BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board President Mary Sue Leathers - Advantage Performance Group As the President and CEO of Advantage Performance Network, Mary Sue draws upon her 30+ years of travel industry experience to lead APN's substantial annual growth. Mary Sue founded APN in 1995. A passion for customer service and delivering on her client's needs is the hallmark of Mary Sue's success. She was named 2007 Woman Business Owner of the Year by NAWBO Minnesota. In 2007, she was also named as one of the top 25 Women Industry Leaders by The Business Journal.
Past President Jennifer Brigham - Brigham Group Jennifer Brigham is the President and CEO of Brigham Group Staffing, providing services in temporary and permanent staffing from entry-level to management and technical staff. Jennifer founded the company in 1981. The company has grown to several offices placing thousands of employees at hundreds of job sites throughout Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. Brigham Group Staffing has been recognized as a business leader in the industry many times over, including the list of the region's Top 25 Temporary Employment Firms.
President Elect Heather Manley - On Demand Services Group, Inc. Heather Manley is the President of On-Demand Group, an IT services firm headquartered in Burnsville, Minnesota. She established the business in 1995 to provide IT solutions in consulting, staffing, projects, and training. Heather received the Young Business Woman of the Year Award in 2009 from NAWBO Minnesota. She is a member of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Steering Committee and founder of WEM - Women Executives in Business.
Treasurer Stacie Usem - Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company Stacie is a partner at Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company, LLP, an accounting and consulting firm providing a wide range of services for middle market companies, entrepreneurs, and high net-worth individuals. The firm employs over 100 professionals to offer sound business planning strategies and advice including tax planning and consulting, accounting and assurance work, back-office support, technology consulting, private investment banking, litigation, valuation, employee benefit and leadership consulting. Stacie oversees the firm's entrepreneurial services and internal accounting departments.
Secretary Deborah Delaney – Flagship Franchise of MN Inc. Deborah Delaney is owner and CEO of Flagship Franchises of Minnesota, Inc. She founded the company in 2002 with the vision of investing in companies that "connect people with premium care". Its initial investment is SarahCare®, a franchise specializing in providing Adult Day Care and Home Health Care Services. Deborah is a member of the Business Advisory Council for the National Republican Congressional Committee. She has participated in committee meetings in Washington, D.C. to provide input on economic tax issues.
Director, Community Relations Jodi Standke - Talon Performance Group Jodi Standke is Founder and CEO of Talon Performance Group, Inc., a national talent management firm specializing in legal and professional services. Talon supports organizations with recruiting and professional development needs and individuals who are looking to maximize their personal performance. Jodi has been recognized in Forbes Magazine as one of the 40 Minnesotans to Watch. She frequently publishes articles and presents seminars and keynote addresses at colleges, universities, associations, and special events.
Director, Member Services Sue Hawkes - YESS! - Your Extraordinary Success Strategies Sue Hawkes is a bestselling author, Certified Business Coach, and entrepreneur. She is CEO of YESS! - Your Extraordinary Success Strategies, Inc. an international training, coaching,and coach certification firm. Sue partners with leaders and organizations to creat 'best place to work' cultures, successful businesses, and fulfilled lives. She is chaper chair for the Women Presidents Organization and facilities roundtables for the Minnesota Council for Quality. Sue is recognized champion of women in business by WomenVenture, the SBA, and Governor's Council.
Director, Sponsorships
Janel M. Goff - The Goff Group/Merrill Lynch Janell Goff has been helping individuals and business owners achieve financial and retirement goals for over 18 years. Within Merrill Lynch she is a Senior Vice President of Investments, a designation for financial advisors who have a successful track record and commit to a stringent consulting process. She has a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor ^SM designation and is licensed for life insurance and long term care. Janel also hosts an executive women's luncheon series for women to network and discuss finances.
Director, Chapter Expansion
Elizabeth Mansfield - ESM Group As Founder and Principal Consultant at The ESM Group, Elizabeth Mansfield offers business development consulting services for professional service organizations. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs who live in the intangible (the sales and delivery of services), reach their next stage of growth by implementing sales and marketing strategies that differentiate them from their competitors. Elizabeth is also an associate of Lumina Consulting Group, where she engages with high-tech entrepreneurs and their teams to create innovative growth strategies for their businesses.
Director, Marketing Lisa Toren - Inside Track Marketing Lisa Toren founded Inside Track Marketing & Media, a full-service advertising firm in 2002. She is also the founder of SocialOutsource.com, a businss she launched in 2009 to provide social marketing solutions. Prior to business ownership, Lisa was a high-performer in sales and management inside media powerhouses, and a sales and marketing manager for a global consulting firm. Lisa manages an extensive roster of regional and national accounts across a broad spectrum of industries and is considered an innovator in social marketing.
Director, Special Events Stacey Stratton, True Talent Group Stacey Stratton is President of True Talent Group, specializing in staffing and recruitment services for marketing, creative, and interactive professionals. True Talent is the only women-owned staffing firm in its niche certified by the WBENC. Stacey is a Certified Staffing Professional (CSP) with an extenive background in sales an recruiting. She strategizes with hiring managers to match top notch professionals to their open positions. Stacey is a member of MIMA an Ad Fed and founder of Minnesota Women Empowering Women.
Executive Director Sarah Sladek - Limelight Generations Sarah Sladek is CEO of Limelight Generations, specializing in demographic shifts and helping organizations engage Generations X, Y, and Z. She is the author of two books on the generational topic, a sought-after speaker, and an experienced association consultant. She has worked with organizations nationwide to resolve their recruitment and retention challenges. Sarah is also the founder of XYZ University, an on-line learning community addressing generational topics, and the Conference,the nation's first business conference addressing the talent gap
Virtual Assistant Kathy Altman - Off-Site Office Solutions Kathy Altman is the Owner and CEO of Off-Site Office Solutions, an administrative, bookkeeping, and paralegal support services company which provides small businesses, entrepreneurs, and professional offices with their office supprt services since 2006. Kathy is a member of of IVAA (International Virtual Assistant Association).