Beauty + The Bias: All-Female Panel Discussion

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 20th with AAFCM as we host our third annual panel discussion with a diverse group of Minnesota businesswomen.

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!

Venue: Apiary Coworking
Date: Thursday, May 20th
Time: 5:00-5:30 Happy Hour + socializing and then 5:30-7:00 panel + discussion

Meet the Panelists

Adelle Strain: Baby’s on Broadway

Have you ever been so obsessed with something you eat, sleep and breathe it? Meet Adelle, owner of Baby’s on Broadway! Since the day she found out she was pregnant, she became obsessed with all things mothering. There were so many useful and amazing products out there to make our crazy busy lives as mothers a little less hectic, and our tiny town, located in Central Minnesota, had a severe lack of these unique products. Adelle’s desire to touch and see the products, figure out what was worth the money, what was going to keep her little loves safe, and what made sense to buy in the beginning had her driving far distances to make purchases. So, after 12 years of being a real estate closer, she dove off the bridge and Baby’s on Broadway was born. 

Baby’s on Broadway is a specialty baby boutique in historic downtown Little Falls, Minnesota that carries everything you need to welcome home your new bundle of joy! Located on 47 East Broadway in Little Falls, Baby’s on Broadway carries everything from all-natural infant skincare to mom-care products to quality-crafted nursery furniture all at competitive prices. We are your one-stop-shop for everything that parenthood brings. She is also a mother to two little loves, Remington and Flynn.

Jane Johanns: New American Funding

Jane is a seasoned mortgage planner and expert in the purchase market with more than 20 years experience in the mortgage industry. She is passionate about educating her clients during the mortgage process and helping them make the best possible choices for their financial goals. Jane is committed to delivering exceptional value to each and every loan transaction. She has a lot of fun doing what she does everyday and feels very blessed to help her clients with their dream of home ownership. Jane resides in Cold Spring, Minnesota with her husband Scott of 30 plus years. Together they have three grown children, Cassandra and her husband Jake, Zach and Rachael. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, walking, golfing, gardening, and just being at the lake.

Jocelyn Schlichting: The Apiary

Jocelyn Schlichting is the owner of the Apiary in Downtown St. Cloud. After working as an accountant in Minneapolis for nearly 10 years, she moved back to Rice, MN – becoming the 4th generation on her family’s crop farm. There they farm about 6,600 acres, manage 600 acres of native forest and prairie land, and farrow to finish approximately 30,000 hogs each year. She also operates a very small grass fed beef operation and raises bees as a hobby. After some time away from her past life, she knew she wanted to keep a part of the vibrant work culture the cities offered alive. That eventually evolved into fulfilling her dream of owning and renovating a historic building in downtown St. Cloud, which is now known as The Apiary! As jobs increasingly move remote and work no longer dictates where we live, she saw a need for more coworking environments in our community. The Apiary offers a collaborative office space and creative environment for every type of worker. When Jocelyn isn’t on the farm, taking care of bees, or in her downtown office, she can be found cooking, traveling, reading, or hiking!

Lacey Schirmers: GREAT Theatre

Lacey Schirmers is the Managing Director for GREAT Theatre, a local non-profit community theatre known for its professional broadway quality performances, robust summer camp program for youth, and community partnerships that bring people together through shared theatre experiences. Graduating from St. Cloud State University in 2005 with a bachelor of science in management and marketing, she has experience working in a variety of industries – from restaurant and hospitality, to healthcare, and currently in the arts and nonprofit. Lacey is also a freelance graphic designer and photographer, actively involved as an executive volunteer with Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, and serves on the steering committee for the Central Minnesota Communities of Excellence. She previously served as a board member on the American Advertising Federation of Central Minnesota, was a member of the inaugural cohort of the Minnesota Young American Leaders Program with the University of Minnesota and Harvard Business School, and in 2017 was a recipient of the St. Cloud Times 5 under 40 Award recognized for innovation, involvement and influence. Lacey’s desire to connect with people and add value to their life extends far beyond her full time gig, volunteer work, and side hustle; she also takes her social life with friends and family pretty seriously. She enjoys spending as many weekends at the cabin as possible, playing board games, camping, and being with people that bring joy and laughter to life.