Past Presidents

Eileen LaPorte, Founder - 1998
“I started WIC in 1998 as a small community-based networking group of women consultants to fulfill the need we had to network and share business and information. Over the last 10 years, it’s grown into a dynamic networking organization serving over 400 people. I look back fondly on my consulting days and time spent with the WIC women, and congratulate the women who’ve grown this organization into what it is today.”

 

Elaine Starling, President - 1999
“I attended the second WIC meeting and became the second president. I am continually energized, inspired, and empowered by the other consultants who run and attend WIC events. The collaborative nature of the group illustrates the potential for every participant to excel. WIC maintains an orientation of welcoming others, remaining open to participation and input, accepting strongly differing perspectives, nurturing new and growing consultants, supporting each other’s determination to excel, providing informative programs and showcasing an insightful group of volunteers. I attribute a great deal of my personal and professional success to my involvement in WIC.”

Amy Fritz, President - 2000-2001
“I was in awe of the benevolence and collaboration of the WIC women during my time in the organization. To this day, I hold it up as the gold standard for the communities with which I work. It was an honor to serve as president.”

 

Kate Purmal, President - 2002-2003
“WIC is a vital resource for its members, providing information, coaching, and tools to help them launch and grow a successful consulting business. Equally important, WIC facilitates opportunities for networking and collaboration between its members. By far, the greatest reward from my tenure as president and time on the Board was seeing the positive impact that WIC had on the success of our members. WIC is responsible for creating life-long business partnerships and enduring friendships. Not many organizations can make that claim.”

 

Deborah Henken, President - 2004-2005
“It was my honor and privilege to work with some of the most amazing women that I’ve ever met. Each of us focused on building our businesses, while always offering a hand, heart, and mind to support others in their goals. WIC was my foundation for running my consulting practice. Leading the group allowed me to give back to the organization and help it grow in new directions.”

 

Karilee Wirthin, President - 2006-2007
“I joined WIC right after starting my business in 1999. I always say I wouldn’t be in business today if it weren’t for WIC. Not only have I learned how to run and manage a successful consulting practice, but I gained a great set of colleagues who pump me up when things don’t go well and cheer me on when they do. This camaraderie has been an integral part of my business success. Serving as WIC’s president was a great honor, and I was thrilled to give back to the organization that’s been so pivotal in building my business.”

 

Linda Popky, President - 2008-2009
“It's been a privilege to lead WIC during the past two years. I’m continuously amazed at the quality and dedication of women who make up this organization—both the volunteers who give substantially of their time and energy to drive WIC, and those vibrant, successful, independent businesswomen who are our members and affiliates. Their efforts and strong collaborative spirit have transformed WIC into the premier organization for supporting women at all stages of consulting. We look forward to working together with our community of consultants and the greater business community to take WIC and its members to the next level in the coming decade.”