Conference Panel Information

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Industry Panels

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Energy
Moderator - Melissa Michael

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Bethany Clarkson, BP – Asset Superintendent

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Caroline Fant, Marathon Oil Corporation – Manager of Financial Forecasting

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Deborah Wilkins, Shell Information Technology Intl, Inc  – Talent, Diversity and Assurance Manager

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Pat McAdam, Enventure Global Technology – Marketing Director

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Financial Services
Moderator - Crystal Maxwell

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Lynn Byrd, Air Liquide – Acquisitions and Asset Management

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Najla Tanous, Small Business Administration - District Counsel and International Trade Officer

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Sherrie Reinhackel, Simmons & Company International – Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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Sheila Kahanek, Ernst & Young Corporate Finance - Vice President

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Gina Luna, JP Morgan Chase

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Delena Spencer, Texas Instruments Incorporated - Controller, Advanced Embedded Control Group

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Healthcare
Moderator - Katya Horner

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Heather Kopecky, Heidrick and Struggles Executive Search - Principal

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Ruth Risely-Gray, Methodist Hospital – Vice President of Performance Improvement

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Tracy Berry, Tenet Health Care Systems – Director, Staffing Solutions Texas Region

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Joyce Villarreal - Entrepreneur - Healthcare Consultant

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Entrepreneurship
Moderator - Carla Pagotto

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Darcey Baron, Women's Business Enterprise Alliance, Director

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Cheryl Collarini, Collarini Engineering Professionals – President

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Maria Fee, Kitba Consulting Services, LP – President, CEO and Founder

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Susan Medina, SKM Communications Strategies – CEO and Founder

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Heida Thurlow, Chantal Corporation - President

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Helen Vollmer, Vollmer Public Relations - CEO and Founder

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Consumer Products
Moderator - Debbie Lucas

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Shannon Connell, Pennzoil-Quaker State - Director, Consumer & Market Insights

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Patricia Lawrence, Lawrence Marketing Group - President

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Christine Mei Chow, Dow Chemical Company - Global Director of Brand Management

Skill Building Panels

Superwoman Syndrome in the 21st Century
Moderator - Tracie Hall

Perhaps the ultimate foundation of work-life balance is the diagnosis of “Superwoman Syndrome” – the behavior resulting from women possibly doing too much at one time in an effort to achieve an ideal balance between careers and personal life. This topic should address some of the key dilemmas observed in the work habits of today’s career-focused/family-oriented woman, and should attempt to discuss various considerations young managers and executives should give when prioritizing these factors. The panel members will share with the audience their key decision factors in making their work-life balance decisions, and will also describe the challenges they faced, if any, upon their decisions.

Panelists:

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Angela Ravin-Anderson, Texas Children’s Hospital – Performance Improvement Consultant

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Jennifer Chen, Merrill Lynch - Financial Analyst, Family Office Group

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Pam Reiland, Willbros USA, Inc - Director, Corporate Development

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Sharon Murphy, McConnell, Jones, Lanier, & Murphy – Partner

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Dawn Quinn, The Minute Maid Company – Strategic Procurement Manager

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Tammy Bliss, The Minute Maid Company – Director, Manufacturing CCDA

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Jennifer Skinner-Gray, Texas Instruments Incorporated - Manager, Digital Motor Control

Managerial Responsibilities: Fulfilling the Expectations of Being a Female Executive
Moderator - Tammy Smithers

With various job promotions and new career opportunities there come responsibilities that are not necessarily outlined in the job descriptions. Panelists will discuss how female executives can remain cognizant of these responsibilities when progressing along a corporate ladder, and how they have been able to make personal assessments of their job performances in light of others’ expectations. Panel members may also include in their discussion what obligations, if any, they feel female executives rising up the ranks have to female co-workers who are hoping to grow their careers in the same manner.

Panelists: 

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Melanie Achard, Advanced Reality – Director of Marketing

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Nina Wagner, The Minute Maid Company – Executive Assistant to SVP of Operations

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Sylvia Brooks, Houston Area Urban League – Executive Director

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Mary Kay Hyde, Hewlett-Packard - NSS Executive Communications Manager

The Art of Negotiating…..Do the Rules Change for Women?
Moderator - Kay Henry

There have been studies that describe females in organizations as being highly effective collective bargainers and negotiators. There are also studies that describe women negotiating skills as more cooperative compared to the more competitive skills of men. Are there common negotiating characteristics that have been observed amongst women that help to support any strengths and weaknesses in the workforce? How can women climbing up the corporate ladders take advantage of and improve their negotiating skills to become more direct and warranting of their personal expectations and career goals?

 Panelists:

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Chantal D’Larenti, Halliburton - Manager, Technical Communications

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Meril Markely, KPMG – Tax Attorney

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Nancy Glass, M.D., Baylor Medicine

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Janice Hatrick, Thompson & Knight, LLP - Counsel in Oil & Gas

Attuning to What We Say and How We Say It
Moderator - Sarah McGill

This panel discussion will be a continuation from last year’s roundtable on career-limiting moves that women make. Panel members will discuss the varying communication styles most notable to women and the potential impact of these styles on the decision making processes and on the business conduct of co-workers. In addition to identifying the various communications styles, the panel members may also discuss the importance of women projecting confidence and competence through their daily work habits, and how doing so can ultimately lead to personal credibility.

 Panelists:

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Eartha Jean Johnson, Legal Watch, Inc. – Principal

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Kay Vogel, The Vogel Group - President

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Pamela Lovett, Greater Houston Partnership - President of Economic Development Division

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Beth O'Sullivan, Jones Graduate School of Management - Communications Specialist, Career Planning

Transitioning Between Generations While Maintaining Leadership
Moderator - Anjali Raithatha

As the members of one generation become more settled and approach the horizon of their careers, members of a younger generation are learning the role they will fulfill as executives and leaders – ultimately a transition between generations. How will the advancements of women in Corporate America and the challenges they still experience impact this transition between these two generations? Will the differences in work habits create difficulties in this transition, ultimately stalling the progress that has been made over the past several decades?

 Panelists:

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Anne Reardon, Hewlett Packard – Manager

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Ann Hightower, ExxonMobil Chemicals Americas - Retired Senior Section Supervisor, Basic Chemicals

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Connie Merrill, Jones Graduate School of Management - Lecturer of Management

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Karen Marshall, Metro – Director of Government Affairs and Community Outreach

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Deborah Brochstein, Brochstein’s Inc. - President

 

 

 

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