About Us
Our Mission & Vision
Increase the leadership capabilities and influence of women. Contribute to the growth and stability of the Greater Chattanooga business and civic community through the broad range of women’s talents and perspectives.
Our Guiding Values
We believe women leaders are a critical voice in the community.
We believe women’s perspectives and discernment make a difference and improve all aspects of work and life.
We believe it is important to help women develop their full potential.
We promote that women will be compensated equitably.
We honor diverse perspectives.
We value the company of women and encourage deeper, authentic connections among women.
Together we empower, celebrate, elevate, and advocate for one another.
Our Team
We are a tenacious and passionate team – focused on the growth of female leadership in our local Chattanooga area and nationally.
Kim Shumpert
Executive Director
kim@cwli.org
Sharayah Caouette
Director of Programs & Operations
sharayah@cwli.org
Caroline Jewell
Membership & Marketing Coordinator
caroline@cwli.org
2020 Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Julie Baumgardner | Chair
First Things First
Tangela Johnson | Chair-elect
North Georgia Corporate Consulting
Janet Dunn | Immediate Past Chair
YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga
Julie Davis | Treasurer, Operations Liaison
Roundtable Advisors of Raymond James
Christine Ryder | Secretary
BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee
Autumn Witt Boyd | Programs Liaison
Law Office of Autumn Witt Boyd
Emily Ramsey | Capacity Liaison
J. Smith Lanier, a Marsh & McLennan Agency
Board of Directors
Carlene Carrabino
MomSource Network
Melissa Curtis
Woodall Agency Insurance
Gina Dhanani
The Double Cola Company
Mary Edwards
Chambliss Children’s Center
Karen Estes
Tennessee Aquarium
Marj Flemming | Director Emeritus
Launchpoint Leadership
Beth Harrell
Beth Harrell Homes, Crye-Leike Realtors
Rosemarie Hill
Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.
Amanda Jelks
Jelks Law
Stacy Johnson
La Paz
Stefanie Mansueto
JP Morgan Chase
Daisy Maurya-Ballard
Parkridge Health Systems
Jennifer Nicely
Memorial Healthcare System
Jessica Oliva-Calderin
Calderin & Oliva, P.A.
Danna Vaughn
Chattanooga Police Department
Joyce Ann Williams
LBMC
Our History
The Women’s Leadership Institute was initiated in 1996 with informal gatherings regarding the small number of women in leadership positions in the Chattanooga community, especially the relatively few women holding executive level positions in companies or elective and appointive offices in local government. Additionally, a movement began to form an organization where women leaders could interact with each other more productively and could bring forward a new “generation” of women leaders. In 1998, WLI became a nonprofit organization.
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