On September 27, we celebrated the 2024 Women of Western Wake honorees with a day of empowerment, networking, and inspiration at the Umstead Hotel & Spa. More than 150 guests joined Cary Magazine staff to hear words of wisdom from the honorees and other speakers. The day started with a keynote breakfast and the “Lead with Intention – Shifting from Chaos to Clarity” presentation from Susan Gisler. Attendees split into concurrent workshops, “Are You Positive? Are Ya Positive?” with Lori Shandle Fox and “The Risk We Embrace: How to Block Out the Background Noise” with Tina Clossick, Shirnetta Harrell, and Sonali Ratnasinghe, moderated by Tarkisha Poole.

Following the workshops, Drybar was on hand to perfect attendees’ hair before they visited the Headshot Café. Everyone convened in the ballroom for lunch and the highlight of the day, a panel discussion with the honorees moderated by Emmy Award-winning performer Willa Brigham, who regaled the crowd with a song to open and close the panel.

Publisher Kris Schultz presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to previous Women of Western Wake Honoree Missy Vatinet.

Honorees:

Dr. Joy Allen, Owner and Lead Instructor, E3 Personal Defense; Founder/President/CEO, InHER Piece
Elaine Buxton, President & CEO, Confero; Interim Chair, Global Board of Directors, Women Presidents Organization
Katie Gailes, Chief Entrepreneurial Officer, Katie Gailes & Company; Co-Founder, LaunchMyCity; Co-Founder, Our Stories on Race
Sue Harnett, Founder & CEO, Rewriting the Code
Annette Hibbert Stevenson, President, Stevenson Consulting Group; Vice President, NC Veterans Business Association
(Stevenson was unable to attend the Forum)