Women's Leadership Conference - Rise Strong, Lead Stronger

Shannen Stewart is the Founder of Heels & Handshakes, a national community built to foster authentic connections and collaboration among women in business. Since its founding in 2013, Heels & Handshakes has grown from a ten-person networking meetup into a vibrant network of over 3,000 members, spanning four cities: Nashville, Chicago, and Las Vegas.

A seasoned hospitality professional, Shannen has curated and produced more than 200 in-person and virtual events focused on professional development, strategic partnerships, and community engagement. Her work has attracted collaborations with major brands including Kendra Scott, Virgin Hotels, BetterHelp, Covve, and Rivian.

Shannen's leadership has earned widespread recognition, including the 2024 Eventex The 100 Most Influential Event Professionals, 2023 Nashville Business Journal Women of Influence Award, 2021 Nashville Lifestyles Women in Business, and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce NELA Award for Hospitality & Tourism. She was also named one of the 100 Leading Persons in Personal Services, Food, and Hospitality.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Mass Communications from Tennessee Technological University. Outside of her professional work, Shannen enjoys time with her husband, son, and their two beloved dogs.

Lexy Kessler is a Partner in Aprio's Assurance Services Practice and is a trusted advisor to business leaders and changemakers in the Mid-Atlantic region. She previously served on the Aprio Board of Directors and led the firm's Government Contracting segment. Throughout her career, Lexy has helped clients balance the challenges and opportunities inherent to operating successfully and mentored young professionals to create a positive impact in the profession. She is constantly seeking new ways to reinvent and improve upon the way her team serves clients.

With 40 years of experience in the public accounting industry and extensive experience in assurance, tax, and consulting, Lexy is passionate about helping clients adapt to an ever-changing market, transforming challenges into opportunities. She achieves this by taking a proactive role in helping her team address clients' needs, develop strategies for their long-term business needs, and rethink their approach to doing business. Lexy also collaborates with regional leaders in the business community to discuss new ideas for strengthening the Mid-Atlantic business ecosystem.

Lexy has earned several accolades over the years, including AICPA's "Most Powerful Women in Accounting" for three consecutive years, "Maryland's Top 100 Women" which led to her induction as a "Circle of Excellence" member, MACPA's "Women to Watch," and the Washington Business Journal's "Women Who Mean Business." Most recently, she has been named in Accounting Today's list of "Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting" and Forbes' 2025 list of "America’s Best-in-State CPA's."

Lexy earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland. She serves on numerous boards, including serving as Chairman of the Board for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

Charlotte Stallings, known as The Action Accelerator, runs an executive development consulting firm that specializes in leadership and success. She also talks about the importance of getting a handle on the money side of your personal or business life, and how to make better money decisions.

During her tenure as Vice President of Investment Strategies at Ameriprise Financial, Charlotte coached, presented to, and trained their financial advisors on strategies to drive results and achieve greater success. She also led the development of a national initiative to provide investment and financial planning advice geared specifically to women while also serving as the firm’s National Spokesperson on Women and Investing Issues.

For over a dozen years, she has been a featured speaker for the Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT) at Sam Houston State University, most notably with the Senior and Mid-Management Leadership Development Programs. Her firm was selected to develop and implement a Leadership Excellence Academy for over 4,000 members of the Operation Services Division of the Dallas Independent School District.

Charlotte gained expertise in the nuts and bolts of business and leadership from her years at US Banks, Xerox and over 20 years at American Express. By taking risks, making mistakes, and gathering information, she grew into the kind of expert that you can trust.

Charlotte has made appearances on CNN and other national, regional, and local media outlets. She is a regular guest on Houston’s FOX26 morning news segment and is also a member of the National Speakers Association. She was selected by The Steed Society and Comerica Bank as one of the Top 25 Women of Houston. She has been a featured contributor in The Wall Street Journal, Essence Magazine and many other publications.

Charlotte is the author of I Wish Someone Had Told Me: Financial Lessons Learned the Hard Way. While she is a native Minnesotan, she has made Houston, TX her home for over 30 years.

Jane Mims, PhD, has more than 20 years of experience improving communication and effectiveness in upper and middle management and building quality teams. Her varied professional background includes sales, marketing, fundraising, journalism, and advertising. Jane is an Emmy award-winning journalist who lives in Memphis, TN with her husband Bob, daughters Holland & Claire, two spirited Goldendoodles, and two cats.

Jina Etienne, CPA, CDE® (Certified Diversity Executive), is a DEI coach, trainer, and facilitator who guides organizations in building intentional cultures of inclusion, where people are free to be themselves and empowered to create space for others to do the same. She helps teams foster belonging and connection, driving engagement, productivity, and performance through authenticity and collaboration.

Jina's programs focus on leadership development, conscious communication, cultural awareness, and inclusive leadership, with self-awareness and authenticity as the foundation for creating lasting impact. As a storyteller, she draws from her unique blend of experiences as a CPA, entrepreneur, business advisor, and C-Suite leader to offer practical insights and real-world solutions that foster inclusivity in diverse organizations.

Jina partners with organizations such as the Massachusetts Society of CPAs, Becker Professional Education, and the Business Learning Institute, where she develops and delivers impactful programs. Jina lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with her husband, two sons, and their American bulldog, Doug.

Kara Fitzgerald is President and CEO of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA), the premier professional association for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in Tennessee. She is responsible for carrying out the mission of TSCPA and the Educational and Memorial Foundation of TSCPA. Kara works in partnership with the TSCPA Board of Directors and Council to develop and execute the Society's strategic vision, always working to promote, protect and support the CPA profession in Tennessee. Additionally, she works with various committees and represents the membership with various governmental entities, including the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, the Tennessee Department of Revenue and the Tennessee General Assembly.

An association executive with nearly 25 years of experience, Kara's career in association management began at the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, where she learned the value of a professional membership association. Kara then spent 10 years in various roles at the Tennessee Society of CPAs, most recently as Vice President – Operations, until she was named President and CEO in April 2021. Having spent her early career in public and private accounting, she understands the importance of protecting the CPA profession and maintaining its role as a trusted advisor.

Kara is a licensed CPA in the state of Tennessee and earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential, which is the marker of a committed association professional who has demonstrated the wide range of knowledge essential to manage an association in today's challenging environment. She also holds the credential of Chartered Global Management Accountant® (CGMA). Kara is a member of TSCPA, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Tennessee Society of Association Executives and the American Society of Association Executives.

Kara earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee Technological University. She lives in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee with her husband and two children. She enjoys travel and spending time with family.