Women We Admire is pleased to announce Top Women Leaders of 2024. In 2023, women occupied 32.2% of senior leadership roles. These include C-suite and director-level positions. Even though there is a long way to go before women and men have equal representation in executive roles, there is no lack of accomplished, seasoned women leaders to celebrate.
Many of these women leaders have served some of the top brands in the world. Honoree Katie Clark is currently the Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for Hormel Foods. She’s held previous leadership roles at Mattress Firm, PepsiCo, Tropicana, and Quaker Oats.
Additionally, we recognize the career of Leslie Snavely, the President at CHG Healthcare, the largest physician staffing company in the country. In this role, she led the development of CHG’s strategic plan and the acquisition of two tech companies.
Finally, we acknowledge the amazing work of honoree Addie Teeters, the Vice President of Marketing Communications for the Special Olympics Wisconsin. After an extensive career in marketing communications, Teeters accepted this impactful leadership role in 2023.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of these Top Women Leaders of 2024.
Staci Thompson
President & CEO, Bassett Healthcare Network
Staci Thompson is the President and CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network, where she oversees all operations. She previously served at The Guthrie Clinic in Sayre, Pennsylvania, where she has held progressive leadership positions for more than 27 years. Since 2013, she has served as the EVP and COO for Guthrie Medical Group. She also served, concurrently, from 2019 to 2021 as EVP of The Guthrie Clinic’s Performance Improvement Office. Before these assignments, Thompson held VP positions at the system level in medical group operations and for The Guthrie Clinic’s oncology service line.
Thompson is a highly accomplished executive, specializing in healthcare administration, with experience in strategy formulation, business development, revenue generation, customer service, patient relations, and operations management within a large multispecialty group practice and multi-hospital system. She is skilled in setting and following standards for excellence in operations and implementing policies and procedures to ensure strategic goal achievement. Thompson is a nationally recognized speaker in patient experience improvement in the medical group setting. She is proficient in utilizing financial and analytical skills to lead, monitor, and take actions that ensure financial stability and business success. She is an expert in delivering medical programs as per the agreed scope, schedule, and budget. She’s able to translate strategic objectives into operational goals and priorities, communicate effectively, and create accountability for actions and deliverables.
Thompson earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Gannon University and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Pennsylvania State University. She has also served as a board member for United Way, Guthrie Federal Credit Union, and Guthrie’s Emergency Operations Center.
Chandra Clark
President, Corey C. Griffin Foundation
Chandra Clark is a nonprofit executive driven by purpose and mission. For over a decade, she has served in nonprofit leadership by developing innovative programs, initiatives, and collaborative opportunities in the community to support and advance the lives of underrepresented children, youth, and women. She is honored to currently serve as the inaugural President of the Corey C. Griffin Foundation.
Her previous roles include executive director of VHL Alliance, director of community outreach for Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City, and founder of Be Loved, a lifestyle brand. She has been honored to receive numerous awards and recognitions, including the Young Athena Leadership Award from the Kansas City Chamber, Rockhurst Faber Young Alum of the Year from Rockhurst University, Top Connector in Education and Entrepreneurship from the Kauffman Foundation, and Most Influential Women in Kansas City Business from the Kansas City Business Journal.
Clark holds a Master of Education degree from Rockhurst University and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and she is a graduate of the Central Exchange Emerging Leaders program. She currently serves on the Board of the Girl Scouts of the Green & White Mountains and the Advisory Council for the Women’s Foundation of Boston, and she is a member of the Boston Club. Her former board and civic engagement include serving as President of the Missouri Career Development Association, a member of the Executive Women’s Leadership Council, a member of the Junior League of Greater, and a founding member of the Central Exchange Young Professionals Council. Clark currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Her proudest accomplishment is being the mom of her daughter.
Pooja Vyas
VP, Chief Medical Officer, BJC Healthcare - Christian Hospital
Pooja Vyas is the Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of BJC Healthcare for Christian Hospital. Vyas is an osteopathic physician who graduated from Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2015. She interned at Geisinger Health in Pennsylvania and completed an Internal Medicine Residency with Hofstra-Northwell in Long Island, New York. Vyas also completed her MBA at Webster University in St. Louis. She excelled in her leadership skills from her residency days where she was involved with quality improvement projects, to completing a physician administrative fellowship, working alongside Northwell Health's system-level C-suite members. She continues to strengthen those skills today.
Vyas served as medical director of hospital medicine at Christian Hospital for the BJC Medical Group Hospitalists. She was appointed to her current role in 2021. She continues to serve in this role where she oversees quality, risk, patient safety, regulatory, case management, and many other clinical departments.
Vyas is an active board director for the U-VOL Foundation, an advisory board member of Women in Healthcare, and a member of CHIEF, the American College of Healthcare Executives, and the American College of Physicians. She is a strong advocate for patient safety, women in leadership, and physician well-being. Vyas has participated in many volunteer activities to provide medical care in underdeveloped nations and to resource underserved communities.
Laura Ipsen
President & CEO, Ellucian
Laura Ipsen is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ellucian, the leading technology solutions provider for more than 2,900 higher education institutions in more than 50 countries.
Ipsen has more than 25 years of experience as a technology executive in Silicon Valley, driving transformation in the public and private sectors and spurring the adoption of comprehensive solutions in high-growth industries at Oracle Corporation, Microsoft, and Cisco Systems. Earlier in her career, Ipsen also held leadership roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Acer America, and Hitachi Data Systems.
Currently, Ipsen serves as a member of the Supervisory Board of Daimler Truck Holding AG. She is a member of the board and the executive committee of the Business-Higher Ed Forum (BHEF) based in Washington DC. She’s a member of the Fast Company Impact Council, Fortune CEO Initiative, and WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD). In addition, Ipsen is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum, Silicon Valley Chapter, and she is an associate member of the Board of Trustees of Lafayette College. Ipsen is a graduate of the University of Virginia and studied Arabic at Yarmouk University in Jordan.
Latanya McNeal
Executive Dean & Provost, Palm Beach State College
LaTanya McNeal is the Executive Dean and Dean of Student Services for the Belle Glade Campus of Palm Beach State College and Dean of Student Services at Loxahatchee Groves Campus. McNeal has more than 27 years combined experience in higher education as a campus leader, dean, assistant dean of student services, the first Student Learning Center manager at the Belle Glade campus, and adjunct faculty at the university and state college level. She also has a K-12 background in which she served as a middle school International Baccalaureate Magnet ESOL Center principal, vice principal of curriculum and instruction, high school assistant principal, science instructional coach, science department chair, and high school biology, chemistry, and physics teacher.
McNeal has served on a variety of committees at Palm Beach State College and is actively involved in the Glades community and throughout Palm Beach County. She is an Alumna of Engage Leadership Palm Beach County (Class of 2022), is a Trustee with the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, is the secretary for the Lakeside Health advisory board, serves on the Health Care District Quality, Patient Safety, and Compliance committee, is the past chair of the Belle Glade Teen Center and the Marjorie S. Fisher Advisory Board Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, serves on the Lake Okeechobee Regional Economic Alliance of PBC board (LORE), Urban League Guild of PBC, the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center advisory board, Glades Career Readiness Roundtable (GCRR), serves on the Pahokee Housing Authority committee, is a member of the Pahokee Rotary, the Glades and Clewiston Chambers of Commerce, is a mentor with the Women in Business Academy Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Alpha Alpha Upsilon Omega Chapter of Wellington, Florida.
McNeal obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in psychology and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida. She obtained a Doctorate with a dual concentration in Higher Education and Organizational Leadership with a minor in Human Resource Development from Nova Southeastern University. She also has a Master’s degree in Law from the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University. McNeal is the recipient of the 2022 “Administrator of the Year” award from the Inner-City Youth Golfers, Inc., was a 2023 finalist for the Leadership Palm Beach County Leadership Excellence award, and completed the AACC Future Presidents Institute (FPI). McNeal enjoys spending time with her adult daughter and friends and takes great pride in giving back to her community and mentoring others.
Nada Sitto Kasyouhanan
CEO, MWHS Design
Nada Sitto Kasyouhanan is the CEO of MWHS Design, a design services firm headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. MWHS Design's main clients are hotel franchises working hand in hand with brands such as Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Wyndham.
Sitto moved to the United States as a young child. She earned an MBA from Lawrence Tech University while launching her company in 2019. Having worked her way up from front desk associate in undergrad to director of operations for new developments, she found her passion for construction and design, leading to the origin of MWHS Design. Despite launching right before the pandemic, Sitto has grown her company from just her and one other team member into a full team of high-level professionals now in a 13,000-square-foot office building.
Sitto was featured in Crain’s Detroit Business 2022 Notable Women in Construction, Design & Architecture, recognizing her work on multiple large hotel projects, new builds, and renovations in the Metro Detroit area.
Leslie Snavely
President, CHG Healthcare
Leslie Snavely is President of CHG Healthcare, the nation’s largest physician staffing company.
Snavely joined CHG in 2010 as vice president of marketing and communications and held several roles before being named President in 2023.
Snavely led the development of CHG’s strategic plan and the acquisition of two tech companies, Modio Health and Locumsmart. She is an executive sponsor of CHG’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. Her previous companies include Philosophy Cosmetics, Pepsi, and Procter & Gamble. She made Utah Business Magazine’s “40 Under 40” in 2014 and was named CXO of the Year in 2021.
Snavely has served on the boards of the Park City Community Foundation and the Women’s Leadership Institute. She graduated summa cum laude from Miami University.
Shelley Zumwalt
Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage, & Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department, State of Oklahoma
As Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage and Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OTRD), Shelley Zumwalt is a powerful voice in Oklahoma state government and brings with her a rich history of state service. In her dual roles, Zumwalt is driving change through strategic initiatives and sharing her passion for Oklahoma. She oversees the operations of more than 15 state agencies, boards, and commissions.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Zumwalt’s journey in public service began over a decade ago when she joined the Office of State Finance as an entry-level budget analyst. Since then, she’s served in various key roles within state government, including Public Affairs Director for the Office of the Governor, Executive Director for the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, and leadership roles at the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority.
In 2022, Oklahoma’s tourism operations attracted more than 18 million visitors, generated $833 million in state and local tax revenue, and supported over 103,000 jobs. Zumwalt has helped elevate the profile and shine a spotlight on the economic impact of the tourism sector in Oklahoma which brings in more out-of-state dollars to Oklahoma than any other industry in the state, aside from the energy sector. Before her time leading state tourism, Zumwalt led the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, taking over the agency in May 2020 in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. While there, she oversaw the distribution of over $5 billion in unemployment benefits to support Oklahomans during a critical time of need.
Addie Teeters
VP of Marketing Communications, Special Olympics Wisconsin
Addie Teeters is the Vice President of Marketing Communications for Special Olympics Wisconsin. Teeters is proud to serve this organization leading its marketing and communications efforts and supporting the mission of providing dignity and inclusion to individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Teeters has had an extensive career in the marketing communications field. Previously, she served as head of marketing communications & public affairs for Ahlstrom, a specialty paper and sustainable fibers global business, responsible for external communications, media relations, and public-government affairs for Ahlstrom’s North American and European-based business area in addition to managing and having a passion for commercial sustainability and Chain-of-Custody Forest Certification. Teeters worked in the organization for nearly 18 years with similar roles in the legacy Expera Specialty Solutions and Thilmany Papers businesses.
Before joining the paper industry Teeters was a journalist working in print and broadcast mediums. While still working in the private sector, Teeters served as a board member for several nonprofit organizations, which eventually led her to join the nonprofit sector permanently. Teeters currently serves on the board of directors for Covey, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for people with disabilities and their families. Teeters additionally serves on the advisory board for the Schreiber Institute for Women’s Leadership with the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. She remains passionate about serving her community both in her volunteer appointments and with her role in Special Olympics Wisconsin.
Uzma Akhtar
GM, Global People Operations, The Trade Desk
In her current role as GM of Global People Operations at The Trade Desk, Uzma Akhtar leads several global operational and strategic people teams focused on transforming the employee experience at the high-growth tech company. The Trade Desk™ is a technology company that empowers buyers of advertising. Through its self-service, cloud-based platform, ad buyers can create, manage, and optimize digital advertising campaigns across ad formats and devices.
Prior to this, as a global and cross-functional leader, Uzma has worked at several healthcare, higher education, and government services companies overseeing various enterprise areas such as HR, Clinical, and operational transformation focused on revolutionizing people, processes, and technology at each company. As an executive HR practitioner, Uzma is dedicated to harnessing HR's full strategic potential, nurturing talent, and fostering an inclusive culture. She is adept at dealing with complexities in organizational change, enabling companies to break down traditional silos, and helping organizations rapidly scale globally. She has several years of impactful leadership at a start-up, high growth, and fast-paced environments. Uzma graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in political science and Middle Eastern studies.
Nicole Bernardo
Chief Development Officer, Northwestern Mutual Boston
Nicole Bernardo is the Chief Development Officer at Northwestern Mutual Boston. She joined the company in 2008 right out of college, overseeing office operations for the district network office.
Before her current role, Bernardo spent eight years managing a high-producing forum personal production practice for her now managing partner. In her current role for the Network Office, Bernardo is responsible for driving new rep growth and development and recruiting by overseeing the firm’s development framework. Bernardo takes pride in fostering a culture of respect and high performance.
Bernardo has a BS in business management from Central Connecticut State University. Outside of the office, Bernardo enjoys creating memories with her family. She lives in Andover, Massachusetts with her husband and their two children.
Kelly Munson
President, Aetna
As President of Aetna Medicaid, Kelly Munson oversees business strategy, operations, and company growth with a focus on delivering differentiated healthcare solutions that address both member and provider needs. Her team aims to implement the latest technologies, capabilities, and innovations to serve Aetna Medicaid’s approximately 2.8 million members across 15 states.
With over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Munson is passionate about serving vulnerable populations and addressing health disparities. Together, with CVS Health, they have the opportunity to deliver innovative tools and solutions to these populations and drive improved health outcomes. Before joining Aetna, Munson spent 14 years at WellCare Health Plans, where she led growth, strategy, and profit and loss (P&L) across 14 markets for the company’s Medicaid business as EVP of markets and president of Medicaid.
Munson has served as Chairman of Medicaid Health Plans of America and as a member of the board of directors for the Institute for Medicaid Innovation. Munson is a proud graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition. Munson also did graduate work in public administration at the University of Akron.
Katie Clark
Senior VP & Chief Communications Officer, Hormel Foods
Katie Clark is the Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer of Hormel Foods. Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. In this role, Clark will oversee the company's global communications, including external media relations, internal communications, global impact communications, and corporate reputation.
Before joining Hormel Foods, Clark served as vice president of communications for Mattress Firm, the nation's largest mattress retailer with more than 2,300 stores across the United States. She joined the company in 2020, leading internal communications, public relations, media relations, crisis and issues management, executive communications, and social impact. Before joining Mattress Firm, Clark spent seven years at PepsiCo in various leadership roles, spanning both internal and external communications. Her last role at PepsiCo was director of communications for PepsiCo Beverages North America, a $21 billion beverage business. In that role, she led external communications, including corporate reputation, issues management, proactive and reactive earned media, and thought leadership. She also served as director of global internal communications, director of public relations for the Tropicana brand, and senior manager of internal and executive communications for the Quaker Oats brand. Before joining PepsiCo, Clark spent a decade at Blue Cross and Blue Shield in communications and marketing roles.
Clark earned her Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Virginia Tech.