2024 TeamWomen Empower Gala

See you there!

The 2024 Empower Gala is your chance to support TeamWomen in our mission to inspire women and girls to rise together through leadership development, mentoring, and youth empowerment.

During the event, you’ll hear powerful stories from a panel of speakers who will share how being part of our community has transformed their lives both personally and professionally. Additionally, our sponsors and partners will showcase their commitment to creating positive change, one woman and one girl at a time.

For those eager to make an even greater impact, we offer a variety of sponsorship opportunities. We are also seeking donations for our auction! If you’re interested in contributing, please fill out this form. Thank you for your support!

Stay tuned for more info about our 2024 Empower Gala panelists and awesome auction items!

The Schedule

5pm: Social Hour & Silent Auction

6pm: Program Begins + Live Auction

7:15pm More Social Hour

7:30pm Silent Auction Closes

8pm Program Ends

Meet Our Special Guests

Lea B. Olsen

Emcee

Since playing basketball for the University of Minnesota, where she studied journalism and mass communication, Lea has worked for NBCSN, ESPN’s national WNBA coverage, and currently is a game analyst for the Minnesota Lynx and a television sideline reporter for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Bally Sports North.

Lea has also broadcast both the boys and girls Minnesota State high school basketball tournaments.

As a motivational speaker, Lea challenges athletes, coaches, and business professionals to rethink winning at all costs. Lea founded Rethink the Win in 2015 to help preserve a healthy environment for athletes to thrive in.

She was also named to the 2023 Twin Cities Business 100 list. Lea played basketball for the University of Minnesota before launching her sports journalism career and is the only Minnesotan to sit on the Board for Bell Bank.

Rylie Behr

Auctioneer

Rylie is a rising star in the auction industry and is the Chief Brand Ambassador & Auctioneer for Behr Benefits. Having a background in theater and entertainment, she knows how to dazzle audiences of all sizes all over the U.S. Rylie intertwines wit, humor, and show “woman” ship to every auction and event. With her dynamic personality, Rylie is able to adapt and accommodate a variety of audiences and nonprofit clients.

Rylie’s extensive theater and acting background elevates her in the auction industry. It allows her to quickly acclimate, improv, and adapt when needed. She has starred in films across the U.S. and even traveled to Canada. She is known for winning Best New Actress in 2013 at The Wild Rose Film Festival and for receiving an award for up-and-coming spokesperson from the Epilepsy Foundation. She has a knack for engaging audiences and making a room come alive like she’s done on the big screen since age 9.

LIVE AUCTION ITEMS

These are the fabulous live action items from our 2023 Empower Gala. Stay tuned to see what you’ll have the chance to bid on this year!

Punch Bowl Social

Grab your family or friends and make memories at Punch Bowl Social! This fun package donated by Felicia Miller includes a voucher for Bowling for 10, an 8 person punch bowl of your choice, Punch Bowl Swag, and a $100 gift card for appetizers/food!

Silk Road Dinner

Immerse yourself in a thousand-year culinary journey with this exquisite 5-course meal inspired by the legendary Silk Road, donated by former 3M Executive Dr. John Pournoor. John will guide four lucky individuals from Xi’an, China, to Istanbul, creatively presenting each city’s unique flavors and spices. Throughout the event, a stimulating trivia game unfolds: each dish contains a mystery ingredient, native to its featured city but foreign to the country, a tribute to the vibrant exchange on the historic trade route. Guests will delight in identifying these ingredients, blending gastronomy with the rich tapestry of Silk Road history.

Margarita Pool Party

Unleash the ultimate summer vibe at a Margarita Pool Party donated by Heidi Humphrey! Dive into a refreshing day where the pool is cool, the margaritas are perfectly blended, and the atmosphere is electrifying with the delightful company of 20 TeamWomen attendees who win this reverse auction experience!

Airbnb Arizona Villa Stay

Enjoy a 4 night stay at Alissa and Lucas Henriksen’s fabulous luxury Airbnb Lookout Mountain Villa, a boho-themed resort-style home conveniently located in North Central Phoenix near the best restaurants, shopping, hiking trails, golf courses, and more!

This private oasis designed to provide the most luxe, relaxing, and beautiful vacation imaginable. Blackout dates November-April 1st.

2 Hour Safety and Assault Prevention Class

Not Me!™ provides assault prevention and safety classes for all ages: Pre-K through college-aged to professional adults. Their unique, life-changing training program conveys more than instruction, it delivers a new level of impactful personal safety awareness, designed to empower people with prevention savvy. Thank you to Kelly Johnson for the donation!

Tour Lake Minnetonka with Katy Burke

Spend the day on the lake with TeamWomen’s Executive Director, and 30-year resident of Lake Minnetonka, Katy Burke! Tour Grays Bay, Wayzata Bay, and Robinson’s Bay and take a dip in the beautiful water. Boat to Wayzata for lunch or dinner. Pick your day: June – August (4th of July excluded)

Private Yoga Class for 10

Enjoy a private yoga class for up to 10 people at Spirit of the Lake Yoga and Wellness Center in Excelsior, MN, donated by Nicole L Lovald. This class is available to adults, adolescents, or a combination of both. It will be a 60 minute class, customized to meet your needs.

Lake Sylvia Cabin – 4 Night Stay

Enjoy a 4 night stay at Lake Sylvia 2 bedroom, 2 bath home, just a one hour drive from Minneapolis, donated by Brandi Warmbier! Home has bar with ice maker, game table, lake access, outdoor games and two separate deck spaces to enjoy. Great getaway for a group of friends or for a family! Pontoon rental available as well.

Meet Our Speakers

More speakers will be announced soon!

Marian Candil

Director of Business Development | Regenerative Agriculture Alliance

Marian is on a mission to create a better world by fostering honor, transparency, and trust within the teams and communities she serves. Her commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) forms the foundation of her work. She champions knowledge diversity, intersectionality, and multidisciplinarity in every endeavor.

Marian is dedicated to uplifting disadvantaged and vulnerable communities through poverty alleviation initiatives and improving access to education, health, and holistic services.

With a background in development practice, community engagement, nonprofit management, communications, systems mapping, stakeholder engagement, and impactful problem-solving, Marian excels in navigating ambiguity. Her experience includes program evaluation using both qualitative and quantitative data to inform effective interventions. She advocates for research with a mixed approach to design projects and drive results.

Marian’s work is grounded in human dignity, integrity, collaboration, community, and sustainability. As the Director of Development for the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance (RAA), she manages federal grants and develops strategies for the growth, scalability, and replication of RAA programs across different regions.

She firmly believes in supporting and healing our communities to break cycles of violence and poverty, fostering strength, independence, and circularity for a sustainable future.

Kim Brown Goodwin

Career & Life Strategy Coach / People Officer / Connector & Business Developer

Kim is passionate about people and enjoys using her gift of strategy to help identify “outside the box solutions” with her coaching clients, as well as, leaders and teams in organizations.

Through her career (and personal dream) execution strategies, Kim offers a tool kit of resources she used to “reinvent” her career after stepping down from her law firm leadership career. Using a holistic and personalized approach to identify our core purpose, desires, and unique giftings, Kim helps clients map out strategies to get from “here to there” – at their own pace. When coaching and/or leadership clients are “ready for next steps”, Kim offers valuable resources drawn from her personal network, with warm introductions and a “white glove service” approach.

Kim attributes her passion for people to her faith and her “wise & loving mama,” who encouraged her to pursue her dreams. Not everyone has a parent or support system, and Kim is honored when she has the privilege of serving as “Chief Cheerleader” to anyone who asks.

Christy De Los Rios

Sr. Client Solutions Director | Robert Half

Christy is a Sr. Client Solutions Director with the human resources practice at global talent solutions firm Robert Half. She is a 24-year veteran with Robert Half, with success in many roles and practice groups, including finance & accounting, administrative & customer support, healthcare, and human resources. She prides herself on providing exceptional customer service, finding top talent in the Twin Cities area, and ensuring the best experience for her clients and consultants. Outside of work, she is an active member of TeamWomen! Christy is a mentor in our Spring 2024 Mentor Program cohort and sits on our membership committee.