Opportunities for women in the business-related disciplines of finance, entrepreneurship and management information systems will be the focus of a professional panel discussion, 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, in Spark 227 at Washington State University. A reception will follow in the Spark atrium.
The WSU Carson College of Business invites the public and students in all majors to hear top female executives from leading enterprises discuss the best opportunities for jobs and advancement and share their experiences in these fields in which women have been historically underrepresented.
Presenters will include:
Laurie Bishop, chief financial officer, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants. Bishop is responsible for the overall direction of accounting, finance and information systems. She has extensive experience in financial planning and analysis, writing policies, leading financial budget processes, forecasting and driving cash management, and working with both public and private clients. Bishop is a certified public accountant.
Lindsay Crossler (’01), senior engineering manager, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. Crossler is responsible for leading development projects in conjunction with SEL strategic objectives, and ensuring that cost, schedule and performance objectives are met. Her experience includes business analysis, master data management, project management, ERP implementations, new product development, data warehouse and business intelligence. She earned her bachelor’s in business administration, with a focus in management information systems, from Washington State University.
Niki Koubourlis (’03) founder and CEO, Bold BettiesTM. Koubourlis focuses on empowering women through outdoor adventure. Her team eliminates the intimidation factor, makes outdoor experiences more affordable, and provides a community of women adventurers. Koubourlis began her career as a financial analyst in the commercial real estate industry in Seattle. Her expertise includes private equity, entertainment and technology industries, investments, valuation, modeling and forecasting. She earned a bachelor’s in business administration, with a focus in real estate, from Washington State University and holds an MBA in finance, strategic management and accounting.
Stacee Kratovil (’11), vice president, private wealth associate advisor, U.S. Bank. Kratovil connects clients with comprehensive wealth management services, including investment management, private banking, trust and estate services, and wealth planning. She supports clients’ goals by bringing together a team of specialists to provide customized strategies, often working closely with other client advisors such as attorneys and accountants. She earned her bachelor’s in business administration, with a focus in finance, from Washington State University, is a member of WSU’s Carson College of Business Finance Advisory Board, and a certified financial planner.
Kaycee Krebs, (’07) partner and lead advisor, Brighton Jones. Krebs partners with clients on investment strategy, balance sheet management, tax mitigation, wealth transfer, risk management and charitable giving, among other areas. As Brighton Jones is a fiduciary, Krebs acts in her clients’ best financial interests to eliminate conflicts of interest that occur in the financial industry. Krebs earned her bachelor’s in business administration, with a focus in finance and financial services, from Washington State University. She is a certified financial planner.
Christine Opp, managing director, Freestone Capital Management. Opp helps clients understand and navigate complex financial situations to reach their goals and values. She focuses on building customized investment portfolios through comprehensive financial planning. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a certified financial planner.
Nicole Weynands (’01), project manager within the Communications & IT Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Weynands is responsible for leading teams in delivering products and services that are focused on improving user experiences. She has extensive experience in project management, business analysis, design thinking concepts, mentoring, facilitating meetings and workshops, and working with stakeholders and teams to achieve common goals. She earned a bachelor’s in computer engineering from Washington State University, holds a master’s in user experience design from Rutgers University and is a certified Scrum Master.
Kratovil will moderate the panel, hosted by the Departments of Finance and Management Science, Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship, and the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies within the WSU Carson College of Business.
