Women in Business invites a wide range of professional business women to come and speak to us! Check out some of the speakers we have had previously.
Fall 2018 Speakers
Roberta Trites
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.
Jeff Secord
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. He worked with students for a total of five years providing education on financial planning principals and sharing career opportunities in the financial services industry. 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.
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. He worked with students for a total of five years providing education on financial planning principals and sharing career opportunities in the financial services industry. 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.
Molly Tesdall
Molly graduated from Illinois State University in 2016 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Management with a focus in HR. During her time at ISU, she worked in the HR department for the University which solidified her passion for HR. After graduation, Molly moved to Texas to begin her career with Amazon as a Senior HR Assistant. Some of her responsibilities included attendance management, associate engagement, and weekly attrition reporting. After 1 year with Amazon, Molly was promoted to HR Business Partner and transferred to Joliet Illinois. As an HR Business Partner Molly is responsible for management engagement, employee relations, and HR team management. Molly currently resides in the Chicago suburbs with her fiancé and their dog.
Jamie Wieland
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.
Spring 2018 Speakers
Rachel Romba
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.
Amanda DeRew
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.
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
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.