Wendy Terwelp is CEO of Opportunity Knocks of Wisconsin, LLC, the author of the “Rock Your Network” series and our 2020 Sacagawea Awards Chair. Dubbed a “LinkedIn Guru” by the Washington Post, Wendy is an award-winning executive career coach and personal branding strategist who works with high-performing leaders and organizations to advance careers, rock networks and up-level brands. Her consulting services, speaking engagements, and programs serve audiences worldwide through conferences, associations and corporate engagements. 

As Chair of the 2020 Sacagawea Awards, Wendy designed a reimagined virtual Sacagawea Awards experience, which included a live awards ceremony, professionally produced videos, interactive networking, surprise guests, and a special gift for sponsors and guests to celebrate with the honorees safely at home. Wendy and her committee members worked tirelessly to successfully sell out the event and achieve record-breaking results with the help of all Professional Dimensions members, friends, partners and sponsors. Wendy’s favorite Professional Dimensions activities are the progressive dinners, where she can meet many different members and learn something new or gain a new perspective. 

Something about Wendy that you can’t find on her resume is that she loves live music concerts. While this year many traditional summer events in Wisconsin were cancelled, she is still enjoying the many live-streamed “concerts from home” musicians have been providing on Facebook and other streaming websites. 

Be sure to say hi to Wendy at an upcoming Professional Dimensions event and congratulate her on a successful Sacagawea Awards! 

Andrea Petrie works for Alverno College as Vice President for Advancement, leading development and engagement efforts with alumnae, donors and friends as the college brings to life its strategic vision and continues building collaborative partnerships with southeastern Wisconsin corporations and foundations. 

Andrea moved back to Milwaukee from Chicago in 2006 to work for Marquette University. She now lives in Muskego with her husband and three children. 

Her favorite Professional Dimensions activity is the Sacagawea Awards. In fact, it was after her first awards ceremony that she became a member! She found it incredible that although you can tell the women are a close and tight-knit group, they go out of their way to make you feel welcome and that you belong. She has never felt like an “outsider” attending any Professional Dimensions event, and always finds members are genuinely inclusive and inviting. 

Something about Andrea that you couldn’t find on her resume is that she loves karaoke! So much so that she bought a portable karaoke machine, complete with a disco ball, that she can take with her places. 

Be sure to strike up a conversation with Andrea at the next Professional Dimensions outing!

Meica Hatters is the Vice President of Talent Development for EDGE – Where Leadership Begins. EDGE is a talent and organizational development firm that uses evidence-based practices to help individuals and organizations reach their goals. Meica loves helping clients think creatively about their talent.

Meica lives in the Lake Geneva area and joined Professional Dimensions in 2018 to get more involved in the Milwaukee area. Her favorite Professional Dimensions activity is her committee service. She volunteers on both the Programs and the Membership committee. Committee service gives her the opportunity to work alongside awesome leaders and contribute to the member experience. Those activities fulfill her passion for community building. 

Something about Meica that you can’t find on her resume is that she’s a fan of speculative fiction. She’s thrilled that Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books are coming to Disney as a live action series.

Be sure to say hi to Meica at our next Professional Dimensions outing!

Laura Parrino is an Executive Career Consultant with LAK Group, a boutique consulting firm providing companies and individuals with expertise in transforming lives and organizations. She left a Fortune 500 company to be part of a team dedicated to working on purpose.

It’s been her life’s calling to help individuals move forward through career disruptions and transitions. Work is so important to everyone, and whether a disruption occurs by choice or force, we experience a deep need to uncover not only another job, but to also connect to our life’s purpose and mission on this planet. Laura has logged in more than 19,000 hours in one-on-one coaching conversations with individuals from all walks of life, and take great pride in sharing her network and connections to help others. 

Her favorite Professional Dimensions activity is utilizing the membership directory and getting to know other members. She loves having access to 400+ dynamic leaders making a difference in our community. 

Laura left Waukegan, IL to attend Marquette University and has lived in Milwaukee ever since.

Something about her that you can’t find on her resume is that she loves to play pool and sing karaoke. Her guilty pleasure is American Idol, and she’s watched 15 seasons!

Be sure to say hi to Laura at an upcoming Professional Dimensions event. 

Nikiya Dodd was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council in a special election in November of 2018. Prior to serving on the Common Council, Nikiya lead on key legislation authorizing the pilot for the Milwaukee County Emergency Detention Program to initiate a process for authorized mental health professionals to assist police officers with persons suffering from mental health in their custody. 

In 2010, she led on the separation of Milwaukee County House of Correction from the office of the Sherriff’s Department, resulting in the implementation of inmate treatment and diversion programming for non-violent offenders and increased evidence-based decision-making practices. 

Nikiya is an active member in the Milwaukee community, serving on the board of Visit Milwaukee and 30th Street Industrial Corridor. She’s served on numerous boards in the past, including the Wisconsin Housing Economic District Authority (WHEDA), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), and Black Male Achievement Advisory Council. 

Nikiya lives in Milwaukee with her husband and is a proud mother of their son.

Be sure to say hi to Nikiya at an upcoming Professional Dimensions event! 

Ashley Mueller is an Assistant Vice President of Commercial Banking at Park Bank. She has over 12 years of experience in the banking industry, where her focus is on relationship management and business development of commercial clients. Her objective is developing personal relationships with her costumers to share their vision of success. 

Ashley has been in the Milwaukee area for nearly 12 years, after growing up and graduating from college in Eastern Iowa. Her favorite Professional Dimensions activities are the luncheons and the newly formed Rise and Roar morning events.

Something you might not find on Ashley’s resume is that she loves to stay active not only by taking barre classes, but also by chasing around her 4 year old son, Desmond, and 2 year old daughter, Sloane.

Be sure to connect with Ashley at an upcoming Professional Dimensions event! 

Kellie Sigh is the Executive Director for College Possible Milwaukee. College Possible is making college admission and success possible for low-income students through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. This is a recent transition for Kellie, who served as the Director for the Strategic Partnerships & Customer Service department with Milwaukee Public Schools prior to her current service with College Possible.

Kellie has been in Milwaukee just shy of 25 years. Her favorite Professional Dimensions events are the luncheons and the conversation circles. She also looks forward to serving on the Racial Equity Committee and the Professional Leadership Breakfast Series Committee.

Something about Kellie that you couldn’t find on her resume are that her two words for 2020 are “thankful” and “purpose,” and her new motto is to live for an audience of One!

Be sure to catch up with Kellie at the next Professional Dimensions outing. 

JoAnne Anton is Director of Giving for Herb Kohl Philanthropies where she works to advance former U.S Senator and businessman Herb Kohl’s philanthropic goals, investments and community involvement. She and her husband also operate a small outdoor digital advertising company, Atlas Media LLC and formerly owned and operated several local restaurants. 

JoAnne was born and raised in Milwaukee and is very active in the community, serving on the boards of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and the Harbor District Inc. She is also past president of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee.

Her favorite Professional Dimensions activity is recruiting new members and she also enjoys getting to know other members at our Third Thursday outings. 

Something about JoAnne that you couldn’t find on her resume is that she is seriously trying to figure out how to raise chickens and/or bees. However, if she does finally manage to do it, she’s definitely putting it on her resume! 

Be sure to chat with JoAnne at the next Professional Dimensions outing! 

Carol Newell is an Organizational Development Consultant at Briggs & Stratton. Some of her responsibilities include creating and driving a diversity & inclusion strategy which involves developing and cultivating partnership with diverse organizations and leading the women’s employee resource group at Briggs.

Carol has lived in Milwaukee since 1982. Her mother moved her and her sister into the city after accepting a better job opportunity as a Milwaukee Public Schools teacher. 

Her favorite Professional Dimensions event has been Judge Derek Mosley’s presentation on Implicit Bias in the Judicial System. She had recently completed Jury Service, so the presentation resonated greatly with her as she observed bias, including her own, throughout the process. 

Something about Carol that we can’t find on her resume is that she served as a member of the Army Reserve for a total of one whole year. It’s a very long and interesting story, she says, but the short story is she did not pursue a career in the Army Reserve for medical reasons. 

Be sure to ask Carol about this story and more when you see her at the next Professional Dimensions function! 

K. Paige Engle is truly a woman of many dimensions. She is a travel entrepreneur and her company, Paris by Paige, celebrates the French lifestyle as she guides small group tours. She is a bestselling travel author and an international speaker who addresses women's groups by providing safe travel strategies. While she is traveling, she also supports entrepreneurs and executives as a brand strategist, helping them build their personal brands online. She has also created a Paris inspired stationery line to fill a gap in the market for multicultural cards. 

Regarding her involvement in Professional Dimensions, she is a huge fan of the Third Thursday outings because of the casual environment to get to know other members on a different level.

She indicated that the best professional advise she has received came from her first boss out of college. He advised that there may never be any surprises when it comes to mistakes and successes, extreme ownership is better than hiding the truth and to always provide a solution to a challenge.  Paige admires leaders who inspire action, especially if it is strategic and intentional. 

Paige is a wife and a mom who is always growing on the journey of life. Her son is eleven years old and is full of energy, keeping her young.  She is an avid reader, especially forensic mysteries and historical fiction. The last book she read is “Everything is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo. Her guilty pleasure activity is watching her favorite TV Show, The Golden Girls.

To keep on top of current events, the media source Engle turns to is Feedly, an online app that supplies news media websites from the USA and Europe.

When she is looking for a local meal out on the town, she is am a fan of Tampopo Sushi & Ramen restaurant in Hales Corners.  The portions are perfect and the flavors are authentic.

When Paige was asked who she would like to meet, she reported that she would love to spend an afternoon with Archbishop Timothy Dolan.  He is the epitome of a worldly and diplomatic man and she would love to know his secret to success.

As a Parisian travel entrepreneur it is no surprise that she said her favorite travel destination is Paris, but she also admitted that she would love to visit Australia and the South Pacific as they seem interesting and enchanting.