Rachel Druckenmiller

UNMUTED — AM Keynote & Emcee

Recognized by Smart Meetings as a Best of the Stage Speaker (2023), Forbes as a Next1000 honoree, Workforce Magazine as a 40 Under 40 Game Changer, and the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) as the #1 Health Promotion Professional in the U.S., Rachel Druckenmiller is a change agent whose refreshing perspective sets her apart.

For nearly 20 years, she has helped leaders and organizations unleash purpose, passion, and potential by activating character, curiosity, and confidence—resulting in people who are more engaged, motivated, and impactful at work and in the world.

A TEDx speaker, keynote speaker, and leadership trainer with deep expertise in workplace culture, health, and human behavior, Rachel catalyzes introspective insight and meaningful connection that drive lasting transformation. She has served global clients including SHRM, Citizens Bank, Sherwin-Williams, UnitedHealthcare, and the Federal Aviation Administration, is a course instructor for Simon Sinek’s virtual classroom, and is also a singer-songwriter whose message-driven music is available on all streaming platforms.

Aubrey Albrecht

MN Multi-Housing Association
Breakout Thought Leader

Aubrey (Austin) Albrecht is Vice President of Education & Chief Innovation Officer for the Minnesota Multi Housing Association (MHA), where she leads education strategy, innovation initiatives, and cross-functional projects that support strong operations, informed advocacy, and a future-ready workforce. Her work is grounded in the belief that collaboration, practical education, and thoughtful systems help housing professionals better serve communities across Minnesota.

At MHA, Aubrey led the development and launch of mihra, the association’s AI assistant designed to support members with trusted, Minnesota-specific guidance and resources, and has been closely involved in the organizational and leadership considerations required to responsibly introduce AI within an association. Prior to joining MHA in 2019, she worked with Urban Land Institute Minnesota across education, operations, and inclusion initiatives. She serves on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota and chairs its Governance Committee, and previously served six years on the Bloomington Planning Commission, including one year as Chair. Aubrey lives in Bloomington with her husband Jake, their daughter Elvera (Vera), and their two very enthusiastic dogs, Levon and Jack.

Sylvia Michels

MN Society of CPAs
Panelist

Sylvia served on the board of directors for a women’s scholarship program while studying at Gustavus Adolphus College. She traveled extensively as a student and later as a full-time actor and director before returning to Minnesota to work in education. After launching several K-12 extracurricular programs, Sylvia sought out opportunities to work with emerging professionals. Today, she is a Member Engagement Coordinator at the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants, where she has successfully revived the accounting student and young professional programs.

Heather Whelpley

Heather Whelpley
Afternoon Keynote

Heather Whelpley is a speaker, award-winning author, coach, and leadership development consultant passionate about equipping women to live, work, and lead with grounded confidence, so they advance with clarity, communicate with courage, and create impact that matters. Before launching her speaking career, she spent over a decade in HR, leadership development, and change management with Cargill and Ameriprise across the U.S., Latin America, and Australia. She’s the author of two award-winning books, "An Overachiever's Guide to Breaking the Rules" and "Grounded Wildness: Break Free from Performing Your Life and Start Living It". Heather lives in Colorado, where she spends as much time hiking and exploring as possible.

Carrie Chang

MPLS Area Realtors
Panelist

Carrie Chang is the first woman and person of color to serve as CEO of the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors. In this role, she manages a staff of 23 and an annual budget of $8 million. She reports to the organization’s 22-member board, serving more than 9,000 members. Over the past year, she’s helped challenge the association’s members to hone their skills and lead through changes to the real estate landscape and profession.

She’s championed the creation of required education for real estate professionals in Minnesota and focused on removing barriers to homeownership from the buying process and tackling implicit bias to create more aware agents and brokers. She’s also cultivated a diverse and representative board more reflective of the profession and the consumers they serve, including the appointment of the association’s first Black board president.

Michelle Wroblewski

Wipfli
Breakout Thought Leader & RT Leader

Michelle Wroblewski is a director with over 15 years of experience driving growth, strategy and innovation in the association sector. As a trusted advisor, she partners with organizations to create impactful strategies that enhance performance, foster collaboration and align operations with their missions. Michelle’s experience lies in building strategic roadmaps, adopting innovative solutions and creating high-value partnerships that deliver measurable results. Michelle is dedicated to helping organizations navigate challenges and identify opportunities for growth, always focusing on solutions that align with their unique goals and missions

Professional memberships and activities
Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC) - Board Member 
Technology Professional Advisory Committee (ASAE) American Society of Association Executives - Member 

Haley Hedstrom

Visit Duluth
Panelist 

PanelistHaley Hedstrom is an executive leader and community builder passionate about helping organizations grow with purpose and clarity. As Executive Director of Visit Duluth, she leads strategic marketing, sales, and community partnerships that elevate Duluth as a premier destination while strengthening alignment across stakeholders.

With a background in mission-driven leadership and inclusive program development, Haley is known for bringing people together, navigating complex funding environments, and turning vision into action. She believes that when women lead with authenticity and courage, entire communities move forward — and she’s honored to be part of SheMoves.

Amanda Heberg

Sandstorm Design
Breakout Thought Leader

With over 25 years of experience partnering with associations, nonprofits, and higher education organizations to transform their digital experience, Amanda builds strategic partnerships that blend UX, strategy, accessibility, AI, and enterprise technology. At Sandstorm (a UX, web and custom development agency), she leads business development and strategic partnerships for organizations seeking to modernize their digital platforms. Previously, at Protiviti, she was the Director of Business Development for Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Salesforce, and custom digital experience solutions, partnering with teams to optimize collaboration and consumer-facing digital experiences.

Angela Kisskeys

Associations North
Breakout Thought Leader

Angela Kisskeys is President of Associations North, leading the organization’s strategic vision, operations, and efforts to advance association leadership and industry impact across the region. She assumed the presidency in 2022 after serving in leadership roles within the organization and is known for leveraging strong industry relationships, embracing innovation, and driving organizational growth. Angela is motivated by fresh ideas and future possibilities that strengthen the association community and member value, and she champions connection, collaboration, and forward-thinking solutions that support associations and their professionals.

Jenn Norman

Novi AMS
Roundtable leader

Jennifer Claver

CliftonLarsonAllen
Roundtable leader

Jennie leads the Minneapolis CAAS - Recurring practice for the nonprofit industry. She acts as a consulting CFO for clients focusing on nonprofit and public sector accounting serving organizations ranging between $1M and $6M in revenues. Jennie joined CLA in 2017 and brought more than 10 years’ experience including public accounting, internal audit, and controller positions.  

As a consulting CFO for her clients, she prepares accounting records and manages annual audits, financial reporting and analysis, budgeting, and forecasting. She has worked extensively to identify process improvements and operating efficiencies while continuing to maintain strong internal controls. Jennie collaborates with management teams to provide dashboards and financial reports that best fit their needs and enable improved management decision making.

Prior to joining CLA, Jennie held positions in both public and privately held companies during her career. Her time in public accounting focused on higher education, nonprofit, and health care clients.

Melissa Place

SWANA
Roundtable leader

Melissa Serres Place, MBA, CMP, CAE is Director of Meetings & Events at the Solid Waste Association of North America, where she leads high-impact event strategy and execution for one of the leading professional associations in her field. With extensive experience in association leadership and education, Melissa brings disciplined planning, creative problem-solving, and a passion for community-building to her work.

She holds an MBA, the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential, and the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation, underscoring her commitment to excellence in both strategic management and event design. Melissa is known for her collaborative leadership style, dedication to professional development, and ability to deliver exceptional experiences that advance organizational goals and strengthen member engagement.

Jana Darling

MGI
Roundtable leader

Jana Darling is a results-oriented, data-driven strategist with nearly 20 years of experience in association marketing, including over a decade of dedicated service at MGI. With a proven record of success, Jana has guided the member journey for a diverse portfolio of clients, specializing in the strategic management and execution of integrated marketing campaigns. Her extensive background spans both the association and agency sides, enabling her to build collaborative, relationship-focused marketing programs that have added over 150,000 new members and generated millions in dues and non-dues revenue. Jana’s high-impact leadership and commitment to data-driven strategies have positioned MGI and its clients for sustained growth and success.

Katie Imholte Gabriel

Korn Ferry
Roundtable leader

Katie Gabriel is a Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry, where she helps organizations achieve their goals by connecting them with top accounting and finance talent. A powerhouse networker and strategic team leader, Katie joined Salo in 2008, which later became part of Korn Ferry, following her early career in public accounting as an audit senior at Boulay. She is a past Board Chair of the MNCPA, where she also received the Outstanding Young Professional and Public Service awards. Katie’s passion for giving back has taken her around the world through volunteer work in India, Haiti, and Guatemala, and she currently serves on the boards of Give Us Wings and the MNCPA Foundation. In her spare time, she channels her energy into emceeing as a professional benefit auctioneer and keeping up with her two young children.

Anna Eaton

Betty:AI
Breakout Thought Leader

Anna Eaton, AAiP, is a customer growth and content strategist with extensive experience in marketing and brand advocacy. Currently serving as a Customer Growth Strategist at Betty:AI, they lead initiatives to enhance customer engagement and storytelling around AI assistants. Previously, Anna worked as a Senior Marketing Specialist at MSSI, where they significantly improved social media presence and content strategy. With a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and a background as a student athlete, Anna combines analytical skills with a passion for building lasting relationships through impactful marketing.