Aspire Economic Development + Chamber Alliance Events Newswire

W.I.L.D. Women In Leadership Development 6/2/2026 3:00 PM - 6/2/2026 5:00 PM

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:03:51 GMT

Professionally Unshakable: Cultivating Confidence & Calm Under Pressure

Have you ever found yourself needing to stay composed, confident, and steady when situations heat up? Join Aspire for our June Women In Leadership Development (W.I.L.D.) event to explore strategies that help you maintain clarity and control, no matter what challenges arise.

Professionally Unshakable: Cultivating Confidence & Calm Under Pressure delves into how external pressures, expectations, and fast-paced environments can influence your leadership presence. Designed as a space for reflection, learning, and empowerment, this session equips participants with actionable tools to strengthen emotional resilience, project confidence, and lead decisively under pressure.

Participants will gain insight into:

Understanding personal and external triggers that impact confidence
Applying techniques to remain grounded during high-stress moments
Communicating with clarity and authority when stakes are high
Cultivating a mindset that supports authentic, unshakable leadership

After the panel discussion, Bill Brown will guide our attendees through the fun of building a fantasy football team and show how this simple activity can become a powerful tool for expanding your professional network.

**Doors open at 2:45 for casual networking

Featured Panelists

Caryl Auslander
Founder & Managing Principal, Torchbearer Public Affairs

As a registered federal lobbyist for over 10 years, Caryl worked strategically to develop meaningful relationships with the Indiana delegation. She has worked for numerous government affairs powerhouses, most recently as Vice President of Education, Workforce Development, and Federal Affairs at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. In 2018, Caryl founded Torchbearer Public Affairs, which has quickly grown into a well-respected and well-connected lobbying firm representing nearly 30 clients across the policy spectrum. Caryl is a native Hoosier, is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington and currently resides in Carmel with her husband and two children.

Lynnette Gray
Attorney at Law, Johnson Gray & Johnson

Lynn Gray is a founding partner in the law firm of Johnson Gray & Johnson, trial counsel practicing in Franklin, Indiana. She and her partner, Russell Johnson, established the firm in 1993. Lynn received her undergraduate degree from Ball State university in 1984, obtained her law degree from Indiana University in Indianapolis and was admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1987. She also serves or has served on the Board of Directors of Johnson County United Way, Leadership Johnson County, Johnson County Community Organized in Disasters, Girls, Inc., and Johnson Memorial Hospital Foundation Board.

Kimberly Pate
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, The University of Indianapolis

Kim Pate is the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Indianapolis. Before this role, she spent eight-and-a-half years as the Vice President for Athletics at fellow-Division-II institution Lenoir-Rhyne University. During her time there, Lenior-Rhyne ranked ninth in NCAA DII with more than 7,500 community service hours as an athletics department, marking the fourth straight year in top 15. Kim earned her Master of Business Administration from Western Carolina University and a bachelor's in Business and Organizational Leadership from Brevard College. Together with her husband Rick, they have one daughter, Carsen.

Top Floor Women Monthly Events 6/3/2026 8:00 AM - 6/3/2026 9:30 AM

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:26:08 GMT

Top Floor Women Events offers personal and professional development, monthly networking, and opportunities for highlighting community sponsors serving women leaders and developing leaders in business.

Special events, activities and non profit volunteer opportunities create a strong community in values and servant leadership We know the way, go the way and show the way

Networking starts at 8:00am and speakers and presentations are from 8:30-9:30 am. First Wednesday of every month.

Coffee and snacks provided:

This event is hosted and supported by Three John Maxwell Certified Team Members who lead with a servants heart

Joe Ake: Joe Ake Studios records all speakers and coordinates our media services: Joe offers media production services for events, speakers, video and audio services for our community.

Katie Stahlhut: Owner of Stsge 1 Dance Studio provides our space to meet (Thank you) Katie always has room for one more dancer in the studio classes too! Ask about her non profit Dance Every Journey for your senior living community

Melahni Ake: Founder, Everyday Leaders, Hosts, emcees, provides website, registration, event planning, personal growth masterminds, to help women grow in their personal and professional development

Join our Private Networking Group too!

Leadership Cohort Series 6/5/2026 9:00 AM - 6/5/2026 11:00 AM

Fri, 01 May 2026 16:50:57 GMT

Time and Dates: 9 to 11 a.m. on June 5^th, June 12^th, June 19^th, June 26^th, July 10^th, July 17^th

How to Work with Complicated People: Strategies for Effective Collaboration with (Nearly) Anyone

As a business owner, your success depends on your ability to work effectively with people who think, communicate, and respond differently than you do. How to Work with Complicated People is designed for owners beyond the start-up stage who manage employees and want to strengthen relationships, improve outcomes, and protect their time and energy. This is also relevant for those in leadership positions at organizations that have direct supervision over employees. Through guided discussion and practical application, participants will learn how to navigate challenging personalities, address conflict productively, and set healthy boundaries that support both performance and culture. Facilitated by Melahni Ake of Everyday Leaders and grounded in Ryan Leak’s research-based work, this cohort provides business owners with tools they can immediately apply to lead their teams with clarity, confidence, and emotional intelligence.

Breakfast will be served.

This is a series and participants need to attend all six sessions.

Presenter – Melahni Ake, Everyday Leaders

Coffee Connections - June 6/9/2026 8:30 AM - 6/9/2026 9:30 AM

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 19:44:33 GMT

Please note: This is a members only event.

Aspire’s mission is to drive economic development and business success. As a convener of businesses, we will continue to facilitate networking and connections in order to best support all industries.

By attending this free reception, Aspire members can:

-Meet other business leaders and new members
-Share ideas and solutions to common business challenges and opportunities
-Connect with friendly, welcoming Aspire Ambassador Team members
-Learn updates on Aspire programs

Quarterly Q&A w/ KJ&J at Mo’s 6/18/2026 4:00 PM - 6/18/2026 6:00 PM

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:54:59 GMT

Join Kelly Fennelly and Jack Evans for our first Quarterly Q&A with KJ&J on June 18 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Mo’s Steakhouse in Greenwood for a relaxed, open conversation about the questions that matter most to you. We’ll discuss current market and economic conditions, geopolitical uncertainty, and the planning issues many individuals, families, and business owners are facing today. Whether your questions are about investing, estate planning, tax-efficient strategies, or selling a business thoughtfully, this is meant to be an easygoing setting for meaningful dialogue and practical insight. We’ll also be joined by Mike Garontakos from J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and we hope you’ll come enjoy a great conversation, good food, and an evening focused on clarity and confidence for what’s next.

Please RSVP to Jami at Jami@kjjwealth.com by June 15th, as space is limited.