Women's Affinity Alliance

Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
Location: Virtual via Zoom 

Event Description: 

“The nature of diversity, inclusion, and belonging work remains as crucial as ever in the face of an increasingly and unpredictable environment. It’s also become increasingly clear that workers care deeply about the mission and values of their employers and will go to great lengths to seek alignment with a workplace that shares those values. This poses an unprecedented opportunity for organizations – especially those fully-remote companies that can hire anywhere – to attract high-quality talent.”

• Miriam Warren, Chief Diversity Officer at Yelp

Join us for this important TEMPO Women’s Affinity Alliance session which will highlight three different Milwaukee companies – Baird, Direct Supply, and Rockwell Automation – and their continued commitment to expanding the definition and role of their Employee Resource Groups in helping recruit, retain and inspire talent. Hear from company experts as they showcase best practices of inclusion specifically in three communities of employees – veterans, LGBTQ+, and those with disabilities. They will explain the how and the why of creating a workplace and culture where people with diverse abilities can thrive. Hear how the creation of these employee resource groups supports their company’s overall diversity strategy inspiring an inclusive workforce culture through development, community outreach, and strategic business partnerships.

About Our Speakers: 
Moderator: Janet Lucas

Beth Howell: Beth has over 22 years of experience in leading software delivery at Baird. She is the Director of IT Client Services, serving all areas of our national and global businesses. Through her tenure at Baird, she has had the opportunity to serve in several different roles working with all areas of the business. This broad experience has enabled her to develop strengths in building relationships, inspiring trust, driving results, and navigating the complexity that exists in a relatively flat and highly collaborative environment. Outside of her “day job”, Beth has been deeply involved in the formation and evolution of Spectrum (Baird’s LGBTQ+ ARG), including serving as co-chair. All roads lead back to her deep passion for leadership and helping others to develop into their best, authentic selves.

Beth received an MBA in Marketing from UW-Whitewater and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UW-Eau Claire. Landing in people leadership, she never realized how valuable that Psychology degree would be.

In her free time, Beth enjoys traveling, listening to live music, time in the outdoors, biking, rollerblading and playing any sports she can get her hands (or feet) on. Originally from Minnesota, she moved to Milwaukee in 1998, expecting to move back to MN within a couple of years…nearly 25 years later she cannot get the Brew City out of her blood.

Rachel Schickowski: Rachel Schickowski joins us from Rockwell Automation - a global provider of industrial automation and digital transformation technologies. She has been with the Rockwell for the past 13 years and serves as the ROKability ERG president. Born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, she loves the opportunity to help make the workplace inclusive and accessible for all.

Cari Tralongo: Cari is halfway to her 7^th year with Rockwell Automation where she is a Workforce Consultant.  Her responsibilities are to develop strategy to optimize the workforce for Life Cycle Services business segment.  This also includes executing on that strategy making it operational.  Previous to her current role, Cari managed Lean Projects utilizing her Six Sigma Black Belt certification.   And prior to Rockwell, Cari served in the US Air Force.  She retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the 115^th Fighter Wing in Madison, Wisconsin where she finished up her 30-year military career.

As a military veteran it was a perfect fit for Cari to join the Military Veterans and Allies Employee Resource Group, otherwise known as MVAG.  After Covid, in 2022, she decided to run for a Board of Directors position and is now the Commander of MVAG, leading a team of 8 committee leaders.  

Cari is married to a 28-year Air Force Veteran as well together they have a blended family of 4 grown children and 4 grandkids.  When her and her husband aren’t traveling to visit the kids or training their new English Cream Golden Retriever puppy, Cari spends time trying to stay healthy by doing yoga and spin classes, and not being healthy by binge watching shows with a glass of wine. Some of her favorites are Ted Lasso, Outlander, Only Murders in the Building and always a Pinot Noir.

Register Here.
WAA Members | No Charge
TEMPO & EWL Members (not current WAA members) | $10
Guests | $25