2007 Speakers

Tom Aller
Ann Atkinson
Donna Katen-Bahensky
Mary Ann Bauman, M.D.
Terry Boles
Amy Johnson Boyle
Dianne Bystrom
Lee Clancey
Tara Cronbaugh
Jane Delgado, Ph.D.
Janice Reals Ellig
Dick Ferguson, Ph.D.
Sandy Helton
Arianna Huffington
Karen Katen
Ilene Lang
Donna Lopiano, Ph.D.
Stephanie Marston

Liz Mathis
Susan Neely
Nancy Quellhorst
Christine Scheetz
Alisa Shakespeare
Cheryl L. Shavers, Ph.D.
Donna Sorensen
Heidi Steiger
Kristen Stephens
C. Vivian Stringer
Dick Summerwill
Mary Ann Tocio
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
Marie Wilson
Connie Benton Wolfe
Dianne Young
LarryZimpleman

Tom Aller

Panel Dicussion: Talent Identification and Development/Mentorship
Tom Aller is the President of Interstate Power and Light Co., an Alliant Energy company. Mr. Aller received his BA in Political Science (cum laude) from Creighton University and his MA in Municipal Administration at the University of Iowa. He currently serves on a number of boards including the Iowa Utilities Association Board, Priority One Advisory Board and the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and numerous other educational, civic, charitable and philanthropic boards and commissions.

Ann Atkinson

Strategic Thinking
Ann Atkinson, Ed.D. is a speaker, trainer, and organizational consultant with an advanced degree in business leadership education. She has had her own consulting practice for over 30 years, specializing in strategic and organizational planning and design, executive coaching, board of director training, leadership mastery, organizational culture, economic development, emotional intelligence and managing change.

Donna Katen-Bahensky

Opening Remarks
Donna Katen-Bahensky is director and chief executive officer of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center. Katen-Bahensky came to UI Hospitals and Clinics in late August 2002 from the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals and Clinics of the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, where she was executive vice president and chief operating officer. She also held positions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center including chief operating officer, vice chancellor for business and finance, and vice president of Ambulatory Care Services.

Mary Ann Bauman, M.D.

Fighting Fatigue
Dr. Mary Ann Bauman received her medical degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan in 1978. For nine years, she served in a variety of teaching, practice, and administrative positions on medical school faculties including Wayne State University, the University of South Dakota, and the University of Oklahoma. In 1991, she joined Baptist Medical Center, which later became INTEGRIS Health Inc. as Medical Director of the Women's Center and is now the Medical Director for Women's Health and Community Relations. Her presentation about the link between emotional and physical health is based on her new book: Fight Fatigue - Six Simple Steps to Maximize Your Energy.

Terry Boles

Negotiation Skills
Terry Boles is an Associate Professor of Management and Organizations, and the Henry B. Tippie Research Fellow at the Henry B. Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa. She holds a BS and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and was a Visiting Professor of Organizational Behavior at the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University. Boles' research focuses on the ways in which individual differences (in social motives and personality) affect negotiation strategy and reactions to conflict. She also examines the effects of deception and retribution in repeated negotiation contexts.

Amy Johnson Boyle

Effective Communication Strategies/Media Relations
Amy Johnson Boyle is a native of Minneapolis and a graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. After working in Bowdoin's Public Relations Office after graduation, Amy went on to earn her master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University in 1987. Amy then landed a job as a reporter at KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids, where she was named the station's main weeknight anchor, a position she held for more than a decade.
In late 2000, Amy left TV to accept a job at Coe College as Director of Marketing and Public Relations. In March of 2003, Amy left Coe to accept a position as Director of Marketing & Communications at the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. This move put her back in the heart of the community she loves.

Dianne Bystrom

Public Policymaking
Dr. Dianne Bystrom, the director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, has personal and professional experience in covering, working in, and studying political campaigns. She earned a B.A. in Journalism in 1975 from Kearney (NE) State College and an M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication in 1982 and a Ph.D. in Communication in 1995 from the University of Oklahoma. Her current research interests focus on (1) the styles and strategies used by women and men political candidates in their television advertising, Web sites and speeches and (2) the coverage of women candidates and political leaders by the media. She is a frequent commentator about political and women's issues for state and national media.

Lee Clancey

Community Activism
Lee Clancey has had a broad cross-section of leadership experiences in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. She brings a level of expertise that allows her to effectively assist businesses, organizations, and governments with strategic planning, organizational effectiveness and transformation, and quality initiatives. Previous to joining the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce as president/CEO, Lee was a partner in Tricend, a business consulting firm serving the Corridor area. Lee also served as Senior Vice President/Account Management Group Director with BVS Performance Systems and as Mayor of Cedar Rapids for six years.

Tara Cronbaugh

Entrepreneurship 101
While still a student at The University of Iowa, Tara Cronbaugh pursued her dream of opening a coffee house in downtown Iowa City. During her senior year of college, Tara worked with UI Professor John Buchanan to develop a plan for opening The Java House. In April 1994, the first Java House was opened with a second larger location opening shortly thereafter. Since then, Tara has expanded her business and successfully launched several new Java House locations throughout Iowa City. Her experience allows her to bring real-world insight and advice in the areas of starting a business with limited funds, and staff development.

Jane Delgado, Ph.D.

Strategies for a Better Life
Jane L. Delgado, Ph.D., M.S. is President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance). Alliance members serve over 14 million consumers annually. She is a trustee of the Kresge Foundation, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Northern Virginia Health Foundation, and the Health Foundation for the Americas and serves on McDonald's Global Advisory Council, National Advisory Council for Mrs. Rosalyn Carter's Task Force on Mental Health, and RWJ's National Advisory Committee on Hospice and Palliative Care. She has received numerous awards and authored SALUD! A Latina's Guide to Total Health. The Ladies Home Journal named her as one of seven "Women to Watch...unsung heroines who are forging ahead to improve our health."

Janice Reals Ellig

Branding You - Successful Marketing Strategies
With over 20 years of corporate recruiting experience, Janice has worked extensively with top management and Boards of Directors on organizational development, executive compensation, succession planning and branding initiatives. Janice previously served as a Senior Vice President with Ambac Financial Group, a diversified financial services company.Prior to Ambac, Janice held positions at Citibank, where she had worldwide Human Resource responsibility for the Global Insurance Division and at Pfizer in their Consumer Products Division.

In May 2007, the second book Janice has co-authored will be published. Driving The Career Highway, 20 Road Signs You Can't Afford To Miss (Thomas Nelson) will offer a virtual road map that illustrates the twenty most compelling problems that can cause people to detour, stall, get lost or crash on their own career path.

Dick Ferguson, Ph.D.

Panel Discussion: Talent Identification and Development Mentorship
Richard L. Ferguson joined ACT in 1972 and has served as the Chief Executive Officer since 1988. He assumed the additional role of Chairman, ACT Board of Directors, in 2002. In these dual roles, he is responsible for providing leadership both for the corporation and its governance. As ACT's chief executive, his role encompasses strategic visioning and futures planning for the corporation, as well as leadership in the pursuit of ACT's mission. Throughout his career, he has conducted and published research on various issues related to educational testing and measurement and has served as principal investigator in numerous research projects. Dr. Ferguson is also actively engaged in community service agencies. He has served on numerous Boards including Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program, the United Way of Johnson County, Mercy Hospital, and the Iowa City Area Development Council.

Sandy Helton

Corporate Board Responsibilities
Sandra L. Helton was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. from September 1998 until January 2007. She was responsible for TDS' corporate finance, accounting, treasury, information systems, Corporate Secretary, investor relations, and strategic planning activities. Sandy is a Director of Principal Financial Group, a leading global financial institution; Covance, Inc. one of the largest drug development services companies; and Northwestern Memorial Healthcare, the teaching hospital of Northwestern University's School of Medicine. She previously served as a Director of United States Cellular Corporation, TDS' publicly traded subsidiary; Lukens Inc., a steel manufacturing corporation; and numerous non-profit organizations.

Arianna Huffington

On Becoming Fearless: In Life, Love and Work
Arianna Huffington is a nationally syndicated columnist, author of eleven books, and the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post. She is also co-host of "Left, Right & Center," public radio's popular political roundtable program. In May 2005, she launched The Huffington Post, a news and blog site that has quickly become one of the most widely read, linked to, and frequently cited media brands on the Internet. In 2006, she was named to the Time 100, Time magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people. Originally from Greece, she moved to England at the age of sixteen to attend Cambridge University. She graduated with an M.A. in economics. At 21, she became president of the famed debating society, the Cambridge Union. Her latest book is On Becoming Fearless . . . In Love, Work, And Life.

Karen Katen

Adapting to Change
Karen Katen is Vice Chairman of Pfizer Inc. Most recently, Karen served as President of Pfizer Human Health, overseeing the discovery, development, manufacture, distribution and commercialization of prescription medicines, as well as providing a broad array of innovative human-health services. Karen is a director on the boards of the General Motors Corporation and the Harris Corporation. She also serves on the Catalyst Board, the RAND Corporation's Health Board of Advisors, and the Economic Club of New York Board of Trustees. She is a Trustee for her alma mater, the University of Chicago, and is a council member of the school's Graduate School of Business.

Ilene Lang

Women In Corporate Leadership: A Competitive Business Advantage
Ilene Lang is the President of Catalyst, the leading research and advisory organization working with businesses and the professions to build inclusive environments and expand opportunities for women at work. Ms. Lang was appointed President in August 2003 after a long and illustrious career in the technology industry. As President of Catalyst, Ms. Lang regularly addresses national and international groups of senior leaders in a variety of business, academic, and public policy venues. Ms. Lang is an expert on the advancement of women in corporations and professional firms, workforce demographic trends, the business case for women's career development, innovative strategies for retaining and advancing women, and work-life balance issues.

Donna Lopiano, Ph.D.

Risk Taking
Donna Lopiano, Ph.D. is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Women's Sports Foundation and was recently named one of "The 10 Most Powerful Women in Sports" by Fox Sports. The Sporting News has also listed her as one of "The 100 Most Influential People in Sports." She received her bachelor's degree from Southern Connecticut State University and her master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern California. She has been a college coach of men's and women's volleyball, women's basketball and softball.

Stephanie Marston

Living a Meaning Driven Life
Stephanie Marston is an internationally published author, acclaimed speaker and life-quality expert. She is the author of 30 Days to Sanity: Create a Life you Love, Chicken Soup's Life Lessons For Women: 7 Essential Ingredients For a Balanced Life and If Not Now, When? Reclaiming Ourselves at Midlife. Stephanie is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 25 years' experience in work/life balance and women's issues.

Liz Mathis

Event Emcee
Liz Mathis has been appearing on Eastern Iowa television for almost 30 years. She's been at KCRG-TV9 since 1998 as co-anchor of the five and six o'clock news. Liz also serves as the Internship Coordinator in the newsroom and works with college students from several Iowa Universities and Colleges. Liz graduated from the University of Iowa in 1980 with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication and Broadcasting and Film (double major). She was a UI adjunct professor there in 2002. Prior to coming to KCRG, she was the Communication Arts Department Chair at Wartburg College, teaching broadcast journalism and first amendment law classes. She also spent 16 years at KWWL-TV in Waterloo, where she was Executive Producer and the first female co-anchor of the evening news.

Susan Neely

Out of the Back Room into the Living Room
Former Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Susan has 25-years experience in senior communications and management positions in the public and private sector. She is currently the president of the American Beverage Association (ABA) where she provides expertise in health policy and communications. She has also held leadership positions on the staffs of Governor Terry Branstad (IA), Congressman Sid Morrison (WA) and Congressman Jim Leach (IA). Susan served as an executive at the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Health Insurance Association of America. A graduate of the University of Iowa in journalism and French civilization, Susan has a Master of Public Administration from Drake University.

Nancy Quellhorst

Community Activism
Nancy Quellhorst is the President and CEO of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, where she leads the Chamber's strategic development, works with allied partners, and organizations and manages the Chamber's operations. Previously, Quellhorst served as the Vice President of the Environmental Project, opened a satellite office of The Workplace Learning Connection, and Directed the Business/Education Partnership in Lawrence, Kansas.

Christine Scheetz

Choosing to Care: When Professional Women Face Family Health Issues
Christine Scheetz is Director of Community and Patient Relations at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. She chairs the economic and community development council for the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, co-chairs the basic and emergency needs council for United Way of Johnson County, is president-elect designate of the Society for Healthcare Consumer Advocacy and president-elect of the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance. Scheetz has over 20 years experience in health and human services administration, policy development and planning. She holds received a B.A. from The University of Iowa, and is pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree at Drake University.

Alisa Shakespeare

Taking it to the Next Level
Alisa Shakespeare started Shakespeare Chocolates making chocolate roses in Fairfax, Iowa using two electric fry pans. She worked out of a 500 square foot building, but grew out of it shortly. She relocated her company to a 1500 square foot building and then to a 3000 square foot building. As sales increased, she realized she would not be able to stay in Fairfax and moved to a 6000 square foot plant, which later was converted into over 12,000 square feet in less than three years. Currently, Shakespeare Chocolates operates an 116,000 square foot plant in Davenport, Iowa and employs 125 people. Their chocolate products are produced for companies such as Target, QVC, Williams Sonoma, Marshall Fields, and Factory Card Outlet, among others.

Cheryl L. Shavers, Ph.D.

Corporate Board Responsibilities
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Global Smarts, Inc., Dr. Shavers has been a director at Rockwell Collins since September 2002. She is a member of the Board Nominating and Governance Committee and the Technology Committee. Dr. Shavers has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Smarts, Inc. since February 2001. She also serves as a director of ATMI, Inc. and serves on the Advisory Board for E.W. Scripps Company. She served as Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology for the United States Department of Commerce from November 1999 to February 2001 after having served as its Under Secretary Designate from April 1999 to November 1999. She served as Sector Manager, Microprocessor Products Group for Intel Corporation prior to April 1999. She served as non-executive chairman of BitArts Ltd. from 2001 to December 2003.

Donna Sorensen

Disconnected by Change
During Donna J. Sorensen's twenty-year executive management career she provided leadership during mergers, acquisitions, downsizings, consolidations, management changes and restructurings. In her consulting practice she draws on this "front line" experience to help organizations deal with change and assist senior leadership with closing the reality gap that often exists between decision makers and employees charged with implementing those decisions. Donna holds a B.A. from Marycrest College and a J.D. from The University of Iowa College of Law. Ms. Sorensen currently Chairs the Brucemore National Historic Trust Board of Trustees and has been appointed by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to the Iowa Values Fund Loan Guarantee Board.

Heidi Steiger

Wealthy & Wise
Heidi is currently President of Lowenhaupt Global Advisors, which provides complete and customized family office solutions to ultra high net worth families worldwide. Prior to this she served as head of Neuberger Berman's Private Asset Management business where she served on the firm's six-person Executive Management Committee, National Trust Company, and on its Foundation. The author of numerous articles on financial decision-making and investments Heidi also edited Wealthy & Wise: Secrets about Money which was selected by Barron's as one of the best investment books for 2002. She is a frequent speaker on topics ranging from estate planning to asset allocation and mutual funds, and has spoken before the Institute for Private Investors, the Family Wealth Alliance, and Fortune's Most Powerful Women in Business — among many others. Her television appearances include CNBC, PBS, and CNNfn. Heidi serves on the corporate boards of Aviva USA and Nuclear Electric Insurance Ltd. as well as several not-for-profit organizations.

Kristen Stephens

Wealthy & Wise
Kristen Stephens is a life and business coach, and owner and executive director of Eastwind School located in the Hotel Vetro building in downtown Iowa City, specializing in body, mind and spirit education. She has been the owner or partner in many successful business ventures for the past two decades and has been a guest speaker at the University of Iowa Business School teaching her class entitled.....The 10 Secrets to Business Success.

C. Vivian Stringer

Reaching Your Highest Potential
Rutgers head coach and Women's Basketball Hall-of-Fame inductee C. Vivian Stringer has catapulted three different programs from obscurity to national prominence in her three decades as a head coach. Named one of the "101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports" by Sports Illustrated in 2003, Stringer continues to be one of the most recognized coaches in the game. She helped lead Team USA to a gold medal as an assistant coach for the 2004 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team in Athens, Greece. The 2005 BIG EAST Coach of the Year, Stringer will be inducted into the New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame in October of 2005. At The University of Iowa, Stringer built a program that helped elevate women's basketball to a whole new level.

Dick Summerwill

Thursday P.M. Men's Panel on Developing Talent
W. Richard Summerwill joined Iowa State Bank & Trust Company in 1963 where he served as President & CEO Officer from 1984 until his retirement on December 31, 2000. Dick currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Iowa State Bank & Trust Company and ISB Financial Corp He continues to be active in several national and state banking organizations. Throughout his career and personal life, Dick's leadership skills, support for the arts and women's athletics, economic development efforts, and compassion for others have brought benefits to the community.

Mary Ann Tocio

Workplace Flexibility
Mary Ann Tocio is President and Chief Operating Officer of Bright Horizons' domestic and global operations. She also has overarching responsibility for human resources, construction and facility management, program development and education services, administration, and information technology. Mary Ann joined Bright Horizons in 1992 with many years of experience managing a multi-site service organization and more than 20 years of experience in the health care industry. She was previously the Senior Vice President of Operations for Health Stop Medical Management, Inc., in Boston, a national provider of ambulatory care and occupational health services. Ms. Tocio is one of the few women in the U.S. to serve as President of a public company. She received her MBA from Simmons College Graduate School of Management.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

Women Taking Power Seriously
As Maryland's first woman Lt. Governor, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend was responsible for managing the everyday functions of government as well as overseeing ten thousand employees. As Chair of the Cabinet Council on Business and Economic Development, Lt. Governor Townsend led Maryland's economic development initiatives. She created the first statewide office of Character Education to make sure that schools focused on values and taught our students right from wrong. Before being elected Lt. Governor, Mrs. Townsend served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the United States and spent seven years as the founder and director of the Maryland Student Service Alliance. Townsend has taught foreign policy at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Marie Wilson

Closing The Leadership Gap
An advocate of women's issues for more than 30 years, Marie Wilson is founder and President of the White House Project, co-creator of Take our Daughters to Work Day and author of Closing the Leadership Gap: Why Women Can and Must Help Run the World. Wilson started the White House Project while she was still President of the Ms. Foundation for Women, a position she held from 1984 to 2004.

Connie Benton Wolfe

Choosing to Care: When Professional Women Face Family Health Issues
Connie Benton Wolfe has worked as a leader in the nonprofit sector at both the national and community levels for over twenty-five years. Currently, she holds the position of Chief Professional Officer of the United Way of Johnson County. Prior to this position, she served as CEO of the National Meals on Wheels Foundation and the National Association of Aging Services Programs. Benton-Wolfe was also the CEO of Elder Services, a regional resource serving east-central Iowa's seniors and their caregivers. Wolfe has been a featured speaker and consultant in over 30 states and internationally, focusing on aging and caregiver issues. She is known for her ability to provide both professional and personal insight (and a great deal of humor) into the realities of providing care for aging parents and children with special needs.

Dianne Young

Entrepreneurship 101
Dianne Young has been a business owner since college. She has founded, owned and sold more than 10 businesses in several different industries. She currently owns Salon Studios, a Salon Management Firm, with over 60 tenants in the cosmetology industry. Her experience includes teaching Entrepreneurial Studies at the college level and several years consulting small business owners, most recently as a Trainer for Dale Carnegie Training. In addition to having a wealth of experience working with businesses of all sizes, Dianne also has a successful track record in sales and marketing.

Larry Zimpleman

Panel Dicussion: Talent Identification and Development/Mentorship
Larry D. Zimpleman is President and Chief Operating Officer of The Principal Financial Group and a member of the Board of Directors. He joined the company in 1971. Mr. Zimpleman is active in various industry and community organizations, including: past President and Board member of the American Academy of Actuaries; Fellow of the Society of Actuaries; member of the Executive Committee of the Employee Benefit Research Institute; and Delegate in 2002 and 2006 to the National Savings Summit held in Washington, D.C. Mr. Zimpleman earned his bachelor's degree and his master's degree in business administration from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.