2011 Panel to come
2010 Panel
 Beryl Raff
Chairman & CEO, Helzberg's Diamonds
Beryl Raff is widely recognized throughout the retail industry as an outstanding merchant and strong multi-store retail executive. In April 2009, she accepted the position of Chairman and CEO of Helzberg's Diamonds. She is thrilled to lead the third largest jewelry store chain in the country and very enthusiastic to work with Warren Buffet, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., parent company of Helzberg's Diamonds.
In September 2005, Ms. Raff was named executive vice president and general merchandise manager of Fine Jewelry for J. C. Penney Company, Inc., one of America’s largest department store, catalog and e-commerce retailers. She brought a finely balanced blend of merchandising instinct and analytical sharpness to her role, fostering aggressive business growth through innovative methods and a strategic merchandising vision. Beryl was the first general manager ever to receive the J.C. Penney Chairman’s Award, the company’s highest tribute to managerial excellence – an honor she received three times. Prior to joining the JCPenney organization, Beryl Raff served as Chairman and C.E.O. of Zale Corporation, North America’s largest fine jewelry specialty retailer.
Ms. Raff serves on two public company boards: Group One Automotive and Jo Ann Stores, where she is chairman of the compensation committee. In addition, she serves on the advisory board for both Dallas Summer Musicals and the Jewelers’ Circular Keystone (JCK), the world jewelry trade show organization for manufacturers and retailers of fine jewelry. She is a past vice chairman and executive board member of the North Texas Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and continues to work passionately on its behalf. In addition, she is a member of the Women’s Corporate Directors and the International Women’s Forum Dallas.
Gina Hoagland has led strategic planning engagements for in excess of 300 companies and not-for-profit agencies since joining Collaborative Strategies in 1993. She brings a results-oriented approach to planning, coaching, and execution. Through her partnership approach, clients have grown firm value, impact, and capability. Gina initiated Collaborative Strategies’ search consulting services to help clients build organizational capacity. Under her direction, the firm has completed more than 200 highly successful placements in senior management, sales, finance, distribution, and other positions.
Gina served for two years as a financial analyst on Wall Street with Morgan Stanley & Co. following her undergraduate education. After receiving her MBA, she joined Prudential Capital as a senior associate in Chicago and Newark, N.J., where she located, priced, and booked private placements totaling more than $300 million in a two-year period.
Gina serves in leadership roles with a number of community organizations and institutions. She is the current board development chair and a past board president of South Side Day Nursery, a family and community organization. She is a past president of the Board of the St. Louis chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization (formerly “YEO”). She chairs the admissions committee of St. Louis Forum and is a member of the St. Louis Arch Angels. Gina was recognized in 2004 as a Woman of Achievement for Social Enterprise and in 2003 among the St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 High Achievers. In the fall of 2008, CSI was recognized by the St. Louis Small Business Monthly as a “Top 20 Under 20” (employees) business. 
Laura HerringFounder & Chairwoman, IMPACT Group
A pioneer in career/life transition support, psychologist Laura Herring is currently the Chairwoman of IMPACT Group, a global, WBE-certified company recognized as the leader in relocation and career transition solutions. IMPACT Group’s Relocation Transition Assistance, Outplacement, and Retirement Coaching services have assisted over 300 Fortune and Global 500 companies and more than 300,000 individuals in over 4,800 locations worldwide. While President and CEO, IMPACT Group has developed an unrivaled expertise in relocation and career transition through the utilization of next generation technologies delivered by expert certified career/family coaches. Her vision has earned IMPACT Group the #1 rating for customer satisfaction for 11 years by industry analyst firm Trippel Research. Most recently, Laura led the acquisition of Spherion’s Human Resource Consulting Group making IMPACT Group the preeminent global leader in innovative career transition solutions.
An internationally known speaker, Laura regularly addresses career/life transition issues at global and national conferences, and has been featured in articles in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Boston Globe, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis Business Journal, Chicago Tribune, USA TODAY, Newsweek, Fortune Magazine, Mobility Magazine and HR Executive. She is currently authoring a book, Purpose, Passion, Profits: Lessons Learned while Making a Positive Difference in Business to be released next year.
Laura’s honors include selection as one of the Top Women Entrepreneurs in St. Louis in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1995, receipt of The Alliance of Women's Organizations' 1993 "Woman of Achievement" award, recognition of IMPACT Group as one of the Top 25 Small Businesses in St. Louis, and her inclusion in the "Top 50 Who's Who in St. Louis Business" in 1994. She is a recipient of NAWBO's Distinguished Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the St. Louis Business Journal’s 25 Most Influential Business Women award in 2004. In 2005, she won the “Top 500 Woman-Owned Business” awarded by Diversitybusiness.com. In 2007, Laura was given the Golden Plate Award by the Old News Boy’s Day organization for setting up the Women's Initiative group. In the spring, IMPACT Group received the distinguished Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Small Business Award and later was named St. Louis’ Top 50 by the Regional Chamber & Growth Association.
Panel Facilitator
 Kristin Borchardt
Retired Audit Partner, Deloitte LLP
Kristin Borchardt, recently retired as an audit partner and the leader of the financial services practice in St. Louis for Deloitte LLP.
Kristin currently serves on the board for the St. Louis Society, a not-for-profit organization that focuses on children and adults with physical disabilities. Kristin was recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the 2008 Top “40 Under 40,” which is an award provided to professionals younger than 40 based on career achievements and work in the St. Louis community.
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