2024 – TeamWomen in Review

Last year was one for the books! 

In 2024, we shared stories from the incredible women of TeamWomen. They were stories of mentoring, resilience, networking, diversity, community service, connection, and empowerment. These stories are threaded together with the essence of TeamWomen: Inspiring women and girls to rise together. 

Here’s a look back at the stories of TeamWomen’s 2024. 

Mentoring with Julieta Piox and Sarah Cozzi

Read the story of Julieta and Sarah– two participants of TeamWomen’s Mentor Program. Theirs is a quintessential example of how the TeamWomen mentor program can bring out the best in both mentor and mentee. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/julieta-piox-and-sarah-cozzi-a-mentoring-meet-cute/

Connecting at the Annual Leadership Conference with Sarah Sundine

A key objective of the TeamWomen 13th annual Leadership Conference, which took place on May 8th, 2024, in Minneapolis, was to facilitate connections and cultivate strong bonds among professional women. The all-day event has evolved into a pivotal gathering for hundreds of professional women to seek out inspiration and insights from other prominent females in the professional realm. 

Sarah Sundine, COO at Ultra Machining Company, now President since this blog post was written, was one of many incredible women who shared her story at our conference. Sara is another one of TeamWomen’s success stories, not only in developing herself but also our future leaders.

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/sarah-sundine-a-journey-of-leadership-and-impact-at-umc/

Pioneering Menopause Positivity with Sally Mueller

Leadership Conference speaker Sally Mueller, CEO and Co-Founder of Womaness.com, is committed to transforming the conversation around healthy aging in women. Her brand’s movement challenges societal norms surrounding the natural process of menopause by providing innovative products that address the holistic needs of mature women. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/sally-mueller-pioneering-menopause-positivity-at-the-teamwomen-2024-leadership-conference/

Navigating the Yellow Brick Road to Personal Empowerment with Heather Boschke

Meet Heather Boschke, 2024 TeamWomen Annual Leadership Conference Keynote Speaker, entrepreneur, and founder of  Little Birdie Buddies. Heather empowers women to unlock their true potential by exploring the multifaceted dimensions of their own identities. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/heather-boschke-navigating-the-yellow-brick-road-to-personal-empowerment/

Empowering Insights with Jennifer Mandery

TeamWomen’s Member Survey harnesses the power of data and the spirit of empowerment to improve how TeamWomen supports their fellow women in leadership and development. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/jennifer-mandery-providing-empowering-insights-through-teamwomen-member-survey/ 

Creating a Networking Event that Packs a Real Punch with Felicia Miller and Gerilyn Giel

For the last two years, entertainment company Punch Bowl Social has hosted a happy hour networking event to kick off TeamWomen’s annual Leadership Conference, where mentees and mentors from the TeamWomen Mentor Program and the greater TeamWomen community gather for Punch Bowl Social’s signature food, great drinks, and a chance to mingle and connect with other women before the annual leadership conference. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/felicia-miller-gerilyn-giel-creating-a-networking-event-that-packs-a-real-punch/ 

Prioritizing Women in Leadership with Kelly Skalicky

As a pioneering female leader in the banking industry, President and CEO of Stearns Bank, Kelly Skalicky, shares her proud support of TeamWomen’s work promoting equality and women in leadership roles. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/prioritizing-women-in-leadership/

Changing the Course of a Career with Christen Cook

In 2023, Christen Cook resolved to make meaningful engagement with TeamWomen her professional development priority. Joining TeamWomen, applying for the Mentor Program, and immersing herself in the community by regularly attending events became the catalyst she needed. Her decision to wade deep into TeamWomen altered the trajectory of Christen’s career in unforeseen ways. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/christen-cook-changing-career/

Owning Your Power with Mercedes Jackson

Mercedes Jackson, shareholder at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. and Co-Founder and CEO of Par365 has a lot to offer regarding how to be successful as a black woman in America with children. 

“You don’t often think about your own power, but I’m becoming more mindful about how my work can help other young women who come after me,” she told TeamWomen. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/mercedes-jackson-owning-her-power/ 

Meeting Women Where They Are with Nancy Nash

Nancy Nash, Senior Director of Operations for Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, has been friends with TeamWomen executive director Katy Burke since 9th grade.

In 2024, she brought 30 female colleagues to the Annual Leadership Conference. She wanted them to get out of the walls of their church and see what’s happening with other women because it’s essential to continue to engage and broaden perspectives outside of your own world. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/nancy-nash-meeting-women-where-they-are/ 

Loving the Team with Lea B. Olsen

Longtime sports broadcaster and 2024 Empower Gala Emcee Lea B. Olsen leveraged her love of the game with her skills as a journalist to formalize her work as a public speaker and create Rethink the Win, a resource for young athletes, parents, coaches, and professionals that challenges everyone to rethink the toxic mentality of  “winning at all costs.”

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/lea-b-olsen-for-love-of-the-team/ 

Mentoring with Tammie Follett

Known among TeamWomen as the Mentor of Mentoring, Tammie Follett talks with TeamWomen about being an Outstanding Mentor Honoree at the Wavemaker Awards in 2023. Tammie’s legacy as a mentor reflects the pillars of her own success: confidence, relationships, and a stellar network. 

Tammie is currently the Director of Advancement for Lawyers Without Borders, the President of Books for Africa, and on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Women Lawyers Foundation.

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/tammie-follett-the-mentor-of-mentoring/ 

Empowered Storytelling with Alexa Score

Alexa Score is a TV personality for the Minnesota Vikings, host of Made for the Outdoors (aired on Sportsman Channel, Bally Sports Networks), host and producer of Offroad Odyssey (aired on Bally Sports Networks, Outdoors Channel), and a member of the CW Twin Cities on-air crew. She’s also a cancer survivor. 

Alexa spoke at TeamWomen’s Annual Leadership Conference last spring about overcoming adversity. Alexa understands that everyone has a story and that every good story must have conflict. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/alexa-score-empowered-through-storytelling/ 

Embracing Your Passion with Rylie Behr

Rylie Behr’s path to an unconventional career as a Fundraising Auctioneer– a male-dominated industry where women make up only 14%– was fueled by her desire to follow her passion. Now, it’s her career. Rylie reprised her role as auctioneer for TeamWomen’s EmpowerGala in November and had the attendees mesmerized, energized and clamoring to support TeamWomen’s mission work.

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/rylie-behr-embracing-her-passion/ 

Building Bridges with Jen Bailey

Jen Bailey, Vice President Total Rewards and HR Shared Services at Allina Health is a cool aunt. Last year, she incentivized her nieces to attend an Empower Leadership Academy with a ticket to the Empower Gala. They loved it all. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/jen-bailey-building-bridges/ 

Full-Circle Service with Susan Freiberg

As the director of HR for the H2I Group, a specialty subcontractor for athletic, education, and laboratory projects, Susan has had a long career of helping others and was drawn to TeamWomen’s networking and community service opportunities. 

Her service was a full-circle moment when she joined the TeamWomen Community Outreach Committee, which is dedicated to expanding TeamWomen’s presence, impact, and mission by building strong relationships with local organizations and engaging with diverse communities.

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/susan-freiberg-full-circle-service/ 

Building Strong Girls, Strong Women with LaToya Burrell

LaToya Burrell, General Counsel for Zinpro Corporation and Executive Director of Anderson Foundation, knows that something amazing happens when girls are invited in, not left out. 

LaToya was instrumental in partnering with TeamWomen, which included hosting an  Empower Leadership Academy in June 2024. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/latoya-burrell-building-girls-building-women/ 

The Essence of Empowering with Nicki Nee

Nicki Nee, Director of Total Cost of Care at Homeward and a TeamWomen Empower Leadership Academy Coach, helped to enhance the curriculum for the Empower Leadership Academy Program. 

The Empower Leadership Academy curriculum empowers and develops young leaders in four key areas: Leadership, Confidence, Resilience, and Wellbeing. 

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/nicki-nee-the-essence-of-empowerment/ 

Maximize the Good with Sgt. Amy Rahlf and Ofc. Annie Baumgart

TeamWomen’s partnership with the St. Paul Police Department for holiday-giving efforts deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic through a nurtured relationship that amplifies the strengths of both organizations. 

Their collaboration embodies a core value of TeamWomen: We are stronger together.

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/annie-baumgart-and-amy-rahlf-maximize-the-good/ 

A Legacy of Lifting with Maria Schwingler 

Maria Schwingler wears a lot of hats: Partner and Midwest Regional Assurance Practice Leader at Eide Bailly, the current Board Chair for TeamWomen, and a Co-founder and Board Member of Hearts 2 Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting moms with complicated pregnancies, and mother to twin daughters.

Maria’s mission is to lift and inspire other women through TeamWomen or in her work at Eide Bailly. Now, she’s guiding her twin daughters through their own TeamWomen experience so they can rise together.

READ MORE: https://teamwomenmn.org/maria-schwingler-a-legacy-of-lifting/