Women in Business invites a wide range of business professionals to come and speak to us! Check out some of the speakers we have had previously.
Spring 2019 Speakers
Sarah Petersen
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Sarah Petersen is a natural light photographer located in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. She graduated from Lincoln College with her Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management. Sarah started her journey as a photographer in 2011 as just a hobby. And in 2013 she got her first paying gig, which spear-headed her into becoming an official business in 2015. Although Sarah started her business, she still worked full-time in the retail industry. However, in June 2018 she left the industry and made her business her full-time career. She never thought in a million years that she would think to start a business, let alone a photography business. Photography is her happy place because she gets to capture memories for people who trust her to see the real them.
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Leanna Bordner
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Leanna Bordner is in her 26th year on the Illinois State staff. In her current position as Deputy Director of Athletics, Bordner directly supervises nine sports and handles day-to-day operations for two others. In addition, she serves on the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame Committee, is on the MVC Conference Marketing and Media Committee, chairs the MVC Sports Management Committee, and is the MVC liaison to the conference women’s basketball coaches. Previously, she chaired the MVC Women's Basketball Marketing Committee and served on the MVC Executive Committee as the Vice-President. She is also involved on the campus by serving on the Preview Committee; being a liaison to the Athletics Council and serving on the Gender, Diversity and Student-Athlete Well-Being Subcommittee; the Redbird Pride Committee; the Mental Health Task Force; and the Culture of Respect Committee.
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Tina Thompson
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Tina Thompson is an assistant professor, and she joined Illinois State University (ISU) in 2013. She earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management at Florida State University. Tina has taught courses in Organizational Behavior, Decision-Making, and Cross Cultural Management. Outside of the classroom, Tina also works with registered student organizations and individual students on negotiation, impression management, and career planning.
In her research, Tina examines the effects of underemployment, volition, and economic stressors on individuals and organizations. In addition to these topics, she has an interest in helping people (especially women) to defy stereotypes and to be unapologetically different. Before earning her Ph.D., Tina worked with Accenture as an information technology consultant. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. |
Roberta Trites
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Distinguished Professor Roberta Seelinger Trites serves as the Interim Chair of Management and Quantitative Methods. She is on loan to the College of Business from the College of Arts and Sciences, where she has previously served as both associate dean and acting dean. While she was serving as an English professor, Dr. Trites was awarded the Outstanding University Teaching Award. She is also the author of several books, including Waking Sleeping Beauty: Feminist Voices in Children’s Literature; Twain, Alcott, and the Birth of the Adolescent Reform Novel, and Twenty-First Century Feminisms in Children’s and Adolescent Literature.
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Jeff Secord
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Jeff Secord, CFP®, CAP®, provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services for affluent individuals and their families. Over the past 40 plus years, Jeff has worked with a significant number of private individuals and educated hundreds of college students in all aspects of financial planning and investment management.
In his early career, he worked at several firms including Integrated Resources, Drexel Burnham, and Merrill Lynch as a stock broker and financial planner. While being in the Financial Services Industry, Jeff also taught Personal Financial Planning at both graduate and undergraduate level at Illinois State University. Currently, Jeff has his own independent firm, affiliated with IPI Wealth Management Inc. providing financial planning and investment management services to clients. He is involved in community service organizations such as Illinois Prairie Community Foundation, Moses Montefiore Congregation Finance Committee, and is actively involved with Illinois State University. |
Jamie Wieland
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Dr. Wieland is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management and Quantitative Methods. She obtained her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University and B.S. in Industrial Engineering and Management Science from Northwestern University. Her research interests lie in the development and application of statistical methods and probability models for prediction and decision analysis, with an expertise in Monte Carlo simulation. Wieland's current research involves assessing the operational and financial impact of portable technologies used for on-site analysis of forensic evidence during crime scene investigation processes. This interdisciplinary project is funded by the National Institute of Justice and was recently featured in the Chicago Tribune.
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Spring 2018 Speakers
Rachel Romba
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Rachel Romba graduated from ISU in 2003 with honors. She completed a double major in finance and accounting. Today Rachel works as a Marketing Manager with Elo, a global technology company headquartered in Milpitas, CA. Rachel currently manages public relations, social media, and partner marketing. Prior to Elo, she worked at LinkedIn as a Customer Success Manager. She partnered with LinkedIn’s largest strategic Talent Solutions customers to ensure success and solution optimization through technology, consulting, and education. Although no longer an employee of LinkedIn, Rachel continues to be a passionate advocate of the network’s immense value for students and professionals.
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Amanda DeRew
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Amanda is the Associate Training and Development Coordinator in the Member Services & Public Relations Division at the Illinois Farm Bureau®. She assists in conducting technology trainings for this company and plans and conducts the Onboarding session for all new IAA employees on their first day of employment. In addition, Amanda assists in conducting training programs such as Real Colors and other topics as needed. Amanda got her start with public speaking at young age of 12 when she joined the speech team at her junior high. She continued to participate in speech competitions through her high school career and into college. She currently volunteers as a public speaking judge for collegiate FFA.
Amanda grew up in Heyworth, Illinois and graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science with concentrations in Curriculum & Instruction and Psychology. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Training and Development from Illinois State University. Amanda and her husband, Jon, and son Will, currently live in Bloomington, IL. |
Abigail Smith
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Abigail Smith graduated from ISU in 2015, with a completed double major in Accounting and Organizational Leadership. In high school, she knew she wanted a career in the Accounting field. Once she started class at ISU, she decided that a double major in Organizational Leadership would set her apart from her classmates and also give her the opportunity to work on her teamwork and leadership skills. Currently, she works at CliftonLarsonAllen as an associate auditor specializing in agribusiness. She specifically audits cooperatives, grain elevators, county Farm Bureaus, and implement dealers. She conducts routine audit procedures and also consults with customers on how to make strong business decisions in order to strengthen their bottom line in a tough agricultural market.
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