Yesterday women from around the state traveled to Springfield for the third annual Emerging Women Leaders Conference. These remarkable up-and-coming leaders who were invited by their State Representatives were identified as “women to watch” and honored at a recognition brunch for their leadership in their communities.
After the brunch, their day continued with activities designed to introduce them to people who work under the dome, help them build networks and hear from influential women who are at the tops of their fields.
House Minority Leader Tony McCombie and her special guest Mayor Misty Buscher engaged the audience and answered their questions.
Broadcast Journalist Amanda Vinicky with WTTW Chicago moderated the influential panel of leaders that included Linda Renee Baker a professor from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White, Susan Hayes Gordon with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Decatur businesswoman Kara Demirjian Huss.
Other guest speakers at the event included:
- Dean Abbott, Office of the House Minority Leader
- Andrea Aggertt, Architect of the Capitol
- Dena Ballowe, Retired, Command Sergeant Major, Illinois National Guard
- Vicki Crawford, Communications Strategist
- Kristi Dula, Deputy Director, DCEO
- Susanne Hack, Susanne Hack & Associates
- Angie Hampton, Egyptian Health Department
- David Joens, Director of the Illinois State Archives
- Stacie Kemp, Sinnissippi Centers
- Francine Lasky, Francine Lasky Enterprises
- Marianne Markowitz, First Women’s Bank
- Natalie Phelps Finnie, Director, IDNR
- Lori Reimers, Lori A. Reimers Government Consulting & Reporting
- Christina Shutt, Executive Director, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
- Lisa McClure, Legislative Liaison, Illinois Department of Revenue
- Mona Martin, Mona Martin Government Affairs & Consulting
Special thanks to Laura Minzer, Brittan Bolin, Meredith Krantz, Mona Martin and Lori Reimers.