Home   |   2026 PA Chamber Women in Business Conference

2026 PA Chamber Women in Business Conference

April 3, 2025 | 8:00 AM TO 4:00 PM

Register To Attend

Unlock your potential!

The 2026 Annual Women in Business Conference will be bigger and bolder than ever before. Discover how to leverage your unique strengths to excel in your career and achieve your personal goals. Empower yourself to make a lasting impact and inspire others. 

Business professionals from across Pennsylvania will gather for a full day of networking, sharing ideas, and learning from industry leaders.

The event will offer engaging panel discussions, expert-led workshops, and opportunities to collaborate on innovative solutions to today’s business challenges. Don’t miss this chance to connect, grow, and take your professional journey to the next level.


SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

For information and pricing regarding sponsorship opportunities at the 2026 Women in Business Conference, please contact PA Chamber Director of Events and Engagement, Oona Burke Johnson at objohnson@pachamber.org

Time & Place

Thursday, April 2, 2026
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Lancaster Marriot at Penn Square
25 S. Queen Street
Lancaster, PA 17603

PRICE

Member: $350
Non-Member: $500

REGISTRATION

Register +

AGENDA

Click here to view agenda.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Dina Powell McCormick is President and Vice Chairman at Meta. Dina brings more than 25 years of experience at the highest levels of global finance, national security and economic development.

Dina spent 16 years at Goldman Sachs as a partner in senior leadership roles, including serving on the firm’s Management Committee and leading its Global Sovereign Investment Banking business. During her tenure, she spearheaded some of the firm’s most influential and successful economic development initiatives, including 10,000 Women, 10,000 Small Businesses, and One Million Black Women, programs that have driven long-term economic growth and opportunity around the world.

In public service, Dina has served two U.S. presidents. She was Deputy National Security Advisor to President Donald J. Trump and served as a Senior White House Advisor and Assistant Secretary of State for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice under President George W. Bush. Most recently, Dina was Vice Chair, President, and Head of Global Client Services at BDT & MSD Partners.

Kelli Rhee joined Arnold Ventures, then called the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, as director of venture development in 2013. She became chief strategy officer in 2016. Since stepping into the CEO role in 2017, Kelli has scaled Arnold Ventures’ contributions by 40%, expanded its team, and grown its presence to offices in Houston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. She also led the organization’s strategic restructuring from a traditional foundation to a limited liability company, unlocking new opportunities for mission-aligned investments.

Under Kelli’s leadership, Arnold Ventures has made significant policy impact across multiple sectors. The organization helped enact major health care reforms, including the No Surprises Act and provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, projected to save over $100 billion. In higher education, Kelli led reforms included in the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, expected to generate $250 billion in savings while improving student outcomes. Kelli’s leadership also resulted in the advance of bipartisan energy permitting reforms and support of pro-housing legislation across many states. In public finance, Arnold Ventures launched the Program Integrity Alliance and partnered with the Paragon Health Institute to reduce billions in government waste. In criminal justice, the organization backed initiatives such as the Real-Time Crime Index, the Federal Prison Oversight Act, and Pennsylvania’s VICTIM Act, all aimed at enhancing public safety and accountability. 

Kelli’s career spans management consulting, health care, and venture capital, with deep expertise in strategy, governance, and change management. She was recently named among Modern Healthcare’s “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare”  and serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Greater Houston Partnership. 

Kelli earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, a master’s degree from Stanford Graduate School of Education, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Northwestern University. Kelli lives in Houston with her husband and three children.

Dr. Neeli Bendapudi serves as the 19th of Penn State, having begun her tenure in May 2022. Her vision for the University is grounded in the principles of Purpose, Agility, and Opportunity, with strategic goals focused on student success; research excellence; land-grant impact; diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; transforming internal operations; and enhancing the University’s health enterprise. She has previously worked as the executive vice president and chief customer officer for Huntington National Bank and as the president of the University of Louisville, in addition to academic and administrative leadership positions with the University of Kansas and Ohio State. As a researcher, her scholarship focuses on the study of consumer behavior in service contexts; she holds a bachelor’s degree in English, a master of business administration, and a doctorate in marketing.

Salena J. Coachman serves as Vice President of Talent, Sustainability, Talent Acquisition & Development at Armstrong World Industries (AWI), where she leads the company’s People Pillar—driving talent sustainability, community impact and engagement, enterprise learning strategy, and full-cycle talent acquisition execution. In her role, Salena is responsible for shaping workforce capability, developing future-ready talent pipelines, and advancing learning and development initiatives that support long-term organizational growth and sustainability.

Prior to joining AWI, Salena built a distinguished 22-year career at ExpressJet Airlines, culminating in her role as Director of Employee Relations, Engagement, and Culture, where she led employee relations strategy, organizational engagement, and culture-shaping programs. During her tenure, she also served as Board President of WINGS (When in Need, Get Support), ExpressJet’s nonprofit employee support foundation.

Today, Salena serves as Board President of the Armstrong World Industries Foundation and the AWI Foundation Board, supporting philanthropic investment and community impact aligned to Armstrong’s mission and values. Since relocating to Lancaster County in April 2021, Salena has become a deeply engaged civic and workforce leader, serving on multiple community and workforce-development boards and advisory committees, including Lancaster County Community Foundation, United Way of Lancaster County, Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic, Brightside Opportunity Center, Lancaster County Workforce Development Board, Lancaster General Health / Penn Medicine Foundation, Lancaster Chamber Excellence Exchange & Women in Business Advisory.

She is also a facilitator and strategic partner for Career Ready Lancaster, supporting workforce alignment, industry partnerships, and equitable economic mobility across the region.

Salena studied English and Vocal & Performing Arts at the University of Texas at Arlington, later transferring to the University of Houston. A passionate advocate for lifelong learning, people development, and community impact, Salena brings strategic vision and a people centered leadership philosophy to every organization she serves. Outside of her professional work, Salena enjoys family, global travel, cooking, and fitness. She is a dedicated daily-training athlete and believes in embracing life fully, building community boldly, and leading with purpose.

Cynthia F. Figueroa is the President and CEO of JEVS Human Services (JEVS). In this role, she leads a dedicated team of over 1,600 employees across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. With an operating budget exceeding $130 million, JEVS provides essential services to more than 18,000 people annually.
Cynthia is a dynamic leader with over 25 years of experience in the government and non-profit human service sectors. She builds high-performing, diverse teams and develops outcome-based programs and services. She is also a creative problem-solver, a staunch advocate for creating equitable systems, and a transformative thought leader. Building on this expertise, Cynthia led JEVS to establish the Nonprofit Leaders Group in 2025 to help organizations to stay informed and prepared to navigate an evolving political and funding landscape. The Nonprofit Leaders Group quickly grew to over 200 participants in the first year and is open to all nonprofit leaders.

Prior to joining JEVS, Cynthia served as Deputy Mayor for the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families (OCF), under Mayor Jim Kenney. In this role, she provided leadership and oversight of the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Free Library of Philadelphia, and PHL PreK and Community Schools. While Deputy Mayor, she also led COVID emergency responses, including access centers for the School District of Philadelphia and citywide food distribution. Her government tenure also includes service as Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner for DHS.

Cynthia previously served as the President and CEO of Congreso de Latinos Unidos and Executive Director of Women Against Abuse. During her tenure at Women Against Abuse, she led the creation of the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline. Cynthia serves on the following boards of directors: the PA Chamber of Business and Industry, the Reinvestment Fund, Jefferson Health Plans, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Center for Law and Social Policy, and the Philadelphia Award. She has previously served on the board for United Way USA (Board Chair), and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern PA. Additionally, she is a member of the International Women’s Forum. Cynthia also served on transition teams for Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker.

In recognition of her leadership and professional achievements, Cynthia has been bestowed with numerous awards and honors. Some of these include being honored as a Pennsylvania Distinguished Daughter by Governor Wolf, a Hispanic Media Heritage Month 2024 honoree, the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship, the University of Pennsylvania Outstanding Leadership Award, the National Football League/Philadelphia Eagles Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award, the Peter B. Goldberg Aramark Building Community Executive Leadership Award, and the Hispanic Bar Association La Justicia Award. She was also the Ricardo Salinas Scholar for the Aspen Institute Executive Leadership Seminar. Cynthia has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Spring Hill College. She was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and lives in Philadelphia with her husband. They have two children.

Catherine Heben is a Managing Director in KPMG’s Audit and Assurance practice, based in the Harrisburg office. As an accomplished leader in the consumer goods and retail sector, she oversees complex audit engagements, fosters the development of high-performing teams, and contributes to exceptional client service as well as firm growth.

For 15 years, Catherine has worked with a wide range of companies helping them navigate the complexities of the financial world. Her expertise is rooted in a deep understanding of PCAOB requirements, AICPA standards, and SEC regulations, but her passion lies in turning that expertise into value. She has spearheaded efforts to modernize audit practices by introducing advanced AI and data analytics, resulting in more insightful findings, better informed decision-making, and improved efficiency. 

Her work is ultimately about building trust with clients, stakeholders, and the teams she leads. As a passionate advocate for mentorship, she extends this people-first approach to her role as Performance Management Leader, consistently working to spotlight talent and elevating emerging leaders. 

Catherine earned a Master of Science in Accounting with Honors from the University of Baltimore and a Bachelor of Arts in Business with Honors from the University of Notre Dame of Maryland. She is a Certified Public Accountant in Maryland and Virginia. 

Outside of her professional life, Catherine is proud to share her journey with her husband, Ethan, and their three young sons. Active in her community, she volunteers for the American Heart Association and serves on the executive leadership team for Go Red for Women, furthering her commitment to developing the next generation of leaders and fostering a vibrant culture both in her community and at KPMG.

Beth Henke brings over two decades of broad legal and leadership experience, most recently at American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), where she serves as Chief Legal Officer. She is a strategic, action-oriented, and people-focused thinker, valued for enabling legal teams and their cross-functional partners to help drive growth and foster innovation while protecting reputations and financial well-being. She is a trusted thought partner to executives and board members, leveraging her genuine curiosity, humble intelligence, and unwavering focus on results to be the most zealous advocate for and fiercest guardian of the people and ideals that continue to make AEO a great organization. 

Before joining AEO in 2017, Beth held several key leadership positions, including Chief Compliance Officer and VP of litigation for EDMC (2013-2017) and labor and employment partner at Reed Smith and Marcus & Shapira. In all of these roles, Beth was instrumental in guiding clients through high-profile litigation and employment matters and driving transformational initiatives. She started her career as a labor and employment attorney in the Pittsburgh office of Morgan Lewis. 

Beth is a proud product of Pennsylvania’s educational institutions. She received her J.D. with honors from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and her undergraduate degree summa cum laude from Allegheny College. She also graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh. She serves proudly as a board member for the AEO Foundation, and recently completed terms as a board member for the ADL’s Ohio River Valley chapter and EECM (East End Cooperative Ministry).

 Beth resides in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh with her husband, Matthew Cunningham, and stays as connected with her adult children (Nicole & Evan) as they, technology, and schedules will permit

Jewell Lester is Senior Vice President, Operations and Finance at the PA Chamber of Business and Industry.

In her dynamic leadership role, she oversees the financial, information technology, and operational aspects of the largest business advocacy organization in the state. Demonstrating a strong commitment to excellence, and the seamless integration of key organizational functions, she serves as the chief liaison with several key board-level committees. Jewell holds an MBA from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from East Stroudsburg University. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Institute of Organization Management program sponsored by the US Chamber of Commerce. Jewell is a member of the United Way of the Capital Region’s Women’s Leadership Network.

Rebecca Lupfer is chief merchandising officer at The GIANT Company, a modern grocer known to customers as GIANT and MARTIN’S, proudly serving families across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia since 1923. ​

Named to her current role in August 2024, Lupfer joined Ahold Financial Services in 2005 as a business analyst and held various positions of increasing responsibility through her 20+ year career. She held various positions in multiple functions including vice president of merchandising – center store, vice president of the company’s Mid-Atlantic division, chief financial officer, and most recently, chief merchandising officer.

Lupfer currently serves on the board of directors for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank where she secretary of the board and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, chairing the Chamber’s investment committee. In addition, she serves as the executive sponsor of GIANT’s women’s business resource group, supporting and mentoring women of all levels within the organization.

Lupfer has received numerous industry and community awards throughout her career, including being a three-time winner of Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Grocery Award. She has been a recipient of the Central Penn Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award, City & State PA Above and Beyond Award, the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg’s Woman of Excellence Award, and was honored by Mass Market Retailers as Person Who Made a Difference.

She earned an MBA from Lebanon Valley College and a bachelor’s degree in accounting at The Pennsylvania State University. ​

Kathleen McKenzie is the Vice President of Community Affairs at Highmark Blue Shield.  As a highly accomplished healthcare executive and community leader she has years of experience driving strategic initiatives, fostering impactful partnerships, and securing significant funding for non-profit organizations across Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Kathleen holds various leadership roles and has won numerous awards.   She has received the Healthcare Heroes Award for Community Outreach, the Legacy of Community Service Award and is an Athena Award recipient.  Most notably, she achieved award winning results working with diverse communities using mobile clinics with multicultural healthcare professionals to overcome barriers to care in vulnerable communities. She currently serves on the board of the United Way of the Capital Region and is a member of Penn State Health’s Cancer Committee. 

Kasey Paulus is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for WellSpan Health. Kasey is responsible for the WellSpan nursing strategic plan, nursing practice, and operations for 4,600 nursing team members across WellSpan Health, including acute care, ambulatory care, homecare and hospice, and care management services. In her role, she champions several initiatives focused on workforce and care model redesign, driving innovation through the lens of people, process, and technology. She is also accountable for increasing the pipeline of nurses through academic partnerships. 

Kasey has twenty years of experience in nursing, nursing leadership, healthcare operations, continuous performance improvement, high reliability, and patient safety. 

She joined WellSpan in July 2021 where she first served as vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at York Hospital. Prior to joining WellSpan, she served as vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer within the HealthPartners System in Minnesota. Prior to her appointment to CNO, she served as vice president of quality and safety for Park Nicollet. 

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in nursing from Gustavus Adolphus College, followed by a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. She is also a certified executive in nursing practice.

As Vice President of State Government Affairs and Policy, Terri Lee Taylor leads Merck’s legislative advocacy and policy development for state issues impacting the company across the United States. She and her team collaborate with state elected and appointed officials, governmental entities, and local and national policy organizations to address policy issues that impact the discovery of innovative medicines, vaccines and animal health products while improving and protecting patient access to treatments and care. Since joining Merck, she has also held positions in Sales, Recruiting & Development, and multiple positions in State Government Affairs & Policy.

With more than 30 years of legislative policy experience she specializes in cross-functional advocacy engagement with a diverse network of internal and external partners. Named to the Pennsylvania City & State 2023 Healthcare Power 100, she serves on the boards of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry, the Urban Affairs Coalition of Philadelphia, Healthcare Institute of New Jersey, and is a former Chair of the Board for Life Sciences Pennsylvania. She is a regular panelist with the Practicing Law Institute providing national training on political activity compliance and transparency. She also represents Merck with national and local industry trade groups, including BIO and PhRMA.

Terri is a recipient of the NOBEL Women Inaugural Women of Distinction Award and was recognized by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association for her work to protect public interest and promote public health policy. She also received the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Corporate Achievement Award for Partnership & Social Responsibility having served four years as Chair of their Corporate Roundtable. She was honored as one of Merck’s Most Amazing Women and received the One Merck Global Diversity and Inclusion Award for her work with external partners. 

Terri has a passion to enhance political engagement, improve health equity and access to healthcare, and empower youth to lead. She is a charter member of Phi Beta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. providing community service to Montgomery and Bucks Counties in Pennsylvania. She is also a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Links, Inc. focused on programs to strengthen communities through policy, education, and health advocacy. Terri is a “bonus mom” to four children, godmother to many, and champion/coach/advocate to more. She and her husband reside in Collegeville, PA.

Jenn Thompson is the Senior Manager of Human Resources at VF Corp., where she champions inclusive hiring practices and drives transformative change across the supply chain sector. With 18 years of experience in supply chain HR, Jenn has become a movement maker for hiring individuals with different abilities—breaking down barriers and building pathways to success.

Her innovative approach to talent strategy has earned her numerous community-based awards and, most recently, recognition from First Lady Lori Shapiro for her impactful work in hiring candidates with disabilities. Over 15% of the employees at Jenn’s employer identify as having a disability and the number continues to grow. This is also a movement she is sharing across VF’s 6 other distribution center.

Jenn holds a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and is SHRM-certified, bringing both academic rigor and practical expertise to her role. Jenn resides in Lancaster County with her family, where she continues to advocate for equity, opportunity, and forward-thinking leadership.

Ashley Zinn is Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for WellSpan Health. She leads enterprise-wide people strategy, advancing a culture where 23,000 team members are engaged, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Ashley brings more than 15 years of progressive HR leadership in large, complex healthcare organizations. She joined WellSpan in 2016, holding roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as Vice President of Human Resources.

She has been a driving force behind many of WellSpan’s strategic priorities, including workforce planning and position control, talent acquisition, labor relations, acquisitions and divestitures, employee health and safety, and strategic HR business partnerships.

Before joining WellSpan, Ashley served in HR leadership at St. David’s Healthcare in Austin, Texas, where she supported the organization through its Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recognition and the launch of new women’s and children’s hospitals.

Ashley holds a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from Walden University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Shippensburg University.

She maintains active certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP). She also serves on the South-Central Workforce Development Board and is a past president of the Hanover Area Human Resources Association.

Shea Zwerver is a Program Director at Goodwill Industries International, where she leads national clean energy and skilled trades workforce initiatives. With a background spanning public service, workforce development, and policy, she brings a practical, people‑centered perspective to building strong teams across generations. Shea has been recognized as a City & State Pennsylvania Forty Under 40 and a Central Penn Business Journal Women of Influence.

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