Danielle Tye believes the thing standing between most women and what they want isn't ability — it's the fear of getting it wrong. As the founder of Activate Edge, she partners with women to stop waiting until they feel ready and start moving anyway. She spent 16 years in the corporate world learning this the hard way: you don't have to have it all figured out to begin. Today she helps women take that first imperfect step and discover they were more ready than they knew.

For the past 22 years, Lee’s Summit has been home for Roxanne Evans, where she and her husband, Aaron, a Captain with the Lee’s Summit Police Department, have raised their four sons. Her passion for supporting families and education runs deep. She began her career teaching third and fourth grade at Highland Park Elementary before transitioning into the business world. She spent eight years driving customer service and marketing strategy as Marketing Director for Chick-fil-A, followed by 10 years empowering local families as the owner and Enrollment Director of a Brain Balance franchise. Today, Roxanne brings her diverse experience to her own company, Renew Neuro~Management, where she trains business leaders in neurodivergent support and works alongside educators and families to support struggling students.

Tina Johnson is a professional speaker, domestic violence educator, and Director of Community Engagement at Hope House. Through education, storytelling, strategic outreach, and advocacy-centered podcasting, she empowers survivors, promotes prevention, and helps communities build healthier relationships. Tina earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mediated Communication from the University of Missouri, Columbia with a minor in Public Administration & Policy and a Professional Communication Certificate. She is a 2027 MPA Candidate at the University of Missouri, Columbia where she is expanding her expertise in public service, nonprofit leadership, and community impact.

Jen Jones, the 2025 Missouri State Teacher of the Year, is in her 26th year of teaching English. She began her career at William Chrisman High School and has spent the last 22 years at Lee’s Summit West High School, where she currently teaches 12th grade dual credit composition and International Baccalaureate literature and serves as co-chair of the English department. She has presented at numerous state and national conferences, is a member of the Greater Kansas City Writing Project, and helps produce a monthly storytelling open mic at the Black Box Theatre in Kansas City.

Danielle Tye believes the thing standing between most women and what they want isn't ability — it's the fear of getting it wrong. As the founder of Activate Edge, she partners with women to stop waiting until they feel ready and start moving anyway. She spent 16 years in the corporate world learning this the hard way: you don't have to have it all figured out to begin. Today she helps women take that first imperfect step and discover they were more ready than they knew.

Tyreka Smith is the Chief Operating Officer at TNC Community, where she leads organizational operations and drives initiatives that expand equitable, person centered services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With deep experience in program leadership, systems development, and team performance across the nonprofit and human services sectors, she is known for building sustainable programs that strengthen communities and improve service delivery. Tyreka is a committed advocate for individuals and families often overlooked in traditional systems, and her work reflects a passion for creating pathways that promote dignity, access, and long term support.

Teresa Brandon is the Chief Executive Officer of Ignite Hope, a behavioral health nonprofit specializing in grief, crisis, and trauma services, and also serves as Executive Director of Behavioral Health Services at UnitedHealthcare/Optum. A performance driven executive, Teresa is recognized for advancing organizational success through strategic direction, operational excellence, and the development of high quality clinical and administrative programs. Her leadership is grounded in her PPRC model- Process, Presentation, Respect, and Consistency, and is widely respected for its clarity, fairness, and results oriented approach. With extensive experience spanning crisis intervention, residential services, policy development, compliance, therapy, and behavioral health advocacy, Teresa is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals with complex needs and empowering teams to deliver exceptional care.

For the past 22 years, Lee’s Summit has been home for Roxanne Evans, where she and her husband, Aaron, a Captain with the Lee’s Summit Police Department, have raised their four sons. Her passion for supporting families and education runs deep. She began her career teaching third and fourth grade at Highland Park Elementary before transitioning into the business world. She spent eight years driving customer service and marketing strategy as Marketing Director for Chick-fil-A, followed by 10 years empowering local families as the owner and Enrollment Director of a Brain Balance franchise. Today, Roxanne brings her diverse experience to her own company, Renew Neuro~Management, where she trains business leaders in neurodivergent support and works alongside educators and families to support struggling students.

Tina Johnson is a professional speaker, domestic violence educator, and Director of Community Engagement at Hope House. Through education, storytelling, strategic outreach, and advocacy-centered podcasting, she empowers survivors, promotes prevention, and helps communities build healthier relationships. Tina earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mediated Communication from the University of Missouri, Columbia with a minor in Public Administration & Policy and a Professional Communication Certificate. She is a 2027 MPA Candidate at the University of Missouri, Columbia where she is expanding her expertise in public service, nonprofit leadership, and community impact.

Jen Jones, the 2025 Missouri State Teacher of the Year, is in her 26th year of teaching English. She began her career at William Chrisman High School and has spent the last 22 years at Lee’s Summit West High School, where she currently teaches 12th grade dual credit composition and International Baccalaureate literature and serves as co-chair of the English department. She has presented at numerous state and national conferences, is a member of the Greater Kansas City Writing Project, and helps produce a monthly storytelling open mic at the Black Box Theatre in Kansas City.