DAYTON, Ohio – The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce has named its fourth Empower cohort of women business leaders. In partnership with program sponsor Fifth Third Bank, this group of women began its experience September 30, 2021, with a retreat hosted at Mills Park Hotel in Yellow Springs.
Over the next nine months, the cohort will engage in leadership workshops combined with day-sessions, business coaching and an extensive network of training support to help participants identify individual leadership strengths, values and goals, develop a personal brand and eliminate barriers to advancement.
Through a strategic partnership with Aileron, the region’s world class leadership and training development center, Empower will provide participants with a unique blend of hands-on business coaching and group support with peers. The experience will culminate with a closing retreat in June 2022.
Introducing the 4th Empower Cohort:
| NAME | EMPLOYER |
| Kelly Abbott | EAGLE Certification Group |
| Makell Baccus | Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services |
| Roberta Bailey | City of Dayton |
| Mary Bane | Concentric Solutions, Inc. |
| Karen Carter | Alzheimer’s Association |
| Lisa Coker | Infinite Management Solutions, LLC |
| Emma Harris | LexisNexis |
| Mary Ann Kabel | AES Ohio (Formerly Dayton Power & Light) |
| Barbara Kedziora | Cox First Media / Dayton Daily News |
| Amy Lowry | CareSource |
| Ellen Miller | Cincinnati Bell |
| Nikol Miller | Miami Valley Urban League |
| Nichole Moore | Haven Behavioral Hospital of Dayton |
| Jena Pado | Dayton Children’s Hospital Foundation |
| Megan Peters | Cross Street Partners |
| Carissa Rexroth | MW Metals Group |
| Leanne Rubosky | The Mall At Fairfield Commons, WPG |
| Lisa Schaefer | Universal 1 Credit Union, Inc. |
| Marci Snyder | LJB Inc. |
| Nicole Steele | CityWide Development Corporation |
| Suzanne Sumner | Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP |
| Erin Swim | Procter & Gamble |
| Sonya Townsend | Jamestown Staffing |
| Hannah Walker | JJR Solutions |
| Shelly Woodard | Kuhns Group, Inc. |
Empower began as a new initiative under the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce in 2018.
“The chamber recognized a gap that exists in many metros across the country; the number of women in top-level executive positions in our business community doesn’t proportionately reflect the number of educated women in our community who have the skills to lead companies,” said Chris Kershner, president & CEO, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce.
According to Emsi, a labor market analytics firm, there are 622 c-suite executive positions in the Dayton region. Of those, 144 are occupied by women. When compared to numbers that show women hold 51.5% of all management and professional positions nationally, and that 40% of U.S. MBA grads are women, the chamber found a need for programming that will advance women business leaders to top-level business roles.
The chamber extends its gratitude to program sponsor Fifth Third Bank for realizing the importance of this initiative and providing support.
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About Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce brings together more than 2,200 businesses and organizations in a 9 county area surrounding Dayton, Ohio. The Chamber strives to improve the region’s business climate and overall standard of living through public policy advocacy, economic development initiatives and providing networking and training opportunities for its members. Nationally awarded with “5-Star Accreditation” from the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Dayton Chamber is widely recognized for its innovative programs and outstanding contribution to positive change in the region. Information about the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce is available at daytonchamber.org or 937-226-1444.
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8 N. Main Street | Suite 100 | Dayton, Ohio 45402-1904 | (937) 226-1444
