The conference that delivers
DYNAMIC WORKSHOPS
with lasting impact
2023 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
CHERYL HARRISON-LEE
Interim County Administrator
About the Keynote Speaker:
Ms. Cheryl Harrison–Lee is currently serving as the Interim County Administrator for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS. Ms. Harrison-Lee holds a graduate degree from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the
University of South Carolina. She is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. Ms. Harrison-Lee’s experience includes employment in statewide, regional, and local government sector as well as private consulting firms. She is an accomplished municipal administrator in Florida and Kansas. Her experience includes the City of Orlando, City of Daytona Beach, City of Titusville, City of Gardner, and the City of Ormond Beach as well as the Kansas Board of Regents. She has one son. During her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and watching sports.
2023 CONFERENCE PRESENTERS
KNOW YOUR WORTH IN THE COMMUNITY
Cultivating Your Community
PRESENTED BY:
Stacy Ward Lattin, Co-Owner - Hopping Gnome Brewing Company
The past couple of years have tested our ability to connect and engage with each other in meaningful ways. Whether you feel over-connected or alone on an island, we'll talk through what it means to be a part of a community, how to leverage our communities to reach our goals, and how to better contribute to communities for continued growth and stability.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Stacy owns a microbrewery and taproom with her husband Torrey. While he focuses on brewing the beer, Stacy works on events, marketing, social media, and business development. Hopping Gnome Brewing is located in Wichita's historic Douglas Design District where Stacy has served as board President, helping to plan and organize events including the Wicked Brew Tour and Small Business Saturday.
She also serves on The Women’s Network board and is involved in various committees including the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce Small Business Committee, and the Mayor's Small Business Advisory Board. Stacy founded the Ceiling Breakers ICT podcast and Craft Beverage Ladies of Central Kansas group, and serves as a Wichita Insider & guest blog writer with Choose Wichita.
Stacy has a passion for speaking and loves sitting on panels with fellow business owners and community leaders. She has presented on the following topics with local organizations and groups including the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Wichita State University, Butler Community College, WeKan Empowerher Conference, Cox Communications Women’s Equality Day lunch, The Hive Wichita, Greater Wichita Partnership, and Visit Wichita.
● Small Business Branding and Marketing
● Social Media Content Planning
● Small Business Partnerships: Collaboration, Creativity, & Community
● Charitable Giving & Community Engagement
● Women & Leadership: Past, Present, and Future
● My Favorite F Word: The History of Feminism
Stacy has a background in nonprofit management and received a Master's in Organizational Leadership from Fort Hays State University, where she continues to teach an online Women and Leadership course as an adjunct professor. Stacy believes that collaboration and building relationships are keys to growing a successful small business.
KNOW YOUR PERSONAL WORTH
PRESENTED BY:
Shelly Prichard, President & CEO - Wichita Foundation
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Shelly has led the Foundation since 2012, deepening WF’s community impact through the stewardship of more than $106 million in charitable community assets. She collaborates with staff, Board and community leaders to achieve a shared vision of building a better Wichita. Shelly was the CEO for the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland, helping 15,000 girls and 5,000 volunteers. She was the Executive Director for Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas, now Empowered, prior to her Girl Scout role.
Shelly is a Kansas native who grew up on a farm outside of Newton, where she learned the value of community at a young age. When Shelly’s not serving at St. Thomas Aquinas or cheering on the Wildcats, she enjoys cooking, reading and spending time outside with her husband and rescue dog. Shelly earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in journalism and mass communications at Kansas State University.
She currently is a trustee for the Kansas 4-H Foundation and a board member for the Wichita Beacon, the Greater Wichita Partnership, and the Wichita Estate Planning Council. Her extensive past board service includes Wichita Rotary, K-State Alumni, and Young Presidents Organization.
Panel Discussion: Born to Unite
In this panel discussion, our panel of professionals will speak to their experience uniting with and across communities for change and how that factors differently in a virtual vs. real world post covid.
MODERATOR:
CARLA ECKELS: KNOW YOUR WORTH CONFERENCE EMCEE, DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY FOR NEWS AND ENGAGEMENT, KMUW
Carla Eckels is Director of Cultural Diversity for News and Engagement at KMUW. She has been an award-winning announcer and news producer for KMUW since 1996. Carla also produces and hosts the R&B and gospel show Soulsations that airs Sundays at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. She annually emcees Gospelfest at the Wichita River Festival and was voted Best Disc Jockey by subscribers of The Community Voice. Prior to coming to KMUW, Carla was the local host for NPR’s Morning Edition at WYSO in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and co-hosted a nationally syndicated gospel radio show in Cincinnati. Carla was also program director for KIBN, the Inspirational Black Network in Wichita, hosted the Joyful Sounds gospel show on Q92-FM and produced the number one gospel radio show on KSJM 107.9 JAMZ from 2004 to 2007. In November 2020, Carla was inducted into The Kansas African American Museum's Trailblazers Hall of Fame for her work in broadcast/journalism.
PANELISTS:
Micaela Ramirez beat the odds in graduating high school as a teen mom, she is the first in her family to graduate college in 2016 from Tabor College. Upon completion of her business degree, she was hired at Koch Industries and while she was excelling in her position, she knew there was more to be done in this great state. In taking on the role of Executive Director for the Kansas Hispanic Education & Development Foundation she saw her passion to help others grow. In the past two and half years she has created a strategic plan and implemented a high-quality vision to ensure that the KHEDF strives to reach its mission. She has also doubled the staff and volunteers to increase the foundation's network in donations to help more Hispanic youth across the state. Micaela's number one passion and motivation is her family. Micaela and her partner, Jose, have four children Jose, Arrelia, Hugo, and Yuridia, and a family dog, Luz. She currently serves on the board of directors for Passageways, Ltd., Wichita Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Wichita Chapter.
Dr. Kaye Monk-Morgan has recently been named President and CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC), a Kansas-based non-profit organization “that offers leadership development programs to foster stronger, healthier and more prosperous communities and serve the common good.” Kaye leverages 30 years of experience as a higher education administrator in her work developing strategies that measure and enhance the impact of KLC and its services, as well as serving on the teaching faculty.
An active community servant, Monk-Morgan has served on non-profit and corporate boards at the local, state, regional and national levels, including The Kansas African American Museum. Monk-Morgan is an advocate for education and has earned multiple academic credentials herself, including a Bachelor of Chemistry/Business, a Master of Arts in Public Administration and Doctorate in Educational Leadership.
Most important to Kaye is that she is a mentor, mentee, daughter, auntie, wife, and most importantly a mother. She is a life-long learner, aspiring yogi, and wannabe long-distance runner. She lives in Wichita, KS with her husband of 25 years, Derek, and young adult sons, Payton, and Cameron.
Sarah Lopez was born in Wichita, Kansas and raised in a union machinist household. She attended area public schools and graduated from Wichita Technical Institute’s Program for Information Technology and Network Administration. Sarah is serving her first term as County Commissioner for Sedgwick County’s District 2, which includes parts of Wichita, Haysville, and Clearwater.
Prior to her service as County Commissioner, Sarah spent 15 years working for Ascension Via-Christi Healthcare System. She first provided clinical care and then worked the next 10 years in IT / Business Management. Sarah was promoted multiple times throughout her career with Ascension Technologies because of her strong work ethic and ability to be solution oriented as part of a team. She is excited to bring her healthcare background to the Board of Health as well as her technical experience to the County Commission.
Sarah currently serves on multiple Boards, which include the HealthCore Clinic and is a member of W – A Community of Young Professionals and the Young Latino Professionals of Wichita.
She is committed to the health, safety, and prosperity of our hard working families in Sedgwick County. Sarah will spend her time focusing on expanding community access to quality mental healthcare services and bringing more well-paying jobs and business opportunities to south Sedgwick County.
Sarah has three children; all baptized at St. Anne’s Catholic Church and attend Haysville Public Schools. In her free time, you might find her with her son at her oldest daughter’s swim meets (Go Haysville Piranhas!) or on the sideline at her younger daughter’s soccer games.
Denise Sherman serves as the Executive Director for The Kansas African American Museum (TKAAM). During her tenure at the museum, she has elevated the African American story, experiences and contributions to society through the WE ARE CULTURE positioning statement. Focusing on African American art exhibitions, history and education, TKAAM offers in-person and virtual programming, cultural events and cultural awareness training. Prior to joining TKAAM, Denise held positions in higher education, as well as owned several businesses including media, manufacturing, and consulting services.