Women’s Business Summit

Susan Markey Maslon

Partner, Chair of Corporate & Securities Group

Susan represents clients in general corporate, taxation, and nonprofit matters. She draws from a diverse background in government, accounting, and law to serve as a holistic business advisor, and strongly believes that tax and corporate advice should be both easy to understand and practical. Her goal is to move businesses forward and give owners the assurance that their investment of hard work, time, and financial resources is secure. In addition to her corporate work, Susan is passionate about assisting nonprofit organizations that serve the community. Her deep experience in business and tax issues uniquely positions her to counsel nonprofits toward sustainable long-term success.

Katie Monger

Partner, Copeland Buhl

Katie Monger is a partner at Copeland Buhl. She is a Certified Public Accountant with a Masters in Accountancy from Missouri State University. Katie’s main focus is construction, real estate, and professional services and she loves working with closely-held and family-owned businesses. In addition to business tax work, Katie has a strong aptitude for accounting advising and strategic planning. She takes a common sense, practical approach to help businesses reach their potential and enjoys collaborating with other advisors to get the best possible outcome.

Dyanne Ross-Hanson

President, Exit Planning Strategies, LLC

Dyanne is President/CEO of Exit Planning Strategies, LLC, a firm dedicated to offering business owners (industry generic) objective, fee based, financial consulting in the development of intentional ownership transition plans. She directs an inter-disciplinary process for owners and their Advisory Team to explore planning options, map realistic exit strategies and develop an Action Checklist to accomplish the owner’s objectives. Her work is outcome agnostic and owner centric.

Deborah Gerewitz

Director, Raymond James Investment Banking- Life Sciences

Debbie advises life sciences companies regarding public and private financings, mergers, acquisitions and restructurings. Her clients range from early stage development companies to fully integrated commercial enterprises, and span a variety of therapeutic areas. With expertise in capital markets and valuation, she prioritizes candid, thoughtful advice tailored to each company’s unique situation. During the past 14 years as an investment banker, she has participated in more than 200 successful transactions and helped to raise more than $8 billion in capital.

Dee Thibodeau

In 1997 Dee Thibodeau started Charter Solutions, Inc., a technology consulting firm based in Plymouth Minnesota. Since that time, the company has become an award-winning firm that is a driving force in data analytics and using data to drive Al solutions. Dee has received numerous awards throughout her career as a business owner, an entrepreneur, a women business owner in technology, and in 2023 was inducted into the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Hall of Fame. She is also a general partner of the Sofia Fund, an early-stage venture fund focused on investments in women-led, technology-based companies.

Jamie Taets

Jaime started Keystone Group International in 2013. Keystone Group International focuses on leadership development, organizational strategy, growth, and change. Jaime’s belief that strong leadership and a change-resilient culture are the foundation for sustainable growth drives her work with clients. Harnessing her own leadership experiences, she inspires real and sometimes challenging discussions about the crossroads between high-performance and healthy change. Her approach is a combination of direct and caring. Not one to step around challenges, she helps leaders focus on their root challenges. Jaime pushes her clients to dig deep, she calls out issues in their businesses, and never lets them off the hook.

Leah Wong

Consultant, Board Member, Public Speaker, and past executive at the Minneapolis Downtown Council (MDC), Leah Wong drives business value and evolvement by leveraging her extensive 20 years of experience in Strategy, MarCom, Public Relations, and Event Management. Wong currently partners with strategic clients to further their marketing and communications strategies and serves on various community advisory committees such as the Minnesota Sports and Events Champions Council and the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials GyMNastics experience committee. Wong was named a 2024 Person to Know by Twin Cities Business Magazine, is a past recipient of the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal’s 40 under 40 award, and is a recognized leader in building engagement and excitement as a frequent public speaker, expert panelist, and emcee.