Sept. 26, 2017
Area women will share their experiences and advice for success at the fifth annual Young Women Lead Conference Oct. 10 and 11 at Ashland Community and Technical College. They will join keynote speakers Julie Marie Carrier and Kendra Brown in presenting leadership, education and development tips to high-school junior girls from Eastern Kentucky.
Featured on NBC’s Today Show, Fox, MTV and in The New York Times, Julie Marie Carrier is a speaker and award-winning author for students on leadership, character and confidence. As a former Senior Management Consultant in Leadership Training and Development for the Pentagon, Julie is a go-to speaker for student leadership conferences like DECA, HOSA and FBLA. Also, because of her unique position as a top female leadership speaker for students, Julie is also recognized as “America’s #1 Speaker for Girls,” where she specializes in delivering interactive programs and presentations that empower girls, young women, and mothers-daughters.
An Emmy-nominee, Julie also brings her empowering messages to millions of homes on national TV as a student success coach for “MADE”—MTV’s positive goal achievement show for students. Julie’s messages are also featured in the New York Times best-seller, The Success Principles, The Success Principles for Teens, Chicken Soup for the Extraordinary Teen Soul, and in her national award-winning book, BeYOUtiful! and Girls Lead.
Kendra Brown currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Representative Dwight Evans where she leads his legislative operation and manages his Washington, D.C., office. She previously served as Policy Director of the Congressional Black Caucus in the United States Congress. She is a Former National Chair of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). During her term as National Chair, NBLSA was active in election protection, leadership training and development, academic planning, career development, and extensive advocacy efforts.
Kendra graduated from Hampton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in business management. She began her seminary studies by pursuing coursework at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, completed her Master of Divinity at Howard University Divinity School, and received her law degree from Vermont Law School. Additionally, Kendra attended the George Washington University School of Law for her Master of Law.
She is committed to community engagement and empowerment as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in the Baltimore County Chapter, Upsilon Epsilon Omega, where she currently serves as Vice President and Program Committee Chairman. She is also a member of The Links, Incorporated and serves on the Leadership Committee of Street Law, Inc., a global, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that develops classroom and community programs to educate young people about law and government. She serves in a number of additional capacities, including as a youth minister and minister of music in her local church and has been a part of the executive board of both the Washington Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and the National Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division.
Breakout sessions for the conference are:
“All About Animals: The Life and Career of a Veterinarian,” by Dr. Ursula Nance of All About Animals Veterinary Clinic;
“Going Against the Grain,” by ACTC students Kayla McDavid and Eryn Casey;
“Life is Art, You are the Artist,” by Normal Meek, executive director of the Paramount Arts Center;
“Healthy Relationships,” by Kelsey Crowe, child advocate at Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky;
“Volunteerism and Your Future,” by Jerri Compton, executive director of the United Way of Northeast Kentucky;
“Space Science and Systems Engineering,” by Kennedy Haught, student at Morehead State University Space Science Center;
“Addiction: Does Gender Matter?” by Veronica A. Nunley, director of Organizational Development at Pathways Inc.;
“Entrepreneurship and What It Takes,” by Lauren Gibbs Burgess, owner/operator of T.J. Studio LLC and Regan and Ryder’s Closet LLC;
“You Don’t Look Like an Investigator,” by Angela Rigsby, investigator with the Department of Public Advocacy;
“Be Confident, Be Beautiful,” by Amber Weddington, human resources specialist at ACTC;
“Your Million Dollar Idea,” by Mae Marks, manager, special projects, economic development and talent attraction at Greater Louisville Inc.;
“Financial Crossfit,” by Lori Cooksey, first vice president and Kentucky regional manager at City National Bank;
“Not Sure? Women in Engineering,” by Kaitlin Stringer, technical service engineer at Marathon Petroleum Company; and
“Valuing Differences,” by Katie McKnight, senior human resources consultant at Marathon Petroleum Company.
The emcee will be Julie Reeves, radio host of Julie Reeves Live on 101.5 Big Buck Country and a former Virgin Records country recording star.
The conference is sponsored primarily by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. in partnership with ACTC, SOAR, Clarks Pump-N-Shop and local organizations. Registration is thorough high school counselors in the FIVCO area.
For conference information, go to youngwomenlead.com/Ashland or email Karen Coburn at karen.coburn@kctcs.edu.
