Session Descriptions & Speaker Bios
Leadership Round Table
June 24, 2025 | 6 p.m-9 p.m. ET
Virtual
Agenda, Session Descriptions and Learning Objectives
Soroptimist Leadership Fellows Program
June 28, 2025 | 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. ET
Virtual
Agenda, Session Descriptions and Learning Objectives
Speaker Bios
Leadership Round Table Speakers
Libby Gill
Libby Gill is an executive coach, leadership expert, and award-winning author with over 30 years of experience helping leaders build purpose-driven organizations and boost performance. She specializes in creating hope-based cultures that inspire growth and transformation. Libby’s career includes leadership roles in communications at major media companies such as Sony, Universal, and Turner Broadcasting.
Libby’s journey began with a childhood spent across two continents and attending eight schools. After working her way through college by waiting tables, she started her career as a public relations assistant at Embassy Communications. Within five years, she advanced through three mergers, becoming head of publicity and promotions for Sony’s worldwide television group.
After a decade at Sony, Libby moved on to lead PR and corporate communications at Universal and Turner. In her forties, she transitioned to entrepreneurship, founding Libby Gill & Company, a coaching and consulting firm.
For the past 22 years, Libby has guided individuals and organizations through change, helping them reframe challenges as growth opportunities. Her clients include top brands like Abbott, Disney, PayPal, and Microsoft. She is the author of six books, including You Unstuck and The Hope-Driven Leader. Libby resides in Southern Oregon, where she serves on the board of the Women’s Leadership Connection.
Peggy Gentile-VanMeter
Currently serving on the SIA Board of Directors, Peggy is a devoted member of SI/Cumberland County, NJ (North Atlantic Region), with nearly two decades on service. She has held significant leadership roles at the region and district levels, including region governor and governor-elect, and district director and secretary.
Peggy was selected for the 2023-2024 Soroptimist Leadership Fellows Program and served as the marketing chair for SIA’s 48th Biennial Convention. A seasoned presenter, she has shared insights at several North Atlantic Region leadership seminars and conferences.
Academically accomplished, Peggy holds degrees from Cumberland County College, Glassboro State University and a Master of Arts in Holocaust & Genocide Education from Stockton University (2001). With 34 years as a history teacher at Cumberland Regional High School and an adjunct history professor at Cumberland County College, Peggy is also a dedicated advocate for human trafficking and domestic violence awareness, contributing to various community education projects and events.
Melanie Kenny
Melanie, the past governor of the Western Canada Region, has served on the SIA Board of Directors since 2023 where she is currently chair of the Laws and Resolutions Committee. A passionate volunteer with Soroptimist International of Saskatoon (Saskatchewan, Canada) since 2010, Melanie plays an active role in her club’s projects.
Melanie retired in 2018 from a 25-year career with the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, where she worked as a labor relations and alternate dispute resolution specialist, adult educator, workshop facilitator, counselor, and mediator. She now runs her own consulting practice, providing people strategies and advising on human resource policies and concerns.
Stephanie Smith
A member of SI/Oak Harbor, WA (Northwestern Region) since 1994, Stephanie has held numerous leadership roles, including her term as 2022-2023 SIA President. Other positions include president-elect, region governor, district director, club president, vice president, and treasurer. She was also SIA representative to the Soroptimist International Board of Directors. Part of the inaugural 2023-2024 Soroptimist Leadership Fellows Program.
After retiring as vice president/senior learning and development consultant at Wells Fargo Bank, Stephanie transitioned to entrepreneurship as the owner of SL Smith Coaching and Consulting. She works full time as Island Transit's human resources assistant manager and serves on the board of the Washington Counties Insurance Trust as Island Transit's board representative.
In a non-Soroptimist capacity, Stephanie supports other non-profits in multiple ways, including moderating community forums, serving as an auctioneer for fundraisers, and holding leadership roles in North Whidbey Little League and the Oak Harbor Football League.
Michelle G. Strawser
Michelle currently serves a one-year term as secretary/treasurer of the SIA Board of Directors, participating in strategic planning, program development and overseeing SIA’s financial practices.
A dedicated member of SI/Tampa, FL (Southern Region) for 20 years, Michelle has held multiple leadership roles, including serving as a CSW67, CSW68, and CSW69 UN Representative for SIA, region membership chair and region governor. She was also a member of the 2023-2024 Soroptimist Leadership Fellows Program.
Michelle began her career in 2001 as executive director of Comprehensive Pain Management Partners (CPMP). Recognizing the importance of financial freedom and community impact, she worked diligently, invested wisely and maintained schedule flexibility. She transitioned into entrepreneurship in 2014 by purchasing three Orangetheory Fitness franchises in Atlanta and later partnered to open two Redline Athletics franchises. Michelle's investments created employment opportunities and demonstrated her pride in business ownership. Recently, she opened RMD Development, LLC.
Fellows Speakers
Charlisa Holloway Edelin
Charlisa Holloway Edelin is the co-director of law studies and the assistant dean of students at Delaware State University. She previously served as an associate professor at Wesley College and as the program director for the master’s in criminal justice. Since 2012, Charlisa has taught both criminal justice and law courses. She played a pivotal role in transforming Wesley College's legal studies program into a progressive law and justice studies department and developed its master’s in criminal justice program. Her success led to her appointment to revitalize Delaware State University’s law studies program, which now serves as a pipeline for law students.
Charlisa is a published author, with articles in Crimes of the Centuries: Notorious Crimes, Criminals, and Criminal Trials in American History (2016), including the perjury trial of Lil’ Kim and the case of Amy Grossberg and Brian Peterson. Her recently published textbook, Constitutional and Criminal Law: The Minority Experience (Kendall/Hunt, 2024), is used in colleges nationwide and offers a unique approach to pre-law education.
She also served as vice president of the Appoquinimink School District Board of Education, focusing on staff diversity and closing the achievement gap for minority students. Charlisa holds a J.D. and a bachelor’s in journalism and public relations from Howard University.
Maureen Wallbeoff
Maureen Wallbeoff is a nonprofit digital strategist and technology coach with 20 years of experience helping organizations optimize their technology investments. Specializing in project management, change management, software evaluation, and business process improvements, she has worked with hundreds of nonprofits across various missions and sectors. Maureen has developed a proven process to align nonprofits’ strategic and operational goals with the right platforms and systems, enabling organizations to make informed decisions about the tools they use to engage supporters, manage data and measure performance.
The author of "Getting a Return on Your Nonprofit Technology Investment," an eBook designed to help "accidental techies" in the nonprofit sector, Maureen has also written two guides on nonprofit engagement software and frequently blogs and answers questions about nonprofit technology. A sought-after speaker and trainer, Maureen has led workshops and webinars at events such as the Nonprofit Technology Conference, AFP conferences and BBCON. She is a TechSoup and Idealware expert trainer and regularly hosts live Q&A sessions on Facebook. With her practical approach and deep understanding of nonprofit challenges, Maureen is a highly regarded expert in nonprofit technology.
Erica R. Wexler
Erica R. Wexler, MSOD, is a pragmatically optimistic change facilitator and expert in organizational dynamics. For over 25 years, her mission has been clear: help organizations remove the obstacles blocking productivity, engagement, efficiency, and workplace satisfaction.
She holds a master’s in organizational dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania and is credentialed in applied neuroscience, executive coaching, organizational leadership, change management, and complex project management. At the heart of Erica’s work is her unwavering commitment to fostering workspaces where everyone feels valued, connected, and part of a harmonious, diverse, high-performing team.
With a knack for finding hidden patterns, making connections and generating movement, Erica’s presentations energize audiences to untangle their big, sticky, messy workplace problems. More than information, audience members come away with valuable insights, new ways of thinking, and practical strategies they can start using right away.