LeadHERship Seminar to Empower Local Women Through Personal and Professional Development
RiverBend Growth Association leaders Stefanie Withers and Debbie Hagen say this year’s LeadHERship Seminar is designed to raise up women and strengthen community ties.
Our Daily Show Interview! LeadHERship Conference Set for Sep 25th
ALTON - The RiverBend Growth Association will host their annual LeadHERship Seminar to connect and empower local women.
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From 12:30–4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, community members are invited to Enjoy Church in Alton for an afternoon of speakers and activities. The goal, as explained by RiverBend Growth Association leaders Stefanie Withers and Debbie Hagen, is to bring women together and raise up the community through personal and professional development.
“It is designed for women. It’s for like-minded individuals,” Withers said.
Doors open at 11 a.m. on Sept. 25 so attendees can enjoy a lunch, networking and more. There will also be a raffle with two designer purses available.
The seminar officially starts at 12:30 p.m. with a “Connection Roulette” icebreaker game led by Brittany Ragi-Alberty. Featured speaker Erin Bickle will then give a 30-minute presentation about her life and experiences as the executive director of Refuge.
A technology activity will follow, titled “AI Made Simple.” There will then be a 30-minute presentation by featured speaker Jackie Duty, the executive director of Vitality Women’s Clinic. The event will conclude with an activity titled “The Real Deal,” the purse raffle, and additional networking opportunities.
Withers and Hagen are especially eager to hear from Bickle and Duty. Both women are known throughout the community for their work, and the RiverBend Growth Association looks forward to sharing their expertise with attendees.
“That’s going to be the beauty of the two speakers that we have lined up,” Withers said. “It’s not just a story that they’re telling. It is growth. Yes, it will be part of their story, how they got where they are, maybe some things that they had to overcome. But they’re going to give examples of life, tips and tricks of how to make those adjustments and how to lean in on your community.”
That sense of community is the most important theme for the day, Hagen agreed. Sponsors like Cope Plastics and Waggoner Equipment — both women-owned businesses — have come together to support the seminar. Other sponsorships are still available, and Hagen and Withers are thankful to the local business community for their work to give back.
They added you can still sign up as a sponsor, with several marketing opportunities available for sponsors. For more information, visit the official LeadHERship Seminar webpage.
The RiverBend Growth Association offers several other events and opportunities throughout the year. In honor of Chamber of Commerce Week in mid-September, they will offer a special deal where businesses and organizations can receive 16 months of membership for the price of 12 months.
In the meantime, Hagen and Withers hope the LeadHERship Seminar is fulfilling and empowering for attendees. They encourage community members to get tickets now, whether you’re a member of the RBGA or not. You can find out more about ticket information, the agenda, and the featured speakers if you click here.
“It gets better and better every year,” Hagen added.
For more information about the RiverBend Growth Association, visit their official website.
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