Power Women Luncheon Dr. Ronda Sauget, Executive Director of the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois is responsible for identifying and mobilizing leaders in business, industry, labor, education, government, and building effective partnerships to address regional economic development issues, often playing a leadership role in advancing those initiatives that top the Leadership Council’s priority list. Since 1983, the organization has served as one voice, for Southwestern IL Business Community on five pillars, business, education, government, industry and labor. Dr. Sauget opened our eyes to many business and practices that are available in our region. She shared that the population between Madison, St. Clair, Macoupin, Clinton, Monroe, Jersey, Bond and Calhoun Counties is 1/2 of St. Louis MSA population and the 2nd largest population center in IL. We are home to the large domestic and international manufacturing, agriculture, and logistic companies: Amazon, P&G, dial, Hershey, Walgreens, Boeing, Kraft just to name a few. The 2016 Outstanding Local Government Achievement Award for Leadership in Planning and Design Innovation was won for the American Bottoms Levee Project that includes 65 miles of levee and working together with the St. Louis Regional Chamber that advanced the whole region. Scott Air Force Base is the largest employer in Southwestern IL and has received the coveted Abilene Awards multiple times for community that provides the finest support to an Air Mobility Command unit and was reported Best Place to live by Airforce Times. The lack of qualified workers created the Manufacture/Craft Your Future Campaign which educates high school students, parents, guidance counselors, principals and other influencers about the high paying jobs available in local manufacturing and trades. Over 12,000 students have been informed and events were created giving students a hands-on experience in construction trades. Geri Boyer is a registered professional engineer and is the Founder and President of Kaskaskia Engineering Group, LLC located in Belleville . This 100% woman-owned engineering, environmental and contracting firm is made up of two divisions - KEG Design and KEG Build. Geri enjoys learning and expanding her knowledge professionally and spiritually. She began her career as a Mining Engineer and returned to school for Civil Engineering and also a Master in Theology. She has also completed Diaconal Ministry training and serves at St. Peter and Paul Parish in Waterloo. She has also participated in silent and meditation retreats that led her to become a certified meditation teacher. Projects at KEG entail various construction inspections, funding and grants, structural engineering, recreational facilities, contracting, geotechnical, transportation, land development and environmental. Overseeing the day-to-day operations and ensuring the quality of all project engineered, inspected and built can become overwhelming and she knows everyone tries to juggle work/home and came up with her secrets to success to share: 1. Manage your thoughts. Grow from each experience and remove self judgement, stay positive and see the best in people. 2. Do not see barriers. Every problem has a solution so figure out how to go over, under or around the barrier. 3. Take care of yourself. Eat right and be healthy. 4. Community involvement. Give back by participating at an event or joining a non-profit or committee. 5. Practice Gratitude. Everyday think about what you are grateful for and what you want to achieve. 9
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