IL Chamber of Commerce Women's Conference

Agenda:  (Subject to change)
 
8:00am - 8:30am      REGISTRATION & NETWORKING 
 
8:30am - 8:45am      WELCOMING REMARKS     
Meghan Woltman, Chairwoman, Illinois Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors   
Candace Gerritsen, Chief Operating Officer, Illinois Chamber of Commerce
 
8:45am - 9:15am      AMANDA YOUNG, Clean Up Your Energy – Morning Keynote
Amanda will kick off our conference with a talk to inspire all of us to find what makes us our best selves.  Her talk, “Learn to Identify and Release What’s Holding You Back from Being Your Best Self”, will include tips for changing your beliefs, shifting your energy, and ways to shine more brightly (like a diamond!).   
 
9:15am -10:00am  IT MATTERS: INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY – Panel Discussion 
Beverly Alfon, Partner, SmithAmundsen (Moderator)
Leslie Drish, Manager Diversity and Inclusion, Tyson Foods
Chipo Nyambuya, Founder, Virgil CSR
Alexis Robertson, North American Manager Diversity, Baker & McKenzie
• The benefits of having a diverse workforce 
• Learn practical guidance to help develop an inclusive corporate environment
• Pick up hiring practices, grow talent pipelines, and how best to recruit, train, and mentor to create a diverse workforce
 
10:00am -10:15am  NETWORKING BREAK
 
10:15am -11:00am STRENGTH IN LEADERSHIP – Panel Discussion 
Colonel Patricia Klop, Reserve Assistant Chief of Staff, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific
Dr. Brian Caputo, Interim President, College of DuPage
Michael Holub, Vice-Chair, Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (Moderator) 
• How to send a message of power and confidence, and what it means to be a leader in today’s climate  
 
11:00am -11:45am MY JOURNEY TO HERE – Panel Discussion    
Michelle Larson, President and CEO, Adler Planetarium
Monica Mueller, Senior Director Government Affairs, Motorola Solutions
Susana Meza, Vice President, Wintrust, Community Impact
• What you need to get ahead
• Understanding corporate structures and molding it to your advantage
• Positioning your ideas in a favorable light, knowing what to say, how to say it, and when to say it
 
11:45am -12:00pm  NETWORKING BREAK      
 
12:00pm -12:30pm  Alicia Tate -Nadeau (Brigadier General, Ret.) Acting Director, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Homeland Security advisor - KEYNOTE
 
12:30pm -1:00pm CLOSING REMARKS & LUNCH 
Meghan Woltman, Chairwoman, Illinois Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
 
1:00pm - 2:00pm NETWORKING EVENT – START MAKING CONNECTIONS 
Elaine Hand, President, InnerView LLC
• Face to Face communication and networking
• Tips for engaging with new contacts
• Fun meeting new people!