Sarah Fecht is a people lover who partners with leaders to bring their best self to work, to home, and to the community where they serve. Sarah’s goal is to share stories that impact people to make our world better. Sarah understands that leadership must be intentional, nurtured, and grown for success to occur. Sarah knows that when leaders win their day, organizations, families, and communities reap the benefits.

She is the owner of Best Self Leadership which provides coaching, training, and keynote speaking. Prior to starting her own business Sarah lead human resource teams in a variety of industries including construction, Big-box retail, city government, trucking and banking. Sarah is blessed with an amazing network of support including her fantastic family; her charming husband Tom, four beautiful kids at home, and her precious Angel Awesome Austin.

Sarah is a certified Maxwell Leadership speaker, trainer, & coach. As a lifelong learner, she’s earned her BBA in Management & Human Resources from Viterbo University, her MBA from UW- La Crosse, her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute, her Senior Certified Professional designation from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and DISC certification training during her career so far. The smell of yogurt is her nemesis.

Dr. Jill O’Brien is a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist and owner of O’Brien Physical Therapy and Wellness where they feel that they do healthcare differently.

The team at OPT takes a more holistic approach to your care and strives to make the complicated, simple. A passion for personalized, integrative patient care has molded Dr. O’Brien’s treatment approach over the past 20 years and during that time she has provided a wide range of therapeutic intervention, from rehabilitation and return to sport progression for high school and collegiate athletes to treatments for orthopedic and chronic pain ailments. 

Her true passion and focus for the past 18 years has been developing her practice of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy.  Her focus of assessing and treating the body as a whole has guided and complimented her extensive experience and training in her specialties of pelvic health and drove her to open her own practice in 2016.  What started as treating a few friends in her home, has developed into a flourishing business with a recent expansion and a growing team. 

O’Brien Physical Therapy and Wellness is located in La Crosse, WI and they offer a variety of services including treatment for both orthopedic and pelvic health concerns, functional dry needling, nutrition counseling, fascial counterstrain, visceral mobilization, running assessment and programming and personal training services.  Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be, and shouldn’t be, overwhelming.  Dr. O’Brien and her team truly believe that small steps and subtle shifts, can make a big impact in your health and wellness.

John McHugh is Vice President of External Affairs for Kwik Trip, Inc., based in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In his role at Kwik Trip he has helped the company achieve recognition as a Top Workplace as listed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Des Moines Register.

Prior to joining Kwik Trip in 2004, John was an instructor and principal at Aquinas High School in La Crosse. He holds degrees from the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota and the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. John sits on the Boards of Trust Point, Betterlife Insurance and Viterbo University. He and his wife Maggie enjoy living at their log home near Sparta, Wisconsin.

Nathan was born and raised on a dairy farm in Central Wisconsin. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Economics and Political Science.

Nathan has worked in the political/public policy worlds for 20 years, including stints with the Wisconsin State Legislature, the Governor of Wisconsin, and in various leadership roles with several political campaigns—including two presidential contests. Nathan’s private sector experience began in 2010 in the energy industry; he transitioned to health care and the Bellin+Gundersen Health System in 2020.

He has master’s degrees in public affairs and business administration. Nathan lives in rural Vernon County (Wis.) with his wife, Beth; they have two college-age “children.”

Liz Filter serves as the President and CEO of VARC, Inc., where she leads the organization in executing its mission of providing employment and other life skills opportunities for children and adults with varying abilities throughout Wisconsin.

For over 20 years, Liz has dedicated her career to enhancing the lives of others and broadening opportunities for community inclusion. A passionate leader and advocate for strong communities, Liz currently serves on numerous boards and advisory committees including the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Development Board, Disability Services Provider Network, Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, among several others.

In 2022, Liz lead her organization to acquiring a childcare center, and with her team designed the areas first inclusive licensed childcare center for children with and without disabilities.

In her work at an agency that supports parents and childcare providers, Audra Wieser Larson sees first-hand the impacts of childcare on employee recruitment and retention. She brings the perspective of a current hiring manager, previous experience as a parent, and a degree and background in Economic Development to her role. She has over ten years of experience working with businesses to support the childcare needs of their employees and has been a statewide leader in advancing the understanding of childcare as a community asset and employee benefit.