Speaker Biographies
These were the speakers for the 2010 Women's Business Conference. Check back in early 2011 for the 2011 Conference speakers.
Speakers by last name: A-J | K-P | Q-Z
Laurie Bieze, Bieze Sculpture
About Laurie:
Laurie Bieze is a graduate of the Colorado Institute of Art and the Rocky Mountain College of Art. She has successfully maintained Bieze Art Glass studio since 1978 in Eau Claire. Through her career, Bieze has created dozens of stained glass windows for restaurants, churches and private residences. Among her notable commissions is the 3000 cubic foot "Energy of Learning" kinetic mobile second story installation within the atrium of the Nursing School.
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Laurie will be moderating at the following session:
- Roundtable: Arts & Crafts (Session 4: 3:30 - 4:30 pm)
Chris Brooke, Associated Bank
About Chris:
Christopher Brooke graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in 1998. Brooke worked for Pappas Partners LLP managing a Cajun Seafood establishment for 10 years and as a Business Development Specialist for Dell Computer for 3 years. Since 2001, he has been in banking serving a variety of roles for both First Federal of La Crosse and Associated Bank. He is currently managing the Regis Court location and serves on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement and Senior Citizens Employment and Training. He has been married for 10 years and has 2 children.
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Chris will be speaking at the following session:
- Panel Discussion: Surviving an Economic Downturn (Session 3: 1:30 - 2:30 pm)
Associated Bank is also a Premier Sponsor and has an exhibitor table at the 2010 WBC.
Julie Brunner, Eau Claire County
About Julie:
Julie Brunner has been a Child Care Coordinator for over fourteen years. As a Child Care coordinator, she visits child care providers' homes to verify that the Certification rules and regulations are being met. She also oversees the Wisconsin Shares payment system and monitors attendance, puts forth child care related trainings to providers and does Family Day Care Environmental Rating Scales
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Julie will be moderating at the following session:
- Roundtable: Child Care (Session 1: 9:00 - 10:00 am)
Evlyn Carlile, Simple Office Solutions
About Evlyn:
Evlyn Carlile, owner of Simple Office Solutions, has worked in the bookkeeping field for over 25 years, helping small business owners with all their bookkeeping needs. Simple Office Solutions was formed in 2004 and continues the mission of helping sole proprietor business owners get a handle on their financial information through consulting and hands-on assistance.
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Evlyn will be speaking at the following session:
- Record Keeping 101 (Session 2: 10:30 - 11:30 am)
Simple Office Solutions is also a member of the Planning Commitee and has an exhibitor table at the 2010 WBC.
Kelly Crawford, Advanced Mail
About Kelly:
Kelly Crawford is the General Manager of Advanced Mail, Inc, a direct mail marketing company in Eau Claire. With that position she oversees the day to day operations of the company from the HR aspect, accounting, and designing a customized direct mail campaign for customers.
Kelly grew up in Chippewa Falls and attended Chi Hi; from there she attended UWEC with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Accounting. She has worked for Advanced Mail for the past 12 years. Today Kelly lives in Lake Hallie with her husband of eight years and their two children.
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Kelly will be speaking at the following session:
- Business Mailing & Shipping (Session 2: 10:30 - 11:30 am)
Advanced Mail is also a Premier Sponsor and has an exhibitor table at the 2010 WBC.
David Czysz, Principal Financial
About David:
As a Financial Advisor for The Principal, David works with individuals and businesses throughout northwest and central Wisconsin helping them achieve fiscal success.
David joined the Principal Financial Group in December 2007 and has built a reputation based on honesty, integrity and ethics. He is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce, the Menomonie Chamber of Commerce, St. Mark's Lutheran Church and School, and Business Networking International (BNI).
David is a graduate of Ron Willingham's Integrity Selling and the Principal Financial Group's Pace Setter Award winner in 2008. His drive, to always be learning, has helped him educate his clients and get more involvement in setting their goals and having them create achievable plans.
David is FINRA series 7 and 63 securities registered. He is also a Registered Investment Advisor with Princor and is licensed in Accident, Health and Life insurance. David has been blessed with being married for twenty years. She has given him five wonderful children. He enjoys hunting, target shooting, playing guitar, singing, performing with his band, and collecting movies.
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David will be speaking at the following session:
- New Concepts in Business Exit Strategies (Session 2: 10:30 - 11:30 am)
Principal Financial also has an exhibitor table at the 2010 WBC.
Mindy Dale, Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci, S.C.
About Mindy:
Mindy Dale is a shareholder in the law firm of Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci, S.C. in Eau Claire. Practices in the areas of public and private sector management labor law, employment law, and municipal, school, and administrative law. Graduate of Indiana University (BS with high distinction) and Indiana University School of Law (J.D., Order of Coif). Member, State Bar of Wisconsin (Labor Law Section), Eau Claire County Bar Association, Wisconsin School Attorneys Association, Eau Claire Regional Arts Council, WorkSource Wisconsin Employer Advisory Board, and Director of Legal and Legislative Affairs for the Chippewa Valley Society for Human Resource Management. Formerly associated with the Labor and Employment Law Department of Barnes & Thornburg in Indianapolis, Indiana, and served as Assistant Corporation Counsel, Eau Claire County.
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Mindy will be speaking at the following session:
- Panel Discussion: Balancing Work & Home (Session 1: 9:00 - 10:00 am)
Kristen Dexter, State Representative, 68th Assembly District
About Kristen: 
Kristen Dexter was born and raised in Hallock, Minnesota, on the farm where her dad and grandfather were born and where her parents still live.
Kristen finished her college career in River Falls, graduating as an Art major from UW-River Falls with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts. After graduation Kristen moved to Minneapolis and began a small business as a metalsmith.
Kristen and her husband David married in 1992 and have three children. David graduated from Mayo Medical School and is now the chair of a hospital neurology department in Eau Claire.
Kristen and David chose to make Eau Claire home because the Chippewa Valley seemed like a good place to raise a family - and they were right. Together with their children they enjoy canoeing, kayaking, camping, and music. Kristen has been involved in community activities like Meals on Wheels, Girl Scouts, and the Altoona Library Board. She was a busy volunteer in the Altoona schools and in 2002 was elected to serve on the Altoona Board of Education. Her interests in politics grew, and in November 2008 she was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Kristen is the Vice Chair of the Committee on Education. She also sits on the Committee on Public Health, Committee on Renewable Energy and Rural Affairs, and the Committee on Rural Economic Development.
Since her election Kristen has been a strong voice in the Assembly and a constant presence in her district, working on issues like Campaign Finance Reform, insurance coverage for Autistic children and protecting the rights of displaced workers.
Kristen will be speaking at the following session:
- Women and Wisconsin's Green Economy (Afternoon Keynote Address: 12:30 - 1:30 pm)
Lorraine Dixon, Cadeaux
About Lorraine:
Lorraine Dixon is the owner of Cadeaux, LLC, a gift boutique in downtown Eau Claire which opened in 2008. Cadeaux offers a broad range of gift items, personal products, food, and liquor, which are available individually or can be grouped and packaged on-site into a gift basket. Customer appreciation events are also held on a regular basis, which generally feature at least one other local business.
Lorraine's background is in design and marketing, and has previously owned and ran a service-based business in Ontario, Canada. She is on the Special Events Committee and Festivals Committee for Downtown Eau Claire.
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Lorraine will be speaking at the following session:
- Panel Discussion: Buy Local (Session 4: 3:30 - 4:30 pm)
Cadeaux also has an exhibitor table at the 2010 WBC.
Cheri Dostal, Evolve Wellness
About Cheri:
Cheri Dostal, Owner of Evolve Wellness, LLC has been in the fitness and mindbody wellness industry for nearly 10 years. She holds the National Academy of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer Certificate and has completed 150 hours of Yoga Teacher Training under Donna Farhi. She looks forward to discussing the potential positive impact we can make on Chippewa Valley resident's health and fitness together.
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Cheri will be moderating at the following session:
- Roundtable: Fitness & Wellness Industry (Session 3: 1:30 - 2:30 pm)
Evolve Wellness is also a member of the Planning Commitee and has an exhibitor table at the 2010 WBC.
Melinda Duncan, The Wedding Genie
About Melinda:
Melinda Duncan has always had a passion for weddings and an eagerness to serve others, with over ten years of customer service experience. Duncan completed certification as a Wedding Professional through US Event Guide, a national certification and consulting company. Duncan's commitment to provide wedding consulting and coordinating services is strengthened by an ongoing relationship with many local wedding professionals and an active membership as a Professional Wedding Consultant through The Association of Bridal Consultants.
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Melinda will be speaking at the following session:
- Panel Discussion: Balancing Work & Home (Session 1: 9:00 - 10:00 am)
Speakers by last name: A-L | M-P | Q-Z
