Olympic gold medalist Carly Patterson to headline women’s leadership conference in Jackson
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
JACKSON, Mo., (KBSI) – Olympic gold medalist Carly Patterson will headline the inaugural WIN Women’s Leadership Conference this fall in Jackson.
The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Impact Network will host the conference Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Jackson Civic Center.
The all-day event will focus on leadership development, networking and conversations aimed at helping women grow professionally and personally.
Patterson made history at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens when she became the first American woman in 20 years to win the Olympic all-around gymnastics gold medal. Since retiring from competitive gymnastics, Patterson has worked as a speaker, author and advocate, sharing her experiences with perseverance, leadership and finding purpose beyond athletics.
“We wanted our first-ever WIN conference to be something special — something that women would walk away from feeling inspired, challenged and connected,” said Janna Clifton, retail and membership director for the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce and organizer of WIN.
The conference will also feature three other speakers.
Janet McNece, CEO of Productive Staffing in Poplar Bluff, will lead a session on leadership and legacy, focusing on the impact women can make through leadership, service and investing in others.
Wendy Ice, CEO of Community Counseling Center, will present “Women’s Mental Health — Beyond ‘I’m Fine,’” focusing on emotional well-being and the importance of recognizing and addressing mental health needs.
Audrey Willis, chief innovation and programming officer of CodeCrew, will lead a session on artificial intelligence in the workplace and how women can navigate technological changes and innovation.
Sara Gerau, a founding member of the WIN committee, said the conference is a natural extension of the organization’s efforts to connect and support women in the region.
“WIN has grown into something really special, and this conference is a natural extension of what we’ve been working to create from the very beginning — a place where women can come together, build relationships, learn from one another and feel encouraged to take the next step in their own leadership journey,” Gerau said.
The conference will run from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jackson Civic Center.
Attendance is limited, and organizers are encouraging those interested to register early. Registration and sponsorship information are available through the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce.
