Celebrating Women's History Month, with 20 Amazing Women

Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham

Founder/President

Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham is the Founder and President of Women TIES, LLC (Women Together Inspiring Entrepreneurial Success) a company specializing in promoting, publicizing and uniting women entrepreneurs and their companies online and in person in order to cultivate strong economic relationships to advance their companies and eradicate pay inequality.
In 1995, Tracy created her first company – Five Star Events – an events management company she ran for 15 years. In 2005, Tracy embraced her passion for supporting other women entrepreneurs and established her second company, Women TIES, LLC, to create a stronger geographic buying network for women business owners across New York.

In 2011, Tracy created a division of Women TIES called the “Women’s Athletic Network” which promotes athletic events for women entrepreneurs to participate in, train for or support as spectators. In 2017, Higginbotham also created a “Women’s Rights Equality Division” to Women TIES to unite women who are interested in being more involved with equality issues for women.

From 2017-2018, Tracy was contracted by 261 Fearless, Inc., a global running organization started by running icon Kathrine Switzer, to help them grow across North America in the position of 261 Fearless North America Leader. She transitioned from that position into Head of Club Promotional Outreach in North America. Higginbotham’s passion for helping global women increased during this time.

Higginbotham is a 1986 graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and post graduate studies in Business Management.

Tracy’s dedication to supporting women entrepreneurship was recognized by the Small Business Administration twice – once in 2005 and again in 2011 when she received the Region II "Women Owned Business Champion Award." The Women Business Champion award is given to someone for their significant contributions as an outstanding small business person and for dedicated support of small business.

Higginbotham has received numerous awards including: the WCNY “Women Who Make America Award,” Zonta Crystal Ball Award, Women in Business Award, 25 Women in Leadership Award, the Girl Scouts "The 100" who Inspire Girls to Achieve and Lead, 40 Under 40 Award, and the SUNY Oswego Alumni Association Community Service Award.

Higginbotham was an Advisory Board Member of the State University of New York at Oswego School of Business and Board Member of the Upstate Women's Business Center in Utica from 2005-2020.

She was the columnist of the Syracuse Post Standard’s “Ask the Entrepreneur” column for 11 years from 2001-2012. She has produced an inspirational e-newsletter for women entrepreneurs from 2005 to 2021. She is also the Past Chairwoman of the 40 Below Emerging Entrepreneurs Program; and Past Public Relations Co-Chair of the Women's Fund of New York.
Higginbotham is also a published writer of “Under the Rose-Colored Hat” and inspirational short stories and articles in several national publications and books, including the 2009 “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms” and the 2019 “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Running for Good.”

In 2022, Tracy committed to a large lifetime goal of trying event sport in her lifetime and will engage other women to join her in her pursuit of the goal.

Eliza VanCort

Author / Speaker / Mentor / Teacher

Acclaimed Speaker Eliza VanCort is a renowned empowerment advocate and best-selling author of the book A Woman’s Guide to Claiming Space.

In her powerful talk, Claim Your Space: Power Tools For Women Rising, Eliza revisits painful episodes from her past to reveal how she overcame the childhood trauma of kidnapping and a life-altering accident as an adult, to evolve into the confident, unapologetic superhero she is today.

Using her academic expertise coupled with her training in voice and body work as an acting instructor, Eliza shares how to effectively claim space using practical tools and techniques. Her transformative method of engaging her guests has been described as “invaluable” and “thrilling,” by previous audiences, making her sought-after presentation a must-see for organizations nationwide.

Jillian Jones

Owner of Supportive Divorce Solutions

Jillian Jones is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® and the Founder of Supportive Divorce Solutions, Inc., an independent consulting firm serving clients nationwide. Her background as a Financial Planner, Wealth Manager and Insurance Agent, provides her clients with the skills and insight needed in a CDFA®. She ensures that each of her clients have the knowledge and support that is needed to make informed decisions about their divorce. By advocating for her client’s financial futures, clients feel confident in the choices they are making today and understand how those choices impact their future.
Through her specialized training, Jillian assists her clients with creating budgets, consulting on pensions, investments, retirement accounts, insurance, real estate and more. She can design your divorce settlement and propose creative solutions for child support and spousal support.
If you want a safe and secure financial future do not hesitate - schedule your 30-minute complimentary consultation today!

Emily Carpenter

Entrepreneur

Emily Carpenter is a website designer, entrepreneur, natural health blogger, and healthy body/weight loss coach. She'll make you feel good about your website AND your body again! She's also a certified aromatherapist, herbalist, homeopath, and Reiki master. Emily loves to teach what she learns and does so through blogging, podcasting, and regular TV appearances.

Dellenna Harper

Programs Director / Author

Dellenna Harper is a Licensed Master Social Worker whose passion is advocating for and working with formerly incarcerated women who struggle with mental health, substance abuse, trauma, self, etc. This passion was conceived from her own personal issues struggling with addiction, incarceration, and everything else that comes with that lifestyle. Dellenna is currently Director of Hope Harbor and Harvest Hill Programs at The Salvation Army in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was previously the Director of Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach Jennifer House in Rochester, New York, where she was a resident in 2006. Dellenna is a proud alumna of Monroe Community College (MCC), Nazareth College, and The Greater Rochester Collaborative of SUNY College at Brockport and Nazareth. She was one of the first graduates of the Addictions Counseling Program at MCC. Dellenna was the recipient of the 2013 Jessica Shackelton Maclay Distinguished Alumni Award, presented by the Nazareth College Social Work Department and was also an honoree for the prestigious Rochester Women’s Network “W” Award. Dellenna lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Laurel Nelson and Rock Castor

Rock Castor and Laurel Nelson are the founders and co-facilitators of Lagom Landing, a residential gap-year program in the "Little Finger Lakes" of Western NY. Lagom Landing is a life-changing alternative to college, military or immediate employment for 18-23 year olds. We offer nine months of self-discovery for a small, diverse cohort of men and women interested in learning the sacred gift of working with their hands and exploring self, community, nature, digital boundaries, and creativity. We encourage students to discover their passions and gifts while gaining foundational life skills that will benefit them no matter what direction they pursue as adults.

As young adults, both Rock and Laurel benefited from “gap years” of their own.

Growing up in Western NY, Rock did not know what he wanted to do when he graduated from high school. So, he went to Papua New Guinea as a volunteer at age 18. There, he was exposed to simple pole construction, and within six months was writing home, “I’ve figured out what I want to do!”

Since then, Rock has run his own construction business for over 40 years. He supervises the construction component of Lagom Landing with a contagious enthusiasm for the joy that comes from working with his hands. Some of Rock’s favorite parts of the program are making maple syrup and apple cider. Rock also loves to ski, bike, play tennis and ping-pong. He serves as the “fun committee” at Lagom Landing.

Before Laurel became an ordained minister with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a calling that originally brought her to Western New York after growing up in CO, she spent a year with the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Young Adult Volunteer program as a volunteer in Jerusalem.
The faith of Palestinian Christians inspired Laurel’s pursuit of ministry. She leads Lagom Landing’s gardening, cooking, and personal development activities, and is the Administrator of the nonprofit. Laurel has continued her interest in humanitarian and environmental issues, and loves being outdoors in any kind of weather. Laurel’s passion for building community partnerships with both urban and rural networks makes it possible for us to cater to the interests and needs of each student.

Heather Lee

FNP/Business Owner/Podcast Host/Author

Heather has a lot going on. Maybe too much. See, her main day job as a Family Nurse Practitioner allows her to use those eldest daughter skills by taking care of other humans across the lifespan. Her other job is as co-owner of Schoen Auto with her husband, Ben. There she gets to stretch her automotive repair shop marketing and business wings a bit. Her other, other job is as co-host of "Gear Related" a podcast that gives listeners a peek under the hood of the automotive repair industry. Her other, other, other job is as an author of picture books, plays, short stories, and novels. Her two cats often wish she would slow down and watch a movie with them on the couch. And sometimes, she does.

Rita M. Perez

Travel Advisor

Rita M. Perez is founder of RitaVentures, a travel agency that specializes in cruise ship retreats, because stronger bonds form on the waves. She has been planning group cruises for the past 10 years, and has earned her CTA and MCC industry certifications. Having been featured on Work Culture Consultant and Travel Agent Chatter, she takes care of all the details, so you can focus on loving on your people.

When she’s not designing your cruise retreat, Rita enjoys visiting theme parks and getting swept away in fandoms like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Game of Thrones.