The Culverhouse Women in Business Conference (WIB) was held on March 24, 2023, on The University of Alabama campus. WIB is designed to connect a community of Culverhouse alumnae, professional women, and current female students while inspiring, developing, supporting, and sponsoring women in business. The conference will consist of sessions led by academic and professional experts on topics including networking and branding, entrepreneurship, and dealing with inappropriate questions and behavior in the workplace.
The conference was held in conjunction with the Culverhouse DEI Women’s Leadership Initiative Recognition Dinner on March 24 at 6:30 pm in the atrium of Hewson Hall. The dinner highlighted the professional and societal contributions of exemplary alumnae of the Culverhouse College of Business.
Culverhouse DEI Women’s Leadership Initiative Recognition Dinner is an annual gathering to highlight and celebrate the professional and societal contributions of exemplary alumnae of the Culverhouse College of Business and is held in conjunction with the Women in Business Conference.
Proceeds from the event will support the Women’s Leadership Initiative generally, and the Minerva Summer Program, for young women interested in business, most specifically.
Finance (1983)
First minority female department head for the City of Tuscaloosa
Director of Procurement and Purchasing Services, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Accounting and English Literature (1984)
Served as an executive at The Coca-Cola Company
for 10 years
Vice President & Controller,
The Coca-Cola Company
Welcome: Dr. James E. King, Jr., Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Miles-Rose Professor of Leadership, Culverhouse College of Business
Greeting: Dr. Kay Palan, Dean, Culverhouse College of Business
12:00-12:50 pm: The Art of Networking and Branding
Javacia Harris Bowser, Founder, See Jane Write
Mildred Black, Founder and CEO, People Optimum Consulting
Debra Nelson, President, Elevate Communications
Gina Simpson, Clinical Professor in NGT, Culverhouse and Founder, Soluna Strategies
1:00-1:50 pm: Research on Women in Leadership: Implications and Applications
Dr. Sandra Mortal, Professor of Finance, Culverhouse Dept. of Economies, Finance & Legal Studies
Dr. Theresa Welbourne, Executive Director, Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute and Professor of Management, Culverhouse Department of Management
Dr. Vishal Gupta, Professor of Management, Culverhouse Department of Management
Dr. Maura Mills, Associate Professor of Management, Culverhouse Department of Management
2:00- 2:50 pm: Still Pioneering: Women in Non-Traditional Spaces
Dr. Laura Razzolini, Professor of Economics, Culverhouse Department of Economics, Finance and Legal Studies
Kelly Mehrtens, Executive Director, The Trust (NFPLA)
Kelli Gant, Chief Administrative Officer, Warrior Met Coal
Jasmine Wright, Senior Analyst Application Support, Protective Life
3:00-3:50 pm: Resilience: Your Superpower for Success in Life
Ashley Wheeler, Organizational Development Manager, Hunt Refining Co.
4:00- 4:50 pm: Climbing Over the Broken Rung: Overcoming Obstacles Women Face in Advancement
Charli Matthews, Founder and CEO, Empowering Brands
Delana Roe, CEO/Team Leader, Keller Williams Realty
Raychel Wooten, Director of Consulting Services, CGI
5:00-6:00 pm: Industry Exploration: Finding Your Niche
Ann Damon Haas, Senior Advisor, 1919 Investment Counsel
Debbie Hughes, Vice President/ Technology Managing Director, IBM
Dawn Amend, Owner, Runza® Restaurants
TK Smith, Chief Administrative Officer of Global Diversity and Talent Management, Citi
Warrior Met Coal
Lieutenant General Gwen Bingham (Class of 1981) and Dr. Patrick J. Binghar
Sherrie LeMier
Alabama ONE Aspire Foundation
Synovus
Culverhouse College of Business, Office Alumni & Corporate Relations