In honor of Women's History Month, please join Metropolitan 社区 College Foundation 和 Office of Diversity, Equity and 包容 this spring for the 她是: Empowered by Equity 午餐.
The luncheon is held in odd years only. Please check back for 2025 event details.
午餐 attendees will hear from a distinguished panel of women who are passionate about supporting and empowering other women, leading with purpose, and are purposeful in their pursuits of equity.
The panel will explore personal insights and lived experiences with bias in male-dominated fields and strategies for equity in these professions. Furthermore, the panel will discuss leadership skills needed to manage in these spaces as well as development of a pipeline of future women leaders.
Sponsorship proceeds will support scholarships for 十大娱乐彩票平台 Students entering historically male-dominated fields or professions.
2023 Panelists
![Lauren Conaway](/events/images/sheis/Lauren_Conaway.png)
Panel Moderator: LAUREN CONAWAY, InnovateHER KC, President/CEO
Ms. Conaway is a detail-oriented, efficiency-driven leader with diverse experience in operations, marketing and program management with a deep commitment to building strong, equitable ecosystems of support for entrepreneurs and women leaders.
![Valerie McCaw](/events/images/sheis/Valerie_McCaw.jpg)
VALERIE McCAW, PE, CFM, ENV SP, VSM, President/Civil Engineer
Born and raised in Kansas City, Valerie McCaw graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. With more than 20 years in the public and professional services industries, Ms. McCaw has performed in varying capacities from lead engineer to principal designer and project manager.
![Major Marisa Barnes](/events/images/sheis/Major_Marisa_Barnes.jpg)
MAJOR MARISA BARNES, Kansas City Missouri Police Department, Metro Patrol Division Commander
Major Barnes attended Tuskegee University then earned a Master’s Degree of Social Work from the University of Kansas. Major Barnes has served in several positions at the Kansas City Missouri Police Department since 2003. In 2006 Barnes became the first-ever female physical training/defensive tactics instructor at the department’s Regional Police Academy.
![Lansas Thorpe](/events/images/sheis/Lana_Thorpe.jpg)
LANA THORPE, Hollis + Miller Architects, Senior Learning Environments Architect/AIA, NCARB, LEED Green Associate
Lana is a Senior Architect with Hollis + Miller Architects and has worked in the industry for more than 10 years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture, is an active member of the Kansas State University Professional Advisory Board for the
Department of Architecture, and proud working mom of four boys.
十大娱乐彩票平台 Women in Action
The Barbara Anne Washington Women Making History Award
To honor 十大娱乐彩票平台 Board of Trustees Member and Missouri State Senator (9th District) Barbara Anne Washington, 十大娱乐彩票平台 和 她是... planning committee have established an award bearing her name to be given at each year’s 她是 women’s luncheon.
Ellen Forrest Martin Day at 十大娱乐彩票平台
In recognition of 十大娱乐彩票平台 Board of Trustees Member Ellen Forrest Martin, 十大娱乐彩票平台 和 She Is planning committee are establishing a day named in her honor to be held each March. On Ellen Forrest Martin Day, a selected student will shadow a female mentor who is excelling in a traditionally male-dominated career field.
2023 Sponsors
Future level sponsor
![Parish and Sons Construction](/images/non-mcc-logos/Parish_and_Sons_Construction.jpg)
Next Gen level sponsor
![Guadalupe Centers](/images/non-mcc-logos/guadalupe-centers.jpg)
Sandra Price
![University Health](/images/non-mcc-logos/University_Health.jpg)
Rise level sponsor
![安泰](/images/non-mcc-logos/Aetna.jpg)