WiBN's 2024 Leadership Conference is designed to provide personal inspiration and practical action items that will inspire, influence and impact professional women who attend. This one-day experience brings you first class speakers, a variety of opportunities to network and a wide-array of vendors.
2024 Speaker Information
Dr. Cassie Barlow
Dr. Cassie B. Barlow is the President of the SOCHE. Through SOCHE’s programs, Dr. Barlow is focused on education & industry collaboration, professional development of faculty and staff, and workforce development of students. Dr. Barlow was the Installation Commander, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. In that role, she commanded one of the largest air base wings in the Air Force with more than 5,000 Air Force military, civilian, and contractor employees. Dr. Barlow retired from active duty with the US Air Force as colonel in 2014 after 13 assignments world-wide. Dr. Barlow graduated from Georgetown University, and Rice University.
Donnica Hawes-Saunders
Donnica Hawes-Saunders is the Founder and CEO of The Averity Group, a full-service, solution-oriented public affairs firm that helps organizations transform their reputation at the intersection of communications, social impact, and public policy. In 2023, The Averity Group was named one of the top reputation management agencies in the U.S. by Design Rush.
Donnica is recognized as a mission-driven, political social impact strategist that specializes in complex media and policy environments. With over a decade of experience in the private sector and on Capitol Hill, Donnica connects policy and business priorities with an emphasis on coalition-based communications and strategic partnerships.
Michelle Riley
CEO of The Foodbank, Inc.
Michelle Riley, CEO of The Foodbank, Inc. in Dayton Ohio, is a distinguished Wright State University and Leadership Dayton alumna. Her work has been widely acknowledged, earning her the 2013 Leader of the Year and receiving the Dayton Daily News Top 10 Women of the Year award. Michelle’s strategic approach and commitment to her life's mission of community welfare have propelled The Foodbank’s expansion, tripling food distribution in Ohio. She has garnered accolades such as the Miami Valley BBB Eclipse Integrity Award, the United Way Smith-Moore Award, and Wallstreet 24/7 recognition as the nation's second highest performing foodbank.
Belinda Stenson
VP of Business, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Belinda Matthews Stenson is VP of Business Inclusion for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she’s responsible for leading the chamber’s efforts in the regional advocacy for minority business development and programming for inclusive growth of diverse, minority and economically disadvantaged businesses. Additionally, she advocates for the embedding of diversity and inclusion strategies in the Chamber and the region’s economic development community. Belinda spent over 20 years with NCR Corporation, launched a small business management consulting business, as well as served as executive director for the Omega Community Development Corporation.
Belinda is a graduate of Black Leadership Dayton, Leadership Dayton, University of Dayton’s Emerging Leader Program and Empower. She serves on several boards - Greater Dayton RTA, onMain Advisory Committee, Dayton Arcade New Community Authority Board, Parity, Inc. and Phoenix Next Board. Belinda was recently elected to the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Board. She’s also a proud member of The Links, Incorporated, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and holds life membership in the Urban League and NAACP. She’s been recognized as a YWCA Woman of Influence, Dayton Business Journal Power 50!, Urban League Pillar Awardee and numerous DEI leadership awards
Jennifer DeFrancesco
Medical Center Director/ Chief Executive Officer, of Dayton VA Medical Center
Jennifer DeFrancesco, DHA, FACHE serves as the Medical Center Director of the Dayton VA Medical Center. In this role, she is responsible for a tertiary care, academic affiliated hospital on 283 acres of land with 351 operating beds, 2800 employees and an annual budget exceeding $650 million.
Prior to this role, Jennifer began her career as a Biomedical Engineer and has held progressive roles over the past 15 years, including having served in other operational executive roles for over five years. She also served as the Interim CEO of the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System in 2022.
Jill Kingston
Founder/President, Brigid's Path
Jill Kingston is a wife, mother of five and leader grounded in faith. After fostering several infants born exposed to addictive substances, Jill believed there had to be a better way of caring for children and families in the crisis of addiction. That belief sparked the creation of Brigid’s Path, Ohio’s first and only newborn recovery center.
Jill is a graduate of The Ohio State University (Human Development and Family Science), as well as Wright State University (Masters of Education). She is a former teacher and business owner who is dedicated to her family and the pursuit of making a difference.
Meghann Naveau
Marketing & Communications Manager, Brigid's Path
Meghann Naveau is married to the cute guy she started loving in 2006 and mom to two confident kids. She is a proven marketing and communication practitioner who has worked with nonprofits and businesses across numerous industries to build brands, tell stories, and plan well.
Meghann is a graduate of the University of Dayton (Communication) and an avid runner and reader. She is an active lay Marianist and collaborates on numerous faith-related projects that help people better love their neighbors.
Peggy Collins and Hannah Myhre-Gaskill
RICP and MBA, Co-Founders of Empower.ology, Northwestern Mutual Dayton
Peggy and Hannah are co-founders of a women’s organization called Empower.ology whose mission is to empower women to take action in their lives by creating opportunities to prioritize health and happiness in three main areas: Personally, Professionally and Financially.
We are a group of women leaders, change- makers and entrepreneurs within and outside of the Dayton, Ohio area. We host multiple events throughout the year to offer personal connection, professional networking and financial education.
Valerie Smiley
Owner of VS Interior Designs
Valerie Smiley is a successful Entrepreneur and Interior Designer who started her Design business 32 years ago. When launching her company, she joined her first business networking group and fell in love with this all-important activity. Valerie loves helping others find success through connections and collaboration. Her extensive business & networking background gives her a strong base to serve as the Facilitator of WiBN’s Coffee and Connection in Springboro on the 2nd Friday of each month. Valerie believes that a positive attitude is an important principal for success and with a name like Smiley, you do what you can to bring positivity to the world.
Katie Kerry
Entrepreneur/Consultant of Deep Dive Consulting
Katie spent years empowering Dayton area non-profit organizations to create sustainable and impactful programming that serve our community. But since then, she decided to follow her true calling to help empower women in workplaces everywhere become the superhero of their careers! Now, as a solopreneur, she whips up a potent cocktail of confidence-boosting strategies and goal-crushing tactics to help women ditch the burnout and dominate their professional journeys through customized workshops and personalized coaching sessions.
Rachel Bane
President/Founder of Wildly Becoming, Sunshine & Clover Face Painting and Sunshine Book Club
Rachel Bane is a local author, speaker, coach, podcast host, and hope advocate. She believes in connecting with others and nurturing relationships through her Customer Relationship Specialist role at Back to Business I.T., and as a board member for the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce. She empowers people to know their worth through art as the President of Sunshine & Clover Face Painting. Rachel is a two time published author for both adult and children’s books. She is the President of the Sunshine Book Club nonprofit, providing books to children made vulnerable to poverty. Rachel was the DayMet Credit Union "Do Good" award winner for August 2024. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors in nature and spending time with her 3 year old niece.
Karen Colonna
Motivational Speaker, Consultant and Coach of Karen Colonna, LLC
Wife, mom and resilience warrier, Karen inspires with her story of overcoming life’s toughest challenges. Losing her daughter sparked a journey of self discovery, unearthing her resilience superpowers: humor, empathy, unwavering faith and grit. Karen shares her story with vulnerability and laughter, helping others navigate hardship and awaken their own inner strength. With 20+ years as a corporate leader and entrepreneur, she’s passionate about equipping audiences with practical insights to transform obstacles into opportunities. High energy, humor and authenticity are her trademarks. Join Karen on her mission to empower others. Discover your resilience roadmap, find light in the darkness and Shine Forward.
Dianne Karas
DiAnne Karas, LLC
In 1975, when nurses made only $7200 per year, DiAnne Karas moved herself and her 5 year old son to NYC with $1000, no job, and no place to stay. In 3 days, she had 3 job offers all over 35k and in 6 months was making over 150k. And in the 70’s that was a lot of money! With 5 degrees and 5 professional careers, she is now a holistic financial advisor.
Jessica Beans
Associate Dean of Enrollment and Communication of Kettering & Co-owner of Namesake Coffee
Jessica Beans, M.S., specializes in emotional intelligence and change management as a speaker and facilitator. In addition to her master’s in organizational leadership, she's a certified facilitator for The Six Types of Working Genius and Identity Mapping Typing System. Currently, she is the Associate Dean of Enrollment and Communication at Kettering College as well as the co-founder of Namesake Coffee, a Dayton-based coffee roastery. Jessica has a special passion for empowering and training women in leadership as well as supporting small business leaders to grow their communication and personal management through fostering EQ development for effective teamwork and personal growth.
Lindsay Tate
Lead Consultant, Organizational Effectiveness of Sinclair College
Lindsay is an experienced facilitator, teacher, and coach, with more than fifteen years of experience. She creates interactive learning experiences through small and large group discussion, reflections, activities and case studies that are applicable to a participant’s organization and situation in order to make learning real and impactful. Lindsay holds a Bachelor of Art in Business/Marketing from Transylvania University, a Master of Science in Education from the University of Dayton and a Certificate in Facilitation and Training from the Association for Talent Development. She is also accredited in the Lifestyles Inventory Leadership Assessment and is a Compression Planning facilitator.
Danielle Fritz
Certified Life & Health Coach of Bliss+Full Life
Danielle Fritz is a certified Life Coach & Functional Health Coach. She is trained as an Urban Zen Integrative Therapist, Reiki Master, Aromatherapist and Nutritious Life Certified. Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. She is an empty-nester that resides in southwest Ohio with her husband and fur-babies. She combines all her talents to support others and thrive in all key areas of life.
Katie Kerry
Katie spent years empowering Dayton area non-profit organizations to create sustainable and impactful programming that serve our community. But since then, she decided to follow her true calling to help empower women in workplaces everywhere become the superhero of their careers! Now, as a solopreneur, she whips up a potent cocktail of confidence-boosting strategies and goal-crushing tactics to help women ditch the burnout and dominate their professional journeys through customized workshops and personalized coaching sessions.
Ryan Owens
Ryan Owens is known for being a bold, caring and driven leader within her organization. She has been identified as a person that inspires and pushes others to reach their full potential. Ryan is here to show you how adjusting your mindset and understanding the power of your thoughts can help you discover your inner peace. In order to grow you must get comfortable being uncomfortable. Ryan uses her gift of healing to help empower others to believe in themselves while teaching them that on the other side of fear is peace.