Beauty and the Bias

Shifting the perception of female leaders in the workplace is a marathon, not a sprint. Get in the race now by joining a positive and empowering conversation on May 15th with AAFCM as we host our third annual panel discussion with a diverse group of Minnesota business women.

It should go without saying that this is not about waging war against men. It’s about amplifying incredible female talent. It’s about understanding that we’re all in this together. From corporate America to small business ownership, we’ll cover what it takes to knock down both real and perceived walls women face at work, online and beyond. This is one event you don’t want to miss!

PS: There will be wine & appetizers, too.

Venue: Cooper Collective
Date: Wednesday, May 15th
Time: 5:00-5:30 drinks + apps + socializing and then 5:30-7:00 panel + discussion

Meet the Panelists

Shannon Wiger, Business Development Director @ Moss & Barnett + Vice President/Co-Owner of Spring Hill Capital

Shannon is business development director at the law firm of Moss & Barnett, with offices in Minneapolis and St. Cloud where she helps the next generation of businesses grow and thrive.

Shannon Wiger is also vice president and co-owner at Spring Hill Capital, a company focused on historic and commercial real estate development where she leads historic tax credit compliance and design. Projects include several of the most significant historic properties in Central MN, including the First National Bank of St. Cloud building which earned the “2017 Top Project Award” from Minneapolis Finance & Commerce and “Project of the Year” from Preservation Alliance of Minnesota.

Shannon was named one of St. Cloud Times 2018 “5 Under 40” business leaders in Central MN, was the Downtown Council’s Urban Hero Award recipient for economic impact in 2017 and 2018, and received the City of St. Cloud’s Rock On Award in 2018.

She was on the local organizing committee for Hockey Day MN 2018, is an advisor at Great North Labs venture fund, and is actively co-launching a tech accelerator in greater Minnesota. Shannon is also involved with the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation and the McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship at Saint Ben’s and St. John’s University.

Cynthia Terlouw (CeCe), Founder & Executive Director of Terebinth Refuge

CeCe Terlouw is the Founder and Executive Director of Terebinth Refuge a place of hope and healing for sex trafficked and exploited women. CeCe Has been working to bring healing, education and to combat the problem of human slavery since 2003 beginning at the Heartland Girls’ Ranch in Benson, MN. CeCe has been actively involved at the state level with Minnesota’s Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force and was involved in designing and implementing the MN Safe Harbor, No Wrong Door Model for Youth.  CeCe developed the Heartland Girls’ Ranch, Hearts for Freedom Program for sexually exploited girls. She is now addressing the lack of services for adult female victims through Terebinth Refuge a new non-profit in the St. Cloud, MN community. CeCe serves on the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Multi-Disciplinary Team. She is often asked to speak to groups to educate and raise awareness concerning the issue of sex trafficking and exploitation.

Michelle Johnson,  Founder and CEO of Kickstands

Michelle Johnson is Founder and CEO of Kickstands, a versatile fashion-meets-function accessory that gives traditional pumps a fresh new look and prevents the dreaded “heel slip.” Made entirely in the USA, they are available at kickstands.com and at selected boutiques around the country.

Kickstands have been featured on Fox 5 San Diego, Working Mother magazine, Inventor’s Digest, and elsewhere, and Michelle has spoken at various industry and community events, including 1 Million Cups, the Kauffman Foundation program designed to educate, engage and inspire entrepreneurs around the country.

Separately, Michelle has built a successful career as a consultant to the healthcare industry, specializing in leadership strategy. Michelle’s consulting experience spans community-based health systems, academic medical centers, specialty hospitals, and physician group practices. For over 15 years, she has designed leadership strategies to identify top talent, nurture executive teams, and position organizations for success in complex and dynamic healthcare environments. Her expertise includes organizational design, performance management, compensation structures, governance best practices, succession planning, and executive search.

Michelle has served in multiple leadership roles over the years, including leading the Minneapolis office of a national healthcare consultancy for over five years. She recently joined a Chicago-based firm that recruits leaders for organizations committed to improving the quality of life.

Michelle speaks at industry conferences and events and is a notable author in healthcare publications. She was a featured author in the American Hospital Association’s Center for Healthcare Governance Monograph Series. She is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and WorldatWork.

Melinda Tamm, Founder, Owner and CEO of Ms. Melinda’s Dance Studio

Melinda is the founder, owner and CEO of Ms. Melinda’s Dance Studio. She has over thirty years of experience in all areas of dance, including 25 years as an instructor for all ages and abilities. She also spent multiple years as a professional NFL cheerleader, dancer and choreographer. Melinda graduated from St. Cloud State University with a B.S. in Education. Melinda has won multiple choreography and performance awards throughout the years. She is also a community leader, serving on the Paramount board of directors, the Holly Ball planning committee and volunteering for the Women’s Fund.