Sukie Baxter
Sponsored by the Seattle/Bellevue, WA Chapter

Out of Seattle, Washington, Sukie Baxter has mixed business with her passion and created Functional Balance, a business that provides therapeutic services to athletes and active individuals, specializing in equestrian athletes. After volunteering with People Helping Horses, Sukie developed an innovative way to give back to the community and horses with the Horsefeathers Campaign. The campaign includes creating t-shirts that are ecologically printed on 100% organic shirts with 10% of the proceeds donated to rescue organizations such as the Hooved Animal Humane Society and the Unwanted Horse Coalition.

Allison Beggs
Sponsored by the Greeley, CO Chapter

Allison is a student at the University of Northern Colorado earning a degree in Business Administration. In addition to being a full-time student, she owns Contours Express, a health club that offers unlimited one-on-one training to all members. She also created Soul Blossoms: the Healing Power of Flowers, a business in which she paints personal flower portraits to share flowers’ healing effect. In her spare time, Allison helps mentally challenged young women gain hands-on experience in the workplace by sponsoring a work study program at her health club.

Rebecca Bigsby
Sponsored by the Atlanta, GA Chapter

Rebecca began Ignite & Empower, a personal training gym in Georgia in order to encourage women to become physically fit as a way to enrich their lives. In addition to owning the gym, she began the fundraiser “Miles for Maddy”, in which she ran 5 marathons in 5 months in order to raise funds for Madison Faith Ringenberg, who suffers from DiGeorge’s Syndrome. Maddy’s mother attributes the success of the fundraiser to Rebecca’s motivation, determination, and willingness to give of herself.  

Alayna Ellis
Sponsored by the Boise, ID Chapter

Rising above much adversity and leaving home at 16, Alayna received her high school diploma with honors, while working a full-time job to support herself. She then went to Boise State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance while parenting her 2 children with her husband. Now a Financial Services Professional in Boise, Idaho, Alayna has made an impressive rise to Executive Council at New York Life Insurance in only 9 months.

Luisa Gavino-Martinez
Sponsored by the Houston, TX Chapter

Over the course of four years, Luisa Gavino-Martinez earned a BS in Sociology, a BS in US Latino Studies, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Studies from Stanford University. After graduation, she went on to become the youngest elected Board Chair of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas. Luisa was a founding member of the Amigos Austin group, which empowers young leaders, promotes community development and strengthens multicultural understanding for people of the Americas. In order to communicate the importance of understanding and accepting diversity in her professional life, she founded the Wells Fargo Diversity Council.

Sarah Keith
Sponsored by the Colorado Springs, CO Chapter

A graduate from the University of Colorado at Denver, Sarah has a degree in Environmental Design and a master’s degree in Landspace Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning. Currently a Landscape Architect, she designs new parks, renovates community playgrounds, and insures that land is being given for future parks and the betterment of the Denver community. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity. Among her many philanthropic activities, she volunteers at Lifting Off Academy Child Care Center to remodel and renovate playgrounds in order to insure safe equipment for children.

Winner of the 2008 Emerging Leader of the Year

Stephanie Kelly Siwek
Sponsored by the Minneapolis, MN Chapter

From Bloomington, Minnesota, Stephanie received a promotion from business development banker to commercial banker, a traditionally male-dominated profession, in an unprecedented three years. Additionally she is the only female commercial lender on the team and focuses her efforts in helping women-owned businesses. She also volunteers at Simpson House, a shelter for the homeless in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A recent offer to consider a Board of Directors position at Simpson House inspires Stephanie to not only use her business skills, but also her mentoring capabilities to make a significant impact in the community.

Jennifer Martin
Sponsored by the St.Charles, MO Chapter

A chiropractic physician in Saint Charles, Missouri, Jennifer Martin, D.C. spends her days helping people and the community not only with her practice, but also with her heart to serve the community.  One example of Jennifer’s “giving back” is when she facilitated the Kidpower program, a six-month long campaign that performs events in local YMCA’s and Recreational Centers in order to educate children on health in the community. Through her dynamic speaking and coaching abilities, it is impossible to not experience her passion for healing and wellness among those around her.

Erin Murphy
Sponsored by the St. Louis, MO Chapter

An entrepreneur out of St. Louis, Missouri, Erin Murphy is dedicated to awakening people to their greatness within. Her company New Realms of Possibility, LLC, involves a unique combination of Serenity Vibration Healing and Metaphysical Life Coaching to assist people in releasing their limiting belief systems, thought patterns and habits. Erin is proud to follow her life’s purpose in helping others while embracing her own personal development. In order to best serve her community, she donates sessions to teach, heal and transform the effectiveness of those around her.

Nicole Myers
Sponsored by the Sonoma County, CA Chapter

If ever someone understood the value of teaching it is Nicole Myers, a gemologist out of Santa Rosa, California. Since teaching geology as a graduate student at the University of Texas, Nicole’s creative approach to education has enraptured students of all ages.  Above the demands of her job, she spends extensive time tutoring individuals and offering one-on-one help. Her passion for the earth and its individuals’ education is carried on through “Pele’s Precious Gems,” a gemstone jewelry line which she donates to scholarship funds through Connections Networking Group.

Cherié Page
Sponsored by the San Ramon, CA Chapter

A full-time student at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, California, Cherie’E plans to have her own practice once she graduates. This dream soon-to-be realized is a far cry from the abusive home and diversity-filled childhood of her beginnings. Overcoming countless emotional, spiritual, and financial obstacles, Cherie’E now demonstrates an unyielding persistence to making her mark on the community through volunteering her time to the ASPCA, being an active donor to Monkey World, and practicing the Reiki and Theta forms of healing pro bono for those in need.

Isabel Rasmussen
Sponsored by the San Francisco, CA Chapter

Isabel is the Founder of Serenity Consulting, which is a marketing and green consulting business that targets mind, body and soul service providers in the Bay Area. Currently working toward a Green MBA, Isabel is no stranger to trials and diversity throughout her life which awakened her “warrior within.” After seeking personal healing in community service trips to Antiqua, Guatemala and Burkina Faso, West Africa, she now seeks to provide healing providers with the business necessities to effectively reach people.

Allison Rudig
Sponsored by the South Placer, CA Chapter

An independent agent for Aflac, Allison Rudig believes that women uniting not only changes the world, but ultimately changes each other. This is the driving force behind her association with the Down Syndrome Information Alliance, an organization that raises awareness and helps newly diagnosed parents. The mother of a six-year-old boy with Down Syndrome and a DSIA Board Member, Allison served on the planning committee for the Celebration of Hope in 2007, and will serve on the planning committee for Affiliates in Action, which is a forum for the exchanging of ideas among Down Syndrome groups.

Sarah Schupp
Sponsored by the Boulder, CO Chapter

As a young college student, Sarah Schupp founded University Parent Media for parents of students, which produces institution-specific guides, e-newsletters and comprehensive websites of where to shop, eat, and stay while visiting their student. Now the CEO of her company, Sarah has grown her guide from 1 to nearly 150 universities over the course of four years. Additionally, she serves as a search and rescue volunteer for Front Range Rescue Dogs, in which she trains canines to conduct lost persons searches.

Becky Scoggins
Sponsored by the Winston Salem/Triad, NC Chapter

A Founder and Managing Partner of Bressler|Scoggins Literary Management, Becky Scoggins helps assists authors, primarily women, market their work, reach target media and gain recognition in the industry. She also assisted in founding the nationally recognized and active literacy campaign called Hooked on Books, which is funded by the Teague Foundation and helps underprivileged children purchase books for their personal use. Becky also assists Mamapalooza with their annual festival which empowers mothers in art, literacy and entrepreneurship. In addition, she is a well-known advocate for education and awareness concerning autism and does active speaking and awareness campaigns in support of her son who was diagnosed last year.

Jill Stockton
Sponsored by the Reno, NV Chapter

The Interim Communications Director at the University of Nevada, Reno, Jill is advancing Publics Relations as a profession by utilizing strategic planning, valuing professional development and sharing new found knowledge with peers. In addition, Jill is the Vice President of Membership in her local Public Relations Society of America and uses that platform to reach the community. She recently donated time teaching a media relations workshop to nonprofit organizations in order to give them relevant hands-on experience.

Ashleigh Womack
Sponsored by the Savannah, GA Chapter

Currently out of Savannah, Georgia, Ashleigh is a Financial Service Professional at New York Life Insurance Company. She spends most of her time volunteering for educational programs at local schools, such as raising money to stock a uniform closet for children at West Chatham Elementary. Another program is “Raising Financially Responsible Children”, which is part of a community collaborative curriculum that offers support to families. Ashleigh believes that any impact she has on her peers is a direct reciprocation of the impact they have on her.

Amina Zamani
Sponsored by the Elk Grove, CA Chapter

A graduate from California State University, Amina has a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Communication Studies and Recreation and Wellness. After attending the Semester at Sea program, at which students travel throughout Asia, India, Africa and South America, Amina gained a new perspective of the world. She used this new perspective to create Bu&Bu Group with her sister, in which she writes, hosts and produces feature length and short documentaries about Afghanistan as a way to serve citizens, promoting awareness through personal healing.