MODERATOR Lynette McKee, certified franchise executive and VP, franchising and new business development, Dunkin' Brands Lynette McKee was recently honored by the Women's Foodservice Forum with the "Emerging Leader of the Year Award" for 2007. She also has served on several committees with the International Franchise Association and was a founding board member of the Women's Franchise and Distribution Forum.

Shannon McFayden, senior executive VP and head of human resources and corporate relations, Wachovia Corp. Shannon McFayden heads Wachovia's human resources, community relations, corporate communications, corporate marketing, customer analysis, research and targeting functions and is co-leading the company's multiyear Efficiency Improvement Program. She also chairs the boards of Child Care Resources Inc. and the United Way Capital Planning Program Committee, among others.

Colette Phillips, president and CEO, Colette Phillips Communications Inc. As founder of New England's oldest PR and marketing communications firm owned by a person of color, Colette Phillips designs strategies that help companies expand by targeting the fastest-growing consumer groups: women, blacks, Hispanics and Asians. Her many examples of community involvement include work as a founding member of the Black/Jewish Economic Roundtable.

Joy Rothschild, SVP, associate services, Omni Hotels An 18-year veteran of Omni Hotels, Joy Rothschild heads up human resources for the luxury hotel chain with 39 locations throughout North America. She serves on the American Hotel and Motel Association's Human Resources and Diversity Council and has earned the certified human resources executive designation from the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

Susan D. Waring, EVP and chief administrative officer, State Farm Life Insurance Co., and VP, health, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. Susan Waring began at State Farm in 1986, eventually becoming executive assistant to the president. She rose to senior VP and chief administrative officer of State Farm Life in 2001 and assumed her current position in 2004. She also is a board member for the Life Office Management Association and the Medical Information Bureau, among others.

CHICAGO:

MODERATOR Judith Valente, journalist, poet and essayist A two-time nominee for the Pulitzer Prize, Judith Valente began as a staff reporter for the Washington Post and later joined the staff of the Wall Street Journal. Valente is a regular contributor to Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly on PBS and is a commentator for NPR and Chicago Public Radio. She also has won numerous awards for her poetry.

 

Gina R. Boswell, board member, Manpower Inc. and Applebee's International One of PINK's 2007 Top Women in Business, Gina Boswell was most recently SVP and COO of Avon North America, a role she held from February 2005 to May 2007. Boswell joined Avon in 2003 as SVP of corporate strategy and business development. Prior to Avon, she held senior executive positions with Ford Motor Co. and The Estée Lauder Cos.

Shirley W. Bridges, chief information officer, Delta Air Lines; president and CEO, Delta Technology In her dual role, Shirley Bridges manages Delta's IT functions and the day-to-day operation of the airline's wholly owned subsidiary, Delta Technology. Most recently she served as COO of Delta Technology. Bridges has more than 30 years of project management and information technology experience. She joined Delta's IT department in 1990 as senior project manager.

 

Lynne Ford, SVP, Retail Retirement Group, Wachovia Corp. In this position since 2005, Lynne Ford oversees the enterprise-wide IRA and annuity products including sales, marketing and product management, as well as annuity operations, service and licensing. She also serves on the boards of the National Association of Variable Annuities and Catawba Land Conservancy, and she is a mentor for "Leadership Davidson" at Davidson College.

 

Kelly L. Regal, EVP, Turner Broadcasting System Inc. Kelly Regal oversees human resources, corporate communications, image management, research and market strategy for Turner's global news, entertainment and animation networks and businesses. She joined the company in 1996 and was named senior counsel in January 1998 before promotions to EVP in 2003. She serves on the boards of the Piedmont Park Conservancy and 21st Century Leaders.

 

NEW YORK:

 

MODERATOR: Mary Lou Quinlan, founder and CEO, Just Ask a Woman Nationally known as a leading marketer, author, speaker and communicator, Mary Lou Quinlan specializes in knowing what women want. She's received her industry's highest awards, including 1995 Woman of the Year from Advertising Women of New York. Her books include Time Off for Good Behavior: How Hardworking Women Can Take a Break and Change Their Lives (Broadway, 2005).

 

Cathleen P. Black, president, Hearst Magazines Cathleen Black manages the financial performance and development of 19 well-respected titles, including Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, O, The Oprah Magazine and Town & Country. Black made publishing history in 1979 as the first woman publisher of a weekly consumer magazine (New York). She is credited for the success of USA Today, where she was first president, then publisher.

 

Katie Schuller-Bleakie, president and COO, Bill Blass New York Before co-founding Bill Blass New York in 2006, Katie Schuller-Bleakie served as a regional manager for the Worth Collection, where she increased revenue in her region by 450 percent. In 2003 she joined a licensee of Bill Blass as VP of sales and recruiting. She has volunteered for numerous local organizations including the Junior League of Boston.

 

Rosalind G. Brewer, division president, Southeast Operations, Wal-Mart Rosalind Brewer joined the company in 2006 as regional vice president of Georgia Operations and in 2007 was promoted to division president of the Southeast Operating Division. Previously she held leadership positions in marketing, sales and product development at Kimberly-Clark. She also serves on the boards of the Carter Presidential Center, Spelman College and Molson Coors Brewing Co.

 

Soledad O'Brien, anchor and special correspondent, CNN Special Investigations Unit Soledad O'Brien reports documentaries and files in-depth series on important breaking news stories for all major CNN programs. She joined CNN in 2003 as co-anchor of American Morning and distinguished herself by reporting from the scene on transformational stories. She also anchored and reported a highly acclaimed CNN documentary featuring a look at Martin Luther King Jr.'s private writings.

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO:

 

MODERATOR Marie C. Wilson, founder and president, The White House Project Marie Wilson founded The White House Project in recognition of the need to build a truly representative democracy – one where women lead alongside men. The White House Project has since led groundbreaking initiatives toward that goal. Wilson is also author of Closing the Leadership Gap: Why Women Can and Must Help Run the World (Penguin, 2006).

 

Karen Ferguson, president of North American operations, Resources Global Professionals In 1996 Karen Ferguson helped found Resources Global Professionals, today a professional services firm with more than 3,900 employees. Ferguson helps manage the company's global growth and leads business development and services for the firm's U.S. operations. She also supports the Financial Women's Association and the Jersey Battered Women's Service.

Stephanie Gallo, director of marketing, Gallo Family Vineyards Twin Valley Stephanie Gallo is the granddaughter of Ernest Gallo, who along with his brother founded E&J Gallo Winery in 1933. Today she leads all marketing for Gallo Family Vineyards Twin Valley, a $1.8 billion company. She started in the sales department of Romano Brothers Beverage Co., but after completing her master's degree devoted herself to the family business.

 

Mellody Hobson, president, Ariel Capital Management The subject of PINK's June.July 2007 cover profile, Mellody Hobson is responsible for management and strategic planning for Ariel Capital Management and was recently elected chairman of the Ariel Mutual Funds board of trustees. She is a contributor on ABC's Good Morning America and serves on multiple boards, including those of DreamWorks Animation, Estée Lauder and Starbucks.

 

Karen Quintos, VP and general manager, services for the small business segment, Dell Inc. Karen Quintos is responsible for revenue and operating performance for Dell, which she joined in 2000 as director of the Demand/Supply organization in Dell Americas Operations. In 2001, she became vice president of supply chain management and in 2002 assumed a role on the Americas team. Quintos has served on several nonprofit boards.

 

Joanne Smith, SVP, in-flight service and global product development, Delta Air Lines Joanne Smith leads more than 11,000 flight attendants, supervisors and administrative personnel worldwide for Delta Air Lines. Smith previously served as VP of marketing and as president of Song, the airline's low-fare air service. Prior to joining Delta, Smith was VP of marketing and planning for DHL Airways Inc. in Chicago.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.:

 

Lisette Mondello, assistant secretary, public and intergovernmental affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Lissette Mondello represents and advises the secretary of veterans affairs on matters relating to media and public affairs. She directs communications and oversees programs relating to intergovernmental relations, homeless veterans, consumer affairs and more. She was also nominated by President Bush to the board of trustees for the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

 

Elaine R. Sugimura, president, Alpargatas USA/Havaianas President of Alpargatas USA Inc., owner of the widely popular flip-flop brand Havaianas, Sugimura is using her knowledge to target a market niche, create an organization around the business and build the brand to national prominence. She's held senior position with brands such as Esprit and Anne Klein and was president of Pacific Connections, the largest manufacture of accessories for Wal-Mart.

Jacqueline (Jacqui) M. Welch, VP, employee and organizational effectiveness, Rock-Tenn Co. As VP for a $2.2 billion manufacturer of packaging and other paper products, Jacqui Welch oversees everything from talent acquisition to corporate communications for a workforce of 10,000. Previously she spent a decade as a consultant with both Towers Perrin and Accenture. She is an active community volunteer for agencies such as The United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta.

Pamela Wickham, VP, corporate affairs and communications, Raytheon Co. Pamela Wickham is responsible for Raytheon Co.'s media relations, public relations and brand management, internal communications, executive communications, corporate contributions and special events. She also is a member of the board of directors of MathCounts, a national middle-school math enrichment program, and is chairperson for 2007 of the Communications Council of the Aerospace Industries Association.