The 2024 #WPLNSummit Highlights Recap!

Our National Summit brings together women from every stage of their political journey to learn from leaders and experts, empowering them to become more effective leaders in their communities and at every level of government!

In 2024, our National Summit was held in Denver, Colorado, from June 20 through June 22.

This year's summit included panel discussions, skills-building workshops, and more!

We kicked off on Thursday with two workshops:

• Media Training, with Katherine McLane of the Mach 1 Group
• Building Your Brand, with Brittany Ellison, Holly Horn, and Heather Sellers from the Leadership Institute

We ended the evening with a welcome event (hosted by WPLN and WPLN's Colorado state training partner Colorado Women’s Alliance Foundation) and a private wine tasting for our VIP attendees.

The 2nd day of our summit began with a conversation with U.S. Representative Kat Cammack (FL), hosted by Jen Sarver, our Immediate Past Chair of the Board.

Later, former U.S. Representative and WPLN Honorary Co-Chair Mimi Walters spoke with Rebecca Kleefisch, former Lieutenant Governor of WI.

Our WPLN Board Vice Chair Val Dowling spoke with Renée Brinkerhoff, who founded the car-racing team Valkyrie Racing and not-for-profit Valkyrie Gives to combat child trafficking.

Friday also included 4 panel discussions:

• Getting Your Agenda Over the Finish Line, featuring
  • Sandra Benitez, The LIBRE Initiative Executive Director
  • Isabel Soto, The LIBRE Initiative Policy Director
  • Angel Merlos, The LIBRE Initiative Strategic Director - Colorado
  • Josselin Castillo, Principal at the National Federation of Independent Business
• Balancing Priorities, featuring
  • Jaime Gardner, Business Development and Communications Director at Novitas
  • New Mexico State Senator Crystal Brantley
  • Colorado State Representative Rose Pugliese
  • Montana State Representative Courtenay Sprunger
• Women on the Trail, featuring
  • Sara Marie Ridley, State Strategist at Majority Strategies
  • Alison Williams, Founder of Willco Consulting
  • Kristin Davison, Partner at Axiom Strategies
• Reaching Diverse Audiences, featuring
  • Vanessa Simon, Founder of Gotham Rising
  • Amanda Iovino, Principal at WPA Intelligence
  • Nicole Kiprilov, Center for Military Excellence Executive Director

Brittany Ellison, Holly Horn, and Heather Sellers from the Leadership Institute held two additional workshops on Friday: Fundraising 101 and Mind the Gap on messaging.

There was also a workshop on using AI, with Ash O'Rourke from Microsoft, and Erica Arbetter and Maureen McInerney from Google held a presentation on cybersecurity.

Our 3rd and final day of our 2024 #WPLNSummit started with a conversation between Adolph Coors Foundation CEO Carrie Tynan and WPLN President and Founder Larissa Martinez.

We followed that with a conversation between former University of Colorado Regent Heidi Ganahl and The LIBRE Initiative Policy Director Isabel Soto.

Our 2024 #WPLNSummit concluded with a conversation on leadership in business, featuring Debbie Brown, President of Colorado Business Roundtable; Lockheed Martin Vice President and General Manager Maria Demaree; and Chevron Vice President Kimberly McHugh.

WPLN would also like to congratulate our 2024 award recipients, whom we honored during the Awards Dinner on Friday night:

• Betsy Ankney, Campaign Manager for Nikki Haley's 2024 presidential campaign. Betsey received the “2024 Architect of Society Award.” Inspired by Harriett Beecher Stowe’s words that “women are the real architects of society,” this award is presented to a woman who exemplifies the qualities of a public leader: effective, principled, and a true public servant.
  
• Jerry Natividad, CEO of American Facility Services Group, Inc. Named for Susan B. Anthony’s father, an ardent supporter of her efforts, the “2024 Daniel Anthony Award” celebrates a man who has given critical support to a female public leader(s).

Lastly, we at WPLN would like to thank our 2024 #WPLNSummit sponsors!

• Google
• Microsoft
• The LIBRE Initiative
• Hess
• American Petroleum Institute (API)
• SoCalGas
• Texas Woman's University Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership
• The Mach 1 Group
• HBW
• WPLN Action
• Sarver Strategies
• State Government Leadership Foundation
• Majority Strategies
• Leadership Institute
• Ampersand
• Visit Orlando
• Big Fish
• Numinar
• Chain Bridge Bank, N.A.
• Right Strategies
• Impact Commercial Real Estate
• Kendra Scott
• Running Start
• Women's Caucus for Art (Colorado Chapter)
• The Coca-Cola Company
• Cygnal
• Future Caucus
• Proximity

Our 2025 National #WPLNSummit will be next June in Orlando, Florida. Sign up now to be the first to receive updates!

Click here for more information about our National Summit.