The Value of Your Voice: Deb Sofield
Do you have trouble expressing yourself in meetings or in front of audiences? Do making business presentations set your insides quivering? If so, Deb Sofield‘s Summit presentation is one you won’t want to miss!
An award-winning speaker and executive speech and presentations coach, Sofield is bringing us one of her powerful presentations, The Value of Your Voice. She creates and trains world-class public speakers nationwide and has 
personally coached scores of executives and elected officials to tap into their natural abilities. She also trains motivational speakers to be able to deliver a message with lasting impact.
Sofield’s national and international training experience gives her the depth of knowledge in exactly what it takes and what it means to deliver a meaningful message. She is a skilled politician and savvy businesswoman who has been winning campaigns for public office while running her own successful business for more than two decades.
As an accomplished corporate, political and talent strategist, Sofield coaches her clients to the top. We are excited to have such a dynamic speaker who is in demand both nationally and internationally join us for our 2013 Summit.
East Tennessee Justice to receive “The Lizzie” Leadership Award
On May 7th, the birthday of Knoxville’s Lizzie Crozier French, the East Tennessee Women’s Leadership Council announced that Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee will receive the Lizzie Crozier French Women’s Leadership Award at the June 14th Summit.
(l to r) Carla Kimble, Kim Lauth, Dr. Dena Wise, Justice Lee, Wendy Pitts Reeves, Sharon Hannum, Deb Schmitz, Susanne Dalton Dupes
Crozier French is noted for several firsts in her fight for women’s suffrage, including being the first woman to address the Tennessee Bar Association and the Tennessee General Assembly, and the first to run for Knoxville City Council. The winner of this year’s leadership award named in her honor is also a ground breaker.
Justice Sharon G. Lee
Justice Lee was the first woman to serve as judge on the Eastern Section of the Tennessee Court of Appeals in its 79-year history. She has worked diligently to advance women within her profession, having served as president of the East Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women, and as a board member of the Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women.
Just like last year’s inaugural recipient, Mayor Madeline Rogero, Justice Lee is being awarded “The Lizzie” at this year’s Summit in recognition of her ongoing dedication to the principles so strongly demonstrated by the award’s namesake. The recipient of the Lizzie Crozier French Women’s Leadership Award must demonstrate four leadership characteristics that were so much a part of the life of Lizzie Crozier French.
As one who has repeatedly broken new ground for women in her profession, Justice Lee’s work in the community has previously been recognized by YWCA of Knoxville with their Tribute to Women Award and by the Woman of Achievement Award from the Girls Scouts of the Appalachian Council.
Close the Gap in Confidence: Dani Ticktin Koplik
Who better to help us understand how to Close the Gap in confidence than executive coach Dani Ticktin Koplik. As principal at dtkResources, Ms. Koplik works as a consultant and professional development expert. She created the Women 
At the Verge program that challenges professional women to expand their thinking, recognize their value, showcase their skills and break through perceived limits.
As part of her work to prepare executive women for board seats, Ms. Koplik collaborates with both Watermark and Women in the Boardroom. She has conducted seminars and webinars on professional development for universities, major corporations like Bank of America and JPMorganChase, and organizations like Women in the Boardroom, Women For Hire, and numerous others. Her writing on workplace issues has appeared in Forbes.com, Crain’s, the Financial Times and on numerous blogs.
Ms. Koplik is a pro-bono coach for the veterans’ MC-4 group. She was a guest speaker at the Veterans on Wall Street 2012 conference and appeared on ABC News Now, outlining how veterans should prepare for success in the civilian workplace.
