2026 Women In Automotive® Conference Agenda: July 17–20
Subject to change, please stay tuned for updates.
Friday, July 17th, 2026
3:00 PM CT
Registration Desk Open
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Ballroom Registration
5:00 PM CT
Welcome Reception
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Atrium Level
Saturday, July 18th, 2026
8:00 AM CT
Registration Desk Open
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Ballroom Registration
9:00 AM CT
Mentoring Panel and Speed Networking
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Glass Oaks Ballroom
Interactive Experience
11:30 AM CT
Coffee Break
11:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Glass Oaks Ballroom
1:00 PM CT
#WIA2026 Welcome: Day One
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Eliana Raggio
1:30 PM CT
Opening Keynote
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
TBD
2:25 PM CT
Breakout Session 1
2:25 PM - 3:05 PM - TBD
Alison Rank
Be the CIO of Your Conference Experience: Illuminate What Matters and Make it Count
2:25 PM CT
Breakout Session 1
2:25 PM - 3:05 PM - TBD
Colleen Liberstein
Curiosity as Currency: Using Conversation to Build Confidence and Capability
2:25 PM CT
Breakout Session 1
2:25 PM - 3:05 PM - TBD
Sandy Zannino & Beth Lucchesi
From Accident to On Purpose!
2:25 PM CT
Breakout Session 1
2:25 PM - 3:05 PM - TBD
Jessica Smith
The Seat at the Table Playbook: From Mentorship to Sponsorship
3:05 PM CT
Afternoon Session Break
3:05 PM - 3:20 PM
Plaza Level outside of Session Rooms
3:20 PM CT
Breakout Session 2
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM - TBD
Lisa Gener
Truth Over Approval: The Leadership Choice Women Eventually Face
3:20 PM CT
Breakout Session 2
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM - TBD
Carol Marshall
Moments of Truth: Dispelling Hype to Deliver Positive Outcomes
3:20 PM CT
Breakout Session 2
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM - TBD
Cassie Cepeda
Don't Hand Them the Pen: Reclaiming Your Voice In a World That Tries To Define You
3:20 PM CT
Breakout Session 2
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM - TBD
April Rain
Power Moves: A Woman’s Guide to Networking
4:10 PM CT
General Session : Panel
4:10 PM - 4:55 PM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Shasta Haddock
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: How Social Media Is Driving Today’s Automotive Business
4:55 PM CT
General Session : Remarks / Announcements / Giveaways
4:55 PM - 5:00 PM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
TBD
5:00 PM CT
Closing Keynote
5:00 PM - 5:40 PM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
TBD
5:40 PM CT
TBD
5:40 PM - 5:45 PM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
TBD
5:45 PM CT
Recognition for Women In Automotive & Closing Remarks
5:45 PM - 6:00 PM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Eliana Raggio
6:00 PM CT
Reception
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - TBD
PayJunction
7:30 PM CT
Pajama Party
7:30 PM - TBD - Rio Grand Exhibit Hall
TBD
Sunday, July 19th, 2026
7:30 AM CT
Continental Breakfast
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM - Arbor
TBD
8:30 AM CT
Day 2 Welcome
8:30 AM - 8:40 AM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Eliana Raggio
8:40 AM CT
Opening Keynote
8:40 AM - 9:20 AM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
TBD
9:20 AM CT
Panel : Northwood University Case Study
9:20 AM - 10:00 AM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Northwood University
Sponsored by: automotiveMastermind
10:00 AM CT
Northwood Scholarship Announcement
10:00 AM - 10:05 AM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Brian Parr
10:05 AM CT
Break
10:05 AM - 10:25 AM - Arbor
10:25 AM CT
General Session Speaker
10:25 AM - 11:05 AM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Brooke Furniss
From Dirty Data to Revenue: The Truth About Data Hygiene, AI, and the Human Advantage
11:05 AM CT
Announcements
11:05 AM - 11:10 AM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Eliana Raggio
11:10 AM CT
General Session Speaker
11:10 AM - 11:50 AM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Kerri Wise
11:50 AM CT
Strings for Hope Charity
11:50 AM - 12:00 PM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Emily Winters
12:00 PM CT
Lunch
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Grand Ballroom
WOCAN & WIA
Fireside Chat w/ Ashley Cavazos &
Veronica Dunford
Moderated by : Eliana Raggio
1:00 PM CT
Breakout Session 3
1:00 PM - 1:40 PM - TBD
Rachel Blatt
Bust through the Blocks
1:00 PM CT
Breakout Session 3
1:00 PM - 1:40 PM - TBD
Jaime Herzberg
The Customer Experience: Your Competitive Advantage
1:00 PM CT
Breakout Session 3
1:00 PM - 1:40 PM - TBD
Stephanie Hancock
Women Who Drive Change: Building Cultures Where Female Talent Thrives
1:00 PM CT
Breakout Session 3
1:00 PM - 1:40 PM - TBD
Claire Calhoun
Driving Connection: How NIL Partnerships with Female Athletes Can Transform Automotive Marketing
1:00 PM CT
Breakout Session 3
1:00 PM - 1:40 PM - TBD
Laurie Halter
Plot Twist: Your Financial Comeback Starts Now
1:50 PM CT
Breakout Session 4
1:50 PM - 2:30 PM - TBD
Stephanie Dean
Ignite Your Spark: Rekindling Passion in your Automotive Journey
1:50 PM CT
Breakout Session 4
1:50 PM - 2:30 PM - TBD
Brittany Ouelette
I Made it to the Big Kid Table, Now What?
1:50 PM CT
Breakout Session 4
1:50 PM - 2:30 PM - TBD
Cate Ojala
From Survival Mode to Sales Leader: How Trauma Built My Unshakeable Edge
1:50 PM CT
Breakout Session 4
1:50 PM - 2:30 PM - TBD
Amanda Rawls & Tracey Fields
Lead Where You Are: Building Women’s Groups That Work
1:50 PM CT
Breakout Session 4
1:50 PM - 2:30 PM - TBD
Fred Ramirez & Lou Lennartz
The Right Mentor Matters: What to Look For (and What to Avoid) in Automotive
2:30 PM CT
Afternoon Break
2:30 PM - 2:50 PM - Plaza Level outside of Session Rooms
2:50 PM CT
Breakout Session 5
2:50 PM - 3:30 PM - TBD
Dara Koenig
Avoiding Burnout: Leading with Resilience in High-Pressure Environments
2:50 PM CT
Breakout Session 5
2:50 PM - 3:30 PM - TBD
Dr. Martha Rader
Discover Your EQ Superpowers and Kryptonite: Assess, Reflect, Rise
2:50 PM CT
Breakout Session 5
2:50 PM - 3:30 PM - TBD
Erica Bruno
Flipping It Over
2:50 PM CT
Breakout Session 5
2:50 PM - 3:30 PM - TBD
Katie Naughton
How to Start Leading When You’re Already Performing
2:50 PM CT
Breakout Session 5
2:50 PM - 3:30 PM - TBD
Lyamen Savy
A Step-by-Step System for Getting More Warm Referrals
3:40 PM CT
General Session : Interactive
3:40 PM - 4:40 PM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Michelle Phelps
Driving Connection: The True Power of Customer Success
4:40 PM CT
Keynote
4:40 PM - 5:20 PM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Danelle Delgado
Wake Up and Win
5:40 PM CT
Closing Remarks
5:40 PM - 5:45 PM - Grand Ballroom
General Session
Eliana Raggio
7:00 PM CT
Cocktail Reception
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Luna Blanca
TBD
8:00 PM CT
Gala
8:00 PM - 10:30 PM - Grand Ballroom and Luna Blanca & Lawn
TBD
Monday, July 20th, 2026
7:30 AM CT
Continental Breakfast
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM - Arbor
TBD
8:30 AM CT
Day 3 Welcome
8:30 AM - 8:40 AM - Grand Ballroom
Eliana Raggio
8:40 AM CT
Keynote
8:40 AM - 9:20 AM - Grand Ballroom
Jodee Obrien
Laugh, Lead, Legacy
9:20 AM CT
General Session Panel
9:20 AM - 10:00 AM - Grand Ballroom
Dynatron Panel
Leading Forward: Women Shaping the Future of Fixed Operations Technology
10:00 AM CT
Keiser University Scholarship
10:00 AM - 10:05 AM - Grand Ballroom
Keiser University Scholarship
Brian Bastin
10:05 AM CT
Morning Break
10:05 AM - 10:25 AM - Arbor
TBD
10:25 AM CT
General Session Speaker
10:25 AM - 10:55 AM - Grand Ballroom
Laurie Foster
What's Next, next?
10:55 AM CT
Closing Keynote
10:55 AM - 11:35 AM - Grand Ballroom
TBD
11:35 AM CT
Closing Remarks
11:35 AM - 12:00 PM - Grand Ballroom
Eliana Raggio