Celebrating Women at the Southwest Indiana Regional Women's Conference

As the Director of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, I had the incredible honor of participating in the collaboration of the 4th Annual Southwest Indiana Regional Women’s Conference held on October 25th. Hosted in Knox County and brought together by eight chambers from across the region—including Gibson, Pike, Knox, Perry, Spencer, Jasper, Warrick, and Linton/Stockton counties.  This year’s conference brought together women from all walks of life to learn, grow, and connect. 

Attendees were invited to rethink their relationship with stress through an information session on Kelly McGonigal’s TED Talk, “How to Make Stress Your Friend.” This session offered practical insights on managing stress in ways that empower rather than overwhelm.

Keynote speaker, the former Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman, shared insights from her remarkable career. Skillman’s story of resilience navigating her experiences as a trailblazer in politics. Her candid reflections on the challenges and rewards of being one of the first women to hold high office in Indiana were inspiring.

Afternoon speaker Angie Lewis, Divisional Technical Director at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane. Angie’s experience in a highly specialized technical field and her dedication to breaking boundaries inspired attendees to push beyond perceived limitations in their careers and personal lives.

A highlight of the conference was the panel discussion, “Women in a Man’s World,” featuring Knox County Commissioner and Davies County EMS Director Kellie Streeter, CEO of Greene County General Hospital Brenda Retz, and our own Pike County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director, Ashley Willis. These women shared their unique stories and challenges as females in their respective roles, shedding light on the evolving landscape of leadership in our region. Ashley, in particular, noted that when she began her work in the economic development field within a ten-county region, she was the only female leader. Today, that gender disparity is narrowing, with four of the counties now represented by female leaders. This shift is not only encouraging but a testament to the progress being made toward greater gender balance and inclusion.

Of course, no conference is complete without good food and laughter, and our attendees enjoyed a taco bar for lunch. And what better way to add a little  laughter with a little dancing to the beat of “YMCA”.

We are grateful to everyone who attended and to the eight chambers whose teamwork made this event possible. At the Pike County Chamber, we look forward to seeing more women step into leadership roles and continue reshaping what it means to lead in our communities. If you missed this year’s conference, make a note for next year.  We are looking forward to next year’s conference that will be in Spencer County and to seeing even more women join us on this incredible journey! 

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