donations to Lydia’s House, a place of healing for women and children.

She resides outside of St. Louis with her two sons.  A long list of friends and family are the locations most beloved feature.

Listening with the Heart

Listening to you is also essential for clear communications.  Do you ever wonder if you are being heard?  Do you say what you mean?  Learning universal principles for clear and direct communication will empower you to become an effective and dynamic leader.

Dr. Laurel Clark is the President of the School of Metaphysics, a not-for-profit educational organization with 16 branches in 10 states.  A teacher since 1979, Dr. Clark is also an author, counselor, and interfaith minister.  She has spoken to groups and organizations nationwide on Essential Life Skills and other aspects of applied metaphysics. 

Dr. Clark is a frequent quest on radio and television programs, has recently spoken to the Eli Lilly National Convention, International Association of Administrative Professionals, Anthem (Blue Cross/Blue Shield), and is a keynote speaker for the Powers of Ten seminar approved for CEUs by the National Associations of Social Workers.  Her most recent book, The Law of Attraction and Other Secrets of Visualization, is due for publication in early spring 2007.  The School of Metaphysics has a branch in Maplewood, MO (sommaplewood@yahoo.com) and the national website is http://www.som.org

Cheri Hanstein is the owner of Networking Works!, LLC, a company that specializes in helping organizations learn how to effectively “Network” and build relationships. She helps audiences master networking techniques, engage in conversation and connect with confidence.  As a professional speaker, and consultant, Cheri’s interactive presentation style helps participants experience networking in action and walk away with new techniques to put into practice. 

Cheri holds a B.S. in Education and has earned certifications for:

-  Development Dimensions International (DDI)

-  Achieve Global - Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness

-  Wilson Learning - Peer-to-Peer Communication

Cheri's professional accomplishments include 16 years experience as a professional speaker, motivator and trainer in the areas of employee development and motivation, team building, leadership & supervisory skills, managing change, communication, customer service and networking.  She has had the opportunity to work with various businesses & industry, hospitals, schools, government agencies and non-profit organizations such as:

Emerson;SSM Healthcare, Boeing, International Food Products Corporation, St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery & Enhance Medical Spa, Lake St. Charles Retirement Community, United Services, Inc., NHC HealthCare; Ceiling Supply, Inc., The City of Wentzville, Affordable Outdoor Living, Inc., St. Johns Bank and Trust Company, Maryville University, Wyman Center, Ameriwood Industries, The Institute of Management Consultants, The Special School District of St. Louis, Lincoln County R-2 School District, Four Rivers Career Center, St. Charles

Advancing Your Career or Hiring Top Talent: 6 things you need to know

How well do your skills and talents align with your company’s strategic goals?  What do leaders in your company use to measure success?  How are these success factors translated into your selection and recruitment practices?

Research indicates that business and career success is directly related to a clear understanding of success criteria.  Additionally the degree of alignment or congruence between the goals of the organization and the goals of employees predict satisfaction and career progression.  Whether you are hunting for key talent or searching for the ideal job, this session will help you implement six best practices that will help you achieve greater results.

Patience Schock, Selection Consultant with Congruence, Inc., an organizational advisory firm, will lead an interactive dialogue with PWA members on how to select the best talent or find the right job on purpose.

Patience Schock joined Congruence because she is passionate about helping business leaders ensure they hire right the first time.  She mentors leaders on ‘how to’ implement selection best practices into their organizations. 

With extensive experience in professional services executive search, Patience offers Congruence clients unique and value-added perspectives to consider when making important hiring decisions. 

Prior to working at Congruence, Patience was a search consultant for Cejka and Co. where she served clients across the country.  Because of her keen ability to match candidate skills and personality to an organization’s goals and culture, she understands ‘the right hire’ can increase growth, profitability and performance for the individual and the firm.

Patience possesses an M.B.A from Emory University.  She actively contributes her time and talents to St. Louis community nonprofit organizations.

Margaret is a Performance Improvement Consultant, certified trainer, and Director of Training for Dale Carnegie Training St. Louis.

Margaret’s professional background includes over 20 years of experience in Human Resources management, training & development, leadership development, career transition counseling, and workforce development. Margaret has been involved in Total Quality management,  Employee Involvement, and other Process Improvement  initiatives since 1989.

She is certified in the Meyers-Briggs and other assessment instruments used  to objectively determine the strengths, competencies and preferred work environments, which has been instrumental in helping candidates and client companies make effective choices. Margaret is  proficient with Dale Carnegie’s full assessment tool suite to assist our clients in Organizational Development initiatives.

As Director of Workforce Development with the St. Louis’s Regional Chamber of Commerce ( RCGA) and in Leadership roles with major Healthcare and Hospitality systems in the St. Louis & Chicago areas,  her initiatives and programs have spanned the full spectrum of the employee lifecycle -from recruitment, on boarding, retention, diversity, training & development, career management, coaching, and leadership initiatives.  Margaret has spoken both regionally and nationally on topics such as Career Development, Networking, and Workforce Development and Making an Effective Career Transition. 

Margaret has worked with many of St. Louis’s major employers, including, Anheuser-Busch, Martiz, Boeing, the  American Heart Association, Nestle Purina, Pfiser, and with Major Healthcare systems including BJC, and SSM.

Margaret is active member of the St. Louis chapter of SHRM, Gateway Industrial and Organizational Psychologists (GIOP), and is on the board of  the St. Louis Chapter of the Organizational Development Network. She has been involved in a number public and non-profit organizations dedicated to education and self sufficiency.

Margaret is a long time supporter of the Human Society of Missouri, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and the Ronald McDonald House.

Margaret earned her BA in Psychology and her MA in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from the University of Mo- St. Louis.

In her spare time, Margaret enjoys married life with her husband Michael, swing dancing and reading “ just about anything she puts her hands on”!

Pam’s company, Designs on Time, challenges individuals and companies to rethink the traditional ways we have been told to manage our time and keep organized. Things aren’t what they used to be!

Pam is considered one of the most creative thinkers on the subject of managing time. Her articles appear in publications ranging from pop journals like Good Housekeeping to more lofty periodicals like Cardiology Today and Medical Economics.

Pam Vaccaro has presented to both national and international audiences on her topic.

Her diverse list of clients includes Harvard University, Anheuser-Busch, and Marriott Hotels as well as the American Bulldog Handlers’ Association.

Pam is currently celebrating the 15^th anniversary of her company. She credits PWA as an important part of her beginning. Her first program was in front of a PWA audience in 1992. This is her 4^th presentation for PWA during the past 15 years.

Pam has been awarded the Outstanding Adult Education Teacher by the St. Louis Arts and Education Council. She also received the highest-earned designation by the National Speakers Association, the Certified Speaking Professional or CSP. Only 140 women in the international speaking community hold this recognition.

She is also the author of Beyond the Ice Cream Cone: the Whole Scoop on Food at the 1904 World’s Fair….reviewed in over 57 newspapers including the New York Times.

In 2004, Beyond the Ice Cream Cone was the runner up in the prestigious Writers Digest Award in the category for historical non-fiction. In 2005 Pam received an Emmy nomination for her research and writing contribution to the award-winning documentary, The World’s Greatest Fair frequently aired on PBS.

Writing a book and managing a life and business tested every time management skill Pam ever thought she had. But she had the time of her life. She is here to share some of those tips tonight on how to have the time of your life and get your work done too…

Lisa Yankowitz, JD, SPHR is The Workplace Educator. As a professional speaker, corporate trainer, and strategic advisor, Ms. Yankowitz educates organizations and associations on the “ins and outs” of employment law and compliance practices.

Ms. Yankowitz has been the employment law contributor on KSDK TV’s NEWSCHANNEL 5 “Today in St. Louis ” and was featured as one of Sky Radio Network’s “Best Speakers in America .”

Ms. Yankowitz is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Florida and teaches Employment Law and Negotiation Skills at Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University . She is a Dale Carnegie instructor, a member of the National Speakers Association and a contributing author in the book, Remarkable Women. Ms. Yankowitz recently co-founded the Informed Workplace, which is a web based video news program focusing on workplace human resource issues.

Mary Ann Moore is an organization development consultant and founder of Moore Consulting Group, specializing in facilitating organizational change. Her areas of expertise include leadership development, executive coaching, team building, management retreats and group facilitation. Moore Consulting Group has been pleased to work with clients such as: Anheuser-Busch Companies, Unilever HPC-USA, Nonprofit Services Consortium, The Boeing Company, ExxonMobil Corporation, ADP, Allied Signal, Brown Shoe Company, Sisters of Mercy Health System, Commerce Bancshares, Waterhout Construction Company, Catholic Health Association, SSM Health Care, Coldwell Banker Commercial, The Spark Agency (formerly Busch Creative Services Co.), National Cooperative Bank, The Missouri Foundation for Health and the US Department of Labor.

Before forming Moore Consulting Group, Mary Ann served as a program manager and organization development consultant in three Fortune 100 companies. Mary Ann has conducted executive leadership development programs incorporating indoor and outdoor experiential learning. Her experience also includes leadership training and team building in both union and non-union operations. As well as coaching leaders at all levels, she has worked with organizations in the US, Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, Australia and New Zealand.

Mary Ann managed the design and implementation of the leadership development process for a plant start-up, and developed leadership competency models and related training programs. Mary Ann was also a presenter at the Alliance for Non Profit Management Conference, 2004, Washington, DC: Opening the Space for Advocacy: The Use of Open Space Technology.

Mary Ann is a graduate of the Coro Leadership - Women in Leadership Program and served as the program director. Mary Ann holds a BA from Marquette University and a Masters of Fine Arts from the George Washington University where she was a graduate teaching fellow. She has studied with John Carter, Ph.D. at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland Organization and Systems Development Program, and is certified in the MBTI, and the Emotional Intelligence Inventory. Mary Ann is on the graduate faculty of the Keller Graduate School of Management.

How to Get Involved as a Board Member in Not For Profit Organizations
Barbara Levin, Rick Skinner and Kathleen Buescher

Barbara Levin, MSW is on the staff of the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University as the Coordinator for the Alliance for Building Capacity.

Rick Skinner joined the United Way of Greater St. Louis as Director of the Volunteer Center in March of 1999 and was promoted to Vice President of the volunteer center in 2005.

Kathleen Buescher is President & CEO of Provident Counseling, a St. Louis-based non‑profit family & children’s agency founded in 1860. She works with the Board of Directors to set direction for the organization, securing funding and implementing programs to serve the community.

Ellen Harshman, Ph.D., J.D. is Dean of the John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University. Dr. Harshman, a 34-year Saint Louis University veteran and member of the management faculty, has served as senior vice provost, interim CIO, assistant and associate dean in the Cook School of Business and has held several leadership positions in student development.

An Ohio native, Dr. Harshman earned her undergraduate degree at Miami University, her master’s degree at Wright State University, and her doctorate and law degrees at Saint Louis University. She has taught legal environment of business, business law, employment law, and business ethics. Among the areas in which she has written and presented papers are leadership development, legal and ethical issues in business, employment, and higher education.

The recipient of several teaching awards, Dr. Harshman was recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal in Aug. 2004 as one of the area’s “Most Influential Business Women.” Her most recent accomplishments include being selected by the St. Louis Business Journal in Feb. 2006 as one of St. Louis’ “Most Influential Leaders” as well as her appointment to the Board of Trustees for the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) through March 2009.

Dr. Harshman is dedicated to preparing tomorrow’s business leaders and mentoring of women through increasing ethics and leadership in curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

After a liberal arts education at Loretto Heights College in Denver, Sarah Bakewell obtained her real estate license in October, 1976. She earned her “Real Estate Brokerage Managers Council” designation in 1983. She earned her “Certified Relocation Professional” designation in 1994.

Ms. Bakewell is president of Edward L. Bakewell, Inc., a residential real estate agency established by her grandfather in 1910. Since 1978, Bakewell has participated in the development and marketing of various land developments. These include “Rockwood Forest” and “Deerfield” in West St. Louis County, “Fairfield” near St. Albans in eastern Franklin County, and was involved in the restoration of the town of Labadie on the Missouri River. Her company is also very active in corporate relocation business in and outside of St. Louis.

She is active in numerous civic and business affiliations and has served on the Boards of the RCGA, St. Louis University, The Noonday Club, the Nature Conservancy of Missouri and Heartland Bank. Ms. Bakewell is past president of the St. Louis Association of Realtors and the Women’s Forum of Missouri. Her company services business in the broad central corridor of St. Louis from the city to West St. Louis County and Eastern Franklin County.

Ms. Bakewell has been honored by the St. Louis Association of Realtors with the 1993 Distinguished Service Award and as “Realtor of the Year” for 1994; and by Confluence St. Louis for the Citizens Building Community Volunteer Award, “Valuing our Diversity.”

Betsy Heller Cohen is Vice President of Nestlé Purina’s Extended Enterprise Group and Corporate Futurist. Betsy is responsible for the sales and marketing of unique pet foods with leading retailers.  She also leads business-to-business interactive activities using technology and logistics to lower costs with retailers, including Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).   She develops new business growth initiatives, especially those that include innovative retail merchandising concepts.  Her years at Purina include traditional brand management and new ventures work. She was co-founder of Nestlé Purina’s Child Development Center and is on its Board of Directors. She is a requested speaker about new technologies and future business trends.

Betsy graduated from Wellesley College in Boston and is an officer with Wellesley’s Business Leadership Council. She received her M.B.A.  from the Harvard Business School and is an officer of the St. Louis Harvard Business School Club.  She also attended Cornell’s Food Executive Program. She was a recipient of the St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Business Women award in 1999, and was awarded the “Mothering that Works” award by Working Mother Magazine in December 1999 for her work as a role model and as an advocate of using diverse talent in the workplace. She currently serves on the advisory board for the St. Louis Crisis Nursery.  Betsy is Nestlé Purina’s Board Member for the St. Louis United Way where she is on the Women’s Leadership Giving Initiative’s leadership cabinet.   She is a leader with the Weidenbaum Center for Business at Washington University and on the advisory board of the Cook School of Business at St. Louis University.   She is involved in the Network of Executive Women for top women nationally in the consumer products industry. And, she is a member of the St. Louis Forum for executive women.   She is married to Dr. Bruce Cohen and has two  teenage sons.

Dawn Stringfield was part of the original mission group that started Lydia's House over 10 years ago.  From 1998 to 2001 she served as President of the Board of Directors.  She has been the organization's Executive Director since 2001, growing the agency from serving 12 women and 18 children to serving 37 women and up to 78 children.  

In 2005, Lydia's House was recognized as a FOCUS St. Louis "What's Right With the Region" award winner, and Ms. Stringfield was designated a 2005 Chanel Woman of Influence for her work with abused women and their children.  In June 2006, Ms. Stringfield is receiving a Coro Community Leader award, which is given to recognize an individual who has demonstrated committed and innovative leadership in helping the less fortunate.  This year, she will begin working on a handbook of best practices learned over the past ten years to provide support and assistance to other communities hoping to start transitional housing programs for survivors of domestic violence. 

She is involved with other components of the continuum of care for battered women through her work on the Board of Directors of the Family Violence Council, which oversees the activities at the newly opened Family Justice Center, a one-stop program for families experiencing domestic violence.  She was recently invited to serve on a panel with other social service providers to investigate economic empowerment opportunities for women. 

Ms. Stringfield's background is in business, and she brings over 20 years of varied experience as an entrepreneur, leader of a $1.2 million training center, manager of engineers, and business consultant.  Her experience in economic development and empowerment for women goes back to her work on the Board of the Near Southside Employment Coalition and as part of the early strategic development efforts for SSDN's Community Business Center.

Virginia Barnes is the Vice President of Naval Systems Support for the Logistics Support Systems Business Unit of The Boeing Company.  In this role she is responsible for all sustainment solutions for the Navy customers.  She accepted this role in September, 2004.  Prior to this position, Barnes was the Director for Business Management of the F/A-18 Program.  Appointed to that position in May 2002, her responsibilities included providing a focal point for all services related to Business Management for the F/A-18 Program, providing high quality business support to both internal and external customers of the F/A-18 Program in a timely manner. 

Prior to joining the F/A-18 program Barnes was the Director for Contracts & Pricing in Aerospace Support.  Appointed to that position in March, 2000, her responsibilities included leadership of all Contracts & Pricing resources and processes for all new and existing programs.  Responsibilities also included effective staffing, disposition of contractual issues, strategic planning and general business activities.  Barnes also served as Deputy Business Manager.   Prior to that position, Barnes was the Chief of Staff for the International Space Station (ISS) in Houston, TX, responsible for all aspects of efficient program execution.  Prior to that position, Barnes was the Director of Business Operations for ISS, responsible for the business resources and business development activities for the ISS program. 

For four years prior to that assignment, Barnes was the International Integration/FGB Program Manager for ISS, leading the teams to integrate all the international partner contributions and the Russian launch packages. She was appointed as the FGB (called FGB from the Russian translation) program manager in 1995.  The FGB, or “Zarya,” the first element launched in the International Space Station, November 20, 1998, was built by Khrunichev Space Center under contract to Boeing.

Barnes joined The Boeing Company in 1981, in Huntsville, Ala., as a financial cost analyst.  After three years she became a program engineer in Program Planning and Control. After joining the Contracts organization in 1986, Barnes served as contracts administrator, contracts manager and international contracts manager for a variety of programs including Automated Test Systems, KC-135 Simulator program, E-6 Maintenance Trainers, B-1B Simulators, Space Station Freedom and International Space Station.

Barnes graduated with high honors in Accounting from The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Ala.  In 1991 she earned her master’s in Business from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

Barnes currently serves on the Boards of the St. Louis Arts and Education Council, St. Louis Variety children’s charity and the St. Louis University School of Business.

Barnes studies foreign languages including French, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Russian. She is a commercial pilot, instructor, and has served as FAA-designated examiner for hot air balloons.  She has flown in many parts of the U.S., France, and Japan.  Husband, Toby, is also an aeronaut, and son, John, 20, is their Crew Chief. 

Pat Mercurio is president of Bank of America in Missouri.  In this role, she is responsible for coordinating and integrating all product and service capabilities for all lines of business in Missouri, ensuring the delivery of the full resources of Bank of America to clients and communities across the state. She serves as the senior banking executive for community and civic activities in the market.  In addition, Mercurio serves as Missouri/Southern Illinois market executive for Middle Market Banking.

A native of St. Louis, Mercurio joined Bank of America in 1984 and has held a variety of management and executive positions in Human Resources and Operations, as well as in Consumer and Business Banking.  She was named president of Bank of America in St. Louis in 2000 and was promoted to president of Bank of America in Missouri in 2001.  From 1997 to 2000, she served as Consumer Banking market executive in St. Louis, Illinois and Iowa.  During that time, she led the successful roll out of the Model Bank consumer-operating platform throughout the Midwest.  From 1994 to 1997, Mercurio served as the regional president in St. Louis, and was responsible for Consumer and Commercial Banking in the northern part of the metro St. Louis area.

Mercurio earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University in 1972.

Active in the local community, Mercurio serves on the boards of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, the St. Louis Zoo board of trustees, the St. Louis Children’s Hospital board of trustees, the University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor’s Council, the RCGA Board of Directors and the executive committee of the United Way Board of Directors.

St. Louis Business Journal named Melinda Clark one of the Most Influential Business Women of 2005.

In 2003 Clark assumed her current role as SSM DePaul Health Center president where she leads a team of 2,300 employees and with reported revenue of $643 million in 2004.

"In May of this year the hospital was recognized with the prestigious Premier Award for Quality for the treatment of patients with pneumonia and heart failure, the only hospital in the state of Missouri to receive this award,” per Michael Graue, executive vice president, operations for SSM Health Care-St. Louis.  

From 1997-2003 she was director of SSM Rehab and is credited with growth and development of one the city’s premier rehabilitation services.  She volunteers on the board of directors of the MS Society.