Carroll County
Women's
Conference
2023

A Day to "Empower" Women
Friday, October 13

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Hours
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About The Event

Carroll County Women’s Conference
Friday, October 13, 2023

Join us for a day to “Empower” women held on the campus of Carroll Community College in Westminster, Maryland where passionate speakers will lead sessions ranging on a variety of topics throughout the day.

Please contact us with questions regarding the event.

Main Event Sponsor:

Speakers

I’m Theresa R. Williams-Harrison and I solve puzzles for a living.

The satisfaction of fitting the pieces together to form the right picture is what I do as a leader. As a successful entrepreneur and engineer, I solve tough challenges in support of my teams, my clients, my community and our national security. In addition to fortifying systems and helping my clients develop solutions, I also mentor tomorrow’s business leaders, with an aim at increasing the number of women and underrepresented minorities in leadership positions and STEAM careers. I Lead.

I’ve held executive management, organizational management, business development, program management, transition management and technical management positions over a successful 25+ year career. I’m the Founder and President of GEORGE STREET Services, Inc., a trusted partner, project management and technical services organization that counts federal agencies and commercial companies as our clients. I Solve.

More recently, I’m the co-author of a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon #1 bestselling book, BUSINESS SUCCESS SECRETS. As a stimulating and action-driven speaker, my inspiring stories are often sought after by organizations looking to motivate and encourage their audience. I Share.
But above all, I’m a community servant. Some of my proudest achievements are those where I extend a helping hand as a mentor to women and small businesses to help them launch and grow their successes, where I advise and support a college or financial institution as a trusted board member, where I uplift others, “one note at a time,” through the international organization I founded, “Just A Kind Note,” www.JustAKindNote.com), and as an active member of the nation’s leading public service sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. I Serve.

Whether she’s the “Sage on the Stage” or the “Guide on the Side” Julie Gaver has been serving up her own unique brand of inspiration nation-wide for over 30 years. From her training debut as a Dale Carnegie Instructor to currently celebrating 25 years as an entrepreneurial speaker, corporate trainer and coach, Julie is well known for her high energy presentations and ability to connect with audiences in a memorable way. A master storyteller, Julie uses a witty blend of theatrics and experience to make learning fun!

Clients who benefit from Julie’s expertise include the nonprofit and governmental sector, professional services, construction, medical, education, and more.

Julie is the author of the three-part women’s book series Must Love Shoes and challenges her readers to see the meaning, lesson, and humor in life. The launch of her books stimulated such interest that Julie ultimately created a niche market designed for women which encompasses personal and professional development opportunities, domestic and international retreats, book club discussions, and unique social events designed to bring women together for fun, learning and camaraderie. At her 80 acre property, Meadow Branch Farm, Julie offers relaxing day retreat and training opportunities for small groups in the corporate and nonprofit sector.

She is the proud founder and director of “Soles of Love in the Garden” a passion project which collects and distributes new shoes and winter boots to local children in need.

Several Books

Amanda Haddaway is an award-winning HR consultant, corporate trainer, and certified executive coach. In her role as the managing director of HR Answerbox, she specializes in conducting workplace investigations, solving complex employee relations issues, leading interactive and engaging training sessions, and serving as an advisor to small business owners and leaders. She has more than 45,000 hours of experience in HR and holds the two highest professional certifications, SPHR and SHRM-SCP, as well as a Master of Jurisprudence degree in Labor and Employment Law from Tulane University Law School, a Master’s degree from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University.

She was recognized as the Most Influential Woman in HR Training – USA by Corp Today Magazine and the Gamechanger of the Year by Gamechangers Global Awards. She was previously recognized as one of the 10 Most Inspiring Businesswomen Making a Difference by Beyond Exclamation Magazine and as one of the 20 Most Successful Businesswomen to Watch by Insights Success.

Additionally, she is the author of two books, the creator of the Manager Success Academy, and her writing has been included in Entrepreneur.

Alexandra Rickeman, LCMFT helps people gain insight into themselves and communicate effectively with the people who matter most to them. She is ‘marriage and family therapist’ by licensure, but is best described as a ‘relationship coach.’ She has a direct, solution-focused style, and approaches emotional topics in a rational way.

In over 15 years as a Carroll County marriage therapist, Alexandra has concluded that accountability is the key factor in whether couples can resolve conflict, repair emotional wounds and enjoy a cooperative, playful, intimate relationship. She aims to spread the news of its calming, stress-reducing effect, and its awesome power to transform relationships of all sorts.

Personally, Alexandra is an over-thinker, an over-doer and an over-feeler. She manages these personality characteristics via weightlifting, keeping an early bedtime, and spending quality time with her 12-year-old son and 9-pound puppy. Her guilty pleasure is listening to police interrogations or courtroom footage, and she hopes for a post-retirement career as a jury consultant.

Dr. Jyothi Rao, MD, ABAAHP, FAARFM, has been practicing medicine for over 20 years. She received her Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed her internship and residency at the prestigious New England Medical Center (Tufts) in Boston. Before opening Shakthi Health & Wellness Center, Dr. Rao practiced medicine in New York and Maryland.

“I believe knowledge is empowerment and focus my practice on wellness and prevention. Through this partnership in health, my patients and I work together to optimize their health and vitality.”

A strong proponent of holistic medicine, Dr. Rao is certified in Medical Acupuncture from UCLA. She is also certified in Cardiopulmonary Stress Testing, which is a personalized assessment of cardiac and pulmonary disease.

Dr. Kendra Hart, EdD., MS, MA, BA

Kendra Hart is a mother, wife, and educator with over 20 years with experiences as a teacher, school leader, central office supervisor, school counselor, and curriculum writer.  Dr. Hart holds a Doctor of Education with a concentration on Teacher Leadership, Master of Science in Education, Master of Arts in Teaching, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Psychology.  She served on the Carroll County Arts Council Board of Directors and is a Trustee for the Carroll County Public Library.  

Dr. Hart considers servant leadership an honor rather than a duty and believes that everyone should surround themselves in positive and collaborative environments where one can learn, experiment, and prosper.    

Dr. Hart’s greatest joys in life are being a mother of four amazing children and the wife to her high school sweetheart.

Panel Discussions

Dr. Ashley Waters is an organizer, maximizer, creator, and evaluator committed to continuous learning and deepening community impact. As the Senior Assistant Director for Frederick’s Department of Housing and Human Services, Ashley is inspired by the work done in her local communities each day and is enthusiastic about supporting individuals and organizations in new challenges and opportunities. She previously served as the Executive Director of Woman to Woman Mentoring, Director of UMBC Operations at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville and as Communications Manager for The City of Frederick. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Politics from Penn State University, a Masters degree in Nonprofit Management from Towson University, and a Doctorate in Public Administration from The University of Baltimore.

Ashley is very active with many organizations in the local and regional community, currently serving in Rotary as a Past President of the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek and in district and zone roles, Hood College’s Board of Associates, Vice Chair of the Maryland Public Service Scholars Alumni Board, the City of Frederick’s Charter Review Committee, Communications Chair for the Frederick National Little League, and Co-Chair of Leadership Frederick County’s Leaders on Loan program just to name a few.

Ashley identifies as an ESTJ (Myers Briggs), Enneagram 3, and is a High-D and High-S (DiSC). Ashley, husband Andrew, and son Torin live in downtown Frederick.

SAVP Development & Alumni Relations, Johns Hopkins University

Founder, Inquisitive Leader

Boi Carpenter currently serves as Senior Associate Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Johns Hopkins University. She has operational and frontline responsibilities managing several large-scale teams in her role. Her professional career in development and alumni relations spans over twenty-seven years; twenty-three of those years have been spent in her current organization.

In 2022, Boi started a personal endeavor, Inquisitive Leader, a community inspired by her conversations with bright, enthusiastic, talented, diverse professionals. She has a blog covering topics like navigating personal and professional growth dynamics, career management, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, managing, leading, recruitment, hiring, and retention. She is also regularly active on LinkedIn.

Mia Millette is the CEO of Skyline Technology Solutions, where she leverages over 20 years of experience to advance the company’s strategic initiatives and enrich the lives of its customers. Prior to joining Skyline, Mia held various executive and leadership positions in IT at companies like GANTECH and System Automation Corporation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in computer systems management from the University of Maryland Global Campus. Mia is an advocate for STEM education and enjoys spending her spare time working out, traveling, and paddleboarding.

Dominican-born Veronica founded Cool & Associates LLC, a consulting firm to connect organizations to the Hispanic community, offering strategy, training, marketing/PR & language services.

She published the first of its kind: Hispanic Heritage Month: Essential Toolkit to facilitate the acknowledgement and engagement of the Latino segment in the US. Committed to empowering our community, she established the Latino Innovators Pitch to scale Latino businesses profitably; along with two Facebook Groups: Yo Quiero Trabajo and Emprendedores Exitosos, that provide resources and opportunities for jobseekers and entrepreneurs.  Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Veronica co-founded Maryland Latinos Unidos, a nonpartisan state-wide nonprofit to build capacity among Latino-serving organizations. She also serves on the boards of Maryland Latinos Unidos, MedStar Good Sam Hospital, Maryland Women’s Caucus Foundation, and Maryland Association for Nonprofits.

She’s been recognized by First Lady Michelle Obama, and is the proud recipient of various awards, including the Latina Style Entrepreneur of the Year, NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership award, Innovator of the Year, and US Hispanic Chamber Corporate Leader of the Year. She lives near Baltimore, in Carroll County, with her husband and two college-age kids, keeping busy with writing, reading and donating firetrucks.

Joann Ellinghaus-Jones, Administrative Judge, District Court of Maryland, District 10, Carroll and Howard Counties, September 20, 2001 to June 30, 2017 (Associate Judge, April 5, 1991 to September 19, 2001). Retired June 30, 2017. Member, Administrative Judges Committee, District Court of Maryland, 1999-2015. Member, Commissioner Education Committee, District Court of Maryland, 1994-2015 (Chair 2001-2015). Member, Behavioral Health and Addictions Committee, Carroll County, 2004-17. Member, Court Interpretations and Translations Services Committee, Maryland Judicial Conference, 2009-14. Member, District Court Chief Judge’s Committee, 2015-17, and Education Committee, 2015, Judicial Council. Member, Court of Appeals Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, 2015-17.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland. Attended Institute of Notre Dame; Patterson Park High School, Baltimore Maryland; Essex Community College, A.A., 1976; University of Baltimore, B.S., 1978; University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D., 1981. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1981. Law clerk to Judge Luke K. Burns, Jr., Carroll County Circuit Court, 1981-83. Associate, Law Office of Elwood E. Swam, Esq., Hampstead , Maryland 1983-1991.

Member, Maryland State Bar Association; Maryland Bar Foundation; Carroll County Bar Association. Member, Carroll County YMCA Citizen Leadership Board; Board Member, Baltimore Carroll Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association; Maryland’s Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2016. Board of Trustees, Carroll Lutheran School, Westminster, Maryland. Board of Trustees, Access Carroll Integrated Health Services, Westminster, Maryland.

Instructor/presenter for Maryland Judicial College, New Trial Judge Orientation, Commissioner Education Conference, New Commissioner Academy, 1995-present.

Married 44 years to William G. Jones, CPA; 3 children, three granddaughters.

News Anchor, WBFF FOX45 NEWS

Megan Gilliland is an Emmy Award winning journalist.

You can see her anchoring and giving live breaking news updates weekday mornings on FOX45.

Megan was honored to join the team in 2007. A few years later, she was named Best newcomer by Baltimore Magazine. She was honored by the same magazine again in 2015, 2016, 2017 when she was voted as the Reader’s Choice, Best TV News Broadcaster in Baltimore.

Before moving to Charm City, she was a reporter and weekend anchor for WTAJ-TV in Altoona, Pennsylvania. During her years there, she became known for spotting an escaped prisoner and it was all caught on camera!

Megan is a proud Penn State graduate where she majored in Broadcast Journalism and minored in Communications, Arts and Sciences. While in Happy Valley, Megan ran track and cross county for the Lady Lions and was captain of the cross country team her senior year. Although her competitive days are over, Megan still loves to run.

She’s a Pittsburgh native but is proud to call Baltimore home now. It’s where she met her husband, started her family and where she hopes to make a difference in the news.

Financial Advisor

Coleen Kramer Beal is a Financial Advisor with the Velnoskey Wealth Management Group of Janney Montgomery Scott.  She is an Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA®) and Certified in Long Term Care (CLTC®).  She is currently studying the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) Program. 

Coleen graduated magna cum laude from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Legal Administration.  Prior to joining the Velnoskey Wealth Management Group in 2005, Coleen was a Branch Operations Manager, Assistant Vice President at Prudential Securities in Destin, Florida.  At Janney, she earned the Janney Values Award in 2016, was the first Chairperson of the Janney Private Client Associate Council, is a steering committee member of Janney’s Women’s Interactive Network (WIN) and the founding member and chairperson of the WIN Mid-Atlantic Chapter.

Coleen enjoys “getting into good stuff” within her community. She is an active member of her church helping with children’s ministries, serves on the Board of Directors for the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce and Girls on the Run of Central Maryland. She served on the Board of Directors for the Marriage and Relationship Education Center from 2016 – 2022.  She is a founding member and Chair for the Carroll County Women’s Conference. 

Coleen is an Air Force brat and Navy mom.  Her 5 kids are mostly grown, so she and her husband entertain themselves with fur babies.  Her 3 Tamaskan puppies have a following on social media for their mischievous antics. 

Shannon L. Hammond is an elder law attorney in Sykesville, where she is the founding member of Hammond Law, LLC.  Shannon has dedicated her entire legal career exclusively to the practice of long-term care and estate planning. She is deeply committed to assisting families navigate the complexities of public benefits eligibility and care coordination in the context of aging and disability.  Shannon serves on the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section Council of the Maryland State Bar Association and she is the President of YES, Inc., a local non-profit organization dedicated to educating and supporting families affected by young-onset dementia. She has been named to Baltimore Magazine’s Super Lawyers® list in the field of Elder Law in 2013-2015 and 2019-2023.

Emily Bollinger Miller is a partner and risk advisor at Barnes-Bollinger Insurance Services, Inc. She is the 3rd generation of her family to own and operate the local, independent, Insurance Services firm. She is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and is working towards her Certified Risk Manager designation.

Emily was born and raised in Carroll County. After graduating from Westminster High School, she attended St. Francis University (PA) and earned her bachelor’s degrees in business marketing and English communications. She was a four-year varsity letter recipient for the NCAA Division I Red Flash Women’s Basketball team, where she earned Academic All-American honors her senior season.

Upon graduation, she became a member of the family business, and hasn’t looked back since. She takes great pride in developing relationships with her clients, while providing professional risk advisory services and designing custom insurance programs for business owners and families. Empowering businessowners and individuals to understand insurance coverage is a passion of hers.

She actively serves as a board member for numerous local organizations. Emily is also an advisory board member for the insurance companies she represents.

Emily currently resides in Westminster with her Husband, Matt, and her three young children.

Sherry M. Cracium-Bolin, CPA, is a Principal and Shareholder of Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz (BSSF). She has over 20 years of progressive public accounting experience and assists businesses with tax planning, management advisory services and compliance services. She specializes in tax preparation and compliance for individuals, pass-through entities, estates and trusts.

Sherry is active within many organizations in her community. Currently, she acts as Treasurer for the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce; Board Member for Carroll Hospital Foundation Gift Planning Committee; Board Member for Carroll County Community College Business Advisory Committee; Council Member for St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hanover, PA, Treasurer/Charter Org Rep for Boy Scouts of America Troop 102 and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Hanover Diamond Sports, Inc. Additionally, Sherry has served as a member and/or officer of numerous nonprofit boards.

Sherry is a graduate of Leadership Carroll in Maryland and Leadership Hanover in Pennsylvania. Both are intensive leadership programs designed to assist in the development of current and emerging leaders within their respective communities. In 2021, Sherry was recognized as one of Central Penn Business Journal’s Women of Influence.

Sherry received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from York College of Pennsylvania.

Shannon L. Hammond is an elder law attorney in Sykesville, where she is the founding member of Hammond Law, LLC.  Shannon has dedicated her entire legal career exclusively to the practice of long-term care and estate planning. She is deeply committed to assisting families navigate the complexities of public benefits eligibility and care coordination in the context of aging and disability.  Shannon serves on the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section Council of the Maryland State Bar Association and she is the President of YES, Inc., a local non-profit organization dedicated to educating and supporting families affected by young-onset dementia. She has been named to Baltimore Magazine’s Super Lawyers® list in the field of Elder Law in 2013-2015 and 2019-2023.

Emily Bollinger Miller is a partner and risk advisor at Barnes-Bollinger Insurance Services, Inc. She is the 3rd generation of her family to own and operate the local, independent, Insurance Services firm. She is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and is working towards her Certified Risk Manager designation.

Emily was born and raised in Carroll County. After graduating from Westminster High School, she attended St. Francis University (PA) and earned her bachelor’s degrees in business marketing and English communications. She was a four-year varsity letter recipient for the NCAA Division I Red Flash Women’s Basketball team, where she earned Academic All-American honors her senior season.

Upon graduation, she became a member of the family business, and hasn’t looked back since. She takes great pride in developing relationships with her clients, while providing professional risk advisory services and designing custom insurance programs for business owners and families. Empowering businessowners and individuals to understand insurance coverage is a passion of hers.

She actively serves as a board member for numerous local organizations. Emily is also an advisory board member for the insurance companies she represents.

Emily currently resides in Westminster with her Husband, Matt, and her three young children.

Schedule

Friday, October 13, 2023 @ Carroll Community College
Starting in The Babylon Great Hall

  • Arrival 6:45 AM
  • Registration, Continental Breakfast, Networking 7:15 AM
  • Welcome, Opening Remarks 8 AM

    Committee Member
    Carroll Community College

  • Keynote Speaker 8:30 AM

    Theresa Harrison "Yes, You Are Able"

  • Break 9:30 AM
  • Session I 9:45 AM

    Finding Balance Health & Wellness (Dr. Jyothi Rao)
    Empowering Healthy Relationships (Alexandra Rickeman)
    Find Your People Panel (Ashley Waters, Boi Carpenter, Mia Millette & Veronica Cool)
    Making the Connection (Julie Gaver)

  • Break 10:45 AM
  • Session 2 11:00 AM

    Women & Wealth Panel (Megan Gilliland, Coleen Kramer Beal, Shannon Hammond, Emily Bollinger Miller, Sherry M. Cracium-Bolin)

    Creating a Culture of Empowerment in Your Workplace (Amanda Haddaway)
    Finding Balance Health & Wellness (Dr. Jyothi Rao)
    Empowering Healthy Relationships (Alexandra Rickeman)

  • Lunch, Networking 12:00 PM
  • Session 3 1:30 PM

    Making the Connection (Julie Gaver)
    Creating a Culture of Empowerment in Your Workplace (Amanda Haddaway)
    Find Your People Panel (Ashley Waters, Boi Carpenter, Mia Millette & Judge Jones)
    Women & Wealth Panel (Megan Gilliland, Coleen Kramer Beal, Shannon Hammond, Emily Bollinger Miller, Sherry M. Cracium-Bolin)


  • Closing & Final Remarks 2:45 PM

    Kendra Hart
    Student Scholarship Recipient

  • Networking 3:45 PM
** SCHOLARSHIP PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT BENEFIT FEMALE STUDENTS AT CARROLL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND MCDANIEL COLLEGE​

Steering Committee

A very special thank you to the inaugural steering committee members who have worked since early 2020 to bring this meaningful event to the women of Carroll County.  We are better together!

Coleen Kramer Beal, Chair
Velnoskey Wealth Management Group of Janney Montgomery Scott

Christina Goodman
McDaniel College

Dr. Kendra Hart
Carroll County Public Schools

Josh Kohn
Kohn Creative

Colleen Lucas
McDaniel College

Kathy Mayan
Carroll Community College

Emily Bollinger Miller
Barnes-Bollinger Insurance Services, Inc.

Karen Pelton
Carroll Community College

Jessica Sardella
Carroll Hospital

Kati Townsley
Carroll County Public Library

Douglas Velnoskey
Velnoskey Wealth Management Group of Janney Montgomery Scott

Pam Velnoskey
Community Member

Lynn Wheeler
Community Member

Sponsors

Sponsors

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorships are still available!
Since the event is sold out, sponsorship tickets will be priority waitlisted. Download Sponsorship Guide Below.

Register for Sponsorship or Download Sponsorship Guide Below.

  •  
Sold Out

Grandidierite

$7,500

10 Event Tickets



Sponsor Name Badge (color coordinated)



Full Page Ad in Program



Reserved Seating with Signage


Foam Board Event Sign



Recognition on Social Media



Logo on Website



Recognition During Opening Session



Logo on Event Banner



Breakout Session Sponsor



Logo on Gift Bag



Recognition During Key Note (2)



Short Speaking Time at Keynote Events

Sponsored by:

Blue Diamond

$5,000

8 Event Tickets
(Priority Waitlist)



Sponsor Name Badge (color coordinated)



Full Page Ad in Program



Reserved Seating with Signage



Foam Board Event Sign



Recognition on Social Media



Logo on Website



Recognition During Opening Session



Logo on Event Banner



Breakout Session Sponsor



Logo on Gift Bag



Recognition During Key Note (2)

Diamond

$3,500

6 Event Tickets
(Priority Waitlist)



Sponsor Name Badge (color coordinated)



Full Page Ad in Program



Reserved Seating with Signage



Foam Board Event Sign



Recognition on Social Media



Logo on Website



Recognition During Opening Session



Logo on Event Banner



Breakout Session Sponsor

Ruby

$2,500

4 Event Tickets
(Priority Waitlist)



Sponsor Name Badge (color coordinated)



Half Page Ad in Program



Reserved Seating with Signage



Foam Board Event Sign



Recognition on Social Media



Logo on Website



Recognition During Opening Session

Emerald

$1,000

3 Event Tickets
(Priority Waitlist)



Sponsor Name Badge (color coordinated)



Quarter Page Ad in Program



Reserved Seating with Signage



Foam Board Event Sign



Recognition on Social Media



Logo on Website

Sapphire

$500

2 Event Tickets
(Priority Waitlist)


Sponsor Name Badge (color coordinated)


1/6 Page Ad in Program

Opal

$250

1 Event Ticket
(Priority Waitlist)



Name Listing in Program

Pearl

Support our scholarship

$100

Name listing in program

Presenting Sponsor:

Making a Difference

Through the 2022 Enlighten Carroll County Women’s Conference, women and businesses of Carroll County graciously donated to the following scholarships:

$10,000 scholarship check to Carroll Community College Foundation

$10,000 scholarship check to McDaniel College

$1,950 scholarship to Leadership Carroll’s next class

Be a Future Speaker

Interested in becoming a future Women’s Conference speaker?

Thank you for Attending!

Thank you to all the sponsors and guests who supported and attended the 2023 Carroll County Women’s Conference. We appreciate you!