Additional speakers will be added soon. Check back for more!
My Story And I’m Sticking To It
Martha Hutzel
Martha Hutzel believes that everyone has a story to tell and that story affects our professional and personal lives. Learn to be comfortable telling your story and how it can help you lead with confidence and bring value to your organization. Speak with influence using emotional intelligence.
About the speaker:
Martha Hutzel has lived in Fredericksburg since 1982, and has worked for the Central Rappahannock Regional Library for 33 years. Currently the Library Director, she has also managed the Snow Memorial Branch, the Porter Memorial Branch and the Howell Branch of the regional library. She holds a BS in Public Administration from St. Francis University and a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Maryland at College Park.
She is a past-president of the Virginia Library Association and the North Stafford Rotary Club, and currently a member of the Rappahannock Rotary Club. She is also a member of the Public Library Association and the American Library Association.
Martha is a graduate of Leadership Fredericksburg as well as the Public Library Association Leadership Academy and is currently a fellow in the Lead Virginia leadership program. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Rappahannock Goodwill Industries, and UMW’s Honors Advisory Board. Martha is a former member of the UMW Women’s Leadership Colloquium Advisory Board.
Martha is the recipient of the Laurie A. Wideman Enterprising Woman’s Award, the Patricia Lacey Metzger Distinguished Achievement Award and the Libby Lewis Library Director’s Award.
She is the mother of three grown children and grandmother to four young children.
Managing Expectations and Boundaries: Finessing “No”
Cara Parker
For such a tiny word, “no” often takes the most courage to utter. Yet, the more we say yes, the more we’re actually saying no to something else. The first step in this process of power is to be clear on your expectations and set boundaries. This session will help you be deliberate in your polarization of yes and no and put you in the seat of confidence.
Topics for this session include:
- Stakeholder management
- Knowing your no: Identifying expectations and boundaries
- Six tips on how to stay no and still maintain your relationships and effectiveness
- The exception to every rule
- Self-reflection on what you need to say “no” to; Practice saying, “no”
About the speaker:
Cara Graham Parker is an organizational development consultant with over 20 years’ experience helping organizations and people make decisions that propel them forward into higher performance. Her clients include associations/nonprofits, government, and corporations. She and her team facilitate strategic planning sessions, leadership workshops, and coaching for individuals and organizations. Cara is in the final stages of her doctorate in industrial organizational psychology and is using her degree to support organizations in competency mapping, organizational assessments, and efficiency studies. Most recently, she has worked with organizations as they redefine their workplace post COVID vax.
Sample clients include Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, United States Postal Service, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, National Retail Federation, and Emmes Research Company.
Cara’s volunteer work includes: College of Business Board of Advisors at University of Mary Washington and Foundation Fighting Blindness. Cara and her spouse, Stephen recently celebrated 26 years of marriage, have 2 young adult sons, and a Doberman, Lola. She and her husband enjoy learning through travel. They reside part time in rural Caroline County and part time in urban Scottsdale, AZ.
Know Your Value and Negotiate Your Worth
Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt
All too often women face unique challenges when it comes to asserting our values and negotiating our worth. The discussion centers around assertiveness and confidence to earn our genuine value and worth in the career fields of our choice. As professional women we have the tendency to underestimate our professional and personal values, because we have been socialized to avoid “assertiveness”. In this session we will discuss our values, personal income and leadership gaps, and define our truth worth as WOMEN Leaders. Join me on this journey.
About the speaker:
Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt is distinguished as a dynamic, innovative, and proven leader with over 25 years of public school education experience. She has served as Past-President of ASCD International, Chair of the ASCD International Board of Directors, Virginia ASCD President-elect & Board of Directors, a Virginia middle school principal and special educator. She has also serviced on the Germanna Community College Board, Mary Washington HealthCare Finance Committee. She now serves as Excutive Director of Human Resources for Alexandria City Public Schools. Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt describes herself first as a lifelong learner dedicated to serving students, staff and their families. As an instructional leader and life-long learner, Dr. Kay-Wyatt has managed change in her school community. She has a passion to be the voice for equity for all.
She believes, it is germane that as an educational leader we must address both equity and excellence in schools. Choosing to be a servant and visionary leader, her work around school and community is done with an unrelenting passion.
Dr. Kay-Wyatt earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University; a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Mary Washington, a Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Mary Washington College. She is 1988 Graduate of Courtland High School, Home of the Cougars.
Dr. Kay-Wyatt is the proud mother of two amazing adult daughters, Billie and Temple Wyatt. One of her favorite quotes is by Shirley Chisholm, “Service is the rent you pay for being on this earth”.
