WIM Fox Valley presents Retired Army Col. Jill Morgenthaler on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, at the Elgin Country Club, 2575 Weld Road, Elgin.

Networking begins at 11:30 a.m., with luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn promptly at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $22 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Area women business owners, managers and community members are welcome to attend. Reservations must be made for attendance online no later than noon Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, at www.wimfoxvalley.org.

Col. Jill Morgenthaler

This month’s meeting is sponsored by Dr. Liz Welch of Family Chiropractic in South Elgin.

Led by moderator and WIM member and Business Matters President Nancy Guthrie, Morgenthaler will discuss her experiences and overcoming many obstacles in her career.

Morgenthaler is an award-winning speaker who assists women and men in not only surviving but also thriving as leaders.  She is a woman of many firsts. She was one of the first women to enter ROTC and to train as an equal with men. She was the first female company commander in the Army Security Agency Group Korea; she was the first woman battalion commander in the 88th Regional Support Command; and she was the first woman brigade commander in the 84th Division, commanding hundreds of soldiers across six states. In Illinois, she was the first woman to lead homeland security.

Today, Morgenthaler is the author of the book “Courage to Command: Leadership Lessons from a Military Trailblazer.” She is a professional speaker who specializes in keynotes about leadership and leadership during crisis. Starting with her exciting encounter with Saddam Hussein, Morgenthaler thrills audiences from around the world while showing how to be a better leader and a success in life.

“We are honored that Col. Morgenthaler will speak to our organization,” said Ramona “Monie” Burns, this year’s 2015-16 WIM Fox Valley president. “As WIM Fox Valley is focused on mentoring and inspiring other women, it is exciting to have such a strong leader and woman of firsts to share her life experiences with us.”

Upcoming speakers include Britten Follett of Follett Educational Foundation on April 14, 2016, and authors Jerry and Phyllis Campagna on May 5, 2016.

About WIM Fox Valley

WIM Fox Valley was founded in 1984. Members are comprised of business professionals and entrepreneurs in a wide range of categories. Area women are invited to join.  For more information visit www.wimfoxvalley.org.

SOURCE: WIM Fox Valley news release