2024 Connect2Women Speakers
Sophie Barksdale
Sophie Barksdale is an Australian filmmaker living in Lander, Wyoming. She has been a producer with Caldera Productions since 2016, having relocated from Australia. She co-produced the Heartland Emmy nominee, “The State of Equality”in 2020 and the Independent Lens broadcasted feature, “Home From School: The Children of Carlisle” in 2021. She is currently working on a documentary with veterans—about serving your country and what happens when you come home. “Who She Is”is her directorial debut and first foray in animated film.
Dr. Alice Burron
Dr. Alice Burron, a seasoned Exercise Physiologist and Healthcare Educator, empowering individuals with deep insights into human physiology and psychology for the purpose of faster healing. Dr. Burron also provides health awareness and decision-making tools to enable people to make faster and better health decisions.
Jessica Brenton
Jessica Brenton is a trailblazer in the world of wrestling, making history as the first girl on the Varsity boys team at Natrona County High School. During her high school career, she achieved tremendous success, earning the title of 3x All American at High School Nationals in Fargo by placing in the top 8. Beyond her personal achievements, Jessica has dedicated herself to advancing the sport of wrestling in Wyoming. As the Wyoming Amateur Wrestling Association (WAWA) Girls Director, she played a vital role in getting girls' wrestling sanctioned in the state. She also serves as the National Team Wyoming Head Coach for WAWA, guiding young athletes to success. Jessica hosts the Wyoming Girls Wrestling Camp and banquet, nurturing the next generation of wrestlers. She holds coaching positions at Centennial Junior High and NCHS, where she is the Head Girls Coach. Additionally, she shares her insights and passion for the sport through her podcast, Wrestle Her.
Laura Baker
Laura Baker runs two nonprofits, CyberWyoming and the CyberWyoming Alliance, which comprise multiple programs designed to help average citizens and Wyoming companies manage their security risks. Some of the business side programs include Wyoming's Cybersecurity Competition for Small
Businesses and an apprenticeship program for tech professions. Other citizen programs include a weekly publication called the Hacker's Brief, Senior Fraud Alert Flyers, the annual cybersecurity conference, the Teens Exploring Careers Camp, and a school cyber safety video challenge.
Desirée Brothe
Desirée is the Artist Development Director for the Wyoming Women’s Business Center, and the Executive Director of Arts Cheyenne. She has a Bachelors in Art Education, has worked in Community and Economic Development for 10 years, and arts advocacy and programming for 8 years. She runs a small art business, Magpie Creations on the side, and when not working, she spends her time painting, drawing, gardening, and enjoying a good beer with her partner, Mike.
Tori Campbell
Tori Campbell is president and co-founder of Mizzen Energy and Mizzen Energy Services. For over 30 years she has helped to create value for employers and investors across various natural resources companies. She is a certified mediator and loves the art of negotiation.
She grew up in Converse County, Wyoming and spent the first 21 years of her career working for publicly traded companies. In her last position, she was Vice President & General Manager of an energy commodity trading company, a subsidiary of Black Hills Corporation (NYSE:BKH). After the successful sale of this enterprise, she co-founded the Mizzen companies to put her own capital to work to secure private equity funding and to leverage her team’s identity, skills and expertise.
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Ms. Campbell lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, a UW structural engineer.  She serves on several boards including UW’s College of Business Advisory Board and Mountain Crest Investment Partners. Tori enjoys adventure travel, hiking, fun runs and mentoring ambitious college students and professionals. 
Jonathon Coulter
Jonathon Coulter is a seasoned IT professional with over 30 years of experience in the industry. From green screens and modems to touch screens and fiber, the industry has provided Jonathon with a dynamic and ever-changing career. His extensive background includes leading large-scale IT projects, implementing cutting-edge technologies, and optimizing IT infrastructures for various organizations large and small. His leadership and strategic vision have been instrumental in guiding teams through complex technical challenges and ensuring seamless integration of new systems.
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In addition to his technical prowess, Jonathon is known for his commitment to continuous learning and professional development. He holds numerous certifications and has attended various industry conferences, staying abreast of the latest trends and advancements in the IT field. His passion for technology is matched by his dedication to mentoring the next generation of IT professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, education and excellence. Outside of the industry, Jonathon is an accredited scuba instructor with other interests ranging from 2 wheel riding, camping, traveling and family time.
Elizabeth Dillow
Elizabeth Dillow is a photographer, designer, and writer in Cheyenne. She has had a camera in her hand since 1974 (there is photographic evidence!) and is passionate about the intersection of photography, design, and storytelling. Her photographs have been featured in magazines, books, and galleries throughout the U.S. She is the author of The Scrapbooker’s Almanac along with numerous articles and features. Through her business, she provides creative consulting services for nonprofit organizations, government entities, select campaigns, small businesses, and large corporations, as well as photographing seniors, families, athletes, and events. She serves on the Laramie County Library System Board, is an active volunteer with Cheyenne Frontier Days™ and Cheyenne Gymnastics, and writes a monthly column for the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. She is an avid podcast listener.
Festi Edwards
Festi Edwards is delighted to work as a navigator for a statewide nonprofit, Enroll Wyoming. As part of a dedicated and experienced team, Enroll Wyoming navigators provide free, fair, and impartial information, education, and assistance to consumers seeking affordable health coverage options. She resides in Casper and covers Natrona, Niobrara, and Converse counties along with her valued co-workers. Festi has a degree in Education from the University of Wyoming with over 30 years of experience working with Wyoming residents to access social services, Medicaid, waivers, vocational rehabilitation, and health coverage. In her spare time, Festi loves to go boating, especially at the beautiful Alcova Lake and Fremont Canyon area. Festi is resourceful, dynamic, and inspires others to do their best.
Melodie Starr-Edwards
Melodie Edwards is the host and producer of Wyoming Public Radio's award-winning podcast The Modern West. She has been a radio reporter at WPM since 2013, covering topics from rural resiliency to wildlife to Native American issues to sustainable agriculture. She has won numerous awards for her reporting including regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, Public Media Journalism Awards, and others.
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Melodie grew up in Walden, Colorado where her father worked in the oilfield and timber industries and her mother was the editor of the Jackson County Star. She's the author of two books, Akoreka and the League of Crows, a young adult novel, and Hikes Around Fort Collins. Melodie and her husband own Night Heron Books and Coffeehouse in Laramie.
Katrina Ferrell
Katrina started working at Central Wyoming Counseling Center (CWCC) in 2017 and as of December of 2022, became the CWCC 988 Lifeline Program Coordinator overseeing the everyday operations and management of the call center. Katrina is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree in communications. She is a Certified Crisis Intervention Specialist, and a Certified Victim’s Advocate.
Scott Fuller
Scott Fuller has been programming terrestrial radio stations in Wyoming and across the country for over 20 years. He currently serves as Broadcast Operations Manager for County 10's three radio stations in Fremont County, Wyoming. Scott's podcasting experience dates back to 2005. He currently hosts several investigative and storytelling podcasts in the True Crime space, including Dead & Gone In Wyoming.
Amy Grenfell
As Chief Operating Officer of the Wyoming Business Council, Amy ensures that a solid foundation exists to deliver the very important work of diversifying and growing Wyoming’s complex economy. Prior to the Business Council, Amy worked in municipal government, local economic development, and spent 15 years in the private sector with the global consulting firm, Accenture.She is a proud University of Wyoming alumni and holds both a marketing degree and an MBA from the College of Business. Amy is also a Leadership Wyoming graduate, Class of 2021. In both her professional and personal roles, Amy is driven by her purpose statement:"With authenticity and responsibility, share and build expertise that creates positive, lasting value."She spends her free-time living the good life in Cheyenne with her husband, Chuck, and is a proud mom to daughter,
Caitlin, a junior at the University of Wyoming, and son, Alex, a sophomore at Cheyenne Central High School.
Kate Debow Hayes
Kate Debow Hayes–Certified Coach, Speaker, Writer. Kate is the owner and coach at High Ground Coaching and Development where her main goal is to inspire leaders to create leaders through one-on-one coaching, training and workshops, keynote speaking, and mentor programs. She also is the founder of a the nonprofit Connect2Women, which focuses on connecting women across Wyoming for networking, development, and growth by hosting workshops around the state as well as a statewide mentor program. Kate is a certified coach, a regularly published journalist, author of Amazon #1 New Release Take Back Your Life –Five steps to create your quantum leap, an Adjunct Instructor at Laramie County Community College, and has been appointed by Governor Gordon to the Wyoming Council for Women. She lives in Central Wyoming with her husband and menagerie of animals.
Cathy Holman
Prairie Wife (Cathy Holman) is a city girl gone country, all for the love of a cowboy. She began PrairieWifeInHeels.com in 2013 to spread her message of living a life of grit and grace. On her website, she shares stories of her “joyfully chaotic” life on the Wyoming prairie. Including honest (with a bit of humor) posts about creating a life you love, parenting her five children, and behind-the-scenes looks at brand development. As a media personality, she continues to spread her message of grit and grace through social media content, speaking engagements, and leadership workshops across the Western US. She is also a popular radio, TV, and podcast guest who has emceed and auctioneered at over a hundred fundraising events. She is also available for one-on-one social media and business/brand consulting.
Zahra Karami
Born of Persian heritage and raised in the vibrant city of Tehran, Zahra Karami relocated to Wyoming in 2023 and has since been enriching our community with her diverse experiences and perspective. Zahra's academic journey took her from Karachi, Pakistan, where she earned both her BBA and MBA, to the University of Wyoming, where she is currently a second-year PhD student in Marketing Management. Alongside her studies, she contributes significantly as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant at the College of Business, University of Wyoming.
With a robust professional background spanning 16 years, Zahra has held key positions in various multinational companies, primarily in Sales and Management. Her roles as Sales & Marketing Director and Regional Sales Manager highlight her leadership and expertise in these fields.
Fluent in Farsi, Hindi, and English, Zahra is also a global citizen, having visited countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, and Georgia. Her multicultural experiences and linguistic skills reflect her adaptability and broad worldview.
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Carla Mowell
Carla Mowell is a retired educator, podcaster, and 4th generation Wyomingite living in Bighorn County. Her podcast, Wyoming My 307, explores the people, culture, wildlife, geology, and history of Wyoming. Her goal is to take you on a tour of every corner of our state, and feature invited guests who will bring you new Wyoming voices.
Matt Melinkovich
Matt Melinkovich initiated Timberline Training to educate and empower you with tools for success. As a certified Innovation Growth Coach, a level two Family Business Advisor, and an accredited trust facilitator, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and business experience on the topics of efficiency, innovation, leadership, trust, team building, customer interaction, and value-added sales.
For the past twelve years he has been using his entrepreneurial skills and business experience to help small businesses become more efficient, grow their operation, and increase profits.
From owning a wireless ISP start-up business and being the owner of a restaurant, a flower shop, and a satellite TV installation business, Matt has learned firsthand the dedication and hard work it takes to be a small business owner. Matt is also a registered professional engineer in the state of Wyoming with seven years of experience in construction and design. He lives in Gillette, Wyoming and most of all, enjoys his family and spending time in the outdoors.
Nicole Neider
Nicole Neider joined the Wyoming Children's Trust Fund as the Business Office Coordinator in November 2020 and was then appointed as the Executive Director in July 2024. Nicole has a bachelor's degree in Human Services Management from the University of Phoenix. She has past experience working for the Department of Corrections, Department of Family Services, and the Wyoming Guardianship Corporation. Nicole is passionate about the Wyoming Children's Trust Fund mission and the efforts made toward prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Roxanne O'Connor
Wyoming is truly the land of opportunity for Roxanne O'Connor and her family. Roxanne grew up in Montana and graduated from Montana State University with her Masters in Public Administration. Education continues to play a formative role in her life as well as the lives of her children. As the Support Services Sr. Administrator for the Department of Family Services, Roxanne's focus includes IT, HR, legislation, policy, public relations, training, contracts, Central Registry, and background checks. She also oversees the Early Care & Education Unit, which melds perfectly with her passion for safe and quality early care and education for Wyoming's youngest learners.
Roxanne and her family love spending time outdoors during the beautiful Cheyenne summers. She and her daughter tend to hunker down during the cooler season while her son and husband grow their agricultural business and participate in motorsports all year round.
Diana Richey
Diana Richey is a nationally recognized personal finance expert. She is passionate about helping women take control of their finances and invest in conscious companies. As a financial planner and tax lawyer with over a decade of experience, she has represented multinational corporations, investment funds, and high-net-worth individuals on matters ranging from international tax planning to charitable giving to cryptocurrency tax compliance. Diana earned a B.A. with honors from The University of Chicago and a J.D., cum laude, from Boston University School of Law. She is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Project Management Professional (PMP®), trained mediator, and FINRA arbitrator. She sits on the Board of Nature and Culture International, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to preserving wild places. She lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with her husband and dog.
Erin Taylor
Through her coaching enterprise, Erin Taylor Coaching, Erin helps individuals cultivate their energy to live life on purpose. Her expertise lies in life balance, wellness, and intuitive leadership coaching, along with fostering workplace mindfulness, trust, and collaboration within teams.
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Beyong coaching, her professional journey of more than twenty-five years has afforded her chances to forge alliances, assume association leadership roles, manage boards, engage in government relations, and navigate the intricacies of politics. Throughout her career, she has served on numerous community and industry boards and has enjoyed leadership roles in various capacities. She is a changemaker.
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Erin and her husband live in Cheyenne with their three children (and two corgis).
Rachel Truett
Rachel is the Mental Health Director for the Wyoming Women’s Business Center. She is originally from rural, eastern Kentucky. Her professional experiences in counseling, small business management, and entrepreneurship have manifested in various locales such as Oklahoma, Alaska, Louisiana, Texas, Hawaii, South Korea, and Wyoming. Rachel possesses a heart for service and advocating for many underserved and minority populations. She knows the challenges of many cultures and backgrounds because she has seen them from unique perspectives. Rachel holds the National Counselor Certification (NCC) and the Provisional Professional Counselor (PPC) licensure for the state of Wyoming.
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Jacqueline White
Jacqueline is a member of the Northern Arapaho and Chippewa Cree tribes. She grew up on the Rocky Boy Reservation in Montana and the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming in a family of eight.Throughout her life, Jacqueline has learned about the importance of food in her culture; food is sacred for the Arapaho people and used in all of their ceremonies. As an adult, Jacqueline has dedicated herself to ensuring her community has access to food. She serves as the Tribal Relations Specialist at Food Bank of Wyoming and Food Bank of the Rockies, where she has established monthly culturally responsive food distributions for the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes on the Wind River Indian Reservation since 2020.