2023 Women Who Light the Community

September 6, 2023

Embassy Suites

Co-Presented By

Agenda

Opening Remarks

Cynthia Case • BWLG Co-Chair

Kristina Lailas-Putterman • BWLG Co-Chair

2023 Honorees

Amy Long | Nothing Bundt Cakes

Madelyn S. Woodley | ECAACE

Marie Gambon | Gambon Enterprises

Susan Rona | Boulder JCC

Wendy Lea | Engergize Colorado

Sophia Bandi | Silver Creek High School

Closing Remarks and Champagne Toast

John Tayer • Boulder Chamber

Celebrating 28 Years of Honorees

For over two decades, the Boulder Chamber’s Business Women’s Leadership Group has presented the Women Who Light the Community event to honor local women who have made significant contributions through innovation and a committed effort to address business or community needs on a local, regional, national, or global scale.

This year marks the 28th anniversary of the event. To date, Women Who Light the Community has honored 142 of Boulder’s most outstanding women leaders, representing a breadth of industries across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.

“Every year, whether in our brightest days and our darkest hours, these Women Who Light The Community honorees shine a bright light for all of to follow, ” says John Tayer, President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber.

“Their achievements in business and philanthropic activities, often fighting bias, stereotypes and other adverse conditions, represent the highest aspiration for personal resilience that is a beacon to all us as we confront today’s pressing challenges.”

2022

Adriana Paola Palacios

Nancy Whiteman

Allison Billings

Bhavna Chhabra

Deborah Malden

Diana Garcia

2021

Jacqueline AttleseyPries Jan Burton

Ana Karina Casas Ibarra

Berenice Garcia Tellez

Annett James

Janell Tarma Camposano

2020

Chrysti Britt

Renata Colitti

Norma Fuentes

Carrie Inoshita

Lerato Osnes

Laura Soto

2019

Stephanie Carter

Rebecca Chavez

Frances Draper

Paola García Barrón

Geri Mitchell-Brown

Paula Nelson

2018

Jan Berg

Carol Driggs

Connie Minden

Carmen Ramirez

Kirsten Wilson

Cante Waste Win Zephier

2017

Allison Barto

Naomi Graff

Pam Malzbender

Janet Martin

Elvira Ramos

Kathy Valentine

2016

Greta Cain

Michelle Carpenter

Vivian Dullien

Melissa Hart

LaVern Johnson

Isabel McDevitt

2015

Elena Aranda

Lori Canova

Hayden Dansky

Jane Miller

Zoe Stith

2014

Dr Joanne Belknap

Kim Riether Coupounas

Dr. Deirdre Pilch

Bay Roberts and Patty Gilbert

Janette Keene Taylor

Nikola Yager

2013

Sue Coffee

Dr. Julie Colwell

Lenna Kottke

Paula DuPre’Presman

Diana Sherry

2012

Cindy Carrillo

Deborah Conley

Diane Dimeff

Janet Russell

Alex Zinga

2011

Peggy Bruns

Dr. Dorothea El Mallakh

Brenda Lyle

Karen McMurry

Catherine Underhill

2010

Barb Batt

Kathy Beeck

Robin Beeck

Marta Moreno

Virginia Mcconnell

L Hunter Lovins

2009

Sue Deans

Josie Heath

Joann Joselyn

Diane Magliolo

Beverly Sears

2008

Wendy Booker

Tania Leontov

Cindy Lindsay

Aya Mariagnes Medrud

2007

Maryann Balassa

Joan Raderman

Nancy Smith

Jean Wood

2006

Becky Annandale

Sue Bailhache

Ann Mattson

Theresa Szczurek

Kelly Wyatt

2005

Sue Chrisman

Kay Hutchinson

Bridget Johnson

Karen Ripley

Darla Schueth

2004

Lynda Gibbons

Nicky Marone

Barb Martig

Edie Ortega

Petie Van Everen

2003

Gale Dunlap

Marcelee Gralapp

Jane McConnell

Dee Perry

Ann Tapp

2002

Karen Gerrity

Barbara Gigone

Linda Shoemaker

Mary Blue

2001

Lisa Atallah

Janet Beardsley

Doris Hass

Stephanie Rudy

2000

Catherine Bedell

Meg Collins

Kitty deKieffer

Helayne Jones

Diane Ladd

1999

M Cady

Halvorson

Rita Kotter

Terre Lee Rushton

Jan McHugh

1998

Ann Cooper

Connie Holden

Malaika Pettigrew

Judy Ruzieka

1997

Ruth Jones

Dennice Kercher

Heather Ryan

1996

Clair Beckmann

Barbara Buchman Ida

Halasz

Meg Hansson

2017

2020

2021

2023 Honorees

Sophia Bandi • Emerging Youth Honoree

My name is Sophia Bandi. I graduated from Silver Creek High School this past spring and will be attending Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder this fall studying Business Marketing I have lived in Longmont, Colorado my whole life and I have loved my time here! I enjoy being outdoors, thrifting, and spending time with my family and friends.

I first became involved in leadership my freshman year of high school by joining Student Government, my school's environmental club, and Silver Creek’s Leadership Academy I found my passion for leadership when I realized that, even as a high schooler, I could create change within my community. By my senior year, I became President of the Leadership Academy, senior class executive in Student Government, leader of my school’s student section, and I was a part of Raptor Leadership Club, which worked to integrate new students into our school’s culture

Marie Gambon • Founder, Gambon Enterprises

Marie Gambon is the founder of Gambon Enterprises. Marie takes her HR roles very seriously, creating an environment where employees are proud of where they work. She designs and delivers HR practices that are successful and measurable: low turnover, high morale, reduced spending and increased productivity

Marie was Vice President for People at Lily’s Sweets from 2019 through 2022.Prior to that she was Senior Vice President for People at Boulder Brands from 2011 through 2017 She was also SVP for People at Frontier Natural Brands from 2000 to 2002 From 1994 to 2000 she was a corporate officer and Vice President for People for Celestial Seasonings, Inc From 1991 to 1994 she was Executive Director of Leadership and Learning Systems for US West. Marie began her career working for IBM.

Marie has a BS degree in Communication from Wayne State She has served on the board of directors of the Colorado Workforce Council; as Chair for Workforce Boulder County for ten years, on the board of directors for the Emergency Family Assistance Association, VIA Mobility Services, Meals on Wheels, and the Boulder Chamber. She is currently on Imagine!’s governing board of directors.

Marie lives with her handsome prince, Ken, in Louisville, CO They share 4 wonderful sons and 4 perfect grandchildren

2023 Honorees

Wendy Lea • Co-Founder/CEO Energize Colorado

Wendy Lea is an accomplished leader-practitioner with a proven entrepreneurial and ecosystem background. With a wealth of experience in large enterprises and entrepreneurial ecosystems, Wendy works to improve economic conditions for regions, states, and communities through her leadership of public/private partnerships.

Founder of TechHubNow!, Wendy catalyzes innovation and entrepreneurship through advanced technologies that deliver economic and national security. A co-founder and Board Chair of Energize Colorado, Wendy is dedicated to fostering a thriving small business ecosystem that promotes resilience and inclusivity for underserved entrepreneurs across Colorado. She serves on the Governor’s Revenue Estimation Revenue Estimating Advisory Committee (GREAC).

At a national level, Wendy serves on the Center for American Entrepreneurship (CAE) advisory board and as a member of the National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE), helping develop strategies to strengthen America’s role as a global leader in emerging technologies

Amy Long • Owner, Operator, Nothing Bundt Cakes

Amy Long is owner of Boulder’s Nothing Bundt Cakes, a franchise bakery that combines the warmth of nostalgia with a fresh, modern approach. Her wideranging business experience in the region spans more than 20 years, including financial management, community outreach, business development, restaurant partnership, and franchise ownership Amy operates her business with a clear mission to make customers feel valued, while continuously innovating to find meaningful ways to engage with and support our community.

She enjoys spreading bundt bliss to key organizations that bolster our community Her passion to give back may be deeply rooted in the complex journey she and her family navigated when they moved to the United States in 1986, but it’s also enmeshed in a strong work ethic that informs every aspect of her life. Amy, a devoted and integral member of the Boulder Chamber, is a dynamic, entrepreneurial businesswoman who feels a profound connection with the vibrant heart of our community. She believes in building strong relationships, giving back as a socially responsible business leader, and guiding her daughters to become global citizens. To her, these principles form the cornerstone of managing a successful contemporary business today

2023 Honorees

Rona • Managing Director Boulder JCC

Susan's infectious spirit brings people together, accomplishing more than any individual can do alone. She has been involved in the Boulder community since she moved here in 2006 Susan's first volunteer role was in 2008 as the Grassroots Co-Chair for the St Vrain Valley School District's first successful Mill Levy Override of $16 5M

Through Susan's roles at the Boulder Jewish Community Center (JCC), including Board Chair, Capital Campaign Co-Chair ($30+M Campaign), and Senior Director of Programming, she has deeply impacted our community. Reflecting one of Susan's goals during the Campaign, the JCC has become a central gathering place for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect and build relationships.

Susan's passion has translated into a consulting practice where she helps nonprofits realize their mission She continues volunteering for the community at Rose Community Foundation, the Boulder JCC, Tara, and as a mediator for the Boulder County Sheriff's Office

Madelyn Woodley • Founder, Executive Committee of African American Cultural Events

The heartland continuously offers vitality, education, and culture through entertainment, art, and America’s social justice movements. Born in Memphis, TN, raised 30 miles northeast in Rosemark, TN, and currently residing in Colorado, Madelyn Strong Woodley is the core that brings dynamic cultural ties from back home interwoven with professional and personal experiences to a lifetime of service to her community.

Madelyn founded the Executive Committee for African American Cultural Events (ECAACE), an organization that creates events that educate the community about African American culture which include events during Black History Month and Juneteenth She is an executive committee member of the NAACP, Boulder County Branch, and recently served as chairperson of the 2023 NAACP Freedom Fund Committee which brought the Nashville African American Wind Symphony to Boulder to perform As a Retired FedEx Corporate Executive, Madelyn’s law enforcement related background has proven beneficial in her most recent role as a member of the Boulder Police Oversight Task Implementation Team and Panel.Madelyn is a charter member with the Longmont Multicultural Action Committee, and a Longmont Housing & Human Services Advisory Board member Her success and gusto is driven by her mantra that “Failure is not an option ”

Susan

Amy Long

Marie Gambon

Founder, Gambon Enterprises

Madelyn S. Woodley

Franchise Owner, Nothing Bundt Cakes Founder, ECAACE

We proudly celebrate the women in our community!

Director,

Sophia Bandi Silver Creek High School, Emerging Youth Award

As one of the strongest and most active groups within the Boulder Chamber, Business Women’s Leadership Group (BWLG) provides Boulder’s community of business women with education, networking, leadership, and recognition through informative and professional programs The BWLG also provides the committee for the Women Who Light the Community signature program.

We invite you to join the BWLG to help you build your business and advance your career.

Co-Chairs

Cynthia Case • Alpine Bank

Cynthia Case is a Boulder native who enjoys bringing people together both professionally and personally. Family is something that is very important and has been a value that has shaped many aspects of her life Being the youngest of four girls, Cynthia has grown up with the support and encouragement of strong women in her life from an early age and enjoys continuing this tradition both personally and professionally Life always takes us on journeys we never could have planned for ourselves if we only have the courage to walk them out

Cynthia’s current position as the Relationship Manager for Alpine Bank Boulder is such a journey for her Being someone who vowed to never work in finance because she wanted to “help people in business”, Cynthia now works for a bank in the community that she has come to love. She found not just a financial institution that can help people, but she also found a bank with a heart where she fully enjoys the challenge of bringing her marketing and operations management skillsets to a dynamic team on a daily basis. If there is a smell of fresh brewed coffee, Cynthia is probably close by and you might even catch her with her knitting in hand Bringing the heart of hospitality to people is just part of who Cynthia is both personally and professionally.

Kristina Lailas-Putterman • Mountain View Bank of Commerce

Kristina is a Commercial Lender with Mountain View Bank of Commerce, a boutique community bank As a Banker, Kristina works with businesses and business owners on lending as well as assists in cash management and deposit needs. She has lived in Boulder County for 23 + years. She is originally from the Washington DC area and a native Virginian Kristina has two teenagers, Elias (17) and Genevieve (15) they both attend Fairview High School She enjoys hiking with her husband Joshua and their dog Rose on the weekends She likes to cook and entertain family and friends. A fun fact: She was Host and Producer of a live talk show called, World View Talk. It aired every Monday evening live for an hour. This was broadcasted on a nonprofit station that functioned like PBS, locally in Virginia

About the Artist

Elisa Garcia

Elisa Garcia was born in Uruguay, immersed in the sounds of tango and other Latin American folk music. At the age of eight, she relocated to the US with her family and embarked on a journey of discovering other world cultures. Elisa’s interest in different societies and their customs led her to study Anthropology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. With a strong passion for music and dance, she was eager to explore the impact that these art forms have on building communities. This led her to join a West African dance and singing group where she learned not only the rhythms of this rich and vibrant land, but also the strong sense of community they create

Upon graduation, Elisa rediscovered Brazilian music and became a proponent for that lively culture. Through song, she learned to speak Portuguese and dance samba. As she delved deeper into Brazilian music and its origins, Elisa also discovered and fell in love with the sounds of the Cape Verdean Islands and Fado from Portugal.

Elisa’s interests and studies took her around the world, but her search for cultural identity brought her back to her roots in tango and Latin American folk music. Inspired to write her own songs, influenced by these rhythms, Elisa co-founded the Pan-American band, NuMundo. In 2011, they released their first CD titled “Our Song”.

The years 2013 - 2016 were spent living in Singapore where Elisa collaborated with musicians to share the cultures of Latin America. Here she also did work as a samba dancer and Zumba instructor.

Elisa is currently living in Colorado with her husband and daughter. She plays Latin American folk songs with her trio/quartet which includes her percussionist husband Leo Muñoz Corona, and pianist Victor Mestas They play a variety of styles from Cuban boleros to Mexican huapangos to Argentinian zambas and Uruguayan candombe.

Elisa is also teaching dance classes with Una Vida Niwot and Dance for Parkinson's with 3rd Law Dance/Theater.

SELASEE & THE FAFA FAMILY

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