2024 December PULSE CEO Breakfast

Description

As you continue to advance in your career, do you want to learn how to better lead, influence, and build a network? Join us December 5th to hear from Fox Cities business leaders as they give insight into their own paths to success and offer advice to area young professionals looking to grow into positions of leadership in the future. 

A moderated panel of C-suite executives from across the region will answer questions that offer further insight and advice on career and leadership skills, to help you take charge of your future.

The panel includes:

Lisa Cruz: Owner and CEO, Red Shoes, Inc./Executive Director, Multicultural Coalition, Inc.

Lisa Cruz founded Red Shoes Inc. (RSI) in 2008 in Appleton. Today, she serves as the company’s CEO. Red Shoes has 15 employees and specializes in multiple areas of focus such as marketing, communications, crisis communications and creative. Clients include industries such as footwear, healthcare, construction, green technology and more.

Lisa and the Red Shoes team have worked hard to develop a strong and engaged culture and invest heavily in training and development.  Red Shoes was the supporting agency for Multicultural Coalition during the pandemic.  The Multicultural Coalition, Inc. (MCI) was developed with the vision to improve the lives of all by creating a community that prospers together.  It’s mission is based on a movement created to acknowledge racial biases and proactively reach diverse populations with meaningful communication and actionable services, removing barriers, elevating all voices and fostering community engagement in Winnebago, Outagamie and Calumet counties.

As a woman business owner, Lisa is extremely aware of how hard women have to fight in the business world to make their way. She advocates relentlessly for women and feels strongly about how women need to support one another, find their courage and voice, and take risks while taking care of themselves. Lisa is a mother of four boys, married to her husband for 27 years, and has two dog companions. She enjoys immersing herself in nature, reading international best-sellers, spending time with friends and travelling.

Maiyoua Thao: President, Long Cheng Marketplace

Maiyoua Khang Thao – wife to Dr. Chungyia Thao, mother to six children, Fox Valley small business owner, and serial entrepreneur – has given so much to her community that she calls home as she works to uplift the lives of marginalized communities and empower individuals to have healthier homes and lifestyles. 

Maiyoua and her husband have worked hard over the last two decades on developing businesses that serve underrepresented communities. They are now the proud co-owners of Thao Enterprises, Thao Management Group, Long Cheng Senior Center, Long Cheng Marketplace, and ABC Staffing. Maiyoua is also the President of the Long Cheng Community Center, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life of local senior citizens and support the growth and leadership of local Hmong girls through teaching traditional dance and cultural arts.

Born in Laos, Maiyoua’s family escaped the communist reign at the age of 3 and took refuge in Thailand, where she and her family were forced to live in the Thailand refugee camp for 8 years. She can recall the long, life journey she had surviving and escaping the communist reign and political war, while spending her childhood in the refugee camp where many families and children died from diseases and malnutrition. It was said that there was no future for the children and families living in the refugee camp. At a young age, her mother taught her to become a caretaker for her younger siblings, while her mother worked on traditional tapestry to sell at the street markets for very small income to make a living and purchase food for the family. Finally, in 1989, her family immigrated to America as refugees and first settled in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Maiyoua was the first Hmong American woman who won the City Council seat for the City of Appleton and served on the Retirement Security Task Force. She has won numerous awards including the Good Citizen Award, Business of the Year Award, Insight – Entrepreneur Grit Award, and Making Democracy Work Award among others. Most recently, she is the recipient of the 2024 ATHENA Leadership Award.

Craig Wiedemeier: President Werner Electric Supply

Craig Wiedemeier has been with Werner Electric Supply since 2012. He joined the organization as Vice President of Operations and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2019. In April 2020, Craig was named President of the Company, a role that has permitted him to challenge the status quo and grow the Company with a sense of family, a desire for success, and an infectious, positive attitude. These attributes have allowed Craig to develop common, rewarding goals between Werner Electric’s employees and business partners. Craig earned his MBA from Marquette University and a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Craig currently serves on the Board of supplyFORCETM an electrical supplies industry-based company and local community organizations. During his tenure as Werner’s Vice President of Operations, Craig served on the FVTC Supply Chain Management Advisory Committee Outside the office, Craig spends time with his family and partakes in many outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing, tractor pulling, and snowmobiling.

Coreen Dicus Johnson: President and CEO at Network Health

Coreen directs the corporate development and strategic direction of Network Health. She specializes in growing provider-health plan relationships and cultivating health care literacy. With over 25 years of experience in multiple facets of the health care industry, Coreen brings studied leadership and a history of proven results to Network Health. 

Prior to joining Network Health, Coreen served as President, Central Market at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, now known as Ascension Wisconsin. Coreen previously served as Senior Vice President of Physician and Revenue Operations for Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare and held various leadership positions at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Wisconsin including Staff Attorney and Director of Business Development. 

Coreen earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations from Marquette University and a Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law. She has guest lectured at Marquette University Law School and College of Business Administration on various health law and insurance topics. Coreen received the 2024 Women of Influence Corporate Leader Award in the New North Region by Insight on Business. In 2023, Coreen received St. Augustine Prep’s Founder Award and the Marquette University Diederich College of Communication “Communicator of the Year” Alumni Award. She was accepted as a Wisconsin Titan 100, recognizing Wisconsin’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives, in 2023 and again in 2024.  Coreen was named a Power Broker by the Milwaukee Business Journal Editorial Staff in 2023, 2021, 2020 and 2019 and was nominated and received the BizTimes 2018 Health Care Heroes Executive Leadership Award. 

Current and past board appointments include Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, Community Smiles Executive Leadership Council, gThankYou Board of Directors, Health Plan Alliance Board of Directors, Marquette University Diederich College Leadership Council, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Board of Directors, New North, Inc., Waukesha County Community Foundation, and Wisconsin Association of Health Plans Board of Directors along with other notable organization commitments.

Lynn Detterman: SVP, President South Region at ThedaCare

Lynn Detterman, CPA, MBA, serves as Senior Vice President of the ThedaCare South Region. In her role, she provides executive leadership for ThedaCare with specific responsibility for ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah. She’s served in her role since 2020.

As a senior vice president, Detterman is the key steward of operations, financial and physical assets for the hospitals she oversees. She also serves as a strategic partner in setting the vision and direction for hospital and the region.

Detterman’s responsibilities include driving efficiencies and optimizing operations of ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah. In addition, she works with ThedaCare, affiliated physicians, clinically integrated network/accountable care organizations leaders, and other hospital vice presidents to meet the needs of the communities.

One of Detterman’s most recent accomplishments was leading the completion of the $100 million ‘Inspired Past; Healthier Future’ Modernization at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah. Some highlights of the project included enhancing surgery capabilities, increasing the size of the emergency department and Level II trauma center, expanding the inpatient behavioral health unit and adding an obstetrical emergency department. ThedaCare completed the modernization project in January 2024.

Prior to coming to ThedaCare, Detterman held various leadership roles with Mercy Health of Ohio. An Ohio native, Detterman now lives in Neenah with her husband and three children.