Chamber introduces second Empower cohort
DAYTON, Ohio (September 18, 2019) – The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce has named its second Empower cohort of business leaders. In partnership with program sponsor Fifth Third Bank, this group of women began its experience September 13, 2019, with a retreat hosted at Mills Park Hotel in Yellow Springs. Attached is a group photo of the second Empower Cohort.
View and download more photos from the opening retreat here. Credit photographer Sylvia Stahl.
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 2020.
Introducing the Second Empower Cohort: 
| NAME | EMPLOYER |
| Stephanie Balser | CareSource |
| Britney Bart | Kettering Health Network |
| Ashley Bethard | Cox Media Group Ohio |
| Mandy Bingaman | University of Dayton |
| Stacey Domicone | Verso Corporation |
| Lindsay Dorsey | Dayton Power & Light |
| Samantha Elder | Montgomery County |
| Diane Farrell | Dayton Metro Library |
| Tami Fourman | LexisNexis |
| Leslie Goodwin | Nidec Minster Corporation |
| Christine Haaker | Thompson Hine LLP |
| Antoinette Hampton | The United Way of the Greater Dayton Area |
| Jessica Jones | Universal 1 Credit Union |
| Grace Jones | Dayton Children’s Hospital |
| Kim Lahman | Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission |
| Jodi Long | Montgomery County ADAMHS |
| Kristen Marks | Centerville-Washington Parks District |
| Jacqueline McGuire | Buckingham Advisors |
| Marya Rutherford Long | Fifth Third Bank |
| Charlynda Scales | Mutt’s Sauce LLC |
| Errin Siske | Spark Space Creative LLC |
| Katina Stone-Jones | Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center |
| Zdravka Todorova | Wright State University |
| Jill Weaver | Wright-Patt Credit Union |
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, executive vice president, 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.
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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