Meet the CBWF Leadership
Polly Olson: President
Polly is passionate about living out her faith and building healthy relationships in the workplace. She enjoys mentoring young business professionals. Polly graduated from the University of Minnesota in Food Science. Her work experience includes Novartis Nutrition and J.M. Brown Company. Polly is a certified Christian Life Coach and enjoys coaching young professionals.
She is currently VP of Business Development, Sales and Marketing for Davisco Foods International, Inc. She manages the domestic and international sales team and conducts business with over 38 countries, including Saudi Arabia, China, and Finland. Polly is President and Founder of Christian Business Women's Fellowship Minnesota Chapter. Uniting Minnesota Christian business women has been an important goal for Polly which she met in September of 2009 when she formed the CBWF Minnesota Chapter. CBWF is a ministry geared for professional women who desire to make an impact in their business world and personal lives through Christ.
One of her passions in ministry is being a lay leader within the Charis Prison Ministry of Minnesota as well as spending time with family and friends. Her hobbies include reading Christian books by E.M. Bounds and doing Beth Moore bible studies. Polly can be contacted at olsonpolly@gmail.com
Kristi Brooks Olson: Vice-President
Kristi is a certified Life Purpose Coach and Life Plan Facilitator through Life Purpose Coaching Centers, Int'l. She is founder of Purpose Released, LLC, a Christian Life Coaching and Empowerment Center for women. Her passion is to help women discover their voice, their strength and their life purpose in order to serve others with their unique gifts and talents. She works with women in all stages of life who are passionate about moving forward. She is also a Board Certified Biblical Counselor through the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Her professional career includes working in marketing and business development for both corporate and non-profit environments. She also has over 10 years of ministry experience working with women as Director of Women's Ministries in the local church, as well as volunteering to lead ministries for women healing from painful relationships and abuse. Kristi@PurposeReleased.com
Pat Gilbert: Roundtable Coordinator
Pat Gilbert is owner and president of Kingdom Focus Consulting, LLC, with a mission to "focus resources for Kingdom purposes." She spent 25 years in the corporate world, developing computer systems and data bases for the financial services industry, serving as Director of Corporate Systems for TransUnion Corporation and as a Vice President of Application Development for First Chicago Bank. For the past 12 years, she has been using her business skills and MBA education to serve churches as a ministry director and member of the Operations Leadership Team at Willow Creek Community Church and as Business Administrator for Hosanna! in Lakeville, Minnesota. In 2007 she launched her own firm to serve churches in areas of strategic planning, operations and finance. She is also a Christian life coach.
Nita Huisinga: Mentorship Coordinator
Nita Huisinga is the visionary behind TruNorth Coaching, LLC. She provides coaching and training to leaders across a spectrum of industries and organizational structures. Garnering insights and experience from her degree in Organizational Leadership, certification in Professional Coach Training and previous experience in working with leaders in privately held and not-for-profit organizations, Nita's whole-person approach to leadership coaching helps clients achieve results.
Sara Jane Wickoren: Publicity and Marketing Coordinator
Sara Jane Wickoren is an energetic public relations and community relations professional who uses her God-given gifts to connect people with one another, build sustaining relationships, elevate and maintain brand awareness, and approaches endeavors spiritually and wholeheartedly. Having represented many enduring products and companies such as The Saint Paul Hotel, Chipotle Mexican Grill, General Mills and Ecolab, Sara Jane is thrilled to be a part of CBWF leading the marketing & publicity efforts. Sara Jane has been transformed from a corporate business woman to a Christian who works in the corporate arena!
Sara Jane volunteers regularly at Hosanna! Lutheran Church in Lakeville in addition to activities at her children's schools. Her hobbies include boating, cooking, being a design consultant, reading, and cherishing standing date night with her husband each week.
Polly Wright: Programming and Speakers Coordinator
Polly Wright's experience includes over 20 years in Sales and Marketing Communications. As the owner of her own marketing firm, WrightAlliances, Polly provides creative solutions that build brands, acquire and retain loyal customers and finds the most satisfaction when client relationships are long term and built on trust. She has developed successful marketing campaigns for leaders in the following industries: private aviation, hospitality, financial services, commercial construction, manufacturing, technology and retail.
Studying God's word has been life changing for Polly. She realizes how important it is for believers to integrate their faith into all aspects of their lives, including the workplace. In Bible Study Fellowship for 17 years, Polly was a Discussion Leader and, most recently, a Substitute Teaching Leader. She is a member of Faith Covenant Church where she and her husband lead a marriage ministry. Polly also serves on the Church Council and her "life verse" is John 15:5; she believes, wholeheartedly, that "apart from Him, she can do nothing." Polly is married to her best friend, Brian, and they are blessed with two children.
CBWF News
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CBWF Photos
We will present here a gallery of photos from each event; click on the date below to be taken to the gallery from that event.
September 23, 2010: Verla Gillmor