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Hello everyone –
It just occurred to me that this will be the last letter I will write to you as chapter President. 😳
It’s frightening to think how quickly the year passed by. When I was first installed, it was overwhelming, even daunting, thinking about everything that needed to happen in the upcoming year. Even though this was my 2nd time as President, I had so many thoughts about how I was going to do things differently or better. I swore I was going to learn from the mistakes of my 1st term. Now, here we are, and there are so many things I wanted to do or meant to do that just didn’t happen. Life is like that though.
But, I digress…
Being President has been such a special experience. It’s unbelievable to me that I’ve even done it twice. When I first joined EWI, I was content to be a wallflower. I didn’t want committee responsibilities or leadership positions. I definitely didn’t want to speak in front of others. I wanted to attend meetings, get what I needed out of the speaker presentation, and go home. I was afraid of engagement and making decisions that would affect others. That’s the funny thing about being surrounded by a group of supportive professional women whose primary objective is to lift you up and encourage you to step outside your comfort zone. For anyone who thinks belonging to a “networking group” can’t be life changing, I’d like 15 minutes of your time to talk your ear off about how a wallflower went from blending in to standing out. Thank you, EWI, for helping me grow.
It’s been a pleasure serving as your President, and you will, no doubt, be in amazing hands next year.
P.S., Don't ever forget... (click hearts)
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Laura Poll
Chapter President
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EWI's Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting (LCAM) is an annual professional development conference where members from our Chapters gather to connect, network, and grow professionally.
This year's LCAM will be held September 16-19, 2026 in Mobile, AL at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel.
EWI-Milwaukee is pleased to be sending 5 of its members to LCAM this year!
Laura Poll and Susan Chipman will serve as this year's delegates for the annual meeting. Julie Williams will serve as the alternate delegate.
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Once again, the Milwaukee chapter will be one of LCAM's many supportive sponsors. See our full-page ad that will appear in the LCAM program booklet. Many thanks to Nickie Rouleau for creating the ad and recapping our year so beautifully!
If you're interested in learning more about this year's event or LCAM in general, visit the LCAM page on the Corporate website or the LCAM page on EWI-Milwaukee's website.
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EWI Members are the life-blood of our organization. Our "True-Blue" Referral Rewards program recognizes members who are "True-Blue" EWI supporters. EWI is offering an opportunity for any EWI member to be rewarded for referring a new member to the organization.
Reveal your "True-Blue" loyalty for EWI by inviting a friend, co-worker, business partner, neighbor, networking contact or a connection from your social networks to join EWI. If your referral joins EWI, you will receive a $25 "True-Blue" referral reward voucher redeemable towards any of the following EWI items:
- LCAM Registration
- Leadership Caucus Registration
- EWI Branded Merchandise in the EWI Online Store
- Corporate Membership Dues
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Our current member stats are as follows:
- Member Firms: 18
- Total Members: 24
- Representatives: 19
- Chapter Life Members: 1
- Sustaining Members: 4
| | If you're looking for recruitment tools, look no further than the handy, downloadable documents provided below. Feel free to distribute these to any prospective members who are interested in learning more about EWI. Be sure to have them contact Retention & Recruitment Director, Julie Williams, if they have any membership questions. | | And, of course, please continue to invite guests to meetings! | | |
Support EWI of Milwaukee Through RaiseRight
You can make a difference for EWI of Milwaukee just by doing your everyday shopping! With RaiseRight, you buy gift cards from your favorite brands—like Target, Starbucks, Amazon, and hundreds more—and a portion of each purchase is automatically donated back to EWI of Milwaukee.
It’s simple:
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Download the RaiseRight app or visit RaiseRight.com
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Enroll using our code: FN1MD8PL72CQ
- Start shopping for eGift cards or physical gift cards for your everyday spending and gifts
Every purchase helps fund our professional development programs, scholarships, community initiatives that empower women and strengthen businesses in Milwaukee.
💡 Tip: Share our code with friends, family, and coworkers—the more people who join, the more we can give back to our community!
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Date: April 7, 2026
@ Member firm Rockwell Automation
Our April Program Meeting was hosted by Rockwell Automation, where Lora Burback of Rockwell Automation and Melinda Stuart of Smart Moves shared practical tips for organizing our homes, workspaces, and daily routines. Members also enjoyed networking and a fun designer handbag raffle to wrap up the evening.
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Date: May 5, 2026
@ Wisconsin Club
In May, we celebrated our valued Member Firms and thanked the executives and representatives whose support helps our chapter thrive. We also proudly presented $3,000 grants to our 2026 Literacy Partners, YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin and Next Door Foundation, in support of their incredible work in our community. The evening also featured a silent auction, with proceeds helping to support EWI Milwaukee's programs and initiatives.
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Date: June 2, 2026
@ Member firm MMAC
Members gathered at MMAC in June for our annual ASIST Scholarship Presentation, where we awarded scholarships to three deserving adult students continuing their educational journeys. It was an inspiring afternoon celebrating perseverance, achievement, and the impact of EWI's investment in education.
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Date: July 21, 2026
Member social @ Sue Chipman's house
In July, we skipped the usual "formal" meeting in lieu of a casual member social. Member, Sue Chipman, opened up her lovely home to us for a night of lively conversation, loaded nachos, and dips in her swimming pool. The members were joined by Bella, Sue's sweetheart of a dog, who did not miss a chance to be fed snacks by the guests.
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Our August membership meeting is an especially important one! It's the one time of year where any guest can attend FOR FREE, so invite anyone you think would benefit from learning more about what EWI has to offer. The food will be catered by the members.
Our guest speaker for the evening will be Jeremy Riemer, Senior Special Projects and Security Engineer at Krueger Communications, Inc. Jeremy will be sharing insights on AI and Cybersecurity that are relevant to both our professional and personal technology experiences.
REGISTER HERE!
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IT’S HAPPENING!
Member firm, Krueger Communications, is hosting its 2nd FREE E-Waste Recycling Drive, and you're invited!
Got a pile of old electronics with cords?
We're talking small appliances, gadgets, chargers, cables, and more. If it plugs in, bring it in!
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Articles to read on your next coffee break:
Give to Gain: When Women Back Each Other, the Odds Change for All (Forbes 2026)
This inspiring article explores the power of women supporting women in the workplace. Drawing on research and real-life examples, it highlights how mentorship, sponsorship, and collaboration create stronger leaders, more inclusive organizations, and greater opportunities for everyone. It's a great reminder that lifting others up often helps elevate your own career as well.
What 60 Years of Data Reveals About How Men and Women Experience Leadership (Harvard Business Review 2026)
This thought-provoking article examines six decades of research on how leadership is perceived by men and women. While progress has been made, the findings reveal that differences in experience and opportunity still exist. It offers valuable insights into how organizations can build more inclusive leadership cultures and what today's leaders can do to help close the gap.
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What it’s about:
The No Club by Linda Babcock, Brenda Peyser, Lise Vesterlund, and Laurie Weingart explores why women are more likely to take on the behind the scenes work that keeps organizations and teams running but often goes unnoticed and unrewarded. Through research, personal stories, and practical advice, the authors offer strategies for setting boundaries, focusing on high impact opportunities, and advocating for more equitable workplaces. Whether you're an emerging leader or a seasoned professional, this book provides valuable insights to help you make the most of your time and talents.
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For more than 50 years, Hunger Task Force has been leading the fight against hunger in Wisconsin. As Milwaukee's only Free & Local food bank, the organization believes that every person has the right to healthy food obtained with dignity. Unlike many food banks, Hunger Task Force never charges local food pantries for food, delivery, or membership, ensuring that
resources go directly to neighbors who need them most.
Beyond distributing healthy food through a network of local pantries and meal programs, Hunger Task Force addresses hunger from every angle. Their work includes operating a 208-acre farm that provides fresh produce, running the Mobile Market to improve access to affordable groceries, offering nutrition education, and advocating for policies that help create long-term solutions to food insecurity.
As food insecurity continues to impact more Wisconsin families, the work of Hunger Task Force has never been more important. Through the generosity of volunteers, donors, and community partners, the organization remains committed to its mission of feeding people today while working toward a hunger-free tomorrow.
To learn more about Hunger Task Force, volunteer, donate, or explore partnership opportunities, visit www.hungertaskforce.org and follow them on social media to stay connected with their important work.
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Missy Wahlen 6/6
Missy Monsoor 6/9
Melinda Stuart 6/15
Keri Kempski 7/1
Marjorie Yoshida 7/19
Susan Catral 7/20
Lorie Barbian 7/21
Ginny Czarnecki 8/5
Mardi Smirl 8/23
Nickie Rouleau 9/5
Leslie Ortiz 9/8
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Congratulations are in order for 2 members celebrating professional achievements.
Laura Poll of Generation Growth Capital Inc. celebrated her 10-year anniversary at the firm on June 28th. She is looking forward to 10 more!
Gestina Howard of Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy recently took on a new role and is now the Director of Pupil Services & External Partnerships.
If you have professional or firm news to share with the chapter, email Nickie Rouleau with your details.
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"Unpaid Toll" Text Messages Are on the Rise
Have you received a text message claiming you owe money for an unpaid toll? Even if you've never driven on a toll road, don't be fooled. These messages are part of a widespread phishing scam targeting people across the country.
The text usually claims you have an outstanding toll balance that must be paid immediately to avoid additional fees or penalties. It includes a link that looks official, but clicking it could lead to a fake website designed to steal your credit card information, banking details, driver's license number, or other personal information.
How to protect yourself:
- Don't click the link or reply to the text.
- Verify the claim independently. If you're concerned you may owe a toll, visit the toll agency's official website or call them using a phone number you know is legitimate.
- Report the message as spam. Most smartphones allow you to report junk texts, or you can forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) to help wireless providers identify scam messages.
- Delete the message once you've reported it.
Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often creating messages that look convincing and create a sense of urgency. Taking a moment to pause before clicking can help protect your personal and financial information.
When in doubt, remember: legitimate toll agencies won't pressure you into making an immediate payment through an unexpected text message.
Link to article: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/01/got-text-about-unpaid-tolls-its-probably-scam
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EWI of Milwaukee Website
Share our stories with others and visit for up-to-date member information. www.ewimilwaukee.org
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