Inspire HER Speakers

Morning Keynote Presentation | 9:15AM- 10AM

NICOLE SHERMAN

This is Your Now!

Turning Clear Intention into Committed Action.

This vibrant and result-focused keynote is invigorating and explores the essential qualities and skills necessary for you to move from intention to action! With a perfect blend of humor and insightful anecdotes, this keynote engages you through interactive discussions and challenging introspection. It dives into the nuances of communication while also addressing the importance of self-awareness in achieving your desired results. Through real-life examples and practical tips, you will be inspired to reach your full potential with confidence and credibility.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

C-Level Executive Leader | Board Member | Keynote and Transformational Speaker

Nicole is well-known as a catalyst for financial innovation and regarded as a brilliant change agent and unwavering positive force in the industry. She is a “leader builder” throughout organizations with a distinctive power to move mountains and change lives. As a visionary and an architect of momentum, Nicole leverages past accomplishments to fuel future innovation. Her “live on purpose, lead with intention” philosophy and dedication inspire others to see their greatness and bring that level of engagement every single day.

Known for her paramount presentation style, Nicole has a unique ability to connect with audiences of all sizes on a deep and personal level. She has become renowned for her ability to inspire, motivate, and transform individuals and organizations alike. Her captivating storytelling, wit, and powerful insights have earned her a reputation as one of the most sought-after speakers, leaving audiences spellbound, inspired, and feeling empowered and ready to take on the world.

Nicole brings over 20 years of experience at the Chief, Executive, and Senior Vice President levels with financial organizations such as Columbia Bank (now Umpqua Bank), Zions Bank, Numerica Credit Union, and AmericanWest Bank. Her expertise ranges from Retail, Commercial and Digital Banking, to Wealth Management and Financial Services, Corporate Marketing and Communications, DEIBA and Community Impact & Philanthropy. Additionally, Nicole has led through 10 successful mergers and acquisitions throughout her career.

Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree, MBA and since 2003 has been a top-rated faculty member at Pacific Coast Banking School (PCBS) at University of Washington, Foster School of Business. This year Nicole was named “2023 Instructor of the Year”.

Morning Breakout Sessions | 10:30AM- 11:25AM

JENNA COOPER

Speak to Spark: Unleash the Power of Storytelling and Crush Your Next Presentation - with Confidence!

Fear of public speaking and presenting can hold you back in your career. Public speaking coach, Jenna Cooper, APR, will teach you how to capture your audience's attention through storytelling, body language, the power of the pause, and strategic engagement. You'll leave this energetic session with tips on crushing your next presentation.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Jenna Cooper, APR, is a seasoned strategic communications professional, executive coach, and frequent speaker on crisis communications, strategic planning, and public speaking. Her nose for news transplanted her in television broadcast markets across the country including Boise, Austin, Atlanta, and Seattle. Jenna has successfully woven her award-winning journalism skills together with high-profile leadership positions and front-line spokesperson positions. She served in multiple positions on the Public Relations Society of America, Oregon Chapter board of directors, including president in 2012, the same year she opened the doors of C3 Collective.

Other high-profile positions include director of marketing and communications and spokesperson for both Portland State University’s School of Business and DoveLewis Emergency Hospital. She served as the public information officer (PIO) at NW Natural where she handled most media calls and emergency incidents.

Cooper is a passionate public speaking coach and media trainer. Her clients’ strategic communications campaigns have achieved a multitude of positive stories. Her eye is always on metrics and creating behavioral change in the target audience. Her team’s campaigns have garnered several PRSA Portland Spotlight awards. As a journalist, Cooper won several Associated Press awards for her reporting coverage and the prestigious Texas Headliners Foundation for her excellence in journalism as a devastating F-5 tornado hit Austin. Career highlights include reporting on the numerous court challenges and recounts stemming from the 2000 Presidential campaign, the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in North Texas, and the volcanic activity in 2004 on Mt. St. Helens.

Cooper is accredited in public relations by the Universal Accreditation Board through the Public Relations Society of America. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!). Cooper lives in Portland, Oregon with her brilliant daughter, and what is suspected to be, the world's most mellow beagle.

ALLISON NUNES

Rock Your Profile & Leverage the Power of LinkedIn

Now is the time to make sure your LinkedIn profile and engagement are stronger than ever. Empower yourself and learn how to connect to opportunity as your career journey unfolds.

This session will cover:

Rocking your profile! Learn best practices, tips, and tricks on how to tell your professional story
Making the most of your LinkedIn network. Download the LinkedIn mobile app to learn a quick way to connect with others
Gaining insights and knowledge in your newsfeed and through LinkedIn Learning courses
Brand building and thought leadership
Top tips for Job Seekers

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Allison Nunes is the Senior Director of Global Events for LinkedIn's sales org and has been with the company since 2013. In addition to her day job at LinkedIn, she is part of the LinkedIn Coaches program which helps members create a profile that showcases their skills, experience, and accomplishments. She is a champion for helping others leverage LinkedIn, their networks, and share their voice.

Allison has 20+ years of experience in the travel, meetings, event marketing and hospitality industry. She is a frequent global traveler, a fitness enthusiast, and a financial wellness advocate. Link to profile here.

MARLO MAROON

Celebrating Wins

Celebrating wins is the practice that holds significant relevance at all levels of the organization. It's not just about giving high-fives for individual victories or group successes; it's the vibe that makes our workplace culture shine and that essential ingredient we often forget but can totally transform the game.

Marlo Maroon, Director of Team Training for Pregame HQ, shares pro tips from years of creating winning solutions for teams local and abroad.

Learn how to:

Boost Morale and Motivation
Build a Positive Culture
Encourage Continuous Improvement

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Marlo Maroon

Marlo is a seasoned speaker with a track record of transforming ambitious visions into tangible successes, and celebrating every milestone along the way!

With a decade of experience collaborating with diverse teams on high-profile events such as the Super Bowl, Presidential Inauguration, and Olympics, she made a strategic shift in 2015 towards professional development and strategic planning.

Currently part of the dynamic team at Pregame in Portland, Marlo takes pride in offering a unique and effective approach to tackling challenges. Think of her as your dedicated business ally, fully committed to supporting your success and ensuring you have the resources necessary to overcome any obstacles along the way.

Beyond the professional realm, Marlo channels her passion towards environmental preservation and advancing equitable progress for the future.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions | 1:25PM- 2:20PM

HEIDI JOHNSON BIXBY

Get in the Driver's Seat

Navigating Financial Decisions with Confidence

We’re all on a financial path in life, but what happens when you encounter a bump or a fork in the road? Can you confidently take the wheel and navigate financial decisions as they come? Heidi Johnson Bixby, CFP® professional, will walk us through three essential tools you’ll want to pack for the financial road trip of a lifetime.

Heidi has been a trusted financial partner for individuals and families in Southwest Washington, Oregon and beyond, for 33 years and counting. She’s thrilled to share her insights to help you make informed financial decisions with confidence!

To learn more about Heidi’s own journey, read more below.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Heidi Johnson Bixby
CEO | Entrepreneur | Philanthropist | Board Member | Travel Photography Enthusiast

Heidi Johnson Bixby is a business leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She’s the owner of Johnson Bixby, a comprehensive financial planning firm, and Integrated Tax Services, an accounting and tax services firm, in Vancouver, Washington.

Heidi began her career in financial planning in 1991 as an assistant to the firm’s founder. She achieved her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 1997 and purchased the firm in 2008. Today, Heidi leads the firm and her other organizations with a clear vision and purpose – to help clients plan for the lives they want, give back to the financial planning profession, and to invest in and improve the community, specifically through financial education and empowerment.

Heidi has been recognized locally in Southwest Washington for her business acumen and her continued service and leadership in the community. In 2022, she co-created and launched Ripple Impact NW, a nonprofit, to inspire more people to adopt philanthropy as a way of life.

An active member of the community, Heidi has chaired or served on the boards of many nonprofits and business organizations over the last 25 years. Heidi is past board chair of Columbia Springs and treasurer for Global Sojourns Giving Circle. She also continues to support many other organizations with her time, knowledge, and resources.

Heidi has traveled to more than 30 countries, including Bangladesh, Peru and several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and travel continues to be the focus of her photography hobby.

RENEE LARA

Leading with Style

Leading Style Expert & Wardrobe Therapist, Renée Lara will guide you through what Leading w/ Style looks and feels like in your everyday life. Let Renée inspire you to discover and explore ways wardrobe and outfitting can elevate not only the way you feel, but the way you LEAD. Walk away from this breakout session...

Learning how to identify your Personal Style
Develop Style Confidence
Enhance the way you Lead

Interactive, Inspiring, and definitely a whole new way of looking at just how style can impact the way you lead, do, and grow. Your style is your story. Let's celebrate YOU!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

There are countless ways to describe stylist Renée Lara’s vision, but perhaps the best is personal.

For over 20 years, Renée has cultivated her professional artistry, working for both luxury boutiques and larger retailers such as Adidas and Anthropologie. As a Style Expert, Renée aims to encourage clarity, individuality and a sense of personal renewal.

Renée’s studies began in pre-nursing, then, ultimately, Psychology and Entrepreneurial Business at The University of Portland. Her travels include Asia, Europe and South America. It was in India when Renée worked with Mother Teresa that she witnessed the health benefits of color, scent and texture, which prompted her to study apparel design at the Art Institute of Portland. In her pursuit to bring her experience back to the States through her work, Renée was diagnosed with Lupus. (An Autoimmune disease that rigorously attacks healthy tissues, especially joints and skin).

The challenges she faced first-hand in that year was an integral part of her innate ability to connect wardrobe to wellness. Her Philosophy in outfitting & styling her clients is a powerful art that transcends traditional practices in the styling industry. Renée writes, ‘Wardrobe can be a powerful source in healing doubt, and igniting beauty that is within each of us. Instilling confidence to step into our greatness with authenticity and ease in our daily lives.’

The Art Institute led to her involvement in Portland’s Fashion Incubator and, subsequently, to Portland’s Fashion Week. Being a Personal Stylist for Anthropologie & URBN Inc.

Renée was continuously exposed to and inspired by the latest trends, which she mixes with her sharp eye for a classic yet modern feel. Using color, fabrics, patterns and textures, Renée energizes and inspires transformation.

No matter the client or need, she will connect one’s personal style to wardrobe and well-being.

Renée lives in Portland with her husband and two sons.

KENDALL HAGENSEN

Drama or Trauma? Recognize the difference & prevent burnout for yourself and your team!

Too often serious signs of burnout and trauma are downplayed and go unaddressed in ourselves and our teams. Learn how to recognize the signs of trauma, and walk away with tangible tools based in mind-body medicine, so you can support your team (and yourself!) to recover from, and prevent future burnout!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Kendall Hagensen
LMHC, BC-DMT, Founder, Clinical Director & Business Coach

Kendall is a Somatic Mental Health Therapist, Founder of VWS and Business Coach. She specializes in, and is passionate about, working with healthcare professionals to create the businesses of their dreams. Big goals always have a psychological component beneath the surface, so Kendall uses her background in Somatic Psychotherapy and EMDR Therapy mixed with Business Coaching tools to help clients develop a healthy relationship with their business and their strength as a leader. As someone who lives with a chronic illness herself, Kendall feels that health happens best within community, which is why she takes a holistic, integrative, and collaborative wellness approach to her personal and professional life.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions | 2:50PM- 3:45PM

LAURA FLORES

The Courage to Have the Tough Talks

In business, in the workplace, and in life, having tough conversations is... well, tough. We even avoid them hoping they go away. Laura will walk you through a few techniques to:

Empower you to have the courage to start the conversation
Have the confidence to maneuver through uncomfortable and awkward topics
Use highly effective and practical tools that can be used immediately in business, the workplace and in life.

It is time for women in business to feel empowered to have the tough talks and lead with confidence.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Laura is an enthusiastic, entertaining, and informative presenter on both corporate issues and leadership topics and with over 20 years of experience in the field of Human Resources, she offers a special blend of knowledge, experience, humor, and interaction to custom presentations and trainings.

She is not your typical business, team, and individual growth expert. Laura has the unique ability to provide actionable answers to individual and organizational challenges in an entertaining and impactful way.

20+ Years of Hands-On Specialized Business Expertise
Community Leader – Current Councilmember for the City of Grandview
Valued Board Member Across Several Non-Profits
Current Board Member of Main Street Grandview Association
Dedicated Mother and Friend

Laura is your key to igniting and empowering your team through training, speaking, skill building, group facilitation, mentoring, and guided practice.

KYLE SEXTON

Revolutionizing Your Routine: Mastering Tech for a Calmer, More Productive Life

Seeking to swap the chaos in your schedule with some well-deserved moments of Zen? Discover the perfect blend of automation, AI, and platforms to elevate efficiency and usher in the tranquility you've been craving. Learn essential strategies to embrace and master technology—even the tools you didn't initially choose—transforming tech frustrations and disorder into milestones of productivity.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Kyle Sexton is an award-winning marketing strategist and international speaker and author on the topics of membership development, marketing and innovation. He was recognized in 2011 by Chamber Executive magazine as one of the most influential innovators in the chamber of commerce industry.

Kyle is the author of:

Remembership - New Strategies for Remarkable Membership Organizations
Follow You Anywhere - 22 Little Lessons for Team Leaders

Kyle is the chamber community's foremost authority on membership tiers, and guides organizations through the transition from a traditional dues method to value-based tiers. His research and methods have been featured in industry publications, as well as national conventions and regional conferences.

Formerly the director of business development for the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, Kyle was recognized as the 2007 Chamber Staff Person of the Year by the Western Association of Chamber Executives. Kyle's innovative "Face2Face" platform on SalemChamber.org propelled the site to be the top-ranked local or regional chamber of commerce site on the web, as measured by Alexa.com. His innovations have been featured in The Wall Street Journal.

Kyle serves as faculty for the Institute of Organizational Management since 2008:

University of Arizona
Loyola Marymount University
Villanova University
University of Wisconsin
University of Georgia

He leads courses on:

Marketing Strategies
Rethinking Communications
Integrating Strategic Technology Solutions
Tech Trends & Tools
Sponsor Solicitation

Kyle is a former faculty member for the Western Association of Chamber Executives (WACE) Academy, and former member of the Board of Directors of The American Chamber of Commerce Executives. He also served as Chair of the Membership Development Advisory Board. He is a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from ACCE's Circle of Champions sales division with over 1,000 memberships sold.

He has been marketing and selling memberships since 1996. Prior to working in for chambers of commerce, he was the Director of Marketing & Corporate Services for a chain of Gold’s Gym locations in Western Oregon. His work was honored with the 2001 Gold's Gym International Award for Outstanding Advertising from among 600 franchises worldwide.

Kyle received the 1994 Pioneer Award for his first business venture, a College Pro Home Painters franchise which he operated for 2 years while attending the University of Oregon.

Kyle lives in Salem, Oregon, with his son, Wyatt.

DR. CAROL PARKER WALSH, JD, PhD

Harnessing the Power of Generations: Managing a Multigenerational Workforce

We have five generations working side-by-side in the workplace, but what does that mean for team dynamics and business success? As the workforce becomes increasingly age-diverse, leaders who can effectively harness this diversity will be better positioned to adapt to changing markets and business needs. Understanding the needs and motivations of different generations is key to employee engagement, satisfaction, and, ultimately, organizational success. Dive into the vibrant world of multigenerational talent, where Baby Boomers' wisdom meets Gen Z's innovation. In this interactive session, you'll be equipped with the tools to leverage the rich tapestry of generational diversity in your organization.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

A catalyst for transformational growth and development, Dr. Carol has a gift for unlocking innovation, turning ideas into actionable steps, and driving sustainable results.

Leveraging three decades as a labor and employment attorney, corporate executive, and academic leader, complimented by her extensive doctoral training and research, she uses a customized approach to equip leaders with the resources necessary to navigate and adapt to the shifting organizational terrain while managing themselves and their teams. This allows them to transform not only their skills but their perspectives and behaviors as well.

As a certified brand strategist, Dr. Carol elevates leaders’ influence, establishing them as industry and organizational authorities. She champions the advancement of women’s leadership, with a proven record of accelerating career trajectories for female leaders, enhancing top talent retention, and promoting organizational outcomes.

In addition to managing an award-winning consulting firm, Dr. Carol has been recognized by her peers as a TEDx speaker, three-time Amazon best-selling author, and published member of the Forbes Coaches Council, Newsweek Expert Forum, and Entrepreneur’s Leadership Network. Her influence extends to a myriad of platforms as a sought-after keynote speaker, Fellow of the Harvard Institute of Coaching, resident career and leadership expert on ABC’s AM Northwest Morning Show, and hosting her widely-acclaimed podcast, The Midlife Career Rebel.

Inspire HER Speakers

Morning Keynote Presentation | 9:15AM- 10AM

NICOLE SHERMAN

This is Your Now!

Morning Breakout Sessions | 10:30AM- 11:25AM

JENNA COOPER

Speak to Spark: Unleash the Power of Storytelling and Crush Your Next Presentation - with Confidence!

ALLISON NUNES

Rock Your Profile & Leverage the Power of LinkedIn

MARLO MAROON

Celebrating Wins

Afternoon Breakout Sessions | 1:25PM- 2:20PM

HEIDI JOHNSON BIXBY

Get in the Driver's Seat

RENEE LARA

Leading with Style

KENDALL HAGENSEN

Drama or Trauma? Recognize the difference & prevent burnout for yourself and your team!

Afternoon Breakout Sessions | 2:50PM- 3:45PM

LAURA FLORES

The Courage to Have the Tough Talks

KYLE SEXTON

Revolutionizing Your Routine: Mastering Tech for a Calmer, More Productive Life

DR. CAROL PARKER WALSH, JD, PhD

Harnessing the Power of Generations: Managing a Multigenerational Workforce

Greater Vancouver Chamber