From BOWLING GREEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Women in Business luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., at Stone Ridge Golf Club, 1553 Muirfield Drive, to celebrate October as National Women’s Small Business Month.
The Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce and presenting sponsor UBS Financial Services extend invitations to all women who are affiliated with the chamber and its investors to be their guests at this luncheon at no charge. The chamber would also like to show its appreciation for Justin Henck’s support of the event since its inception and his continued efforts to encourage women to be leaders in business.
The event began on a virtual platform in 2020 to celebrate and recognize the success and accomplishments of women in the Bowling Green area. The 2025 program will feature three women speaking on their journeys and accomplishments. These speakers will include Mary Davenport-Yant, Ameriprise Financial Services and BLOOM BG; Amanda Kress, Kress & Company; and Jessica Miller-Blakely, Wood Lane Residential Services.
Mary Davenport-Yant has worked in the financial services industry for 27 years. In 2024, she was recognized with the Ameriprise Client Experience award. She is a member of the Million Dollar Round Table and holds six professional designations related to financial services.
Davenport-Yant shared that she is most proud of her launch of BLOOM BG in 2024. BLOOM BG is a quarterly forum for business and professional women to come together, learn, share, and make meaningful connections in the Bowling Green community.
Amanda Kress is the founder of Kress & Company, which she started in 2012. Her main focus is her clients’ satisfaction. She is also motivated to see her clients succeed, because this is how she measures the success of her business. Next year, Kress will celebrate 30 years in her career. She remains involved with local organizations and is committed to helping where she can make a difference.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a rough event in Kress’s career and firm, due to long hours and a tax season that lasted ten months. Throughout that time, she remained committed to assisting all her clients and dedicated to keeping Bowling Green businesses open.
Jessica Miller-Blakely has been the CEO of Wood Lane Residential Services (WLRS) since 2014. She is a working mom and is proud of her accomplishment of becoming CEO before the age of 40. Miller-Blakely has been a Wood County resident her entire life, working and volunteering in Bowling Green for the past 35 years.
Prior to WLRS, Miller-Blakely spent 20 years in the long-term care industry. She experienced the loss of her father in 2013, the same year she graduated with her master’s degree. Then, she interviewed and accepted the CEO position with WLRS. Over the past 11 years, she has faced challenges, while also learning more about her own resilience and perseverance at the same time. Today, Miller-Blakely feels her father’s influence on the values and principles he instilled throughout her life. She believes his guidance makes her a better person and leader for WLRS.
“The chamber is honored to celebrate these women and their accomplishments,” said Mary Hinkelman, executive director of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce. “We hope their stories inspire others to pursue leadership with passion and perseverance.”
Registration is open at bgchamber.net/rsvp and will close Oct. 3 or once capacity is reached. Attendees are encouraged to bring business cards and marketing materials to share on the networking table.
