This year’s Leap Into Leadership is gearing up and Registration is open.

Join us February 18/19th in Cheyenne for two days of networking, leadership and campaign discussions.

The event begins at 12:30 Tuesday, February 18th at Little America.  We will be discussing Grassroots Campaigning with women from around the state that have actually run for office – both successfully and unsuccessfully!  There will be an engaging panel about Board Service, how it can improve your leadership skills, create opportunities to serve and open avenues of connection you may not have expected.  Plus, new this year – we will be featuring women in a TedTalk style venue!  We will be hearing Tales from the Campaign Trail – real life stories of what it is like out there running for office, creating moments of insight, indecision and comedy!  This is a don’t miss addition to our program this year.

The day will be capped off with a Cocktail Reception and Legislative Dinner.  Meet and mingle with your elected representatives as they join us for an evening of inspiration!

With the goal of celebrating women in our state and looking towards the future for women in Wyoming, the WyoWLC is thrilled to announce Abigail Harrison, founder of The Mars Generation as our keynote speaker. “Astronaut Abby” will be inspiring us with her incredible story of determination, innovation and how a whole generation is thriving and inspired through STEM study and dreams of space exploration.

The following morning, we reconvene at the State Capitol for a breakfast and chat with Superintendent of Public Education Jillian Balow.  Always there to lift women up, Superintendent Balow will share her own stories of campaigning and life in the Capitol.  This will be followed by an exclusive tour of the newly remodeled Capitol Building.

Your Leap into Leadership experience concludes with a visit to the joint session, where we will be introduced to the full House and Senate.

WyoWLC acknowledges those that came before and lifted others up. Join us this year as we look forward into the future – and beyond! We hope to see you there.

Click here TO REGISTER

To see full AGENDA

Leap into Leadership Casper

2017 Event Agenda

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4^th 

Casper Regional Training Center

2220 Bryan Stock Trail

Casper, Wyoming 82601

307-237-4400

8:00 am – 8:30 am: Sign in & Registration

8:30 am: Welcome & program introduction by Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus leadership

9:00 am – 10:30 am: Rewiring Leadership Part I: Cultivating Great Leaders and Great Lives 

Our world is getting busier, faster, fuller. Each of us must process 5 times more information on a daily basis than 25 years ago. Now is the time to learn new skills to manage today’s pressures. Led by Sara Flitner, Rewiring Leadership combines neuroscience and pragmatic mindfulness tools to deepen effectiveness and connections.

10:30 am – 10:45 am: Break

10:45 am – 11:45 am: Make It Happen: Overcoming Barriers to Public Service

A panel discussion moderated by former Representative Rosie Berger on the unique challenges women face in their pursuit of leadership roles. Featuring panelists Representative Debbie Bovee, Casper Councilwoman Amanda Huckabay and Natrona County School Board Trustee Toni Billings.

11:45 am – 12:45 pm: Lunch

12:45 pm – 2:15 pm:  Rewiring Leadership Part II: Developing Soft Skills 

“Soft skills” like resilience, self-awareness, empathy, and focus are proving to be the skills of the future, with top employers like Apple and Google working to cultivate these skills in their team members. Why? Because those skills are the underpinning for productive, effective leaders and what develops high levels of well-being in the workplace. During this session, led by Sara Flitner, you will learn to build the mental muscle that leads to better ways of navigating today’s challenges

2:15 pm – 2:30 pm: Break

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: One Step at a Time: Building a Civic Resume that Positions You for Success

Former Representative Rosie Berger leads a workshop on identifying opportunities to build your civic resume while developing new skills and expanding your network.

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm Evaluations and Closing by Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus leadership

NEWS RELEASE                    CONTACT: Kristin Walker

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017           307-690-4705, info@wyowlc.org

Leap into Leadership Announces Casper Event Agenda

Local Workshop to Focus on Resiliency, Civic Resume Building & Overcoming Obstacles 

Cheyenne, Wyoming – The Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus (WyoWLC) announced a local Leap into Leadership workshop will be held in Casper, Wyoming on Wednesday, October 5^th at the Casper Regional Training Center.

“From serving on a local school board or in the state legislature, to owning your own business or heading up civic organizations, there are endless opportunities for women to make a meaningful difference across our state,” said WyoWLC Co-Chair Representative Sue Wilson.

“Casper is an incredible community with tremendous talent,” continued WyoWLC Co-Chair Cathy Connolly. “We are pleased to bring Leap into Leadership to Casper and hope women throughout central Wyoming will be able to join us.”

“Leap into Leadership is designed for any woman looking to cultivate or grow their leadership skills – be it personally, professionally or in the public arena,” said WyoWLC Co-Chair Senator Affie Ellis. “We want women to be a part of the leadership conversation and to seek out opportunities they might not have previously considered. Leap into Leadership will give you the tools, resources, confidence and encouragement to do just that.”

Leap into Leadership Casper will be held Wednesday, October 5th at the Casper Regional Training Center. The program will feature workshops, seminars and panel discussions on bolstering female leadership across Wyoming. Speakers include former Representative and WyoWLC founder Rosie Berger, Representative Debbie Bovee, Councilwoman Amanda Huckbay, and former Mayor of Jackson Sara Flitner of Flitner Strategies. The full Leap into Leadership Casper agenda may be found at www.wyowlc.org.

Workshop topics and discussions will range from developing leadership skills including resiliency, self-awareness, empathy and focus; overcoming barriers to public service; and building a civic resume that positions you for success.

To register for the Casper Leap into Leadership workshop, please visit https://wyowlc.org/leap-into-leadership/register/. The cost for attending the entire program is $45 if registered before September 30^th, or $50 if registered after the 30^th. Scholarship opportunities are available. Please contact Jessica Jaubert at 307-203-6288 or info@wyowlc.org for details.

About the WYWLC
The Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that advocates for greater participation of women in leadership roles across the state of Wyoming. The Caucus founded and continues to run ‘Leap into Leadership’ programs in communities across the state to inform, educate and engage Wyoming women in leadership roles in both the public and private sector.

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Olympia Snowe to Headline 10th Annual Leap into Leadership
Former Maine Senator to Deliver Keynote Address at Event Hosted by WyoWLC

Cheyenne, Wyoming – The Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus (WyoWLC) announced that former Maine Senator Olympia Snowe will deliver the keynote address at the 10th Annual Leap into Leadership (L2L) February 27th & 28th, 2017 in Cheyenne.

“Senator Olympia Snowe epitomizes what it means to be an effective, collaborative leader. Her ability to work with others, find common ground and achieve thoughtful solutions through compromise is something we can all learn from,” said WyoWLC Co-Chair Ruth Ann Petroff. “We are thrilled to have her as our keynote speaker for Leap Into Leadership and hope she will inspire others to continue to work together on a local, state and national level.”

“We are immensely proud that Leap Into Leadership is celebrating its 10th year –  continuing its mission of supporting female leadership in our great state,” said WyoWLC Co-Chair Mary Throne. “Diverse voices are essential to achieving balanced solutions that serve everyone in our state. It’s our hope that Leap Into Leadership will continue to encourage Wyoming women to be part of the conversation and take on leadership roles.”

L2L will be held February 27th & 28th at the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne. The program will feature workshops, seminars and panel discussions on bolstering female leadership across Wyoming. Senator Snowe will deliver the keynote speech at the Legislative Dinner on February 27th. The full L2L agenda will be released in early January and made available at www.wyowlc.org.

Senator Snowe is the first woman in U.S. history to serve in both chambers of a state legislature and both chambers of Congress. She was the first Greek American woman to serve in Congress and the youngest Republican woman elected to the U.S. House.

Senator Snowe made the decision not to seek a fourth term in the U.S. Senate in order to take her fight for bipartisanship in a different direction. She authored the book Fighting For Common Ground: How We Can Fix the Stalemate In Congress and now serves as a Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center where she harnesses her insider’s knowledge to promote civility and change from outside of Congress.

To register for the dinner or the full L2L program, please visit https://wyowlc.org/leap-into-leadership/register/. The cost for attending the entire program is $60 if registered before January 31st, or $75 if registered after the 31st.  Cost for the dinner and reception is only $40. Scholarship opportunities are available. Please contact Jessica Jaubert at 307-203-6288 orinfo@wyowlc.org for details.

About the WYWLC
The Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus, sponsored by The Equipoise Fund, is a non-partisan organization that advocates for greater participation of women in leadership roles across the state of Wyoming. The Caucus founded and continues to run ‘Leap into Leadership’ programs in communities across the state to inform, educate and engage Wyoming women in leadership roles in both the public and private sector.

The Equipoise Fund is a nonprofit, private operating foundation with a mission to energize, enrich and encourage the vision, voice and visibility of the women and girls of Wyoming.

Run Baby, Run!

Celinda Lake and Kellyanne Conway, two of the nation’s most noted pollsters framed issues important to women voters and candidates for 250 guests, including Governor and First Lady Mead, legislators and local and statewide elected officials at Leap into Leadership on February 27, 2014. Lake and Conway, co-authors of the book “What Women Really Want,” spoke of changing demographics such as the rise of single mothers, and their impact on elections in America.

“We never thought we could elect a woman here”

In addition to these national experts on women in politics, Leap into Leadership also offered leadership workshops, breakfast with State Auditor Cynthia Cloud and a roundtable discussion of women in Wyoming politics to prepare for the 2014 election season. The roundtable discussion featured Leslie Petersen, candidate for Governor of Wyoming in 2010, Fremont County Commissioner Keja Whiteman, Evanston Mayor Joy Bell and former Superintendent of Public Instruction Judy Catchpole.

“We never thought we could elect a woman here,” people said to Joy Bell, the first woman elected mayor of Evanston, Wyoming.  Bell ran for the position because she thought she could do things better.  “It’s the best job I’ve ever had,” she says.

Hosted by the Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus, a project of The Equipoise Fund, in partnership with the Wyoming Women’s Foundation, Leap into Leadership aims to increase women’s leadership at all levels. Leap into Leadership alumnae currently serve on Wyoming school boards, city councils, county commissions and in the legislature and State Auditor’s office.

“I felt very inspired after attending Leap into Leadership,” said Jessica Stanbury of Casper.  “I’m glad I was able to network with such amazing women and learn about all the fantastic things we are, and can be, doing to make a difference in our state and nationally.”

The nonpartisan Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus promotes women in the Wyoming legislature through support and leadership development.

Wyoming women explore core values and civic engagement

“You don’t always have to be successful, just keep going in the right direction.”

Executive Speech Coach Deb Sofield heard an old preacher once say, “When you die there are two dates on your tombstone, the day you were born and the day you die, and in between those dates a dash tells the world how you lived your life.” In a speech to over 200 people at Leap into Leadership 2013, Sofield asked, “What are you doing in the dash?”
Now in it’s sixth year, Leap into Leadership aims to increase women’s leadership at all levels. At least six Leap into Leadership alumni were elected to local or state office in the 2012 elections, part of a 125% increase in the number of women on county commissions and a 15% increase in the number of women in the Wyoming legislature.
Leap into Leadership 2013 focused on the theme “We the People” to address core values, civic engagement and ethics with a program including keynote speaker Sofield as well as an ethics workshop from the University of Wyoming College of Business, a simulated congressional hearing by students participating in We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Program and leadership development workshops.

“Attending Leap into Leadership… started me on my path to running for office and gave me some valuable insights into what it takes”

State Auditor Cynthia Cloud hosted participants for breakfast in her office in the state capitol, and former Auditor Rita Meyer spoke with participants about her path to leadership. “Look for where you want to go,” counseled Meyer, “You don’t always have to be successful, just keep going in the right direction.” Meyer, who is currently the Wyoming vice-president of Rocky Mountain Power, encouraged attendees to be the heroes of their own lives.“Attending Leap into Leadership… started me on my path to running for office and gave me some valuable insights into what it takes – and why women should do it,” said Natalia Duncan Macker of Jackson, “I started building my support system and have a greater understanding of the resources available to me.”
The Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus and Wyoming Women’s Foundation will host two Leap into Leadership workshops in May 2013, in Sheridan on May 21, and in Riverton on May 22. Founded in 2006, the bipartisan Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus is sponsored by The Equipoise Fund.

Caucus Promotes More Representative Government

A record number of women attended Leap into Leadership on March 1st and 2nd in Cheyenne, and nearly 20% of attendees surveyed said they plan to run for elected office in 2012. Hosted annually by the bipartisan Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus, Leap into Leadership aims to increase women’s leadership at all levels. “We hope to promote a more representative face of government in the equality state,” says Melissa Turley, coordinator of the Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus.
Women make up less than 15% of the seats in the State Legislature and less than 6% of county commissioners across Wyoming, yet women comprise 49% of the population according to the 2010 census data. And despite the fact that the median age of Wyoming is 37, only 8 of 90 state legislators are under the age of 40.
“Leap into Leadership combines training with inspiration and motivation to move women into leadership roles in their communities and our state,” says Rep. Elaine Harvey, R-Lovell, and chairwoman of the Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus.
Twenty women attended a campaign planning workshop on March 2, which was intended to prepare them for the 2012 filing period from May 17 to June 12. Others participated in workshops focused on social media, community and personal leadership, and messaging. Participants overwhelmingly reported they found these leadership development workshops beneficial: “I learned how to run a campaign and be inspired by women who are very engaged in the process,” wrote one.
Leap into Leadership is a two-day event that includes speakers, training and a networking dinner. Keynote speaker Lynda Clarizio, CEO of INVISION, shared her eight principles of leadership with the 250 attendees, at a dinner co-hosted by the Wyoming Women’s Foundation. Clarizio encouraged women to take charge, seek out mentoring and networking opportunities, and inspire others by being true to themselves. She outlined the family-friendly practices that she offers in her company, of who 65% are women, such as flexible hours, video conferencing and part-time schedules.
The following morning, State Auditor Cynthia Cloud hosted breakfast in her office in the State Capitol, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kite spoke of the need for both a legislature and judiciary representative of the people. Justice Kite pointed out that while 35% of attorneys in Wyoming are women, just 7% of judges are female, and she called on Wyoming women to wield the collective strength of both genders. “The health of our state depends on you running,” she said.
First Lady Carol Mead and former first ladies Nancy Freudenthal and Sherri Geringer spoke about the opportunities and challenges each experienced as first lady of Wyoming as well as the issues important to them, specifically women and children. The program concluded on Friday with a presentation by Wyoming’s lone Congresswoman, Cynthia Lummis, who currently co-chairs the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. Lummis stressed that women are best qualified to discuss women’s issues, and that a representative government should look more like the people they represent.

The bipartisan Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus and its partners assembled nearly 225 men and women in Cheyenne February 3 & 4, 2011, for speakers, workshops and discussion aimed at increasing the number of women in leadership in the Equality State. On Thursday, February 3, Governor & First Lady Mead attended a reception at Little America co-hosted by the Wyoming Women’s Foundation that featured three women in leadership in the Wyoming House of Representatives: Rep. Elaine Harvey, Rep. Rosie Berger and Rep. Mary Throne. Also in attendance were Secretary of State Max Maxfield, State Auditor Cynthia Cloud, Superintendent of Schools Cindy Hill and over a dozen state senators and representatives.
“Be rebellious enough to run,” said Rep. Mary Throne of Cheyenne, the House Minority Whip, drawing on a letter written by Abigail Adams in 1776 to her husband John. Rep. Throne, Rep. Harvey and Rep. Berger shared stories of their road to the Legislature, ranging from a conscious plan carried out over five years to being asked to run after approaching over 20 men to represent her district in the legislature. Rep. Berger, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee spoke of her experience as a committee chair, and encouraged attendees to get involved and be a leader in every level of their daily lives.

“Be rebellious enough to run” -Mary Throne

On Friday morning, State Auditor Cynthia Cloud, herself a graduate of Leap into Leadership, hosted breakfast in her office in the State Capitol. “We need to work harder to identify women interested in making a difference in their communities and their State,” said Auditor Cloud. Following breakfast, attendees received tips on how to advocate for change and create an effective message in workshops offered by The White House Project, National Conference of State Legislatures and Equality State Policy Center.
Liz Brimmer of Brimmer Communications moderated a panel of speakers Friday at noon including lobbyists and activists Mike Ceballos, Mary Ellbogen Garland, Deanna Frey, Sarah Mikesell Growney, Katharine Kunz Wilkinson and Larry Wolfe. Mr. Wolfe, an attorney with Holland & Hart, kicked off the panel by asserting that the Wyoming Legislature might be a more diverse and representative institution if Legislators were paid a year round salary, such as $20,000 to $25,000, and offered State health

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it” -Mary Garland

insurance. Ms. Frey of the Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance concurred that our citizen legislature is not representative of the people of Wyoming; and at the end of the day, participants discussed drafting a bill to pay legislators an annual salary.
In closing, President and Co-Chair of the John P. Ellbogen Foundation Mary Garland encouraged participants to get out of their comfort zones, just like she did to participate in the lunch panel, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it,” she said.

Women’s Caucus Builds Wyoming Leaders

Wyoming women prepared to take on greater leadership responsibilities personally, professional and politically in Casper April 22 and 23 at the third annual Leap into Leadership event hosted by the Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus. At the event, Wyoming women legislators past and present shared their experience and encouraged others to follow in their footsteps, pointing out that only 15 women currently serve in the state legislature.

“If you don’t run, you won’t win for sure,” said Representative Debbie Hammons, “Your becoming involved changes the nature of the debate.” Representative Hammons, asked to speak on barriers for women in leadership encouraged participants not to let fear turn obstacles into barriers. Close to 90 men and women participated in the event, which included leadership development workshops and panelists speaking Friday at lunch about the conference theme, Finding your Voice.

“I found my voice because I was so indignant,” said former Representative Clarene Law, who served in the Wyoming Legislature for 16 years, chairing two committees during that time. Miss Wyoming Anna Nelson spoke about finding her voice as a leader against underage drinking during her year as Miss Wyoming, and encouraged others to speak out, saying, “Anybody who has something to say in this state will be heard.”

Among the participants from Wyoming communities big and small were government workers, business owners, students and two candidates for the state legislature: Ruthann Petroff of Jackson who is running for House District 16; and Mayor Jodi Guerin of Laramie, who is running for Senate District 9. “The information and networking at Leap Into Leadership is amazing,” said Ms. Guerin, “With so few women in positions of leadership in Wyoming it is invaluable to be able to learn from those who have gone before me.  I believe that this event is helping us begin to develop a culture in Wyoming that encourages and supports women as leaders.”

This event was hosted in partnership with Equality State Policy Center, National Conference of State Legislatures, The Equipoise Fund, The White House Project, Wyoming Business Alliance, and Wyoming Women’s Foundation; with financial support from BNSF Railways, Brimmer Kunsman Communications, The Equipoise Fund, Larry Wolfe – Holland and Hart, KKW Consulting Inc., Qwest, Wyoming Bankers Association and the Wyoming Council on Women’s Issues. Founded in 2006, the bipartisan Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus is a project of The Equipoise Fund.

Additional financial support provided by The Equipoise Fund, Larry Wolfe – Holland and Hart, KKW Consulting, Inc., and the Wyoming Bankers Association.

The bipartisan Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus hosted over 100 women from across the Equality State at the State Capitol on Friday, February 29, 2008, for an event called “Leap into Leadership.” The day included coffee in State Auditor Rita Meyer’s office, leadership development workshops and speeches by Former Representative Clarene Law as well as Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus members Rep. Deb Hammons, D-Washakie, and Rep. Rosie Berger, R-Sheridan.
Former Representative Law, addressing the Wyoming House of Representatives in honor of Women’s History Month said, “I never thought I’d see unity like this, a Women’s Legislative Caucus, both sides of the aisle.” Representative Law also recognized the Equality State Policy Center and the Wyoming Business Alliance for working together on this event, celebrating the wonderful “partnership of purpose” that brought those two entities together for the sake of women’s leadership.
Representative Law stated that Wyoming has always been a state where women worked side by side with men, but as the last woman Chairman of the Wyoming House of Representatives, she said there is still much to be done to achieve equality. In closing, Representative Law asked for a resolution “. . . guaranteeing equality to every man, woman, and child within the 98,000 square miles of this great state, that affirms leadership and affirms true equality in this equality state.”
Women in state and local government, non-profits, private industry, and students flocked to the event. The youngest participant missed her 5th grade school day to attend with her mother, as did two high school seniors from Sheridan, and close to thirty undergrad and graduate students from the University of Wyoming attended. Thirty participants enjoyed their first-ever visit to the in-session Wyoming Legislature, and twenty-seven participants from age 18 to 60+ said they were thinking about running for elected office.