2022-WIB-logo-WO-ROM

October 30-31, 2025

The 13th Annual Women in Business Conference: From Local Roots to Global Reach

Thursday, 4:00-7:00 pm, Opening Session and Reception

Friday, 8:00 am- 2:30 pm, WIB Conference

Location: Alexandria Convention Center • 2225 N MacArthur Dr., Alexandria, LA 71303

Speaker-Photos_0000_Darienne-Mobley

Keynote Speaker
Darienne Mobley, Women's Leadership Coach and Bestselling Author

Dare to Choose Happy

Darienne Mobley is an inspirational leader and certified professional coach who offers a diverse range of services to individuals, executives, and teams. Utilizing her industry expertise and her signature blend of wisdom and wit,
Darienne helps her clients achieve success in their personal and professional lives.

She coaches women leaders to provide tools to improve work-life balance, reach goals, and enhance leadership capabilities. In addition to coaching, Darienne is a passionate, entertaining public speaker and true storyteller
who connects with her audiences by sharing authentic experiences and real-life solutions.

She inspires, entertains, educates, and elevates her listeners with engaging presentations.

Darienne has published a book, “Dare to Choose Happy,” a personal development book to help people live more fulfilled lives. Over the past decade, Darienne has successfully collaborated with hundreds of organizations around the country. Her experience spans a wide range of industries, with a specialty in tourism. Darienne is proud to have served as the Tourism Director for TWO states - Mississippi and Louisiana. Directing two states is an honor held by less than 10 leaders in the U.S. Darienne currently resides on the beach in Ocean Springs, MS with her husband.

Speaker-Photos_0002_Valerie-Verzwyvelt

Opening Keynote Speaker
Valerie Verzwyvelt, Owner, Mama V's Candies

Courage Over Comfort

Valerie Verzwyvelt was born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana, and is a proud graduate of Alexandria Senior High School. From a young age, she carried a strong entrepreneurial spirit, inspired by her grandfather, a successful business owner and lifelong mentor.

Although Valerie built most of her career in the medical field, her passion for business never faded. She always dreamed of creating something of her own that could bring people joy. That dream came to life with Mama V's Candy, a brand that started small and quickly grew into a fast-moving national candy business loved by customers across the country.

Valerie’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and determination — proof that it’s never too late to follow your passion and build a sweet success story.

Julie-Fontenot

Julie Fontenot, BSN, RNC-OB, CCPS, Director of Quality, Rapides Regional Medical Center

Susana

Susie Schowen, Secretary of LA Workforce Commission

Susana (Susie) Schowen serves as the Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission. She was appointed by Governor Jeff Landry in January of 2024. Prior to joining the LWC, she spent two years as the Vice President of Education at the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, and before that, she was at LED FastStart, the workforce development division of Louisiana Economic Development, for over ten years. Through all these roles, Susie has focused on building coalitions of industry partners, economic developers, and educators to align education and workforce development efforts with the needs of employers and the economy, increasing the prosperity of our people and our communities. She takes a highly innovative and employer-responsive approach, restructuring systems to lift individuals out of poverty while driving economic growth, and measuring success using performance-based models that reward results, not promises. She also works across agencies and with regional partners to identify inefficiencies in the system, and better align the delivery of social services with workforce development efforts. Susie has degrees in chemistry from Wellesley College and Columbia University.

Presenters and panelists also include:

Chris Masingill, CEcD, President and CEO of Louisiana Central

Sarah-Sasser

Sarah Sasser, VP of Talent, Crest Industries

Sarah Sasser serves as Vice President of Talent at Crest Industries and practices as an Industrial Organizational Psychologist. She is passionate about helping people discover their potential and step into possibilities they may not yet see for themselves, a commitment that complements Crest’s purpose of challenging businesses and people to grow beyond what they believe is possible. She also greatly values building healthy, productive, scalable organizational cultures where people feel empowered to contribute, grow, and lead with confidence.

At Crest, Sarah has been a catalyst in strengthening the company’s focus on developing people - not just as employees and leaders, but as whole human beings who are capable of extraordinary growth. With a conviction that leadership is about leaving footsteps worth following, she inspires intentional development and purposeful living. Central to her approach is a commitment to living a values-based life, ensuring that her work and influence reflect authenticity, faith, and care for others.  She is committed to contributing meaningfully to her community and society at large.

Beyond her professional role, Sarah treasures her life with her husband, Thomas, to whom she has been married since 2012. Together, they are raising two daughters, Reese and Case, who inspire her to model love, integrity, and resilience.

Speaker-Photos_0001_Dr.-Sharifa-Baker

Dr. Sharifa Baker, M.D., FAAFP: Physician | Medical Director | Christian Educator | Women’s Wellness Advocate

Dr. Sharifa Baker is a board-certified Family Physician and distinguished healthcare leader with over 20 years of clinical and administrative experience. A graduate of Dillard University and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, she completed her residency at LSU Health Sciences Center in Alexandria, where she continues to serve her community with passion and purpose.

She currently provides primary care at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic and serves as the regional Physician Champion, helping to lead strategic initiatives focused on patient care, provider wellness, and clinical excellence. Since 2018, she has also served as the Medical Director of the CHRISTUS Cabrini Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center.

Dr. Baker is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and holds multiple certifications in bariatric and weight management, and EPIC Systems Physician Builder. She earned her Master’s in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2024, where she deepened her mission to serve at the intersection of faith and medicine.

Her work has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Excellence in Patient Care award from CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic and a featured role in CHRISTUS Cabrini’s award-winning Physician’s Prayer project.

Dr. Baker is a proud member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Obesity Coalition, Louisiana Women Leaders Association, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

A sought-after speaker and mentor, Dr. Baker empowers women—especially Christian women leaders—to embrace whole-person wellness and walk boldly in their divine purpose. She brings wisdom, warmth, and a spiritually grounded perspective to every conversation.

Sheila-Johnson-optimized

Sheila Thompson Johnson brings a lifetime of leadership, athletic excellence, and faith-based service to the board of Uncommon One. Raised in Pitkin, Louisiana, she excelled as a high school basketball star—winning two state championships, earning Louisiana Prep All-American and “Miss Basketball” honors. At Louisiana College, she led the Lady Wildcats to a national Final Four, became the school’s all-time leading scorer, and earned two All-American selections.

Sheila later served as head coach and athletic director at Louisiana College, guiding the program through NCAA Division III transition, reinstating football, and overseeing facility development. Her coaching earned national and state recognition.

An educator and mentor, Sheila has served on multiple boards, including Louisiana College, LSU Alexandria, and community organizations. She and her husband, Mike Johnson, are devoted parents and grandparents. Her faith is the driving force behind all she does, and she considers her involvement with Uncommon One a God-given assignment. She believes deeply in the ministry’s mission to help young women embrace their identity in Christ and walk boldly in their God-given purpose.

Presented By

Partner Sponsor

GAEDA-logo

Reception Sponsor

LA-Central-logo-horizontal

Gold Sponsors

RRMC-Logo-color
2018 Logos_0000s_0003_P&G
COA logo
optimum-logo
Junior League logo

Silver Sponsors

England-Airpark-AEX-Logo
LOGO-cleco-90th-tagline-RGB-reverse_Color_Horizontal-scaled
AEH Logo
christus surgical hospital logo
Red-River-Bank_Stacked-Logo

Table Sponsors

LSUA

UTLX

Young Professionals Group of Cenla

Walker Automotive

Boise Cascade

Crest Industries

Louisiana House of Representatives
- Rep. Mike Johnson