Join Ann Thomas and Luanne Thomas Ewald for a spotlight show on women who are leading the way in business, civics, and humanity. Monthly shows offer insight on guest accomplishments, with background that is sure to inspire the rise of our next generation. Find empowering stories here!
MEET THE 2025 “WOMEN WHO LEAD” HONOREES:
“Women Who Lead” honors female leaders from throughout the Great Lakes region who are influencing our communities in positive ways. Each year, we honor 12 of these amazing ladies at our Women Who Lead Honoree Ceremony. These women come from all backgrounds and fields … business leaders, small business owners, community organizers, civil servants, volunteers, and more. Each of these ladies offers an inspiring story of a woman who is leaning in and pushing the world to new heights.
Sept. 27, 2025 ~ Kerry Doman, the founder of Little Guide, is a 2025 Women Who Lead honoree! Identifying as a serial entrepreneur, she created Little Guide from her personal experience as a mother of three and trying to find family events to go to. It has grown to become the largest online media resource for families seeking activities, helping metro Detroit families find activities, create memories, and get out of the house with children. The resource includes a full event calendar and articles relevant to parents and grandparents, providing ideas through its website, e-newsletters, and social media. Doman aimed for a site that felt modern and was simple for parents, husbands, and grandparents alike. She attributes her entrepreneurial spirit to her parents, saying they provided tools for success and encouraged her independence.
Sept. 27, 2025 ~ Krista Tanner, president of ITC Holdings Corp., began her professional life as an attorney specializing in regulatory and utilities law. Her journey included a period as a state regulator in Iowa, which introduced her to ITC and its operations. ITC Holdings, founded in Michigan in 2003 with a small team of 38 employees, has since grown substantially, operating in eight states with nearly 1,000 employees. The company delivers electric transmission, acting as an “interstate highway” for power. It moves electricity from diverse generation sources, including gas, nuclear, solar, and wind plants, to distribution utilities such as DTE, Consumers Energy, and local municipal or cooperative entities. This early admiration for the company ultimately led to an offer from CEO Linda Apsey to become president of ITC’s Midwest business unit, a role Tanner accepted due to her long-standing regard for the organization. Tanner reflected that her current executive position in the utilities sector was not something she had envisioned in her early career. Her initial academic interests focused on environmental law, planning and zoning, and agricultural law, without realizing the broad impact of utilities on these fields. With a background in history and Russian studies before attending law school, her route to a utility executive role was non-traditional.
Aug. 23, 2025 ~ Tiffany Ford, president and CEO of the University of Michigan Credit Union (UMCU), discusses her path from public accounting to credit union leadership. A key element of UMCU’s mission is community outreach, particularly financial literacy. Ford describes a partnership with the Detroit Lions and Camp Ignite, a summer camp for youth ages 5-13, combining financial education with engaging activities. She emphasizes the importance of excelling in one’s current role, saying that opportunities and promotions will follow with hard work and dedication. She advises young professionals to explore the diverse roles within banking and finance beyond traditional positions, such as IT, marketing, and data analysis. Ford is one of the 2025 Women Who Lead honorees due to her leadership.
July 26, 2025 ~Laura Huot’s path was not a direct route, as she initially wanted to study journalism before health issues led her to pursue the study of psychology. Progressing as a therapist, she later held leadership roles at The Guidance Center, a mental and behavioral health services center that offers a number of programs for all ages in the community, and now serves as the agency’s CEO. She was also involved with The Guidance Center’s Kids-TALK program, a children’s advocacy center that ensures children who have been sexually or physically abused receive all of the help and resources they need to heal. Most recently, she helped lead TGC to be part of the bipartisan Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic national pilot program, aiming to improve mental health and substance use disorder services regardless of someone’s insurance status. Huot’s career decisions were driven by a desire to broaden her impact on the community.
July 26, 2025 ~ Sharman Davenport, president and CEO of Turning Point in Macomb County, is celebrating its 45th anniversary and serves survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. Davenport’s career started at Haven, another domestic violence agency, and all her work since has focused on assisting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and homelessness. Turning Point is the only comprehensive service agency in Macomb County, offering various programs, including shelter, a 24-hour hotline, counseling, and housing. The agency also operates a PPO office for protection orders and provides forensic nurse examinations for survivors of sexual assault and non-fatal strangulation in both Macomb and St. Clair counties. The organization provides services to over 27,000 survivors and community members annually and conducts community education for schools, police, and medical staff.
June 28, 2025 ~ Oakland University President Dr. Ora Pescovitz joins “Women Who Lead” to discuss the future of higher education, the power of public universities, and her own remarkable leadership journey, from pediatric endocrinologist to university president. In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Pescovitz shares insights on resilience, adaptability, and the importance of loving what you do. Dr. Pescovitz is also honored as one of our 2025 “Women Who Lead” honorees for her visionary leadership and lifelong commitment to empowering others through education.
April 26, 2025 ~ Kelly Wolgamott, vice president of Pure Michigan and a 2025 Women Who Lead honoree, is a leader in the state’s $53 billion tourism industry. Her career with the state of Michigan dates back to 2011, working as the director of travel marketing for over 12 years at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Travel Michigan. Her work tirelessly pushed an image that Michigan is a vibrant place to visit, both in its attractions in the city and the beauty of its nature. As vice president of Pure Michigan, she drives the state’s tourism marketing, including the continued run of the iconic Pure Michigan campaign.
March 29, 2025 ~ Carol Zuniga has become a leader in her industry after 30 years in healthcare, currently serving as the CEO of Hegira Health, a mental and behavioral health clinic based in Livonia. She has initiated innovative practices at Hegira, such as its adult crisis service access system. Throughout her career, Zuniga has been driven by her commitment to ensure access to high-quality care for persons with serious behavioral health conditions in Wayne County’s communities, its Children’s Specialty Services Division, and to attaining federal grant awards. She also serves as a National Alliance for Mental Illness Michigan (NAMI-MI) board member, using her knowledge and passions in mental health care to push for improvements in the state of Michigan.
March 29, 2025 ~ Micheline “Micki” Maynard is a long-time journalist, broadcaster, and educator based out of Ann Arbor. Over the course of her over 30-year career, she has garnered significant expertise in the transportation and food industries, having been featured in the Boston Globe, Time Magazine, the New York Times, Food & Wine magazine, Forbes, and USA Today. She is also he author of six in-depth books on the ever-changing auto industry and the turbulent food and restaurant scene. Her most recent award was for her book “Satisfaction Guaranteed,” which was named one of the Best Business Books of 2022 in the Management and Workplace Culture category by Porchlight Books.
March 1, 2025 ~ Karen Arondoski is the owner of I.F. Metalworks, a business that started as an automotive tooling supplier that quickly diversified into other industries such as the architectural, aerospace, decorative metals, and defense industries. Arondoski has been leading the business as its owner and president since it began in the early 2000s, helping customers through the process of designing their products to completion. Not just content with running a successful metalworks business, she also works with the Women in Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan to help empower other women in the field. She also helps her community by sitting on the Board for Macomb County/St. Clair Workforce Development.
Jan. 19, 2025 ~ Dr. Sonia Hassan Duggan is the founding director of the Office of Women’s Health at Wayne State University. As part of her work at the university, Dr. Duggan spearheaded the Synergy of Scholars for Maternal and Infant Health Equity (SOS Maternity Network), a pioneering initiative aimed at addressing the maternal and child health crisis in Michigan. By uniting leading universities, hospitals, health systems, and community organizations, Dr. Duggan’s efforts are revolutionizing pregnancy care through innovative medical treatments, improved access to care, and comprehensive patient support.
WOMEN WHO LEAD PODCAST:
SUBSCRIBE:
