2026 New Member Orientation
2025-11-19 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | The Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
EVENT INFORMATION

MWER invites our 2026 new members to attend an orientation event with the board and committee members.
Wednesday, November 19
5:00pm to 7:00pm
You will meet our roster of new members as well as members of the board of directors and committee members. You will learn more about MWER and how to be engaged during your first year of membership. We are excited to get to know you!

SPONSOR INFORMATON
Thank you to our New Member Orientation sponsor, Evercore Wealth Management! Evercore Wealth Management provides customized investment management and planning solutions for high-net-worth individuals, families, and foundations. Our services are designed to align with each client’s unique objectives and long-term legacy goals. We are affiliated with Evercore Trust Company that has national trust powers and is headquartered in Delaware. The Firm is ranked among the Top RIAs in the United States for 2025 (Barron’s (09/12/25), Forbes (10/01/25), and Financial Advisor (07/11/25)), with offices in New York, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Palm Beach, and Tampa.

Monthly Meeting - December 2025 - Networking Luncheon (In Person Only)
2025-12-03 12:00 - 13:30 | The Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
EVENT INFORMATION
Join MWER for a relaxing networking luncheon filled with holiday cheer. You’ll have a perfect opportunity to engage with fellow members and hear about upcoming events.

Annual Meeting - January 2026 (in person only)
2026-01-14 16:30 - 19:00 | The Collaborative, 225 South 6th St, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
The Minnesota Star Tribune welcomes the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable

On January 14, CEO Steve Grove is honored to host you at The Collaborative, a work space in The Minnesota Star Tribune’s Capella Tour. Along with Steve Grove, we’ll hear from Editor in Chief Kathleen Hennessey and MWER Members Stephanie Ness, Chief Financial Officer, and Allison Kaplan, Director of Innovation and Engagement. We will tour the newsroom, enjoy appetizers and networking, and finish the evening celebrating our accomplishments from 2025, looking forward to 2026.
Wednesday, January 14
4:30pm – Star Tribune Newsroom Tour
5:00pm – Appetizers and Networking
6:00pm – Business Meeting

Location
The Collaborative (skyway level of the Capella Tower Building)
225 S 6th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402

Upon arrival, head to the skyway level. The Collaborative is located above the Capella Tower Atrium

Parking
Several parking ramps are within close proximity to the Capella Tower:

Capella Tower – 225 S 7th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
US Bank Plaza – 255 S 5th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Hennepin County Parking Garage – 300 S 6th St, Minneapolis, MN 55487
Northstar Center – 110 S 7th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402

Monthly Meeting - February 2026 - Affordable Housing Panel
2026-02-04 12:00 - 13:30 | The Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
EVENT INFORMATION
In 2025, Hennepin County reduced the family shelter census by 15%, invested $39 million dollars in funding shelter operations, and opened 942 units of affordable housing. Join Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando and Hennepin County staff in an engaging and insightful discussion to learn more about the vision, strategy, and leadership that made last year’s impactful work possible. Chair Fernando and staff will share more about Hennepin’s Continuum of Care program and other ways Hennepin County is leading in the work to serve residents and those who have the highest needs.
SPEAKER INFORMATION
Dr. Irene Fernando currently serves as Hennepin County Commissioner for District 2, which includes Golden Valley, Medicine Lake, southeast Plymouth, St. Anthony Village, North Minneapolis, Northeast Minneapolis, and the much of the North Loop neighborhood in Minneapolis. Irene was elected to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in November of 2018. Together, she and Commissioner Angela Conley (District 4) were the first people of color elected to the County Board since Hennepin’s founding in 1852. She is the youngest woman to serve in this position, and she is the first Filipino-American elected in Minnesota. Since 2023, Irene has been elected annually by her Commissioner colleagues to serve as Chair of the Board. In her time on the Board, Irene has fought hard to increase access to housing, transit, health services, and jobs. Before joining the County Board, Irene worked in not-for-profit and corporate settings, and she instructed college courses. Her expertise is in youth development, social entrepreneurship, shared leadership models, talent development, and systems change. Irene studied at the University of Minnesota where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business and a Master of Education in Youth Development Leadership, and recently graduated with a doctorate degree in Human Resource Development. Irene lives in the Harrison neighborhood of Minneapolis with her partner Kent, and their dog Mimi. She loves this community and can often be found out on her front porch chatting with her neighbors or cheering on the Minnesota Lynx!
RECORDED SESSIONS
If you missed the in-person session, we invite you to review the recorded session below. The first clip is our presenter Dr. Irene Fernando.

https://mwer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MWER-February.mp4

The second recording is our special guest Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan.
https://mwer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Peggy-Flanagan.mp4

Monthly Meeting - March 2026 - Special Olympics USA Games 2026
2026-03-04 12:00 - 13:30 | The Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
EVENT INFORMATION
Join us for a conversation on the vital connection between inclusive communities and their economic impact on our state. Discover why inclusivity matters in attracting major conferences and events as we spotlight the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games – the largest humanitarian event ever to come to Minnesota, happening in June 2026. Christy Sovereign, CEO of the 2026 USA Games, and Special Olympics athlete Abby Hirsch will delve into the mission, economic impact and growing momentum surrounding the Games. We will hear inspiring athlete stories, gain insight into the efforts required to bring the USA Games to life, and learn how volunteers and corporate sponsorships play a pivotal role in creating an inclusive and unforgettable event. This is your opportunity to get involved and help shape something truly extraordinary.
SPEAKER INFORMATION

Christine (Christy) Sovereign is the Chief Executive Officer for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. As an executive on loan from Accenture, she brings 35 years of business and leadership experience coupled with a very personal story, having grown up alongside sister Katie, a distinguished Special Olympics athlete and Global Messenger. Since joining Accenture, Christy has built a reputation as a trusted and strategic client advisor. She is an authentic, growth-oriented leader, deeply experienced in driving transformational change and businesses to higher levels of performance. Not only this, but she is passionate about the Twin Cities community and giving back, serving on the boards for Greater MSP, the Carlson School of Management, and the Minnesota Business Partnership. Throughout her 40+ years of supporting Special Olympics, Christy has been a coach, Unified partner, and board member of Special Olympics Minnesota. Now, she feels very honored to take on this role for the 2026 Games, and she hopes to deliver an incredible experience that leaves a lifetime of memories for all who take part in them!

RECORDED SESSION

If you missed the in-person session, we invite you to review the recorded session below.

https://mwer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MWER-Recording.mp4

Monthly Meeting - April 2026 - Child Welfare and the State of Foster Care in Minnesota
2026-04-01 12:00 - 13:30 | The Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
EVENT INFORMATION
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, established by the Federal government to recognize the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect.
This session will serve as a brief primer on Minnesota’s child welfare priorities such as systems modernization, statewide MAAFPCWDA implementation, improving engagement methods, how Minnesota is leading the nation in racial disparities (and in its policies aimed at reducing disparities in family separation and foster care), and why all Minnesotans should care about what’s happening with children and families in our state.
We will highlight Minnesota’s ground-breaking 2024 legislation, The Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA), and why this law was needed—in the context of changing national legislation and research. This law is based on decades of evidence that support efforts to help families stay safely together. How we protect Minnesota’s children and support Minnesota’s families has significant economic and tax impacts for all of us. Prevention is geared at keeping children safe and reducing trauma and is also economically more sustainable. True prevention requires the coordinated efforts of key partners who are directly associated to the child protection system.
SPEAKER INFORMATION
Windy Ross has served as the Director of the Child Safety and Permanency Division for the Minnesota Department of Children Youth and Families for 2 years. Windy has worked in child welfare for the past 27 years, including 17 in Child Protection at Ramsey County.
Windy is a strategic and equity-centered leader with extensive experience in community engagement, public sector systems navigation, and team development. She brings a strong ability to align organizational strategy with the lived experiences and needs of families and communities.
Windy is known for her decisiveness, and commitment to ensuring that policies, contracts, and programmatic decisions reflect both communities’ needs and operational excellence. This process includes building in bi-directional accountability.

Monthly Meeting - May 2026 - The Broken Rung: Advancing Women's Careers in the Workplace
2026-05-06 12:00 - 13:30 | The Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
EVENT INFORMATION
Kweilin Ellingrud will share insights from The Broken Rung – When the Career Ladder Breaks for Women and How They Can Succeed in Spite of It book and lead a discussion on the actions that each of us can take to advance our careers in the workplace. She will cover both the data highlights from the book as well as some success stories.
SPEAKER INFORMATION
Kweilin Ellingrud is the author of The Broken Rung – When the Career Ladder Breaks for Women and How They Can Succeed in Spite of It. She leads Diversity and Inclusion for McKinsey globally, and is a Director of McKinsey Global Institute where she leads research on the future of work, gender and racial equality, and economic inclusion.

Monthly Meeting - June 2026 - The Changing Landscape of Philanthropy
2026-06-03 12:00 - 13:30 | The Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
EVENT INFORMATION
In a moment shaped by shifting economic conditions, evolving federal priorities, and an increasing complexity of community needs; philanthropy is being called to adapt—quickly and thoughtfully. For leaders across Minnesota, the intersection of public policy, private sector investment, and community need has never been more visible—or more consequential.
This conversation brings together three of Minnesota’s most influential philanthropic leaders to explore how foundations are responding to this moment. From navigating uncertainty in federal funding and regulatory direction, to addressing growing needs across housing, workforce, and community health, this panel will examine how philanthropy is evolving to remain responsive, accountable, and impactful.
Designed for the unique peer network of the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable, this discussion will offer candid insights on where philanthropy is heading, how partnerships across sectors are shifting, and what it means to lead with both urgency and intention in today’s climate.
SPEAKER INFORMATION
Susan Bass Roberts, President, Pohlad Family Foundation. Susan has built her career advancing innovative, responsive philanthropy. At the Pohlad Family Foundation, she leads housing justice strategies to expand access to safe, dignified, and affordable housing in the Twin Cities—from preventing homelessness to creating pathways to homeownership.

Jen Ford Reedy, President, Bush Foundation. Jen leads the Bush Foundation with a focus on investing in people and ideas to make the region better for everyone. She also serves as vice-chair of the national Council on Foundations and has a book coming out this summer called “Please Be Good at Philanthropy.”

Chanda Smith Baker, President & CEO, St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation. Chanda is a nationally recognized leader in community-based philanthropy. As President and CEO of the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation, she leads efforts to advance equity, economic opportunity, and community-driven solutions across Minnesota. Her work centers on reimagining philanthropy to be more responsive to communities and more aligned with systems-level change.

Monthly Meeting - August 2026 - A Conversation with Senator Tina Smith
2026-08-12 12:00 - 13:30 | The Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
EVENT INFORMATION
Additional information will be available soon!

Monthly Meeting - September 2026 - Founders of MWER
2026-09-02 12:00 - 13:30 | The Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States

Monthly Meeting - October 2026 - The 2026 Midterm Elections: A Discussion with Professor Kathryn Pearson
2026-10-07 12:00 - 13:30 | The Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
EVENT INFORMATION
Political Science Professor Kathryn Pearson will share insights on the upcoming U.S. House and Senate elections and Minnesota elections, with a focus on the issues that are most important to women, women’s candidacies, and the impact of the 2026 elections.
SPEAKER INFORMATION
Kathryn Pearson is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota specializing in American politics; her research and teaching focuses on the United States Congress, women & politics, and congressional elections. She is also the director of the University Honors Program and an Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education. Professor Pearson received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 2005. Before receiving her doctorate, Pearson was a Research Fellow at the Brookings Institution and she worked on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Assistant for two congresswomen.

Monthly Meeting - November 2026 - Female CEO Fireside Chat
2026-11-04 12:00 - 13:30 | The Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States

Monthly Meeting - December 2026 - Networking Luncheon (In Person Only)
2026-12-02 12:00 - 13:30 | The Minneapolis Club, 729 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, United States
