Women's Leadership Conference: EmpowerHER
The annual Women's Leadership Conference gathers 300 women for an event focused on professional development and networking. This year's theme, EmpowerHER, highlights the inspiring journeys of women who have triumphed through perseverance to achieve remarkable success. The conference includes a networking segment prior to the program, featuring display booths from women-owned businesses.
Agenda
- Breakfast and Display Booths
- Session I
- Miranda McDonald | Director of Community Programs Tennessee Titans
- Session II
- Current Williamson County Rotary Club Rotary Presidents: Meghan Guffee, Christina McClary, Phyllis Molyneux
- Session III
- Cordia Harrington The Bun Lady | CEO of Crown Bakeries
About the Speakers
Cordia Harrington The Bun Lady | CEO of Crown Bakeries
Cordia Harrington is CEO and founder of Crown Bakeries, a highly-automated, high-speed baking company that makes over 15 million baked goods daily and employs more than 1,700 people, serving elite customers in the United States, South America and the Caribbean. As CEO, Ms. Harrington guides the executive team to successful planning, business development, sales and marketing, and brand management.
Ms. Harrington serves on the Ascent Global Logistics Board of Directors, the Global Crossing Airlines Board of Directors, and the Belmont University Board of Trustees. She is the immediate past Chair of the American Bakers Association Board of Directors and past Chair of the Chief Executives Organization Board of Directors.
Under Ms. Harrington's leadership, Crown Bakeries have received many awards, including the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned Businesses, Business with Purpose Award, and Nashville Business Journal's Best in Business Award. Ms. Harrington was listed on Forbes magazine's list of 100 wealthiest self-made women in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The University of Arkansas awarded her an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2020. Ms. Harrington was named Nashville Post's 2020 CEO of the Year and was included on their list of "Most Powerful Women" in 2021. She was inducted into the American Society of Baking Hall of Fame in February 2018, and Directors & Boards magazine named her a "Director to Watch." She received the Most Admired CEO Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nashville Business Journal in 2017 and has been recognized by numerous other organizations for her commitment to excellence and entrepreneurial spirit.
Ms. Harrington attended Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan; she graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science degree. She currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee, with her husband Tom. Together they have five children and eleven grandchildren.
Miranda McDonald | Director of Community Programs Tennessee Titans
Miranda D. McDonald-Brown, MPA, is a dynamic leader and current Director of ONE
Community Programs for the Tennessee Titans. With a passion for creating positive change, Miranda not only manages the Titans' multi-faceted philanthropic platform, including program and partnership implementation and maintenance, but also leads with a vision that aims to make a lasting impact on individuals, families, and communities.
Miranda's career path spans various sectors, showcasing her diverse expertise and dedication to public service. Before her current role, she served as the Director of Community Development at Calvert Street Group, where she led nationwide stakeholder engagement strategies for projects that impacted where constituents lived, worked and played. Additionally, she served as Vice President of Metro Policy for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, where she played a crucial role in shaping policies that fostered economic growth and community development.
Miranda also made significant contributions as a Policy Associate for the National Conference of State Legislatures, working on key legislative initiatives. Additionally, she gained invaluable experience in the esteemed D.C. office of former U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, further solidifying her expertise in public affairs. Her diverse expertise is a testament to her adaptability and versatility in the professional sphere.
A proud alumna of Tennessee State University, Miranda holds both a bachelor's and master's degree. Her commitment to continuous learning and growth is evident as she embarks on a doctoral journey at Lipscomb University this fall. She recently completed the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Public Education fellowship as a member of the 2024 Cohort.
Beyond her professional achievements, Miranda is an active member of the Hendersonville Area (T.N.) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, a member of STARS Nashville's Associate Board, an Ambassador for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce's Partnership 2030 initiative, and a member of the Tennessee Pride Chamber's Board of Directors.
Miranda McDonald-Brown resides in Nashville's Historic Bordeaux neighborhood with her husband, Jamari Brown, and their beloved dog, Star.
Panelest: Meghan Guffee | Vice President and Director of Operations for TN & AL at USI Insurance
Meghan Guffee is Vice President and Director of Operations for TN & AL at USI Insurance in Brentwood. She has 20 years of experience consulting in the employee benefits industry and manages a team of client service experts.
In addition to her career, Meghan is dedicated to serving her community through volunteer efforts and leadership positions. She serves as Williamson County Commissioner for District 10, Franklin Noon Rotary Club President, and in the children's ministry at Franklin First United Methodist Church. Along with engaging in her Rotary club's many service projects, she also participates in the annual USI Gives Back program at work by volunteering with the Williamson County Animal Center and driving the courtesy carts at the Williamson County Fair.
Meghan and her husband, Johnny, grew up in Franklin and live in Fieldstone Farms with their youngest daughter, Elise.
Panelist: Christina McClary | Founder and Principal of Thrive Partners
Christina McClary is the founder and principal of Thrive Partners, a company with a mission to help nonprofit organizations and small businesses thrive versus survive. At Thrive, Christina engages leaders in planning discussions leveraging her 25 years of business leadership, strategy, and financial management to help the organization flourish. Thrive Partners was established in 2023. Before that, Christina served 17 years with a large, publicly traded company in finance and sales leadership roles. In 2017, she opened a locally owned and operated insurance business in Franklin TN, which she sold in early 2024.
Christina lives in Franklin TN with her husband and dog. She holds a BA in Economics from Colorado State University and an MBA with a leadership emphasis from Colorado Christian University. She is passionate about giving back and spends much of her free time as an active volunteer. She enjoys serving local and national nonprofits such as One Generation Away, Oak Cottage for Women, PanCAN, and EIC mentoring. She is also on the Executive Board for Stronger Than My Father. Christina is the current President of the Downtown Franklin Rotary Club, one of the largest local clubs in one of the largest service organizations in the world. With the motto "Service Above Self", Rotary is an international network of over 1.4M service-oriented people in over 220 countries.
Panelist: Phyllis Molyneux | Compliance Officer for Williamson Health
Phyllis Molyneux, a native of Springfield, Tennessee, has been in the healthcare field for over 45 years. Phyllis transitioned to Williamson Health (formerly Williamson Medical Center) in March 2007 where she has served in positions as Recruiter, HR Manager, Associate Administrator of HR, Compliance and Education, and, currently, Compliance Officer.
For the past 13 years, Phyllis has been actively involved in the Rotary Club of Franklin at Breakfast, and currently serves as the Club's President. Additionally, Phyllis is a member of the Williamson Health Foundation Board where she serves as Secretary. Phyllis and her husband, Tim, reside in Franklin, Tennessee
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Date and Time
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
7:30 AM - 11:00 AM CDT
Location
Franklin Marriott Cool Springs
700 Cool Springs Blvd.
Franklin, TN 37067
Fees/Admission
$75 Members
$100 Non-members
Table of 12 $1500
Display Booth + 2 tickets $250
Contact Information
Leigh Bawcom
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