#AccelerateAction with Slalom Grand Rapids! 💪
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You're invited to join Slalom on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at the Grand Rapids Chamber as we celebrate our first annual International Women's Day in West Michigan!
The event will feature guest speakers and a chance to connect with other like-minded individuals who are passionate about supporting and empowering women. We hope that you will join us in this celebration of the strength and resilience of women, and in our shared commitment to accelerating action.
Sign up today to reserve your spot!
Event Info
Date: March 5 from 1:30-5:00pm EST
Location: Grand Rapids Chamber, Steelcase Conference Center (250 Monroe Ave NW #150, Grand Rapids, MI 49503)
Agenda
- Check-In & Lunch
- Keynote
- Executive Panel
- Networking Activity
Keynote Speaker
Kristen Williams
Group Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Meijer
Kristen Williams is the Group Vice President and Chief Technology officer at Meijer, a privately-owned and family-operated Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates more than 500 supercenters, neighborhood markets, Meijer Grocery and Express locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.
With more than 20 years of experience, Kristen is responsible for overseeing the technology development and strategy for the Midwest retailer. Kristen and the entire technology team at Meijer are committed to keeping the customer and team member at the center of everything they do to live out the company’s purpose: To enrich lives in the communities we serve.
Kristen joined Meijer in 2019 as the Vice President of Customer and Digital Technology. Prior to Meijer, she held technology leadership and strategy roles with at Walmart.
Kristen is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a BS in Computer Systems Engineering and holds an MS in Leadership and Ethics from John Brown University. She serves on the Board of Directors at Ronald McDonald House of West Michigan and The Pi Academy, an organization focused empowering underrepresented youth to pursue careers in technology.
Executive Panel
Danielle Carmichael
Director, Global Partner Development, Snowflake
With over 20 years of experience in the Technology industry, Danielle has led various sales, operations, and partnership management teams. As the Director of Global Partner Development for Snowflake's Data Cloud Services partnerships, she's helping to build and scale one of the industry's largest partner ecosystems.
Throughout her career, she has successfully led cross-functional teams, driven business growth, and fostered strong, lasting relationships with key partners and stakeholders. Her expertise spans strategic sales leadership, optimizing operational efficiencies, and creating collaborative partnerships to deliver innovative solutions. Danielle is recognized for her ability to quickly build rapport, navigate and solve complex business problems, and lead transformative initiatives.
In her free time, Danielle enjoys spending time in nature, listening to all types of music, drinking exorbitant amounts of coffee and finding humor in every situation.
LinkedIn
Dr. Sommer Jabbar-Pearson
Director of Inclusion & Belonging, Grand Rapids Chamber
Dr. Sommer Jabbar-Pearson is an accomplished leader, educator, and advocate, dedicated to fostering inclusion and belonging in both educational and organizational spaces. A proud Palestinian American and the daughter of immigrants, Sommer's lived experiences deeply inform her commitment to equity and justice.
Sommer holds a doctoral degree in Organizational Change and Leadership, with her dissertation focusing on belonging for immigrant and refugee students in the American school system and its impact on their academic success. As a first-generation American and former English language learner, she brings a unique perspective to her work in education, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).
With extensive experience as a teacher and DEIB professional, Sommer now serves as the Director of Inclusion and Belonging for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to her professional achievements, Sommer is the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Good to Great Award, presented at the Young Non-Profit Professionals Network of Grand Rapids’ Leadership & Recognition Event: Igniting Change.
A passionate advocate for marginalized communities, Sommer has developed and facilitated transformative training programs centered around inclusion. She specializes in creating pathways for newcomers and underrepresented community members to thrive academically and socially by addressing systemic inequities and fostering a sense of belonging. Beyond her professional endeavors, Sommer is deeply committed to personal growth and wellness. She enjoys exploring nature on morning walks with her dog and continues to challenge herself by setting meaningful goals for her health and well-being.
Sommer’s career reflects a profound dedication to uplifting others, inspiring change, and building equitable communities. Her leadership and advocacy are a testament to her unwavering belief in the power of belonging to transform lives.
Karen Vander Meulen
Vice President, Product Strategist, Priority Health
Karen Vander Meulen is Vice President, Product Strategist at Priority Health. She is responsible for setting and managing the overall strategic direction for the Managing & Coordinating Care value stream and product portfolio. She has been instrumental in launching an enterprise-wide agile framework that emphasizes value creation and business agility.
She is passionate about fostering a courageous culture that values curiosity and kindness to create an environment where team members are empowered in their support of Priority Health’s mission.
Karen is an accomplished leader with over 35 years of Finance and Healthcare experience. She spent the first part of her career in the grocery retail industry, transitioning to the behavioral health services non-profit sector, and joined Priority Health in 2008. While at Priority Health she has held leadership positions in Finance, Medical Operations, and Product Management.
Sherry Brice
Chief Supply Chain Officer, WK Kellogg Co
Ms. Brice has more than 25 years of experience in the CPG industry. She joined Kellogg Company in 2012 as part of the Pringles acquisition from P&G and has held numerous Supply Chain roles at Kellogg with increasing responsibility throughout her tenure. Ms. Brice was promoted to Vice President, Global Quality Food Safety and Regulatory in 2020, and was appointed Chief Supply Chain Officer of WK Kellogg Co in 2022.
Ms. Brice serves on the KNNX Executive Advisory Board, Boldt board of directors and is affiliated with several other Industry associations, such as the STOP Foodborne Illness as an alliance member. She also serves as Executive Sponsor for the national chapter of BLK+, a Business Employee Resource Group at WK Kellogg Co that seeks to lead, develop, serve and educate our communities, allies and the entire WKKC organization to recruit, promote and retain Black talent to drive top-tier business performance. Additionally, Ms. Brice is passionate about mentorship, coaching, and sponsorship with the company and in the communities where we reside and operate.
Ms. Brice holds a Bachelor of Science and MBA in Business Management from Stayer University.