WELCOME TO THE 10TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025
Bravery&Courage
LEAD TO GROWTH
PRESENTED BY
TODAY’S SPONSORS:
PRESENTING SPONSOR: PLATINUM SPONSOR:
GOLD SPONSORS:
SILVER SPONSORS:
Spectrum Health and Life Insurance Experts
BRONZE SPONSORS: MEDIA SPONSOR: BENEFIT SOLUTIONS
A special thank you to the Fun Factory Sweet Shoppe for providing afternoon refreshments for today’s program.
AGENDA:
8:15 am Check-In & Networking, Coffee & Breakfast Refreshments, Booths Open
9 am Opening Remarks
9:10 am Gina Glover on Brave Beginnings
9:20 am Keynote: Lisa BrouwerYour Journey of Courage: Bridging the Gap from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
10:50 am Break
11:05 am Interactive Exercise with Lisa BrouwerChoose Courage
GUEST WIFI:
11:40 am Lunch & Networking, Booths Open
1 pm Keynote: Darcy Luoma - Tough Conversations: Build Your Thoughtfully Fit Core
2:30 pm Break - Gelato and Gourmet Popcorn
2:50 pm Local PanelConnecting, Bravery and Tough Conversations
3:45 pm Closing Remarks
4:15 pm Networking, Book Signing & Cash Bar
Network: CW Expo Center Guest Wifi
Password: expocenter
CELEBRATING TEN YEARS:
The Chamber is celebrating ten years of fostering leadership skills in women from around the state.
How many of these conferences did you attend?
2015 Jo Miller, Rebecca Kleefisch
2016 Robin Getman, Deb Marshall, Susan Finco
2017 Jami Kaiser and Erika Van DeYacht, Kristen Brown, Theresa Rose
2018 Fawn Germer, Liz Uram
2019 Tim Kight
2020 Holly Hoffman, Aimeee Cohen
2021 Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Debbie Peterson, Candy Whirley
2023 Natalie Johnson, Annie Meehan
2024 Laura Boyd, Jasmine Stringer
FEATURED SPEAKER:
Gina Glover is a professional speaker, coach and connector. Her clients would tell you her greatest gift is her ability to foster connections. She’s been doing this since moving to Wisconsin in 1996.
In addition to growing her business, Gina Connects, she volunteers her time for several organizations including the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Speakers Association. Additionally, Gina serves on the board of the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate and donates her time to mentor entrepreneurs through Mid-Day Women’s Alliance.
When she’s not speaking or coaching, you can find Gina traveling with her husband and her two children somewhere in the U.S. as she continues her quest to run a race in every state.
GINA GLOVER
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Bravery&Courage LEAD TO GROWTH
Visit the Portraits by Tiffany booth today to have a new Professional Portrait taken!
FEATURED SPEAKER:
Lisa Brouwer lives at the intersection of daring leadership and courageous living.
She’s a speaker, Courage Coach and Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator under the work of Brené Brown. With more than 20 years of experience as a corporate executive in the financial services in-dustry, Lisa has a unique perspective on what it takes to lead with authenticity and courage. Her mission is to help purpose-driven women embrace their inner strength, break free from societal expectations and reconnect with their bravest, truest selves. Lisa believes that when women live authentically and lead with their values, they create ripples of positive change in their lives and their communities ... far beyond themselves.
Through immersive retreats, engaging workshops and one-on-one coaching, Lisa creates brave spaces where women feel empowered to explore vulnerability, build resilience, and step boldly into their highest potential.
LISA BROUWER
Your Journey of Courage
STEP 1: HEAR THE CALL
Where are you being called to be brave?
Why does this matter? Why is this important to you?
STEP 2: FACE THE FEAR
What is really getting in the way? (Challenge yourself to dig deep.)
You can choose courage or you can choose comfort but you cannot have both. Not at the same time.
~ Brené Brown
STEP 3: RECLAIM THE TRUTH
Fear says:
Courage says:
STEP 4: TAKE COURAGEOUS ACTION
What is one action you can take today that aligns with your call to courage?
Let's stay connected!
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
Dare to Lead - Brené Brown
Daring Greatly - Brené Brown
Untamed - Glennon Doyle
Playing Big - Tara Mohr
The Great Work of Your LifeStephen Cope
On Our Best Behavior - Elise Loehnen
Already Enough - Lisa Olivera
The Dance of Fear - Harriet Lerner
Leading with Emotional CouragePeter Bregman
JOIN LISA’S BRAVER TOGETHER COMMUNITY
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Bravery&Courage LEAD TO GROWTH
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10TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
“Stop
what you are doing. Go outside and breathe. The world will not end if you take ten minutes for yourself.”
- Fawn Germer, featured speaker in 2018
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Bravery&Courage LEAD TO GROWTH
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10TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
“When you begin to see yourself as worthy, it changes everything. You begin to stand taller, speak louder and claim your space in this world.”
- Annie Meehan, featured speaker in 2023
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Bravery&Courage LEAD TO GROWTH
GOLD SPONSORS:
SILVER SPONSOR: SHOW YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH SPONSORHIP! REGISTER TODAY!
POWER HOUSE PARTY
a prohibition-themed fundraiser for the historic clarke island business campus
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21 AT THE ROTHSCHILD PAVILION live music | silent auction food | drinks | MORE!
AFTERNOON BREAK:
Enjoy gelato and gourment popcorn from the Fun Factory Sweet Shoppe at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon!
We're looking for partners —reliable, results-oriented individuals who thrive in collaboration to help our dealers succeed. We invest in growth for all career levels.
FEATURED SPEAKER:
Darcy Luoma shares insights honed from her diverse experiences in her roles as both a Master Certified Coach and a Certified Professional Speaker.
Having served as director of a U.S. Senator’s office for 12 years and with experience on two presidential campaigns, Darcy witnessed firsthand the consequences of not responding thoughtfully. Motivated by these experiences, she developed the Thoughtfully Fit model, drawing from more than two decades of coaching leaders and teams.
Darcy’s keynote will provide strategies to enhance resilience and create winning teams, blending her expertise in leadership development with her passion for physical fitness.
DARCY LUOMA
We all have moments where nothing’s going according to plan minor annoyances or significant life-changing events. Today you'll learn a strategy to build your resilience to handle any challenge thoughtfully so you get results, instead of regrets.
3 Steps to Engage Your Core
No matter what the challenge, every day we encounter opportunities to become more aware of our thoughts and behaviors.
You can start getting Thoughtfully Fit by engaging your core:
Step #1: Step #1: Practice the Pause Practice the Pause
Step #2: Step #2: Take Time to Think Take Time to Think Take Time to Think
Step #3: Step #3: Always Act In Awareness Always Act In Awareness
Your Core Workout
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Bravery&Courage LEAD TO GROWTH
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10TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
“I can do different things, and I can do familiar things differently.”
- Jasmine Stringer featured speaker in 2024
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NOTES:
“Every day you choose how to respond to the events you experience. The outcomes you get are determined by the responses you choose. This is the simple message of E+R=O.”
-
Tim Kight, featured speaker in 2019
10TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
LOCAL PANEL:
The purpose of this session is to introduce attendees to several local leaders. These individuals will share their thoughts on the following topics related to leadership:
• Making meaningful connections
• Displaying courage
• Tackling tough conversations
Each segment with these women will include the opportunity for members of the audience to ask questions.
The members of the panel are profiled on the following pages.
PANELIST:
Erika Van De Yacht is an accomplished human resources leader with over 20 years of experience across various industries, driving organizational growth through strategic talent management, workforce development, and operational leadership. As the Vice President of Human Resources at Weinbrenner Shoe Company, she oversees major human resource initiatives designed to advance the organization.
Outside of work, she serves on the Board of Directors for Healthfirst, Inc. and Mosaic of North Central Wisconsin, is the past Chair of the Women United Leadership Council at United Way of Marathon County, and volunteers with the Boys & Girls Club. She is a recipient of the ATHENA Young Leadership Award and was named among the Top 50 Women Leaders in Wisconsin by Women We Admire.
ERIKA
VAN DE YACHT
PANELIST:
Chee Yang is a secondgeneration Hmong American, born and raised in Central Wisconsin. With a background in finance and accounting, Chee has an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. A passionate entrepreneur, Chee combines her knowledge with a commitment to innovation and leadership in both business and community. In addition to founding and co-founding several businesses, Chee currently serves as the Controller at Jarp, where she applies her financial expertise to assist in operational efficiencies and strategic growth.
CHEE YANG
As a 20-year topproducing Realtor serving buyers, sellers and investors in Central Wisconsin, Lora Bladow’s focus is on making sure her clients have an experience that surpasses their expectations while having the most fun possible. Building relationships is the keystone of her business and she’s grateful to be able to say that she works with the best clients and business partners she could hope for. Lora is a recipient of the ATHENA Young Leadership Award.
PANELIST: LORA BLADOW
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10TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
“People
are people and we are ALL leaders … we just have to hone our leadership skills.”
- Candy Whirley, featured speaker in 2022
Mission
The purpose of the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce is to strengthen our member businesses and enhance our community by building business success.
Vision
We are the region’s indispensable source for business connections, opportunities, and solutions.
If you’ve enjoyed this program and are interested in learning more about how membership with the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce can impact your business, contact Membership Director Kathy Peterson at kpeterson@wausauchamber.com.
2025 WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE:
Mauri Brueggeman, Aspirus
Michelle Gleason, Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin
Jennifer Johnson, Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.
Amber Gober, Peoples State Bank
Kelly Winchell, Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., Inc.
Lindsey Zakrzewski, Northcentral Technical College
The Chamber and the members of this committee thank you for attending today’s event.
The Chamber’s Transformational Leadership program: WausauChamber.com
The United Way of Marathon County’S Emerging Leaders group: UnitedWayMC.org/Emerging-Leaders
and Women United group: UnitedWayMC.org/Women-United
Women in Manufacturing: WomeninManufacturing/Northern-Wisconsin
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WausauChamber
Instagram: instagram.com/WausauChamber
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ the-wausau-region-chamber-of-commerce
Twitter: @WausauChamber
YouTube: www.youtube.com/WausauChamber
The program allowed people to really express their concerns and be open to suggestions on how to improve their situation. And, those giving the feedback did so with utmost concern for the individual and without judgment.
Ashley Hawley, Ruder Ware LLSC
Graduate of Transformational Leadership
Returning in the fall of 2025, Transformational Leadership will be led by program designer and facilitator Bridget Wenman and will include nine monthly sessions totaling more than 70 hours with a focus on individualized personal training and development.
Program Facilitator: Bridget Wenman
Bridget’s extensive experience utilizing professional assessments, coupled with a business background, gives her a unique perspective in providing solutions for individuals at all levels of leadership.
After a successful career in sales and management in the staffing industry, Bridget created Perspectives Training and Consulting, a management consulting business that she has owned and operated for more than 25 years.
This program has been one of the best learning experiences of my professional career. I not only connected with many other wonderful leaders in the community, but I also developed many skills and tools that I’ve already found useful and will continue to use.
Traci Wisz Wausau Woodchucks Graduate of Transformational Leadership
I’ve worked with Bridget for many years.
She has helped our organization, specifically in motivating individuals to higher levels of learning and in helping us achieve our organizational goals.
Robin Hegg Greenheck Group
