MPI D/FW Emerging Leaders

Name: MPI D/FW Emerging Leaders
Start: 2019-02-28T18:00:00Z
End: 2019-02-28T20:30:00Z
Location: Vouv Meeting & Event Space

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6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

4445 Sigma Rd

Dallas, TX

United States

Caitlin Watson

Email: chapadmin@mpidfw.org

Emerging Leaders
Women on the Move … Bridging the Gap

Emerging Leaders invites you to come and spend an evening with three dynamic women who will discuss the challenges, sacrifices and successes of how they broke the glass ceiling.

In this session, we explore how to achieve gender equity, strategies for inclusion of women in leadership roles, and reviewing multilateral initiatives to expand women’s political and economic participation. This event is open to all with a bold resolution to forge ahead and take their career to the next level.

Come Meet Our Panelists

Dedie Leahy, Dedie Leahy & Company
Emcee
Moderator

Dedie Leahy is an encouraging, strategic thinker. A Fort Worth native and UT-Austin grad, she gained ace, executive experience in NYC before Dallas beckoned.

Whether creating new ways for clients to elevate their game; re-envisioning an image; liaising with media; presenting her fave motivational topic, “The 5 Power Words of Relationship Building”; producing special events; or hosting visitors to experience Dallas’ hot culinary/art scenes, Dedie looks at life as a divine gift. In fact, she calls her multifaceted work her passion, along with family, friends, travel, and music, especially R&B and dancing to it. And, she’s always curious to learn new steps.

Chief U. Reneé Hall
Dallas Police Chief
Panelist

Chief U. Reneé Hall is the 29th Chief of Police for the City of Dallas, Texas. She is the first woman to ever hold this position. During her brief tenure with the Dallas Police Department, Chief Hall has made prominent steps to transform the department to reflect 21st Century Policing by streamlining the department’s organizational structure to improve efficient workflow between units, and strengthen effective policy processes. Chief Hall has prioritized community engagement and outreach by connecting with officers in the field, meeting with Dallas community groups, professional leaders, and local organizations.
Under Chief Hall’s leadership, the department has implemented 5 strategic priorities: crime reduction, increased recruitment, advanced officer development, improved organizational effectiveness, and enhanced community relationships. In addition, Chief Hall has engaged the independent school districts and local colleges to generate a student pipeline, and internship program. She has increased internal accessibility to her office, and has overseen several General Order and policy changes within the department.
Chief Hall is an accomplished and highly dedicated law enforcement executive with more than 18 years of experience to include 12 years at the management and executive level at the Detroit Police Department. Her career began in Detroit, Michigan, where she commanded the largest Bureau which included the Neighborhood Policing Bureau, East & West Patrol Bureaus, Downtown Division, and Metropolitan Division.
Her educational accomplishments include completion of the FBI National Academy, Major Cities Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute (PELI IV), two Masters of Science degrees in Security Administration and Intelligence Analysis, from the University of Detroit Mercy, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Grambling State University.
Chief Hall is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Heidi Swartz
Executive Director, Cowtown Marathon

Heidi Swartz is Executive Director of The Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth, Texas. In its 41st year with over 26,000 participants and six races over the last weekend in February, The Cowtown Marathon has nearly tripled in size since 2004 under Swartz's direction. In 2006, she created The Cowtown Marathon's associated non-profit organization, C.A.L.F. (Children's Activities for Life and Fitness), which provides over 5,000 disadvantaged children with greatly reduced entry in the race and free training equipment, including running shoes.

Actively involved in her city's health and prosperity, Swartz currently serves as secretary on the board of "FitWorth," the Mayor of Fort Worth's healthy living initiative, and serves on the Marketing Advisory Board of the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Running USA Board of Directors.

Heidi Swartz is also a successful and in-demand consultant for other race events in the DFW area, acting as an expert in race management and producing multiple events throughout the year.

Leigh Ann Runyan
Director, Americas Events, Operations, North America

Leigh Ann Runyan is responsible for the management of all SPE events throughout the Americas including the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, the society’s annual meeting. Her responsibilities include America’s event and exhibit operations, registration services, sponsorships, and training courses. She also has responsibility for the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) which has an attendance of 70,000-90,000 each year in Houston.

Prior to SPE, Runyan was with the American Heart Association for 21 years where she held several positions in Meetings and Professional Education. Her last position before leaving AHA was vice president, Meetings. Her primary responsibility as vice president was the overall management of the department's 250+ meetings annually.

Runyan graduated from the University of Tulsa with a BS in finance and later received a BS in hotel administration from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV). Runyan also holds a master's in hospitality administration from UNLV. She is a certified meeting professional and a member of the Professional Convention Management Association.