2026 Women's Summit - By Design not Default

A change evangelist committed to her own personal growth, Tammy Daugherty brings storytelling, current research, and practical lessons across a wide range of topics to her speaking engagements and workshops.

Tammy is passionate about people, learning, and growth—because change is the spice of life and the source of what's truly meaningful. Wherever she speaks, one thing holds true: we all want to do better in our own imperfect way. Over the years, she has been in the trenches with many clients and found that same determination time and again. Each has their own story, and she works to understand what makes some organizations come alive with innovation and adaptability while others struggle to find the momentum needed to embrace authentic transformation in the digital age.

With over 20 years of experience in transformational technology, incremental change management, talent development, and culture shift, Tammy excels at quickly assessing an organization's strengths and opportunities, then co-creating a strategy to move it toward its goals. Connecting the dots between business and people strategies is the linchpin that holds everything else together. From individual projects to enterprise-wide transformation programs, she ensures an organization's talent, culture, and change vision are fully realized through its strategy. From change management execution to talent development and culture planning, what excites her most are leaders who care about their people enough to invest in them.

Small nonprofit organizations are passionate about what they do, and Susan Stutzel's passion for the accounting industry is a perfect complement. Early after launching her own practice nine years ago, she began to notice that her best days involved not only auditing or consulting, but also individual interactions. She finds herself completely energized after a conversation with a client about the person's goals and aspirations, or those of the organization. It brings her joy to think about the potential for those ideas to become reality.

As a certified coach, Susan also helps CPAs and professionals clarify their personal definition of success and overcome the obstacles holding them back. We all have untapped potential, and she thrives on helping others break through barriers, manage priorities, and maintain the clarity needed to live a truly meaningful life.

Meet John, the visionary behind Higgins Advisory, LLC., specializing in guiding CPAs and CFOs through digital transformation. Blending strategic advice, education, and coaching, John aims to not just navigate, but master today's digital landscape.

Nancy Gedeon, a Colorado demographer, about the state of affairs in Colorado as well as specifics on our economy. Profile photo of Nancy GedeonNancy Gedeon joined the State Demography Office in 2020 as the estimates demographer. The State Demography Office is the primary state agency for population and demographic information which is used by state agencies, local governments, and non-profit organizations. Nancy has experience with local government and community development, and is certified with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). She has a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, and a master’s degree in urban planning and development from Cleveland State University.

LaVonna is a dynamic keynote speaker, leadership guide, and mom who works with leaders and their teams in navigating high expectations without losing their voice or sense of self. When work gets heavy, women leaders often try to carry more. Many feel the constant pull to handle it all, second-guess themselves, and adapt to how they think they should lead. LaVonna’s work helps them notice how pressure and internal noise show up in daily interactions and thoughts. Since 2008, LaVonna has helped leaders align how they show up with the impact they want to have using the S.H.I.N.E.® Framework. She is the creator of The S.H.I.N.E.® Leadership Companion, a digital, interactive leadership resource designed to help leaders notice when pressure is shaping behavior and realign before trust, energy, and engagement quietly (or not so quietly) erode. Her work is described as practical, impactful, and deeply connected to solving the weight they feel. LaVonna recently moved from Florida to Colorado with her husband, where they enjoy hiking, exploring small towns, and taking in the mountain views.