September 17 IMA Women Makers Series - Decatur

Registration for this event has closed. Please contact Trish Overturf at toverturf@ima-net.org for registration information.

Individual Attendee $40

Cancellations must be received in writing by Tuesday, September 10, 2024.

No refunds will be issued after this date.

Joining us from out of town? Here are some local hotels nearby the event.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Decatur-Forsyth

Hampton Inn Decatur Mt. Zion

Decatur Conference Center & Hotel 

Event Location

TCCI Manufacturing

2130 N 22nd Street - Decatur

This is an in-person event

Join us at TCCI Manufacturing in Decatur for the third stop of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association's (IMA) 2024 Women Makers Series: The Power of Being a Woman Maker.

This event spotlights the women leaders at the forefront of Illinois' most dynamic and fast-growing sectors that are shaping the future of manufacturing and solving critical global challenges. Through visionary leadership, women makers are driving the electrification revolution and fostering formidable growth in biotechnology—all while building a more resilient and sustainable future for our communities.

During the working breakfast, you’ll hear from state and local officials and get an understanding of the programs and policies impacting the region and state. Followed by opening remarks and an in-depth panel discussion with regional women leaders who are not only making strides in their industries but are also empowering the next generation of women makers. They will share their insights, experiences, and strategies for success as they lead the charge in building thriving communities across Illinois.

Women in manufacturing are invited to connect, thrive, and empower one another at our in-person event designed to strengthen relationships at every leadership level.

Why Attend?

This high-energy, interactive session is open to all levels of manufacturing women makers. You’ll leave with new contacts and actionable ideas to help you perform at a higher level in your career.

Agenda



8:00 am - 8:30 am - Legislator & Governmental Networking

8:30 am - 9:00 am - Introduction and Welcome

Kara Demirjian-Huss - President TCCI and DCC Marketing | Renne Togher - President, Azteca Foods | Sarah Hartwick - VP of Education & Workforce Policy, Illinois Manufacturers' Association | Julie Moore-Wolfe - Mayor Decatur | Doris Turner - Illinois Senator | Sue Scherer - Illinois Representative | Nikki Budzinski - Illinois Congresswomen | Dr. Rochelle Clark - Superintendent, Decatur Public Schools

9:00 am - 9:25 am - Fireside Chat

Kara Demirjian-Huss - Founder & President DCC Marketing | Kristin Richards - Director, DCEO | Isis Almeida - Bureau Chief, Bloomberg Chicago

9:30 am -10:00 am - EV Panel: Electrifying Illinois: The EV Revolution

Moderator: Lisa Clemmons Stott, Director, Electric Mobility and Innovation, DCEO |

Kara Demirjian-Huss - VP of Global Marketing, Sustainability, and Public Affairs, TCCI | Ciara Bochenek - Bank of America | Tamika Thomas - Director of the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act at Enrich, Richland Community College |Maura Freeman - Public Policy Manager, Rivian | Jessica Ashley Gramon - The Will Group | Haley Basler Serruya - E.J. Basler Co.

10:00 am - 10:30 am - BioTech Panel: From Lab to Line: Driving Growth in Biotech Sector

Moderator: Nicole Bateman - President of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur & Macon County | Carly McCrory-McKay - Executive Director, Champaign County EDC | Beth Conerty - Regional Innovation Officer for the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub | Laura Appenzeller - University of Illinois Research Park, Executive Director

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

10:30 am - 11:00 am - TCCI Facility Tour

Event Host

Kara Demirjian Huss

Senior Vice President, TCCI Manufacturing

Founder and President, DCC Marketing (WBE/WBENC)

President, DemirCo Properties and Real Estate Portfolios

Kara is Senior Vice President for T/CCI Manufacturing a global leader in compressor technology and electric vehicle component manufacturing for the commercial vehicle and specialty automotive industry. TCCI is headquartered in Illinois with facilities in 10 countries. Kara leads the Marketing, Sustainability, and Public Affairs to support the changing paradigm on the road to zero emissions. She led the effort for TCCI to be the first company in Illinois to receive the Reimagine Electric Vehicle Incentive Program and is currently leading the $45MM facility re-development effort. This public-private partnership with Richland Community College and the City of Decatur will establish the Illinois EV Innovation Hub—a three-tiered facility to advance electrification under one roof. The facility will include EV Compressor Manufacturing, Climatic Center for Innovation & Research and the EV Workforce Training Academy. Through the EV Workforce Academy she is paving the path for a new model for workforce programs and partnerships across the state that aims to bridge critical gaps in qualified green job applicants through degree-based programs, stackable certificates, credentials, apprenticeships, and COOP programs in the areas of advanced manufacturing, computer science, and engineering.

Event Panelists

Renee Togher

President

Azteca Foods

Renee Togher is CEO and President of Chicago-based Azteca Foods, Inc., a family-owned, leading manufacturer of tortilla products. 

Renee currently serves as Board Chair of the Illinois Manufacturer’s Association. She currently is on the Advisory Board of First Women’s Bank. She is a past Director of MB Financial, Inc. and served on the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee. Renee is a past Advisory Board member of Home Run Inn Frozen Foods and Rule 29. 

Previously, Renee served as a board member on the following non-for-profit organizations: Access Living, The Greater Chicago Food Depository, National Museum of Mexican Art, ADL, Inc., The Teen Bridge Center, Mercy Hospital where she served as Chair of the Quality Committee and St. Patricia School where she served as its Vice-President and Chairman of the Finance Committee and Education Committee. Renee was also a former Trustee of DePaul University.

Renee is a member of The Chicago Network. Renee was awarded the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award - 2011 and has been recognized by Today’s Chicago Woman as “100 Women Making a Difference.” Renee continues to be an active volunteer in school, church and youth activities.

Renee received her Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She completed the Loyola University Family Business Next Generation Leadership Institute Program.

Renee resides in Lemont, Illinois with her husband; they have three children, and six grandchildren.

Sarah Hartwick

VP of Education and Workforce Policy

Illinois Manufacturers' Association

Sarah Hartwick is Vice President Education & Workforce Policy and Executive Director, IMA Education Foundation for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. Prior to joining the IMA in 2021, Sarah was previously the Executive Director of ED-RED, a suburban public school district advocacy organization. Sarah has also served as the Co-Director for Legislative Affairs at the Illinois State Board of Education and has worked with education advocacy organizations including Advance Illinois and the Illinois Head Start Association. Sarah has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in political studies with minors in both communications and economics. Sarah has four children.

Julie Moore-Wolfe

Mayor

City of Decatur

Julie Moore Wolfe was appointed Mayor of Decatur in August of 2015, following the death of Mayor Mike McElroy. She has served on the Decatur City Council since 2009. Her emphasis has been on improving public safety and infrastructure. During her tenure, the city has launched the 90-million dollar dredging project at Lake Decatur, and secured a new facility for the Decatur Police Department - two issues that had plagued our city for decades. Additionally, she has supported major infrastructure efforts to fix aging sewers and stormwater systems.

Julie has a vast background in economic development, business and media. She served for four years as the Regional Manager of the Governor's Opportunity Returns program, working on economic development, infrastructure and outreach activities. Under her leadership, Mattoon was awarded the FutureGen project. Additionally she was instrumental in working with Economic Development organizations and communities to create jobs and build infrastructure throughout Central and Southern Illinois.

Prior to that position, she was President of the Chamber of Commerce in Decatur, where her focus was in helping businesses grow, and lobbying for business issues and economic development opportunities. She helped to revive the Route 51 Coalition, which resulted in funding to widen the highway to four lanes from Macon to its current construction area north of Pana.

Julie has been a familiar face in Central Illinois since 1986, when she joined WAND-TV as the anchor of the 6 and 10 news. She spent 11 years on the news team, and maintained an active role as a community volunteer.

She holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and attended Millikin University as a Business Major. She and her husband Doug Wolfe have been married for 28 years and have three children. Their son Travis is a Sheriff's Deputy in Macon County, and their daughters are in college. Hannah is in the School of Business at the University of Illinois, and Mallory is an Industrial Engineering major at the University of Missouri. Julie has been a resident of Decatur for the last 30 years.

Doris Turner

IL State Senator

Following a long and productive tenure on the Springfield City Council and Sangamon County Board, Senator Doris Turner was appointed to represent the 48th Legislative District in February of 2021. She is a past member of the Springfield /Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission, Springfield/Sangamon County Health Initiative Board of Directors, Voices for Illinois Children Springfield Leadership Team, Chamber of Commerce Q5 Initiative Diversity Council, Medics First Board of Directors, and a founding board member of the Southern Illinois University Federally Qualified Health Center. She is a current member of the Sangamon County Board of Health, Friends of Sangamon County Drug Court, and co-chair of the Springfield High Speed Railroad Community Advisory Commission. Senator Turner is a lifelong resident of Springfield. A recent retiree after working 33 years for the State of Illinois with twenty-two of those with the Department of Public Health, she has spent her entire career working to enhance the lives of those around her and looks forward to continuing this work in the state Senate. Senator Turner is a member of Greater All Nations Tabernacle Church of God in Christ. She and her husband, Cecil, have three children, ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Sue Scherer

IL State Representative

An educator of 35 years, Representative Sue Scherer entered the legislature as a change champion. With educational reform at the top of her agenda; she successfully lowered the Kindergarten start age by one year, upped teacher base salary, did away with excess standardized testing and most recently passed a bill simplifying the teacher licensure test. Representative Scherer places major emphasis on the importance of strengthening infrastructure throughout the state, succeeding at directing hundreds of millions of dollars for purposes of infrastructure within her district.

Nikki Budzinski

Congresswoman

Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski is a lifelong champion for working families, a Springfield resident and the proud Representative for Illinois’ 13th Congressional District.

A native of Illinois, Nikki knows that our communities thrive when the middle class is strong. But for too long, working hard and playing by the rules hasn’t been paying off like it should. She believes that families deserve better, and she’s spent her entire career fighting to help restore the American Dream for people like her grandpa, a union painter, and her grandma, a public school teacher.

That’s why she joined the labor movement, and fought to get firefighters, grocery workers and meatpackers better training, wages and workplace safety protections. It’s why she led negotiations to raise Illinois’ minimum wage to $15 an hour and chaired the Broadband Advisory Board to expand internet access to rural communities. And it’s why she helped the Biden-Harris Administration implement the American Rescue Plan and establish the Made in America Office to create jobs and strengthen our economy.

Nikki joined Congress in 2023 to build on that work. As she brings the voices of people in Central and Southern Illinois to Washington, she’s focused on putting their needs over petty politics, reaching for compromise and delivering results for the communities she serves.



Nikki graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – a school she’s now honored to represent.

Dr. Rochelle Clark

Superintendent

Decatur Public Schools

A native of East St. Louis, Dr. Rochelle Clark was appointed as Superintendent of Decatur Public Schools on February 8, 2022.

She started her career in education in 1992 as a special education teacher’s aide and worked her way up into leadership roles. Dr. Clark previously served in Decatur Public Schools as Director of Student Services, an Assistant Principal at three DPS schools, and recently as Assistant Superintendent of Support Services for DPS.

Previously, Dr. Clark served as Assistant Superintendent of District Affairs at Crete-Monee School District 201-U, where she oversaw the McKinney-Vento homelessness programs, student interventions, restorative practices, and multi-tiered system of supports, all of which are actively used in DPS to give targeted support to struggling students. Additionally, she led the alternative education initiatives among other operational departments of transportation, security, and the District 201's communication efforts.

As DPS Superintendent, she guides one of the most diverse student bodies and district leadership teams in the area and collaborates with seven union groups. All of this is accomplished while maintaining meaningful partnerships with community leaders, as Dr. Clark focuses on ensuring every Decatur Public Schools student can unlock their unique and limitless potential.

Dr. Clark holds a bachelor's degree in education from Harris-Stowe State University, a master’s degree in management from Webster University, and her doctoral degree in education from Lindenwood University. Dr. Clark is the oldest of three children and is a proud wife, mother, and grandmother.

Kristin Richards

Director

DCEO

Kristin Richards was appointed Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) by Governor JB Pritzker in January 2023. In this capacity, Richards oversees the Department’s mission of spurring equitable economic development and creating a positive economic climate to attract job creators, support Illinois’ skilled workforce and bolster communities to improve the quality of life and provide economic opportunities for Illinoisans across the state. DCEO’s diverse portfolio includes leading the state’s business attraction and expansion efforts, issuing capital infrastructure grants to spur economic development in communities, providing Illinoisans with utility bill assistance, and leading the state’s tourism efforts, among others. Since joining DCEO, Richards has led the agency during an unprecedented period of economic development in Illinois, with the state realizing record-breaking capital investment incentivized by DCEO programs.

Richards has spent more than two decades as a public servant for the State of Illinois where she garnered a reputation for solving complex issues by working closely with stakeholders to forge strong coalitions. Prior to joining DCEO, Richards served as the Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) where she led the state’s pandemic response for Illinoisans affected by job loss. In that role, she created and implemented new, complex federal pandemic-era unemployment insurance programs, and led efforts to restore solvency to the Unemployment Trust Fund and save employers millions of dollars through a historic agreement reached by business and labor.

Throughout her career Richards has held various leadership roles in the executive and legislative branches – serving three governors and serving as Chief of Staff for two Senate presidents. In her time with the Illinois Senate, she led the state’s budget-making process for seven consecutive years and played a critical role in bipartisan negotiations that ended a two-year budget impasse – restoring critical programs and putting the state on the path toward fiscal stability.

Richards was raised in Belleville, Illinois, and currently resides in Chicago. 

Lisa Clemmons Stott

Director, Electric Mobility and Innovation

DCEO

Lisa Clemmons Stott is the Electric Mobility and Innovation Director in the Director’s Office at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. She works to grow Illinois’ share of advanced manufacturing in emerging sectors like electric vehicle, renewables and quantum by highlighting the state’s many assets, including some of the most aggressive incentives programs in the nation. She has worked at the critical intersection of community and economic development for more than fifteen years. Her career started in the Illinois legislature as a staff person and she has held numerous leadership, communications and change management roles. Her work has been recognized by the Illinois Legislative Internship Hall of Fame, Women of Influence, and Illinois Chapter of the Illinois Planning Association among others.

Ciara Bochenek

Senior Vice President / Senior Relationship Manager

Bank of America

Ciara is responsible for managing and growing an extensive portfolio of middle market and mid corporate companies within the Global Commercial Bank, leading a team of specialists to provide financial solutions and advisory services to C-suite executives to meet their company’s goals. 

A financial services veteran, during the last 20 years, she has served in various roles throughout her career in underwriting, credit management, and business development. Ciara rejoined Bank of America in 2023, having previously worked at the firm in several areas including asset-based lending, special assets, commercial banking, and specialized industries. Prior to re-joining Bank of America, Ciara served as a Corporate Banking Relationship Manager at U.S. Bank and a career start at JP Morgan. She received her Bachelor in Finance from Marquette University and holds an active Series 7, 79, and 63 license.

Ciara is a member for the Bank’s WEB network, Bank of America volunteers, in addition to on campus recruiting and is a member of the CFA, Forte, and WIL.

In her free time, Ciara enjoys travel, reading, attending her kid’s (many) travel sports, and playing paddle. Ciara resides in Park Ridge with her husband Kevin and their two children, Lucy and Ronan.

Tamika Thomas

Director of Climate & Equitable Jobs Act at Enrich

Richland Community College

She is a dedicated educator and community leader, serving as the Director of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) program at Richland Community College, where she spearheads initiatives to promote sustainable practices and equitable job opportunities in the region. Simultaneously, she contributes her expertise as an Adjunct Professor in the college's business department, shaping the next generation of business leaders.

With a solid academic background, including an MBA and an ongoing pursuit of a Doctorate in Business Administration, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her administrative and teaching roles. In the second year of her doctoral studies, she continues to enhance her expertise in business strategies and leadership. Beyond academics, she is deeply involved in community service and professional organizations. As a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., she participates in various service projects and initiatives to enhance the quality of life within her community.

Her commitment to public service extends to her role on Rep. Nikki Budzinski's Veterans Council for the 13th district, where she contributes to addressing the needs and concerns of local veterans. This position underscores her dedication to supporting those who have served their country. She exemplifies a commitment to lifelong learning, leadership, and positive societal impact by balancing multiple roles across education, environmental initiatives, and community service. Her diverse experiences and ongoing educational pursuits position her as a valuable asset in driving progress in climate action, job creation, and the EV evolution.

Jessica Ashley Gramon

COO & Chief General Counsel

The Will Group

Jessica Ashley Garmon serves as the Chief Operating Officer & the Chief General Counsel of the Will Group, Inc., the pioneer company of several separate and distinct entities in the electrical, lighting, construction, technology, and energy related industries that all operate under the common philosophy, “Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way.”

Mrs. Garmon is the President of Industrial Electric Supply, Inc., the awarded vendor to fulfill the contract for electrical supplies covering the Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative (hereinafter, “IPHEC”) facilities that include all the public institutions of higher education in the State of Illinois. This is a historic contract award as this is the first time a minority and woman-owned company has been awarded the contract.

Hayley Basler Serruya

President

E.J. Basler Co.

Hayley Serruya is the president of a custom manufacturer near Chicago, Illinois that employs 180 people.

She’s a graduate from Northwestern University and a vocal advocate for encouraging women in manufacturing.

Nicole Bateman

President

Decatur & Macon County EDC

Nicole Bateman serves as President of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur & Macon County, Illinois (EDC). In her role she is responsible for promoting the region for growth through new business developments and expansions. Nicole joined the EDC in 2015 and in her tenure, the breadth of economic and community development initiatives has brought over three billion dollars in constructed and committed developments to Macon County. Serving on the leadership team for the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Hub (iFAB), Nicole and her colleagues secured a coveted designation as a Regional Tech & Innovation Hub by the United States Economic Development Administration. She additionally manages the Limitless Decatur & Macon County community marketing campaign and the Midwest Inland Port transportation hub marketing efforts.

Carly McCrory-McKay

Executive Director

Champaign County EDC

Carly McCrory-McKay is the Executive Director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. She’s been with the organization for 12 years and is responsible for business retention and attraction, marketing Champaign County as a Brilliant place to do business, and supporting the county’s economic development efforts. She works broadly across the region to support initiatives, programs, and events, including Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week, the iFAB Tech Hub, and talent attraction efforts. Carly graduated from Eastern Illinois University and resides in Champaign-Urbana with her husband, Tate. This time of year, you can usually find Carly eating sweetcorn paired with a local brew, enjoying live music at Rose Bowl Tavern, shopping at a local art fair, or cheering on Illini volleyball at Huff Hall.

Beth Conerty

Regional Innovation Officer for the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub

Beth Conerty currently serves as the Associate Director for Business Development for the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign. Last year, she became the Regional Innovation Officer for the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub. Beth received her bachelor’s in chemistry and master’s in Bioenergy from the University of Illinois, and she received her PhD in Energy Science and Engineering from University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Lab. In her current role, she leads the effort to build relationships with researchers and industry clients as well as developing the biomanufacturing economy in Central Illinois. In the six years in her role, Beth has helped lead over 100 industry clients through IBRL. 

Laura Appenzeller

University of Illinois Research Park, Executive Director

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Innovation 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Laura Appenzeller leads the University of Illinois Research Park and EnterpriseWorks business incubator. The Research Park and its incubator, EnterpriseWorks, provide an on-campus vibrant business ecosystem that creates long-term value for the university’s intellectual assets, its students, participant companies, and the economy. The Research Park is located on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and home to 120 companies, including large corporations and 60 startup companies, with more than 700 students working year-round with industry internships. It is a leading location for new technologies applications in agriculture, digital technologies, and data and AI application development. Corporate R&D centers at the Research Park include ADM, AGCO, Bayer, Caterpillar, John Deere, Mondelez, Motorola, Nvidia, State Farm, Synchrony and Yahoo as examples of industry leaders that Laura has developed through business attraction and corporate engagement. EnterpriseWorks incubates startup companies, which have raised more than $1.4 Billion in venture capital and $200 Million in SBIR/STTR awards. Laura led the creation of the U.S. SBA Illinois FAST Center at the Research Park, which provides small business assistance across Illinois for America’s Seed Fund. Laura is on the leadership team of the EDA iFAB Tech Hub, which was awarded $51 Million for the growth of precision fermentation and bioprocessing in Central Illinois. The Research Park hosts numerous programs and events to support its companies through collaboration, peer sharing, and technology programs to elevate skills and innovation outcomes. Laura also serves as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Innovation to support research commercialization and industry partnerships. In that role, she has been active in the formation of the new Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park in Chicago. She is active in numerous regional organizations including serving as the board of the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition; the Advisory Board of the Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation (IMSI), the board of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation; and she is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, and ChicagoNEXT Council of World Business Chicago. 

Sponsorship Opportunities

Platinum Sponsor - $10,000

Includes:

• Company name/logo on promotional materials
• Provide a promotional item to each participant at the kickoff event
• 6 event registrations at each of the remaining 2024 series events - 9/17 & 12/5
• Podium time at two of the events

Gold Sponsor - $5,000

Includes:

• Company name/logo on promotional materials
• 4 event registrations at each of the remaining 2024 series events - 9/17 & 12/5
• Podium time at two of the events

Silver Sponsor - $2,500

Includes:

• Company name/logo on promotional materials
• 2 event registrations at each of the remaining 2024 series events - 9/17 & 12/5

Individual Ticket - $40

For questions regarding IMA Women Maker’s Series, please contact

Trish Overturf at (630) 869-5401 or toverturf@ima-net.org  

The sponsorship deadline to be included in printed materials is:

September 3, 2024 for the September 17^th event

November 20, 2024 for the December 5^th event 

Save the Date!

The IMA Women Makers Series is Coming to Your Region!

Chicago End-of-Year Happy Hour: Thursday, December 5th

(Location: Chicago Marriott Magnificent Mile)

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT HOST