Anne Andreasen

Anne Andreasen has over 30 years in the insurance industry.  Her experience spans the corporate home office, brokerage and 14 years as an independent agency owner and advisor.  Her main client base is small to mid size businesses and individuals.  Anne has based her business on honesty, genuine caring and focus on the clients‘ needs, and she has built her business solely on referrals.  Anne is a Past State President of the Minnesota Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc.  

Regina Barr

Red Ladder, Inc. founder and CEO Regina Barr has one goal – to develop people and inspire success through strategic project management, executive coaching, and training. She has been recognized as one of Minneapolis/ St. Paul Business Journal’s Forty Twin Cities Professionals Under 40 Years Old. Regina is past chair of the Financial Women International Foundation and is actively involved in the Breast Cancer Awareness Association, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis and Women Achieving New Direction. She holds an MBA in management/marketing and a Master of Arts in Human Development. Her special passion? Helping women develop the skills they need to be successful.

Betsy Buckley

As a transformation catalyst, Betsy fuels organizational and personal growth. She’s held major leadership positions in criminal justice (Deputy Commissioner of the MN Department of Corrections), economic development (Vice President of Sales and Marketing for City Venture), finance (senior executive at Commercial Credit and Investment Officer at what is now RBC Dain) and PR (Executive Vice President of Shandwick).Author of The Power of Why, creator of Polish the Diamond™ and Sell More, Sell Inside First™, in 1997 Betsy founded What Matters LLC, where she uses coaching, consulting and facilitation to help leaders sell well, lead well, and speak well.

www.what-matters.com

Kimberly Fulcher

Kimberly Fulcher is a highly regarded entrepreneur, business leader, author, speaker, and life coach.  In the late nineties, Kim rose from administrative assistant to co-founder of a Silicon Valley firm in less than five years. A millionaire by the age of 31, Kim has used her own life’s lessons to create Compass Life and Business Designs. Kim has helped countless people, from CEO’s to homemakers, implement the Compass Life program to live more balanced and meaningful lives. Kim recently launched her first book “Remodel Your Reality: Seven Steps to Rebalance Your Life and Reclaim Your Passion” to critical acclaim.

www.compasslifedesigns.com

Bonnie Harris

Bonnie Harris is the President and founder of Wax Marketing, Inc. a marketing and public relations firm established in 2002 to meet the needs of growing businesses and lifestyle ventures. Wax Marketing has experienced more than 50% growth year to year since its inception, and works with clients across the United States. Bonnie is a seasoned marketing and sales executive, with nearly twenty years years’ experience promoting and marketing services and products. She is a member of the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society and the Public Relations Society of America. Bonnie has been quoted in several industry publications including Selling Power, PRWeek, Connect and BusinessVision Magazine as well as national newspapers and online publications. 

Kari Harrisville

For the past 20 years, Kari Harrisville has been a superstar in sales, sales management and business development. She’s sold services and products to to everyone from Fortune 500 executives to small business entrepreneurs. Kari has managed multi-million dollar territories in the high tech industry, as well as managed and led high performance sales teams throughout the Midwest.  Kari develops winning sales strategies that pay off. Kari is currently a Senior Sales Executive with Digineer, technology consulting firm based in Plymouth, Minnesota.

Carolyn Herfurth

Since 2002, Carolyn Herfurth has helped over 500 people make thoughtful choices about self-employment and business ownership.  After a successful 13-year sales career with companies including Oracle and Rand Worldwide, she followed her dream of owning a business and established the Minneapolis office of The Entrepreneur's Source, an international organization that helps people find and start businesses.  In addition to advising clients, Carolyn speaks extensively to groups on choosing the right business.  Her street-smart approach challenges aspiring entrepreneurs to keep an open mind and explore their options for business ownership from the “inside out”.

Roben Hunter

Roben has had over 16 years of business consulting and taxation experience.  She is both a CPA and an attorney. She also received her certification to value businesses six years ago.  She enjoys her practice, primarily in the areas of tax consulting, business consulting, estate planning, succession planning and business valuations.  Her main focus is working with the small business owner, from the creation of their business through the daily needs of general business and tax consulting while running the business, and finally the need for a succession plan, whether it is a family member taking over the business, an outside sale or an internal change in ownership. 

Kim Larson

Kim Larson is the President of National Lending Source; a Minnesota based residential and commercial mortgage brokerage.  NLS specializes in custom tailoring the right mortgage to fit your unique financial situation.  Kim is also a owner of Prudential Metrowide Realty, offering customers guidance on every aspect of investing in real estate.  Being a credit specialist, she can suggest creative ways to improve your credit score and avoid identity theft.

Tara McCarthy

Tara S. McCarthy is a financial counselor with over 15 years experience in helping people discover options for resolving financial issues and regaining financial freedom. She is a Nationally Accredited Credit Counselor, Nationally Certified Housing Educator, Nationally Certified HECM Counselor and co-founder of Money Language, a company dedicated to helping consumers manage their income through tools that teach a personalized, healthy approach to budgeting and spending.  Tara has worked on a legislative task force regarding predatory lending and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal on topics of consumer debt. Tara is the Author of the “Money Language:  It's Your Money- Deal With It.”

Nicole Middendorf

As a Financial Consultant and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst with Strategic Financial, Inc. Nicole has been professionally trained in retirement planning for small businesses and practical investments for the general public. The strategies considered are based on each investor's goals and dreams as well as market conditions and circumstances. Listen to Nicole every Saturday morning on FM 107.1 for "More Than Money". Nicole offers her clients access to a wide range of financial products through Linsco/Private Ledger, which include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, money market funds, asset management and insured certificates of deposit. Nicole is active in NAWBO, BestPrep, and Chrysalis.

www.helpingyouinvest.com

Cathy Paper

Cathy Paper is the co-founder of Live Dynamite., a performance improvement firm that specializes in creating fresh, strategic and action-inducing ideas for organizations of all sizes.  Cathy collaborates with key decision-makers to identify opportunities, remove barriers and implement strategies that bring about the best results from their people.  In her words, “I help organizations get results by working smarter with existing talent.” 

She earned a Masters in Human Resources Development from the University of St. Thomas, strengthening her BA from Williams College in American Studies.  Her work experience includes 15 years of performance management impact with Fortune 500 Companies.

Kennette Reed

Kennette Reed is known as the Customer & Staff Retention Expert. For 20+ years, she has provided customer and staff retention solutions to individuals and organizations across the country. Through her consulting, training, success coaching, and speaking engagements, Kennette involves, excites, and motivates organizations and individuals toward more impactful and individual focused management.  Kennette is the author of Discovering Your Passion: The Thing That Makes Your Heart Sing™ and Steps Along Your Path. 

www.kennettereed.com

Marya Robben and Marlo Turcotte

Marlo W. Turcotte and Marya P. Robben are attorneys at Rider Bennett, LLP, in Minneapolis.  Their practice areas include estate planning, trust and estate administration, estate and gift taxation, and guardianship/conservatorship law.  Minnesota Law & Politics magazine has recognized each of them as a "Rising Star."  They are members of the Minnesota State and Hennepin County Bar Associations.  Additionally, Marlo is a member of National Association of Women Business Owners and is involved with the International Institute of Women Entrepreneurs.  Marya serves on the board of the Minnesota Association of Guardianship and Conservatorship and is editor of its quarterly journal. 

Sheila Ronning

Sheila founded SHARP UpSwing in 1996, building the business with consulting in sales, marketing, public relations and event promotion. Sheila founded the UpSwing Business EXPO, the largest business networking event in the Twin Cities, and co-founded the Women on Boards event. SHARP UpSwing’s growth strategy focuses on creating opportunities that benefit small business, entrepreneurs and women in business.  Sheila was named one of the top 25 “Women to Watch” in 2002 by the Mpls/St. Paul Business Journal, and was a 2005 Finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year – TwinWest Chamber of Commerce.

April Stensgard

April Stensgard is an expert at navigating transitions.  She has relocated several times, “ramped off and ramped on” the workplace freeway, and most recently, transitioned from Career Coach Entrepreneur to LifeMoxie Team member.  April is the Director of The Career and Life Transitions Division of LifeMoxie!   Her passion is truly to help women discover their purpose and transition successfully.  She has a BA in speech communications and public relations and has been a professional speaker for the past ten years.  Her focus is on educating and inspiring women to find and fulfill their purpose.  She graduated from CTI and Hallmarks.

Karen Stinson

Karen Stinson, CEO, founded ProGroup, Inc. 20 years ago to help clients create productive, supportive workplaces where each employee is are treated respectfully and has opportunity to succeed. Today, her multimillion dollar company is recognized as a pioneer in the field of diversity.  Karen is from an entrepreneurial family. Her great-grandfather, Carson ran his own construction company; Grandpa Tenney started Tenney Roofing, now in its third generation; other relatives ran an accounting firm; Mom had her own dressmaking business; Dad owned Stinson Camping until he was 84; her brother has an architectural firm; and her son owns Hypersites, a high-tech company. 

Sandra Vargas

As Hennepin County's chief administrative officer, Sandra Vargas heads the largest unit of local government in Minnesota.  In a county of 1.1 million residents, Hennepin County has an annual budget of $1.2 billion and some 12,200 employees.  Among her responsibilities, she oversees:

• Medical center and library system each rated among the country's best
• Corrections system with an average caseload of 30,000 offenders
• Transportation infrastructure of roads and bridges
• Leading efforts in recycling, turning waste to energy and cleaning up contaminated land
• Social and financial services assisting thousands of vulnerable residents

Chris Wahlberg

Chris Walhberg brings to us a wealth of life experience unique to her skillshop.  She has been divorced after a long term marriage and has presented on the subject of divorce to various audiences.  Her education from Bemidju State University includes a BA in English and a MA in counseling.  Her career experience includes teaching English, school and family counseling and adult education.  Chris is passionate about the next phase of her career which is helping women rebuild their lives after divorce. She also enjoys giving to her community and spending time with her grandchildren.

Tene Wells

Since 1999, Tené (pronounced "ten-ay") Wells has served as president of WomenVenture, a nonprofit women's economic development agency in St. Paul. Under her leadership, WomenVenture has successfully positioned itself as a leading voice in women's economic issues. Tené oversees a staff of 25 and, with the board of directors, provides strategic direction and vision for the agency. Tené is the recipient of many honors and awards including IABC-Minnesota’s 2005 Excel Award for excellence in communication leadership and Oprah Winfrey’s Use Your Life Award in 2001. She has dedicated her life’s work to helping individuals and organizations reach their full potential.