BECOME
Professional Women’s Summit

Whitney Kenter is the CEO and Founder of Glowe, which she launched in 2020 after more than two decades of experience in business advisory, financial services, and executive leadership. A former founding Managing Member of Matter Family Office, she led the firm’s culture, strategy, and growth for over a decade, earning national recognition as a top multi-family office. Known for her visionary creativity and ability to unlock potential, Whitney also brings her passion for connection and impact to her roles with organizations including House of Genius, Venture Cafe St. Louis, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, the St. Louis United Way, and as an advisor to the NEXUS Global Summit.

Suzanne Sierra is deeply committed to creating more welcoming communities for foreign-born professionals and entrepreneurs. She leverages her experience in corporate and community outreach and strategic communications to build programs with regional partners that demonstrate what welcoming and belonging look, sound, and feel like in action. Passionate about storytelling, Suzanne uses compelling narratives to inspire positive change and drive meaningful, community-centered impact.

Sisi Surgant is a fashion entrepreneur, stylist, and speaker whose mission is rooted in resilience, confidence, and empowerment. Born and raised in Germany to immigrant parents from Morocco and Tunisia, and shaped by a childhood burn injury, Sisi found strength and self-expression through fashion. After years of experience with leading designers, she turned her passion into purpose by founding a European-influenced fashion boutique where she hand-selects pieces to help women feel confident and seen, complemented by one-on-one styling consultations. Through her work, public speaking, and partnership with the nonprofit Burns Recovered, Sisi transforms personal hardship into meaningful impact, empowering women to embrace their beauty, while proudly balancing her role as a mother first.

Amy Lemire, CSP, works with leaders and teams to accelerate sales, elevate performance, and drive consistent results. A sought-after keynote speaker and executive sales performance strategist, she is the creator of The Sales Acceleration Code™, a practical framework that helps close the gap between knowing what to do and executing under pressure. With decades of experience in B2B and medical sales, leadership, and training, Amy blends real-world insight with human performance science to strengthen confidence, habits, and disciplined execution. A Certified Speaking Professional, Vistage-certified speaker, and founder of AIM Training and Consulting, she is also the author of From Zero to Sales Hero and From Zero to Speaker Hero.

With more than 30 years of experience in healthcare leadership, Tammy most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Physician Enterprise at Hospital Sisters Health System in Illinois, where she managed operations for over 130 practice locations and a large provider network. Prior to that, she held key medical leadership roles at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital.

Tammy holds a Master of Business Healthcare Administration from Regis University and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College. She is also a registered nurse and has served in clinical leadership positions throughout her career, combining operational expertise with a deep commitment to patient‑centered care.

Artist. Author. Entrepreneur. Cultural Icon.

Mary Engelbreit is one of America’s most beloved illustrators and creative entrepreneurs. Known for her instantly recognizable style—equal parts whimsical, wise, and heartfelt—Mary has built a career spanning more than four decades, turning hand-drawn charm into a global brand.

What began as a childhood dream in a linen closet studio evolved into a licensing empire, with her artwork appearing on over 13,000 products, from best-selling calendars and greeting cards to books, home décor, and fabric lines. Her honest, nostalgic aesthetic resonates across generations, celebrating the strength, humor, and emotional depth of everyday life.

Mary’s path wasn’t always smooth. Rejected by New York publishers early in her career, she pivoted with grit and grace—eventually launching her own company and redefining what was possible for artists in business. Her work has reached millions, yet she’s never shied away from using her platform to speak up. Whether creating viral illustrations to advocate for justice or mentoring young creatives on the power of owning your voice, Mary brings both heart and backbone to everything she creates.

At the intersection of art, enterprise, and advocacy, Mary Engelbreit reminds us that boldness doesn’t always roar—it often draws.

Shelly Snow Pordea is a storyteller at heart, known for her exciting novels that connect, heal, and spark meaningful conversations. She first captured readers’ imaginations with Tracing Time, a time-travel romance series that remains a fan favorite in its category. In 2021, Shelly and her brother placed in a top screenwriting contest for a co-written family drama based on their experience growing up in a cult—an exciting step into the world of film storytelling.

Her 2024 novel, The Cheating Wife, was inspired by a real incident of public shaming—a woman’s property vandalized with the words “cheating wife” scrawled in graffiti. “After witnessing graffiti on a woman’s property, blatantly accusing her of being a ‘cheating wife,’ I knew I was going to write a story about how far we’ve come—or haven’t—from the days of public shaming and scarlet-letter-wearing,” Shelly says. “The patriarchy is alive and well, and this book is my attempt to remind us all to take a look at our part in it.”

Shelly is also the author of the Flight Risk Spy Series, which follows a high-flying heroine who stumbles into the world of espionage. She has based the travels of her protagonist, Amanda, on locations she’s been lucky enough to visit. She and her family maintain a residence both in Brașov, Romania, and St. Louis, Missouri.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Shelly is a dedicated mother to three incredible adults, loving wife to her favorite guy, George, for nearly three decades, and Buni (boo-nee) to two enchanting, magical grandchildren. She invites you to join her journey on social media, where she shares her insights and creative endeavors. Follow her @shellysnowpordea for a glimpse into the world of a multifaceted storyteller and advocate.