WiBN 2026 Leadership Conference | BBB of Dayton & Miami Valley

2026 Speaker Information 

Ivy Glover 

Wright-Patt Credit Union 

Lisa Cupp

University Of Dayton

Lissa Cupp is a marketing professor at the University of Dayton and a former Chief Marketing Officer with leadership roles at Berkshire Hathaway Media Group, Angie’s List and Scotts Miracle-Gro. She has worked with organizations across the U.S. and globally, bringing real-world experience into every session. A 2022 WiBN Woman to Watch and one of Poets & Quants’ Top 50 Undergraduate Business Professors, Lissa focuses on leadership, networking and career growth. Known for her engaging, practical approach, she is passionate about helping women grow their careers, build meaningful connections and create opportunity through intentional action and strong relationships.

Anna Jinja Mather

The Anna Jinja Show/Able Up Iowa

Anna Jinja Mather is an author, podcast host and longtime nonprofit leader who has dedicated her career to amplifying underrepresented voices. Host of The Anna Jinja Show and author of the debut novel Adopting Grace, Anna has served as a radio producer, executive director and community advocate. Originally from Iowa, she now lives in Ohio with her husband Pete. Learn more at www.annajinja.com.

Cheli Gibson-Chappell

Copeland Publishing LLC

Cheli Gibson-Chappell is a leadership development speaker, U.S. Air Force veteran and doctoral candidate in Business Administration with a concentration in Leadership. She holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership. Cheli is the author of Unburdened: A Single Mother’s Journey to Freedom and Wholeness and owner of Copeland Publishing LLC. Her work integrates lived experience, counseling insight and doctoral research on leadership and employee retention to help women lead with authenticity, set boundaries and build stronger, more effective teams and workplace cultures.

Erinn Siske 

Spark Space Creative

Errin Siske is the founder of Spark Space Creative — a brand strategy and communications studio helping mission-driven organizations align their brand with their impact. She launched Spark Space in 2011 and has built it into a trusted partner across education, nonprofit and health and wellness sectors. With more than 25 years of experience, including roles at a regional B2B marketing firm, a national corporate brand and a local nonprofit, she brings strategic thinking and design expertise to every engagement. She is a Leadership Dayton alumna, Dayton Chamber Empower alumna and a graduate of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. 

Myla Cardona-Jones

Jones, Brunner Literacy Center

Crystal Allen

Boys & Girls Club Of Dayton 

Kate McEwen

The Foodbank, Inc. 

Kate serves as COO for The Foodbank, Inc., the Miami Valley’s largest hunger relief network. She is honored to support the team in distributing more than 17 million pounds of food annually and is dedicated to the belief that no one should go hungry. With personal safety, food safety and operational excellence at the forefront of all Foodbank operations, Kate also supports her teammates’ professional development by leading Lean Six Sigma and Insights Discovery trainings to all Foodbank staff. Her leadership style focuses on continuous improvement, team building and employee empowerment.

LeKeisha Grant

The Entrepreneurs’ Center

LeKeisha Grant is an Innovation Manager and Interim Executive Director at The Entrepreneurs' Center in Dayton, Ohio, where she leads programs that have helped companies secure over $4.4 billion in follow-on funding. A certified professional coach, adjunct professor at the University of Dayton and founder of Ambition ReFRAMED, she brings 15+ years of experience building and leading diverse, cross-sector teams across entrepreneurship, economic development and community impact. LeKeisha is deeply invested in creating the conditions where every voice at the table is heard — and equipped to lead. 

Mardi Humphries 

Spark Space Creative

Mardi Humphreys is a marketing strategist, speaker and founder of MSH Consulting, where she helps organizations without in-house marketing departments. She has over 20 years of experience working with small businesses, nonprofits and growing teams. Mardi is known for delivering engaging, interactive sessions that blend strategy with self-awareness, helping professionals make more intentional decisions about how they spend their time, energy, attention and money. She is the creator of the T.E.A.M. framework, a decision-making tool designed to help individuals reduce overwhelm, set clearer boundaries and focus on what matters most.

Rachel DesRochers

The Gratitude Collective, Power to Pursue, Incubator Kitchen Collective 

Rachel DesRochers is a strategic advisor, community architect, transformational leader, consultant, connector and the visionary founder of Power to Pursue, the Incubator Kitchen Collective and The Gratitude Collective – and she's passionate about empowering women and supporting entrepreneurs to build sustainable, purpose-driven businesses. As an international speaker and recognized thought leader, Rachel shares her insights on entrepreneurship, strategic leadership, community building, gratitude and women's empowerment with audiences worldwide. When she's not consulting, speaking or building community, Rachel is being a mom to three wildly wonderful children who keep her grounded, grateful and endlessly inspired.

Esra Shermadou

Sakinah Health

Dr. Esra Shermadou is a board-certified Family Medicine physician with specialty certification in Obesity Medicine and advanced training in hormone optimization. After surviving lymphoma at 21 and rebuilding her health through strength training, she founded Sakinah Health to help adults reclaim their vitality through hormonal balance, lifestyle medicine and weight management. An avid powerlifter, Dr. Shermadou brings both lived experience and clinical expertise to her mission of helping women perform at their strongest.

Aaron Michelle Morgan

Open Arms Officiating

Aaron Michelle Morgan is a Police Officer and speaker dedicated to empowering women to find their voice and stand confidently in their strength. Through her work in law enforcement and community engagement, she provides practical tools for recognizing intimidation, setting boundaries and trusting your instincts. She is also the founder of Open Arms Officiating.

Kristen Kayser

aiEDU

Kristen Kayser is Senior Lead for Midwest Programs at aiEDU, where she helps education and community leaders turn AI from buzzword to practical strategy. With a background spanning classroom teaching, school and district leadership, instructional design and partnerships, she is known for translating emerging technology into approachable, real-world action. Kristen began her career as a high school math teacher and has since led work across Ohio and the Midwest to support innovation, equity and meaningful learning. She is also a mom of three boys and a Junior League of Dayton leader who brings a people-first, real-life perspective to every conversation. 

Angie Dodge

Moxie Virtual Solutions 

Angie Dodge is the Founder and CEO of Moxie Virtual Solutions, a boutique virtual assistant agency that helps business owners grow through strategic support. With over a decade of experience as an Executive Assistant and operations partner, Angie specializes in helping leaders move out of overwhelm, streamline their operations and build support systems that drive real results. She is passionate about empowering others to lead with confidence, clarity and the understanding that success is never meant to be built alone.

Linda Jones

Software Solutions

Linda joined Software Solutions Inc in 2004 and currently serves as the Vice President of Administration. She is the author of “The Event Planning Toolkit: Your Guide to Organizing Outstanding Meetings and Events”. Linda served her community in a variety of ways, including acting as chairperson for The Ohio Sauerkraut Festival and chair of the Waynesville Bicentennial Committee. She received the 40 Under 40 designation by the Dayton Business Journal, Citizen of the Year in Waynesville, Ohio, Employee of the Year by the OH/KY Chapter of the National ESOP Association and a 2009 WIBN Woman to Watch.

Donnica Hawes-Saunders & Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders

Raised By Her Podcast 

Donnica Hawes-Saunders is the Founder and CEO of The Averity Group, a national public affairs firm specializing in advocacy, communications, and strategy for highly regulated industries. A former Capitol Hill staffer and corporate affairs executive, she has built a career at the intersection of policy, media, and purpose—helping organizations navigate complex issues while advancing equity and social impact. Named one of D.C.’s Top Lobbyists and Influencers and a Forty Under 40 honoree, she brings over a decade of experience shaping national conversations on leadership and representation. As co-host of Raised By Her, she explores family, purpose, and the power of generational wisdom.

Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders is an executive leadership coach for women with a distinguished background in business, media, and the arts. She is the former CEO of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, where she led the organization for 18 years, expanding its global reach and community impact. Earlier in her career, she made history as one of fewer than ten African-American women in the United States to own and operate a successful radio broadcasting company. A lifelong advocate for women, entrepreneurship, and cultural excellence, she now mentors emerging leaders. As co-host of Raised By Her, she shares stories of legacy, courage, and intergenerational wisdom.

Kellie Schneider

The Foodbank, Inc. 

Dr. Kellie Schneider is a scholar and educator with a background in Industrial Engineering. She serves as the Chief Knowledge Officer at The Foodbank Inc., where she and a team of other magical unicorns work to eliminate hunger and its root causes. Kellie supports the critical infrastructure of The Foodbank, including compliance and reporting, warehouse operations, professional development, strategic initiatives and continuous improvement.