2023 Summit

Women blazing trails and empowering the future.

The inaugural “Leading the Lone Star State: Texas Women in Public Service Summit” convened an extraordinary group of distinguished women in public service, with the objective of igniting inspiration and empowerment for greater female representation in leadership. Over 200 attendees were invigorated by the insights and firsthand experiences imparted by esteemed speakers across sessions delving into themes like women’s roles in government, pathways to public service, navigating organizational dynamics, and fostering strategies to empower the next generation of female leaders.

See the full 2023 event schedule
 

We are deeply grateful to our phenomenal speakers and moderators for their contributions to the success of the 2023 inaugural Leading the Lone Star State: Texas Women in Public Service Summit.

2023 featured speakers

Jane Nelson

Texas Secretary of State

Jane Nelson was appointed the 115th Texas Secretary of State by Governor Greg Abbott on January 5, 2023.

Lisa Ling

Journalist and Author

Lisa Ling is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author who has spent over two decades focused on groundbreaking storytelling.

Monica Cruz, Ph.D.

Texas Demographic Center

Dr. Cruz serves as the State Data Center lead for the Texas Demographic Center working closely with the Texas Legislature.

Symone Sanders-Townsend

Host, SYMONE on MSNBC

Symone Sanders-Townsend rose to prominence in 2016 as the national press secretary for Senator Bernie Sanders’s then-presidential campaign.

Bobbie J. Mitchell

Denton County Commissioner

The Honorable Bobbie J. Mitchell has served as a member of the Denton County Commissioner’s Court for 23 years.

Ana Navarro

Political Analyst

Ana Navarro is a well-known Republican strategist, political analyst for CNN, CNN en Español, and Telemundo, and co-host of ABC’s The View.

Sara Hensley

Denton City Manager

Sara Hensley was appointed City Manager in March 2022, and brings with her more than 20 years of experience to the position.

Val Demings

Former Congresswoman

Demings is a lifelong public servant who broke numerous glass ceilings in her election to Congress.

Kristin Jones, MBA

United Way of Denton County

Kristin Jones, MBA, joined United Way of Denton County in January of 2017 to lead its fundraising efforts.

Rhetta Bowers

Representative, House District 113

Representative Bowers was elected to serve House District 113 in the Texas House of Representatives on November 8, 2018.

Elizabeth Reich

Executive Vice President & CFO, DART

Elizabeth Reich began her service as Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer on July 18, 2022.

Kay Bailey Hutchison

Ambassador

Ambassador Hutchison was sworn in as the Permanent Representative of the U.S. to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization August 15, 2017.

Stella Chavez

Immigration Reporter for KERA / NPR Dallas

Stella Chávez covers immigration for KERA, the NPR station in Dallas and has received several national and state accolades for her work.

Betsy Price

Former Mayor of Fort Worth

Betsy Price, a Fort Worth native, was elected in 2011 as the 44th mayor of the City of Fort Worth.

Kendra Speed

Driven to Succeed

A marketing and strategy leader, Kendra Speed is an expert in guiding executive teams toward disruptive innovation.

Myra Crownover

Former Texas State Representative

Myra Crownover served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2000 to 2016, and is actively engaged in banking, real estate, and energy.

Jenifer Sarver

Principal, Sarver Strategies

Jenifer's career has spanned the corporate, nonprofit, and political worlds, helping clients develop messages and create strategies.

Christina McKinney

Executive Director, Governor’s Commission for Women

Christina McKinney is responsible for supporting the priorities outlined in the Governor’s executive order authorizing the Commission.

Theresa McShan

Mayor, City of Elgin

During her 35 years serving in state government, Theresa was known as the person who could get things done, leading change in many areas.

Nathali Parker

CEO, KLP Construction Supply

Nathali Parker is co-owner and CEO of KLP Construction Supply, a heavy civil regular dealer and distributor of construction materials.

Amy Whited

Principal, Founder and Executive Director, Pink Granite Foundation

Amy Whited is a multi-state public affairs professional, working on behalf of some of the country's most highly regulated industries.

Dawn Freeman

Chief of Staff, Legislative Director for Rep. Carl Sherman HD 109

Dawn Freeman is an accomplished private sector executive, non-profit leader, speaker, and entrepreneur who is nationally recognized.

Carine M. Feyten

Chancellor and President, Texas Woman’s University

Carine M. Feyten serves as chancellor & president of Texas Woman’s University, the nation’s largest public university with a focus on women.

Page last updated 4:54 PM, June 3, 2024