Speakers

Susie Larson is a talk show host, national speaker, and author of fifteen books and many articles. In both 2016 and 2017 Susie was nominated and voted into the top ten groups for the National John Maxwell Leadership Award. Susie has been married to her dear husband Kevin since 1985 and together they have three wonderful sons, three beautiful daughters-in-law, one amazing grandson, and one adorable pit bull named Memphis. Susie’s passion is to see women everywhere awakened to the value of their soul, the depth of God’s love, and the height of their calling in Christ Jesus.

Ayiesha Woods-Hillery is a Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, musician and now wife and mother. Ayiesha is a multi-talented artist who has certainly made her mark on Christian music and ministry.

Ayiesha and her husband, Joseph Sr. currently live in Central Florida with their 4 boys: Joseph II, Benjamin & Asher, and Gad born July 2020. Their family motto is “Love God, Love People. Serve God, Serve People.”

Tiffany is a princess, a tattoo artist, and a weightlifter. She loves making new friends and traveling around this world sharing stories about how our Abba King delights to surprise us with awesome adventures.

Beth Davis is a lover of Jesus, a recently retired youth minister and the Director of Ministry Advancement for Blessed is She. She is passionate about teaching women how to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus and speaking hope to weary hearts.  Her favorite things include being an aunt to her five fantastic niece and nephews, the Saint Name Generator and whatever book she’s currently reading.

If you enjoy talking, laughing, or tracing the thread of a really interesting thought, chances are we have a lot in common. Jesus has a way of bringing women together who are thirsty for more intimacy with Him and impact for His kingdom. I know what it’s like to feel disappointed with life, yet afraid to admit it. I also know what it’s like for that disappointment to gradually morph its way into discouragement, lack of hope, and (in my case) two grueling decades of crippling depression. You might even say my heart was dying of thirst. Maybe your own circumstances haven’t been quite that drastic, but now and then you still let out a weary “I’d hoped for more” sigh. And you secretly hop God has more purpose and connection for you than you’re currently experiencing. Jesus has taken me down a long road of restoration and recovery that’s lead to a much more “easy yoke” way of living. I’m still learning and growing, and yes, life’s disappointments still come and go. But now God and I are “adventuring” our way through life together. And that makes all the difference. One of my favorite parts of that adventure is walking alongside thirsty women like YOU, who are ready to embrace the overflowing kind of life Jesus offers.

My mission is to seek women who desire to live rich lives and create thriving businesses. My hopes are that here, you may be able to find inspiration, validation and permission to lead an empowered life with impact.

Hi! I’m a wife, mom, author, and speaker. In terms of the truly consequential matters in life I believe that tea is better than coffee, dogs are better than cats, and Jesus is better than everything. I love to help people cultivate spiritual growth in their own lives and think about how to nourish it in others. I wrote a Bible study about moms in the Bible and I love speaking on topics related to faith and family.

Becky Kopitzke is the author of three books including The Cranky Mom Fix: Get a Happier, More Peaceful Home by Slaying the “Momster” in All of Us. As a writer, speaker, dreamer, believer, lunch packer and recovering perfectionist, Becky is on a mission to encourage and equip women to be kind to themselves and others in Jesus’ name. She and her husband Chad live in northeast Wisconsin with their two tween daughters, shelves full of slime supplies, and a puppy named Prophet. Beyond writing and family, Becky is actively involved at Appleton Alliance Church, where she leads women’s Bible studies, sings on the worship team, and hugs half the people she sees. Find her online at beckykopitzke.com.

Darcy has seventeen years of experience working with youth and young adults in high school, youth group, and campus ministry settings.  Serving as a High School English and Theology Teacher, a D.C.E. and Campus Ministry Assistant, Darcy has a clear passion for developing young adults in faith and leadership skills for service to the church and the world.  She is currently serving as Director of the Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI) at Concordia University Wisconsin and continues as a member of the Campus Ministry Leadership Staff. Darcy is in the final stages of completing her Masters in Organizational Leadership Administration from Concordia University Wisconsin and lives in the Milwaukee area with her husband Adam and their two beautiful girls. Her great joy in serving as Director of the Women’s Leadership Institute has been the opportunity to connect faith and leadership and connect great women to one another.  WLI’s programming focuses on providing Christian women opportunities to connect with Christ-centered, servant-hearted, leaders in their community.

Suzan Myhre, MSSW, LCSW, LPC, was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. Her parents instilled in her a warm sense of family, a deep devotion and affection for God, and the desire to help others strengthen their relationships. She attended UW-Madison where she received both her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Social Work. She counseled and supported individuals and families struggling through life changes at UW-Hospitals and Clinics on the renal unit, and in Hospice early in her career. While raising their children, she worked at an outpatient mental health clinic counseling individual, couples, adolescents, and families. Suzan has specializations in EMDR, Brainspotting, Pragmatic Experiential Therapy for Couples and Gottman Therapy for Couples.  She has a passion for healing those who struggle with severe anxiety and depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Her recent training in Brainspotting has been a gift from God. For those who feel stuck in their relationships, and in their pain, Brainspotting has offered transformation and a method of healing. She has been married to her husband Chris for 35 years. She has three adult children—Jessica (married to Luke), Grace (Married to Zack) and Michael. She is a grandmother, one of the highlights of her life. In her free time, she enjoys spending time walking in the woods, laughing with family and friends and cooking in her kitchen. She is active in Women’s Ministries, writes a blog, and has been a speaker at local and national events.

It was as a student at the University of Cape Town that Judy developed a passion for ministry and went on to attend the Alliance Theological School in Nyack, NY to pursue a Master’s of Divinity. There she met her husband Dennis Episcopo and together they committed to a life in ministry. In February 1997 they moved to Appleton and Judy began as a volunteer in Appleton Alliance’s Women’s Ministries and in 2002 she joined the staff. Judy is the proud mom of three grown children. In her spare time, she loves to read and hang out with her family and friends. She also doesn’t mind traveling when the occasion arises!

Ginny Olson has been involved in youth ministry for several decades on a variety of levels: youth pastor, youth ministry professor, speaker, consultant and writer. Prior to becoming the Director of Youth Ministry for Northwest Conference of the Covenant Church, she was one of the two co-directors for North Park University’s Center for Youth Ministry Studies in Chicago, IL, where she worked with both undergraduate and seminary students.

Before entering academia, she was involved in youth ministry at various churches and camps, including serving on staff in the junior high ministry at Willow Creek Community Church. She is the author of Teenage Girls: Exploring Issues Adolescent Girls Face and Strategies to Help Them, as well as the co-author of Youth Ministry Management Tools 2.0.

Lisa’s vision spans far and wide. Her calling is to provide an integrative wellness facility in the community that taps into the best in sports, music, and education and provides a center for athletic success and  builds personal healing and strength that breeds champions in all walks of life.  Her studies show that a sound mind, body, and spirit are the key to successful living. A former high school, Biology and Chemistry teacher, she holds a B.S. in Biology, Chemistry, and Health, and a Master’s degree in Microbiology.  She is a teacher, dancer, scientist, singer, athlete, loving wife and mom. Lisa is a loyal wife to Tim, her husband of 18 years, and an affectionate mom to Peter (20) and Nicole (19).  Together the Van Wyk family humors Lisa’s compulsion to explore new ideas and to organize everything, from books to lives worth saving.

Kristen Zeimet is on a mission to share the Gospel with everyone she meets.

She grew up in a small town in Missouri, she went to church with her family and learned early her love of Jesus and serving others. From there she earned a degree in Public Relations and then worked on a Cruise Ship. Once returning to land, she earned her teaching degree in Special Education and a Master’s Degree in Education Admiration while she was teaching at an Alternative High School. During her time teaching, she met a pastor who discipled her. It was awesome and renewed her relationship with Christ.

During this time, she also met her future Husband- online. Once they were married, they moved twice before landing in Appleton, WI for his job. They have 3 beautiful children with whom, she is home with full time. Kristen stays busy volunteering at church and with the kids in their different activities. She has a huge heart for Jesus and longs for everyone to know Him as she does. Kristen loves to play board games and travel with her family. In their free time you can find her family on their bikes or in the water.

In the past 2 years, Anna Franklin has emerged as a leader in the home staging industry in Wisconsin. She is CEO and Founder of Stone House Stage and Design and Letty Blu. She believes that every home has a story to tell and bring it to life. She was awarded Real Estate Staging Industry’s Most Influential People by RESA in 2020. Anna lives with her family in a Stone House in the Milwaukee Area.