Meet the Experts
"The Warriors" Workshop
CLICK HERE to buy your tickets for "The Warriors"
Cathy Adduci - President
River Forest Village
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Cathy Adduci has an extensive resume blending elected public service, civic engagement, and a distinguished career at Unisys Corporation, a fortune 500 company. Cathy, a long-time resident of the Village of River Forest, is currently the Village President. Cathy served as trustee from 2009 to 2013 and clerk from 2007 to 2009. She is on the legislative committee and on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Municipal League and serves on the executive and legislative committee as well as the Vice President of the West Central Municipal Conference. In 2014, she received the Mayor of the Year award from the Illinois Crime Commission for making a difference in the Village of River Forest. Cathy is a retired vice president and senior executive for Unisys Corporation, an international technology firm, where she worked for 32 years. Her senior executive expertise includes marketing and sales management, general management and operations, finance and human professional development. She traveled throughout the world wherever Unisys did business. She is now President and founder of CMA Associates, Inc., a company helping non-profit organizations formulate their information technology strategies. Cathy has contributed to many local charitable organizations and she received the Outstanding Citizens Award from Amity for her community engagement. Her daughter, Jenna Ronan, is a Junior at Loyola University of Chicago. https://vrf.us/ |
Anne Pezalla - Co-Owner
Lively Athletics
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Like many entrepreneurs, Anne’s path to owning her store, Lively Athletics, was not a straight one. She graduated from Grinnell College with a degree in both Biology and Chinese, which has given her a lifelong love of spreadsheets and dumplings. Her post-college careers included kindergarten teacher in China, Great White Shark researcher in South Africa, and cardiac research technician at Loyola Hospital. While at Brown University for her Master’s Degree, she discovered a new passion for running, and devoted more time to that than her thesis, resulting in an incomplete degree but a pretty solid mile time. Anne’s interest in running grew to be an all-out passion, leading her and her younger sister, Kate, to come up with the idea for opening an athletic apparel store for women in their hometown of Oak Park. They have focused on growing Lively Athletics into a friendly and welcoming store, where female athletes of any ability level can come in for a great conversation and gear to help them reach their goals. Anne can be found at Lively most days and would love for you to swing in and check out the store, though she will most likely talk your ear off about her latest obsession (competitive powerlifting!), her two beautiful kids, and her doting husband, if you do. livelyathletics.com facebook.com/livelyathletics |
Lindsey Monroe - Co-Founder
The Chicago Birth Boutique
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Lindsey Monroe, co-founder of The Birth Boutique, has been in the business of supporting Chicago-land mothers for over 5 years. As a professional birth doula, childbirth educator and family photographer, Lindsey & The Birth Boutique have set out on a mission to help woman have positive experiences through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Building a business with dear friends, in the pursuit of empowering other woman has been one of Lindsey's greatest accomplishments so far. Being a wife and mother has taught Lindsey to take chances, experience simple joys and pursue something that sets her soul on fire. http://www.chicagobirthboutique.com/ |
Stay tuned.
- More announcements to come. -
Meet the Experts
"The Hustlers" Workshop
** Don't miss out! CLICK HERE for tickets to "The Hustlers". **
Moderated by: Lis Martin
Tania Haigh - Founder and CEO
Magnolia Insights
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Tania Haigh is founder and chief executive officer of Magnolia Insights, a marketing services company that specializes in women and moms. Magnolia also produces events and workshops to advance womankind. A 17-year marketing industry veteran, Haigh aims to better position brands by addressing the lag in effective marketing to the highly influential women and moms market.
Building up to the launch of Magnolia Insights in October 2014, Haigh led marketing to women while at McDonald’s USA in Oak Brook, Ill. Prior to joining McDonald’s USA, Haigh spent five years establishing her marketing career in Chicago at other marketing firms including FCB (formerly DRAFT) and Havi Global Solutions. Haigh has been recognized for her thought leadership in the marketing and advertising community through her involvement with industry organizations, including the Association of National Advertisers and Brand Innovators. In addition, Haigh is considered a women’s empowerment leader as demonstrated by her involvement as a TEDxWomen organizer and curator. She is also active in the women space as a presenter and panelist at conferences and has been featured in Advertising Age, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chief Marketer Magazine and the Wall Street Journal. She is also a contributor to Chicago Woman magazine and Chief Marketer. http://www.magnoliainsights.com/ |
Jena Ertel - Co-Founder
PomSquad Fitness
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Jena Ertel is a self-starter who loves people, movement, working in pairs and saying YES. [Sometimes too much!] On the daily, she juggles activities that she LOVES: raising her 4-year-old son with husband Chris, managing the household [somewhat feebly], running PomSquad Fitness with co-founder Matthew Hollis, being a passionate student and instructor of barre fitness at The Dailey Method, building a team of entrepreneurs with her Rodan + Fields business, and most recently, co-leading an incredible yoga and fitness retreat in Costa Rica with her superbuddy, Jenny Finkel. But most importantly, at the heart of all that activity is what Jena holds most dear: relationships. Her life is punctuated by the presence of amazing teammates, partners and friends, and every single day she gets to connect. A true Libra at heart, she thrives in a village and works hard to cultivate it every day. www.pomsquadfitness.com/ |
Alison Fyhrie - Top-ranking Financial Advisor
Northwestern Mutual Chicago
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“Everything you want is on the other side of fear” In the traditionally male-dominated financial services industry, Alison is proud to be a trailblazing female Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual Chicago. Her interest in financial planning started after a 2005 conversation with her Mom. Alison remembers, “After hearing that a childhood friend’s parents were divorcing. My Mom said, ‘If anything ever happened with your Father, I have no idea what I would do- I don’t know anything about our retirement accounts, I don’t understand the stock market, and I’ve been a stay at home Mom for 25 years. How would I get back into the work force? Who would hire me? I don’t even know how to use a computer.’” Although she was currently pursuing a career in the arts, the seed was planted. Alison vowed in that moment that she would never feel powerless about her financial future. Her interest in financial planning turned into a hobby, and finally in 2012 she decided to start taking courses towards her CFP through Northwestern University, and began working as a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual Chicago in 2014. At Northwestern Mutual, she quickly acquired the office nickname of “The Hustler” due to her strong work ethic and commitment to building a robust, client-centric practice. Out of the Chicago office’s 116 financial advisors, she currently ranks as #8 in new client acquisition, a position she has held since last year. Nationally, she ranks in the top 50 for young advisors in her tenure category, and was selected to join “1872”, her firm’s leadership program. Alison’s mission is to help women feel educated and empowered about their financial future. Her vision for her practice is to transform the American family dynamic by shattering the silence and taboo around money and working to create a healthy dialogue about finance between generations. Alison recently moved from Forest Park to Elmhurst, where she resides with her husband Adam and their 3 year old daughter Scarlett. alisonfyhrie@nm.com |
Kellie Scott - Founder & CEO
Divine Consign
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Kellie Halsted Scott is the founder and CEO (Chief Everything Officer) of Divine Consign, Inc. a retail consignment furniture boutique. Kellie went to Marquette University where she was an NCAA Cheerleader and graduated with a double major in Political Science and Business Administration. After graduating from Marquette, Kellie attended DePaul University College of law. As an attorney, Kellie was a litigator and tried cases for 16 years in the State and Federal Court systems. She became a Managing Partner in the Law Firm of Scott, Halsted & Babetch, P.C. After 16 years of practicing law, Kellie decided to pursue a more creative endeavor. After more than a year of study, research and mentorship, Kellie opened Divine Consign in Oak Park in 2009. After three months, Divine Consign opened a second location. Three years later, Divine Consign consolidated locations and opened a larger store – again in Oak Park. Kellie and Divine Consign have always focused on community. In the 8 years, Divine Consign has been in business, it has contributed more than $150,000 to local Charities. In 2015 Kellie was named by Chicago Business Journal as a Woman of Influence. She is a Member of the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce where she is a member of the Board of Directors. Kellie and Divine Consign have been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, 190North, Bring it Home, I Love My Job, WGN News and Fox 32. Divine Consign was selected by CBS, Refinery29, Chicago Magazine and West Suburban Living Magazine as the Best Consignment Store in Chicago. www.divineconsign.com |
- Moderator -
Lis Martin - Owner
Statement Communications
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Lis is the Owner of Statement Communications, a copywriting and editing agency. She's written professionally for more than a decade, covering everything from Affordable Care Act regulations to the best place to get a drink in Chicago. When she's not busy polishing her clients' messaging, you can find Lis sweating it out at barre class, baking banana bread or rescuing her young daughters from the top of the slide. http://statement-communications.com/ |
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Meet the Experts
"The Changemakers" Workshop
Mary Anne Brown - Executive Director
Hephzibah Children's Association
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Every child deserves to be raised in a positive, safe and nurturing environment. Hephzibah Children’s Association has nurtured the children and families of the Oak Park and River Forest communities for over 100 years. Mary Anne Brown has served as Hephzibah’s Executive Director for 40 years of those 100 years. She just celebrated her 40th year anniversary on August 15, 2016. Mary Anne came to Hephzibah with experience as the Executive Director of Model Cities ICCUO, Executive Director of the South Austin Community Day Care Center and curriculum coordinator for the Tri-County Head Start Program in Johnson County, IA. Her education includes an M.A. from the Institute of Child Behavior and Development, University of Iowa, and a B.A. in Psychology and Chemistry, Clarke College, Dubuque, IA, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Under Mary Anne’s leadership, Hephzibah has provided a continuum of innovative programs to enrich children’s lives. The Medieval Reading Academy and Dominican University have partnered to successfully enrich children’s reading skills since 1999. The Colorful Days Summer Arts Program has been providing cultural awareness since 2001 and siblings in separate foster care placements have been given an opportunity to re-connect at an annual summer camp. http://www.hephzibahhome.org/ |
Sitinee Sheffert - Founder
Giving Artfully & Giving Artfully Kids
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Sitinee Sheffert is a wife, mom of 4 wonderful children, and the founder of Giving Artfully and Giving Artfully Kids. Prior to having children, Sitinee was a research analyst at UnitedHealthcare and a Project Manager at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. It wasn’t until she had children that she discovered she had a love for being creative. This passion led her to build a website to connect crafters with volunteer opportunities and then build an after-school program and membership program that teaches children about kindness and philanthropy. Sitinee has a dual Masters degree in Public Policy and Health Services Research and Policy and Bachelors of Science from the University of Minnesota. www.givingartfully.com www.givingartfullykids.com |
Cheryl Munoz - Founding Executive Director
Sugar Beet Schoolhouse & Sugar Beet Food Co-op
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Cheryl is the Founding Executive Director of Sugar Beet Schoolhouse. To experience more meaningful connections to her local farmers and neighbors, she opened (along with hundreds of others) a cooperative grocery store in the Village of Oak Park, IL in 2015 called Sugar Beet Food Co-op. Her passion for education and skill sharing motivated her to establish an educational organization called Sugar Beet Schoolhouse which is a hub for cooking and growing classes and “homesteading” workshops for the while family. In January 2017 The Schoolhouse moved into their new home which includes a shared commercial kitchen, kitchen classroom and greenhouse in River Forest. Cheryl received the Golden Beet Award from the Illinois Stewardship Alliance for Community Food Development and she serves on the board of Chicago Slow Food as well as a Daisy Troop Leader. Cheryl lives in Oak Park, IL with her little farmers, Cedar and Cora, and her husband, Anthony. www.sugarbeetschoolhouse.org |
Moderator
Lis Martin - Founder
Statement Communications
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Lis is the Owner of Statement Communications, a copywriting and editing agency. She's written professionally for more than a decade, covering everything from Affordable Care Act regulations to the best place to get a drink in Chicago. When she's not busy polishing her clients' messaging, you can find Lis sweating it out at barre class, baking banana bread or rescuing her young daughters from the top of the slide. http://statement-communications.com/ |
Meet the Experts
"Bring On the Balance" workshop
Suze Solari - Professional Stylist, Fashion Writer, & Author
"Be the Best YOU & Achieve Your Goals, Simply By What You Wear!"
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Suze Solari is a Professional Stylist, award-winning Fashion writer, and author of e-book, The T Shirt & Jeans Handbook available on ibooks. She is known for helping her clients achieve their goals & fulfill their purpose - through personal style. Suze’ clients learn to maximize their wardrobe investment, by mixing and matching existing pieces in new ways. Her philosophy is that your wardrobe should promote feelings of joy and confidence. Suze has clients all over Chicagoland, L.A., Atlanta, Boston, Portland OR, Austin TX & Connecticut. www.suzesolaristyle.com |
Nicole Radziszewski - CPT, Founder of Mama's Gotta Move, Inc.
"Create A Movement Mindset
and Launch Your Action Plan for Lifelong Fitness"
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Nicole Radziszewski is a certified personal trainer, nationally published fitness writer, and mama to two boys and a dog. She is the founder of Mama’s Gotta Move, Inc., a fitness and wellness venture dedicated to empowering moms to live active, healthy and balanced lives. Nicole trains clients at Balance Fitness Studio in Oak Park and at her home studio in River Forest, where she specializes in postnatal fitness, natural movement and strength training for runners. She is a frequent contributor to Runner’s World and Experience Life magazines and she writes a bi-weekly column, “Mama’s Gotta Move,” for the Chicago Tribune’s suburban newspapers. www.mamasgottamove.com nicole@mamasgottamove.com |
Erin MacHarg - Ed.S, NCSP, and Professional Organizer
"Calming the Chaos: Strategies for Making Family Life Less Hectic"
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Erin is the mother of four, a nationally certified school psychologist, and a professional organizer. After working with countless families as a school psychologist for 10 years and managing her own busy household, Erin became a professional organizer. This increased her ability to help those she works with and further improved her family life. Erin will provide practical tips to calm the chaos in today's stressed-out households. When she's not busy helping families create the happiest home on the block, she enjoys painting, crafting, and gardening despite her lack of a green thumb. erin.macharg@gmail.com |
Meet the Experts
"Beyond Business" Workshop
Heather Vickery, Owner of Vickery & CO.
"Take Back Control of Your Life! Strategies and Boundaries
for Great Time Management"
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Heather Vickery is a mother of four, event planner, and transformational business + life coach with over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and successful business owner. Heather helps people work past what limits them, create a path for abundance and then put strategies and boundaries in place to be their most successful selves. Through her own, difficult and liberating personal transformation, Heather has learned the value of authentic living and pursuing the things that truly enrich ones life. Heather is passionate about helping people grow to unimaginable heights. She believes that when we grow and change, our communities grow and change. As a result, we are leaving the world a better place for our children. We are better together. Email: heather@vickeryandco.com Website: vickeryandco.com |
Alison Fyhrie, Financial Advisor of Northwestern Mutual
"Financially Fierce"
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In 2012 Alison was inspired to embark on a career in the financial planning field after watch a documentary on Neflix called Happy, which guided her towards a career that would focus on helping others and making a difference in her community. In 2014 she was introduced to her current firm, Northwestern Mutual - Chicago while taking courses towards her CFP designation through Northwestern University. Alison's practice is focused primarily on helping female professionals and parents achieve a lifetime of financial security.
Email: alison.fyhrie@nm.com Website: http://alisonfyhrie.nm.com/ |
Carly Mazur, Real Estate Broker &
Elite Level V and Lexus Qualifier - Rodan and Fields Skincare Ambassador
"Think Big, Dream Big"
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Middle School Teacher, Real Estate Broker, Elite Level V and Lexus Qualifier Rodan and Fields Skincare Ambassador are a few bullets on my resume I am very proud to own. I knew I wanted to become an educator since I was inspired by my very own 4th grade teacher but what I didn't know then was that life would throw me other passions I would be able to follow. Regardless of how happy I was in my career, having a Plan B has always been important to me and I am happy I was able to step out of my comfort zone and follow them. When you spend your time on your passions you don't work a day of your life. I have learned that building your personal brand and becoming CEO of your own life can happen for anyone willing to step out of their comfort zone and dream another dream. Email: carlysmazur@gmail.com Website: cmazur.myrandf.biz |
Meet the Experts
"Grow Your Business" Workshop
Shannon Swindle, Director of Operations, Utter Nonsense, LLC
From Kickstarter to Target
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Shannon believes that the world is too big to stay in one place and life is too short to do just one thing. A devoted mom with a gypsy soul—she has lived in France, Spain, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica. Over the last 20 years, she has worked in the music industry, hospitality & tourism, and education and is now the Director of Operations for Utter Nonsense—a new adult party game co-created by her brother, Tim Swindle and his friend Dave Mazurek. Utter Nonsense - The Inappropriate Accent Game is currently carried in every Target store nationwide, Marbles: The Brain Store, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and several independent retailers. In less than a year, they have sold over 115,000 games and have no intentions of slowing down, with plans to release an expansion pack as early as Fall 2016 and international distribution this holiday season. They were recently featured in Success Magazine as one of five inspiring companies that rely on teamwork to be successful. Shannon has a B.A. in International Studies from Michigan State University and a TESOL Certificate from the SIT Graduate Institute. She lives in Oak Park, IL and has one son, Cavan, age 5. Email: shannon@utternonsensegame.com
Website: www.utternonsensegame.com |
Lis Martin, Owner, Statement Communications
5 Marketing Tips to Get Your Business Noticed
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Lis is the owner of Statement Communications, a boutique marketing agency that helps companies find their voice in a crowded marketplace. She's written professionally for more than a decade, covering everything from tech-driven industry disruption to the best place to get a drink in Chicago. When she's not busy polishing her clients' messaging, you can find Lis sweating it out at barre class, baking banana bread or rescuing her young daughters from the top of the slide.
lis@statement-communications.com |
Kelley Kitley, LCSW SERENDIPITOUS PSYCHOTHERAPY, LLC
Don’t Take No for an Answer - Get that Book Published
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Kelley Kitley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice and owner of SERENDIPITOUS PSYCHOTHERAPY, LLC in downtown Chicago. She has been a featured Expert Contributor in The Wall Street Journal, Shape, SELF, Huffington Post, Women’s Health Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Parent Magazine, and dozens more. She is an International Women’s Mental Health Expert specializing in postpartum issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationships. She is in the final stages of editing her biographical fiction novel about a woman who champions her own life by helping others do the same to be released December 2016.
www.kelleykitley.com |