| 2010 Speakers |
Keynote SpeakersEllen Alemany
Kelly Corrigan
Eve Ensler
photo credit: Joyce Tennson Mae Jemison
Dr. Mae C. Jemison is founder of the technology consulting firm, The Jemison Group, Inc. that integrates the critical impact of socio-cultural issues when designing and implementing technologies, such as their projects on using satellite technology for health care delivery in West Africa and solar dish Stirling engines for electricity generation in developing countries. Dr. Jemison, the first woman of color in the world to go into space, served six years as a NASA astronaut. She flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-47 Spacelab J(apan) mission in September 1992. Jemison served as NASA's first Science Mission Specialist performing experiments in material science, life science and human adaptation to weightlessness. Started after she left NASA, The Jemison Group also explores and develops stand-alone science and technology programs and companies. [Read More] Tory Johnson
Panelists and Workshop LeadersDeborah L. Acklin
Jennifer Antkowiak
Judy Belmont
Joyce Bender
Emily Bennington
Diane Boone
Shannon Bristow
Christine Carter
Tricia Cattrell
Lu Ann Cahn
Katherine Center
Irene Chang Britt
Vera Cornish
Julie Evans
Susan Getgood
Autumn Adkins Graves
Allen Haines
Leigh Hurst
Nikki Johnson-Huston
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Ellen Alemany is chairman and chief executive officer of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and RBS Americas. RBS Americas is the North and South American operations and subsidiaries of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc. She also is a member of RBS's Executive Committee, the RBS Group's nine-member executive leadership team. RBS Americas includes Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (operating as Citizens Bank, Charter One, RBS Card Services, RBS Asset Finance and RBS WorldPay, a U.S. merchant transaction-processing subsidiary); RBS Global Banking & Markets Americas (including RBS Greenwich Capital and RBS Sempra Commodities); Global Transaction Services Americas (including RBS's Cash Management, Commercial Cards, Payment Services and Trade Services); and RBS Citizens Business Services (the company's operations, technology and properties division). 
Kelly Corrigan is the author of "The Middle Place," a memoir about that sliver of time when childhood and parenthood overlap, which spent six months on The New York Times bestseller list. Her most recent book, "Lift," is written in the form of a letter to her children and weaves together three true stories of adults willing to chance terrible loss in search of the joys of raising a family. An accomplished columnist, Corrigan's writing has appeared in Glamour and Good Housekeeping. Previously a writer with the Bay Area News Group, she covered everyday matters from the power of an unequivocal apology to the contagious nature of weight gain, extramarital affairs and going green. She is now a contributor to O, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine. Corrigan has delighted audiences with her many appearances on "The Today Show" as well as in person, speaking with humor and compassion to groups at hospitals, corporations and non-profits. Additionally, her 
Eve Ensler is a playwright, performer and activist. She is the award-winning author of "The Vagina Monologues," which has been published in 45 languages and performed in more than 130 countries. Ensler has devoted her life to stopping violence, envisioning a planet in which women will be free to thrive, rather than merely survive. "The Vagina Monologues" is based on Ensler's interviews with more than 200 women. With humor and grace the piece celebrates women's' sexuality and strength. 
Tory Johnson is all about spark and hustle at work, dating back to high school in Miami Beach where she joined her all-male debate team-and became the first girl (with her partner) to win a state championship. She dropped out of Emerson College to work at ABC News and then jumped to NBC News, only to be fired unexpectedly a couple years later. The permanent scar from that experience inspired her to shift from employee to entrepreneur, and in 1999 she founded Women For Hire. Now in its 11th year, the company hosts high caliber diversity career expos and conferences for entrepreneurs across the country. As workplace contributor on ABC's "Good Morning America," she is a favorite among viewers who appreciate her no-nonsense career advice. Her fifth book, "Fired To Hired," follows "Will Work From Home: Earn Cash Without the Commute," which was both a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller. 
Deborah L. Acklin is president-elect and chief executive officer for the Emmy-Award-winning WQED Multimedia in Pittsburgh. Acklin is cited as one of America's pre-eminent women in broadcast media, having been recognized with countless awards and honors throughout her career. In September of 2007, Acklin received her second consecutive Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award for Station Excellence, given by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Formerly executive vice president and General Manager of WQED, Acklin first served as executive producer for "The War That Made America," a four-hour, high-definition (HD), internationally-released docu-drama for PBS which focused on the French and Indian War. Acklin returned to WQED in 2002 as senior vice president of Production and Technology/Chief Content Officer after spending several years at the National Geographic Channel. As executive producer at WQED Pittsburgh from 1996-2000, Acklin developed blockbuster music specials for PBS which generated more than $45 million dollars for public television. She holds a B.A. from Duquesne University and attended Harvard Business School where she completed the prestigious Advanced Management Program.
Jennifer Antkowiak's personal experiences fueled her passionate mission to help the world's caregivers. As a wife, mother of five, stepmother of one and a caregiver to her late mother-in-law and father-in-law (both of whom died from cancer), she also knows how long-term illness can affect a family. Coming from a long career as an award-winning newscaster on Pittsburgh's number one news station, KDKA-TV (CBS), Antkowiak started her own company to provide multimedia messages and tools that help people keep themselves and those they love happy and healthy. She is the author of "Take Care Tips", which offers 101 easy, affordable ten minute self-care strategies, and "Caring Questions: Fun and Sensitive Conversation Starters for Caregivers" (St. Lynn's Press). She currently serves as the morning anchor for KDKA-TV; is a caregiving coach and national speaker; writes caregiving articles for newspapers, web sites, blogs and magazines; is a frequent guest on radio and television shows and is developing national multimedia caregiving projects and products. 
Judy Belmont is a national speaker and corporate wellness trainer, a licensed psychotherapist, and the founder/president of Worksite Insights, which offers mental wellness services to the workplace. Belmont's focus in working with small businesses to Fortune 500 companies is to help others increase their emotional balance and resilience. She is the author of "86 Tips & Tools for the Therapeutic Toolbox" and "103 Group Activities and Tips" designed to offer life skills coaching tips to mental health professionals and trainers. She is the co-author of an upcoming book and workbook due out in summer 2010, "The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life," which is designed to help people get through the holes in their lives rather than get stuck in them! Belmont is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and holds an M.S. in clinical psychology from Hahnemann Medical College. 
Joyce Bender is the CEO and founder of Bender Consulting Services, Inc., a firm that recruits and hires people with disabilities. Bender Consulting has been recognized with The Employer of the Year award from both the National Epilepsy Foundation and hireAbility. Bender has individually received a myriad of honors for her work, including the Bush Administration New Freedom Initiative Award, the Diamond Award from the Pittsburgh Business Times, ACHIEVA's Sattler Humanitarian Award, the Gertrude Labowitz Lifetime Achievement Award and the James F. Compton Humanitarian Award. After being diagnosed with epilepsy in 1985, Bender has resolved her life to helping others with disabilities. Bender serves as the chair of the national Epilepsy Foundation board and is an executive board member for countless organizations throughout Pennsylvania that advocate for people with disabilities, children and families and victims of violence; she is also the president and founder of the Pittsburgh Disability Employment Project for Freedom. She holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Geneva College.
Emily Bennington is coauthor of "Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job." After her own bumpy transition from campus-to-career, Bennington found her calling working with businesses to create superb organizational and onboarding experiences for interns and entry-level hires. She applies these same "back-to-the-basics" skills as founder of Professional Studio 365, where she leads training programs and workshops for employers looking to get the most out of their young talent. A frequent speaker on the topic of career success, Bennington has been featured on CNN and ABC News, as well as quoted in publications including the Wall Street Journal, New York Post, US News and World Report, Yahoo Jobs, and the Washington Post Express. She is also a regular contributor to Monster.com and The Huffington Post. Bennington is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. 
Diane Boone is the regional director of the Greater Pennsylvania region for the Wells Fargo Private Bank based in Pittsburgh. Boone oversees all wealth management functions for the region, including private banking, credit, investment management, trust and estate services, financial planning and brokerage services. She joined Wells Fargo in 2009. Prior to 2009, Boone worked in Jacksonville, Florida as executive vice president and regional manager of Private Wealth Management at SunTrust Bank for its North Florida region. Previously, she also served as executive vice president and regional manager of SunTrust Bank's Southwest Florida region based in Sarasota, as well as held positions in its Atlanta, Georgia based headquarters. Boone recently joined the Board of Directors of the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society and was just named Co-chair of the 2010 Host Committee for the Pennsylvania Governor's Conference for Women. Boone received a bachelor's degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Shannon Bristow has thirty-five years of diverse nursing experience which include emergency trauma, critical care, infusion, clinical education, risk management, and quality improvement. She has lectured for the American Association of Pharmacy Consultants in topics such as: preparation for litigation, prevention of medication errors, quality improvement tools, and preparing for a state and joint commission survey. Bristow has served as National Director of Quality and Risk for a large institutional pharmacy provider and has served on the Quality Committee at the Veteran's Hospital in Philadelphia where she received the Dough Boy award for bringing infusion therapy to veterans in long term care. She is currently the Director of Nursing and Regulatory at Eastern Regional Medical Center in Philadelphia. Bristow has a Master's Degree in Management, a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma Healthcare, and is a certified risk manager.
Christine Carter, Ph.D., is a sociologist at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. Best known for her science-based parenting advice, Dr. Carter follows the scientific literature to understand ways that we can teach children skills for happiness, emotional intelligence, and resilience. She is the author of "Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents." Dr. Carter also writes a blog for the Greater Good Science Center which is syndicated on Psychology Today, the Huffington Post and other websites. Her parent-to-parent tone and humorous, tell-all approach make scientific research accessible and fun for parents and teachers. In 2010 she received an award from the Council on Contemporary Families for her outstanding reporting on family issues. Her first book, "The Other Side of Silence," is one of the most frequently stolen books out of university libraries. Dr. Carter has been quoted in Working Mother, American Baby and Parenting magazines, the Boston Globe, the New York Times and dozens of other publications. She has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Rachel Ray Morning Show, and NPR, and is a regular on ABC's View from the Bay. Dr. Carter received her B.A. from Dartmouth College and her Ph.D. in sociology from UC Berkeley. 
Tricia Cattrell is a senior sales director for BNY Mellon Wealth Management. In this role, she is responsible for new business development in the Western Pennsylvania region and works with individuals and families to identify how BNY Mellon Wealth Management's investment and wealth management capabilities can help them reach their overall financial goals. Cattrell has more than 20 years' experience in the areas of investment management and wealth and estate planning. Prior to joining the firm, she was a Senior Portfolio Manager with National City Wealth Management in Cleveland, Ohio. Before that, Cattrell was a portfolio manager and administrator with PNC Advisors in Pittsburgh. She is currently a member of the Estate Planning Council of Pittsburgh, the Women's Executive Council, the Allegheny County Bar Association and volunteers with Neighborhood Academy and the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. Cattrell received a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a juris doctor from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Law.
Eight-time Emmy award-winning journalist Lu Ann Cahn joined NBC 10 News, Philadelphia in 1987. As a member of the NBC 10 Investigators, Cahn reports on fraud, scams and corruption. In 2005 Cahn won a National Emmy for her investigation "Dirty Little Secret." Most recently, Cahn entered the blogosphere with OneYearofFirsts.com, where she tackles a new "first" in her personal life and shares her experience. Her blog is featured on NBCPhiladelphia.com and on NBC 10 News. Cahn is most admired by her colleagues and viewers for her personal story of battling breast cancer at the age of 35. Her 1992 special report, Breast Cancer: My Personal Story, won her a national Clarion award and two Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmys. Cahn regularly speaks on behalf of area breast cancer support groups and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Cahn also co-authored the book "Simple Steps: 10 Weeks to Getting Control of Your Life," which was published by New American Library in 2003 and featured on "The Today Show." A Columbus, Ohio native, Cahn graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Georgia.
Katherine Center is the author of three novels about love and family. Currently, she has written "The Bright Side of Disaster," "Everyone Is Beautiful" and "Get Lucky," while yet another publication is currently in the works. Her books and essays have appeared in Redbook, People, USA Today, Vanity Fair, Real Simple, the Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle. Center has also been featured in the anthology "Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers on the Mother-Daughter Bond." Varsity Pictures has optioned Center's first novel, and Library Journal just called her new novel, "Get Lucky," "another thoroughly enjoyable girlish romp." Kirkus Reviews likens "Everyone Is Beautiful" to the 1950's motherhood classic "Please Don't Eat the Daisies." BookPage named Katherine a new writer to watch and People magazine has called her first novel "cleverly told and uncommonly appealing."
Irene Chang Britt was appointed president, North America Foodservice, Campbell Soup Company in December 2008 and leads Campbell's traditional foodservice and retail perimeter business across North America. Prior to joining Campbell in 2005, Britt spent eight years at Kraft and 12 years at Kimberly-Clark. Throughout her career, Britt has led five business transformations, including several turnarounds, and the transformative growth of Campbell's sauces and beverages business, which delivered three consecutive years of significant top- and bottom-line growth under her leadership. Britt has been recognized by NJBiz as one of the Best 50 Women in Business, by Pink magazine as a Top 15 Innovator, and by Progressive Grocer as one of the "Top Women in Grocery." Britt earned her B.A. from the University of Toronto and her M.B.A. from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.
Vera Cornish is a trainer, facilitator, speaker and life coach. She is motivational, inspirational, thought provoking and committed to sharing personal development strategies that create lifestyle solutions for women. In 1999 she launched Cornish & Associates Inc. Since that time she has facilitated presentations and provided strategic consultation and coaching services to meet the needs of corporations, government entities and non-profit organizations, including Mellon Bank, The Hershey Company, Highmark Blue Shield and the Milton Hershey School. Her newest venture is Work, Life, Balance: Real People-Real SolutionsTM. As the founder and publisher of the Urban Connection Of The Capitol Region, Cornish is committed to the changing demographics of Central Pennsylvania with the Urban Connection being the Good News platform. Cornish is a graduate of Penn State with a B.S. in Education of the Exceptional Child and College Misericordia with a M.S. in Education, specializing in Multi-Cultural Curriculum Development.
Julie Evans began volunteering with PAAR in 1995 and has been employed for the past 12 years as their Program Director of Education & Training. She manages the planning, implementation, coordination and evaluation of education services including; departmental goal setting and attainment, development of work plans, project assignment, work flow, budgeting, program/proposal development, delivery, implementation and evaluation of education services consistent with agency priorities and processes, contract requirements and community needs. Evans has presented at numerous local, state and national conferences, most recently at the 2009 National Sexual Assault Conference. Evans and the entire team at PAAR truly believe that we can combat sexual violence. Evans graduated with English undergraduate degree from John Carroll University and completed her Master of Social Work at University of Pittsburgh with a concentration in Community Organizing.
Susan Getgood has been involved in online marketing since the early 90s and watched the web evolve from the first browsers to the interactive communities we participate in today. Since 2004, she has been helping organizations integrate social media into their marketing strategies in order to meet their customers online, build their brands and drive revenue. Prior to founding her consulting practice, Getgood held a variety of senior corporate marketing and management roles. Her professional marketing blog where she writes about marketing strategy and social media is Marketing Roadmaps (getgood.com/roadmaps). She also writes a personal blog and a family travel blog. Getgood was named a fellow of the Society for New Communications Research in 2008 and speaks regularly at social media conferences like BlogHer, Mom 2.0 and New Comm Forum. Getgood is also co-founder of the blog ethics and education initiative, Blog With Integrity (blogwithintegrity.com) and a contributing editor for BlogHer. Her first book, "Professional Blogging For Dummies (Wiley)," was published in July 2010. 
Autumn Adkins Graves serves Girard College as its sixteenth president. Graves comes to Girard College from Friends Seminary, in Manhattan, where she was assistant principal. Prior to Friends Seminary, she was Dean of the Upper School at Sidwell Friends, in Washington, DC. She began her career at the Mercersburg Academy, in Mercersburg, PA, as the director of special programs, later moving on to the Breck School. In the May 2010, O Magazine named Autumn Adkins Graves as a Woman to Watch for this Decade and in March, Philadelphia City Council recognized her as one of The Next Generation of Leaders: Rising Stars. She has also won the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education Commendation Award for Intergenerational Community Service Program. Graves received her bachelor's in Rhetoric and Communications in 1994 from the University of Virginia, later continuing her study of history at the graduate level at the University of Richmond. In 2000, Graves completed a master in Education Administration with a focus on Private School Leadership at Columbia University's Teacher's College. She also holds a certificate in Fundraising from New York University.
Allen Haines has spent the last 20 years as CEO of several mid-size companies and has won awards for promoting and developing women leaders. He has advised numerous corporate executives, politicians and celebrities on their presentation, image and communication skills, including top executives at Sony, IMG, The Walt Disney Company, NBC Enterprises and 20th Century Television. Haines has produced over 400 branding and marketing campaigns for every major Hollywood movie studio and television network. From "Star Wars" to "Everybody Loves Raymond," he has been involved in positioning some of the most successful entertainment productions of all time. As a director, Haines' experience spans movie teaser/trailers, TV shows, commercials, documentaries and corporate presentations. He is proud to have directed a myriad of Hollywood luminaries including Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins, Robert Redford, Cameron Diaz and Eva Longoria. In the political arena, he has directed interviews with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Leigh Hurst is the president and founder of the Feel Your Boobies Foundation (feelyourboobies.com) as well as president of Say Something Big. Feel Your Boobies is a non-profit breast cancer organization focused on using innovative and unexpected ways to remind young women to perform their monthly breast exams. She founded the organization in 2004 after her own breast cancer diagnosis at age 33. Through her company Something Big, Hurst offers her expertise and story through keynote speaking, consulting and social media workshops. She holds a B.S. in communications from Ithaca College and earned two master's degrees (from Florida State and Northwestern University) in the areas of learning sciences and simulation technologies. Hurst has nearly 20 years of experience working as a business consultant for large companies in the areas of e-learning and media, and she has worked with small companies to create and launch their online product offerings. 
Nikki Johnson-Huston, Esq. is a tax attorney in Philadelphia. Johnson-Huston is a frequent lecturer on how she overcame a life of poverty and homelessness to become an award-winning young attorney. She is the co-chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association Women in the Profession Committee and started a mentoring program for students interested in the legal profession. She has won several awards, including the Craig M. Perry Community Service Award given by the Philadelphia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and was named a 2009 "Lawyer on the Fast Track" by the Legal Intelligencer and one of the "10 People under 40 to Watch in 2010" by The Philadelphia Tribune. Johnson-Huston is also a host on the Comcast Channel 53 show, "A Life in the Law: Legal Leaders." A 2004 graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law, she earned a J.D./M.B.A/ LL.M in Taxation in four years.
Sheila Lirio Marcelo is an entrepreneur and mother who, after enduring frequent struggles to find quality caregivers for her two boys, recognized a lack in resources available to help families address their care needs. From this, Care.com was born in 2006. The company has been featured in national news outlets such as NBC's The Today Show, ABC's Good Morning America, CBS's The Early Show, ABC News Now, The Wall Street Journal, Parenting Magazine, Cookie magazine and BusinessWeek. In 2007, Care.com won the Stevie Award for "Best New Company of the Year." Prior to founding Care.com, Marcelo served as an executive at Upromise and TheLadders.com. Marcelo also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Ayala Foundation USA and the Achievement Network. In 2009, she was recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit and was also awarded the 2010 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the New England region. Marcelo graduated magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke College with a degree in Economics and went on to pursue both a master's in business administration and a J.D. from Harvard University.
As director of community affairs for Highmark, Inc., Mary Anne Papale directs the distribution of over $6 million in corporate grants and sponsorships each year in southwestern Pennsylvania, and supervises a staff of five. Additionally, she oversees the activities for Highmark's corporate United Way campaign and the employee matching gifts program. Papale serves as a board member for several not-for-profit organizations and community groups, including: Pittsburgh Opera and the Women's Center and Shelter. She also sits on an advisory committee of the Three Rivers Center for Independent Living, and is an active member of Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Executive Women's Council of Pittsburgh. Papale earned an M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, Katz School of Business.
Cheryl A. Parzych is the executive vice president of Wealth Services for First Commonwealth Bank located in southwestern Pennsylvania. Her scope of responsibility comprises the fiduciary, investment advisory, retail investment, insurance and financial planning businesses of First Commonwealth. Parzych joined First Commonwealth late in 2010 from KeyBank where she was the Cleveland-based director of Trust Services, chief fiduciary officer and a member of the Wealth Segment leadership team. She is a career-long Trust professional. Prior to joining Key, Parzych served as both chief fiduciary and chief administrative officer for Citizens Financial Group based in Providence, RI. Recently, she served as a trustee for the Women's Community Foundation of Cuyahoga County, OH, and of Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, NH. Parzych is a graduate of State University College of NY at Potsdam and holds a B.A in Psychology. She is also a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor.
Mindy M. Posoff is a senior financial services professional with expertise in strategy development and institutional sales and marketing. Currently Posoff is the vice president, Executive Committee of 100 Women in Hedge Funds, President of the Board of Samuel S. Fels Fund and a Trustee of Salus University, a position she was appointed to by Governor Rendell in 2007. Posoff was the 2005 recipient of the "Wall Street Meets Main Street" Pioneer Award from Count Me In, a leading national not for profit provider of micro financing to women entrepreneurs. She has over 20 years experience with global financial services organizations. Posoff is the founding partner of Traversent Capital Partners, a consulting firm that focuses on strategic solutions for hedge fund and asset management companies. Previously, she was a co-founder of NewMarket Capital Partners, an SEC registered investment management company focused on absolute return strategies. Prior to NewMarket, Posoff was a vice president at E*Trade where she was a key leader in their asset gathering initiatives and a director at Credit Suisse First Boston where she was an institutional sales manager of the structured product sales group. Posoff has an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from Beloit College.
Selena Rezvani is a recognized author, speaker and consultant on women and leadership. She is the founder and president of NextGenWomen, LLC, a consulting firm whose goal is to propel more women into leadership positions and to help companies position an inclusive workplace as a competitive advantage. Rezvani is also the author of the acclaimed career guidebook, "The Next Generation of Women Leaders: What You Need to Lead but Won't Learn in Business School" (Praeger, 2009). Her breadth of knowledge makes Rezvani a frequent resource for news media and an in-demand business speaker. She has been quoted, interviewed and profiled by CareerBuilder, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and NBC and ABC. Rezvani is a regular commentator on NPR's nationally syndicated "The 51% Perspective" and writes a women and leadership column for The Washington Post. Selena received her B.S. and M.S.W. degrees from New York University, and has an M.B.A. from Johns Hopkins, where she graduated first in her class. 
Sharon E. Simpson is the manager of PECO's Energy Services Organization. She is responsible for directing the account management activities for PECO's largest commercial, industrial and national accounts. She has worked in the corporate environment for more than 30 years. Before joining PECO, Simpson served as vice president of sales and operations for ESIS, Inc., a CIGNA subsidiary, providing sophisticated risk management services to Fortune 1000 companies. Simpson currently serves on the board of the Philadelphia based Women's Business Development Center. She is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers and serves as a mentor and advisor for the Cradle of Liberty's learning for Life Explorer's program. She earned her B.A. from Rutgers University's Douglass College, and completed continuing education programs, provided through CIGNA University's partnership with the Wharton Business School, in Global Development, Strategic Planning and Marketing Leadership.
Bonnie St. John has circled the globe as a speaker, consultant and leadership instructor, and her initiatives have led decision makers to improve their skills and create breakthroughs in performance. Her clients include: FedEx, Pepsi, Pfizer, AT&T, Microsoft, UBS, American Express, Merrill Lynch, IBM, Disney and many more. St. John combines the lessons she has learned as an amputee (she had her right leg amputated at age 5), an Olympic athlete (one silver and two bronze medals in the 1984 Paralympics), a Rhodes Scholar, a best-selling author, a White House official and a businesswoman into impactful presentations. She has been featured in: "The Today Show," CNN, "CBS Morning News," "NBC News" and The New York Times, as well as People, Essence, Success and Fast Company, to name just a few. She has published five books, and her most recent, "Live Your Joy," was featured in "O," the Oprah magazine. "NBC Nightly News" called St. John "One of the five most inspiring women in America."
Personal finance expert for women, Manisha Thakor wants to help you "own your finances and own your life." She is the author of two critically acclaimed personal finance books: "On My Own Two Feet" and "Get Financially Naked." Thakor's financial literacy advocacy work has been featured in national publications such as The New York Times, BusinessWeek, US News & World Report, Glamour, Real Simple and Women's Day. Her national TV appearances include CNN, CNBC, "ABC News Now," Fox Business Network and "The Rachael Ray Show." Previously, Thakor spent 15 years working in the financial services ind
Roba Whiteley is executive director of Together Rx Access®, a program that provides financial savings to individuals and families who are not eligible for Medicare or prescription drug coverage. Whiteley educates policymakers, key opinion leaders and consumers about the issue of being uninsured and its impact on the health and wealth of our nation and its people. Previously, Whiteley was executive director of Together Rx®, the nation's most widely-enrolled private prescription savings program for lower-income Medicare beneficiaries, with nearly 1.5 million cardholders. Together Rx helped seniors save more than $1 billion on prescription medicines. As vice president of marketing and communications with the National Council on the Aging (NCOA), Whiteley enhanced the organization's strategic partnerships, healthcare initiatives, and health-focused media campaigns. Whiteley has dedicated her life's work to ensuring that all people have access to the best in healthcare. Throughout her 25-year career, she has been a powerful health and patient advocate, serving as spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and The American Heart Association. She is a published author and pioneer in the behavioral management of obesity. Whiteley holds a master's degree in nutrition science from Drexel University.
Sarah Welch, who identifies herself as a "yo-yo organizer," is a seasoned entrepreneur and marketing executive. Welch prides herself on having mastered the art of managing multiple career opportunities as well as her busy family- all so she can make ends meet and chase her dreams. Over the years she has learned that the secret to attaining all of her goals is to focus on maintaining momentum on all fronts of her life with the help of the "80/20 rule". Prior to co-founding Buttoned Up, Sarah was a New York advertising agency executive and entrepreneur. She studied what makes people tick at JWT, Ammirati Puris Lintas, and M&C Saatchi and as an independent marketing consultant. Welch has worked with many brand marketers, including Kellogg, Unilever, MSN, General Motors, Gap, and Bank of America. Welch has a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University.Become a Sponsor
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