Olympic Gold Medalist Headlines Women's Leadership Summit

Twenty years after making Olympic history, gymnast Carly Patterson is helping women make their own breakthroughs.

Patterson will headline the inaugural WIN Women's Leadership Conference on October 8 in Jackson, Missouri. The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce's Women's Impact Network created the all-day event to help women grow both professionally and personally through leadership development and meaningful connections.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Patterson became the first American woman in two decades to claim the all-around gymnastics gold medal. Since retiring from competition, she's built a career sharing her hard-won lessons about perseverance, leadership, and discovering purpose beyond the spotlight.

"We wanted our first-ever WIN conference to be something special—something that women would walk away from feeling inspired, challenged and connected," said Janna Clifton, retail and membership director for the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce.

Patterson won't be the only voice offering wisdom. Janet McNece, CEO of Productive Staffing, will lead a session on creating lasting impact through leadership and service.

Wendy Ice, CEO of Community Counseling Center, tackles a topic many women struggle with silently. Her presentation "Women's Mental Health—Beyond 'I'm Fine'" addresses the critical importance of recognizing and addressing emotional wellbeing instead of brushing it aside.

Audrey Willis, chief innovation and programming officer at CodeCrew, brings the conversation into the future. Her session explores how women can confidently navigate artificial intelligence and technological change in the workplace.

Why This Inspires

The conference represents something bigger than a single event. WIN has grown from a networking group into a movement connecting and supporting women across the region.

"WIN has grown into something really special," said Sara Gerau, a founding committee member. "This conference is a natural extension of what we've been working to create from the very beginning—a place where women can come together, build relationships, learn from one another and feel encouraged to take the next step in their own leadership journey."

The conference runs from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jackson Civic Center. Organizers are encouraging early registration since attendance is limited, with details available through the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce.

When women invest in other women's growth, everyone rises together.