Kelli Thompson, the first woman to serve as head of Wisconsin’s public defender network and a cancer survivor of seven years, will speak Thursday, Sept. 28 at the annual Women, Opportunities, Mentors, Entrepreneurs and Networking (W.O.M.E.N) reception in Madison.
Thompson oversees a $133-million-per-year agency that provides legal representation to Wisconsin’s indigent in criminal cases, relying on its own staff as well as appointed private attorneys. It handles a caseload that ranges from misdemeanors to homicides to appeals. She has announced she will step down in early October.
Attorney Thompson will talk about her tenure at the office, challenges and opportunities for professional women, and personal as well as broader health interests during the early evening conversation at J.H. Findorff and Son headquarters, located at 300 S. Bedford St.
A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation at 6:30 p.m. Starting at 5 p.m., a pop-up Kendra Scott jewelry sale will be held in the reception area.
Over time, the W.O.M.E.N event has featured speakers Sue Marks, Eve Hall, Toni Sikes, Demetria Menard, Darcy Luoma, Dr. Susan Turney, Cindy Alvarez, and a panel of women early-stage investors. Wisconsin Tech Council President Tom Still will moderate and invite audience questions.
The W.O.M.E.N reception has been held in each of the last seven years and is open to attendance by men and women. Sponsors of this year’s reception are Findorff and Promega.
Registration is available online.
