Welcome to the Kitsap Women’s Summit!

2026
Breakthrough

A breakthrough is a pivotal moment, a sudden shift away from limiting beliefs, tough transitions, and the noise that distracts from what really matters. It might feel sudden, but it’s the culmination of deep processes with a focus on real momentum. It takes clarity, confidence, perseverance, and the drive to lead well—personally, professionally, and in the context of community. The 2026 Kitsap Women’s Summit is for women across the county to have honest conversations, gain practical tools, and make powerful connections.

Your move. Your breakthrough.

The Kitsap Women’s Summit is an annual gathering curated for women by women.

Kitsap Women’s Summit is proudly presented in partnership with the Greater Kitsap Chamber and Leadership Kitsap.

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Today’s Schedule

8:30 – 9:00   |  Doors Open and Check-in

9:00 – 9:15    |  Welcome and Announcement

9:15 – 10:00  |  OPENING KEYNOTE

“From Misunderstood to Understood” with Stephanie Mikulasek

Main Ballroom

Every day, woman leaders navigate a minefield of misinterpretations—emails read the wrong way, feedback taken personally, tone mismatches, meetings that turn tense, and conversations that derail despite the best intentions. Most communication breakdowns aren’t about incompetence or attitude; they’re a result of differences in processing speed, stress response, values, expectations, and communication patterns. This session will teach you how to communicate across differences with confidence, even when emotions run high

10:00 – 11:00  |  PANEL

“Unshaken: Staying True to Self in Unfamiliar Territory” with Tracy Flood-Harris, Anna Flood, Dr. Jeneise Briggs, & Sadie Houston

Main Ballroom

This panel discussion will convene diverse professionals to explore the challenges and triumphs of authenticity in unfamiliar spaces. Each speaker represents a career path where they have been “the first,” navigated uncharted subject matter, or faced environments that tested their ability to remain true to their values and identity. The conversation will highlight resilience, representation, and strategies for thriving while staying grounded in one’s authentic self.

11:00 – 11:15  |  Break

11:15 – 12:00  |  MORNING BREAKOUTS

OPTION 1 – “The Freedom & Flexibility Formula: Build momentum Toward a Life You Love” with Lisa Kerwin

Ballroom D

What would change if you could work because you want to, not because you have to? In this empowering session, former engineer turned financial advisor Lisa Kerwin shares her journey from a life of “shoulds” to one of freedom, flexibility, and purpose—and how you can do the same. Whether you’re navigating a career pivot, seeking greater financial independence, or ready to finally prioritize your own dreams, Lisa will help you turn inspiration into implementation and start building unstoppable momentum toward your best life.

OPTION 2 – “Showing Up Anyway: The Power of Authentic Presence” with Whitney Tatum

Oyster Bay Room

Life’s twists and turns can shake the roots of who we are and where we feel we belong. This talk explores the courage it takes to show up anyway—in rooms where you don’t know a soul, in communities that weren’t built with you in mind, and in seasons when you’re still discovering yourself. Whitney is a lifelong “nomad” who will share the tools she used to root deeply, grow authentically, and lead from a grounded sense of self, because sometimes breakthroughs begin with one quiet act of bravery: showing up as yourself.

OPTION 3 – “From Misunderstood to Understood: Tools for Relational Breakthrough Across Differences” with Stephanie Mikulasek

Glacier Cove Room 1 (Upstairs)

Drawing from Stephanie’s Transformative Servant Model™ (Alignment → Awareness → Action → Absorption), attendees will learn how to communicate across differences with calm, confidence, and grounded presence. Participants will walk away with six tools: (1) The three predictable places where communication collapses and why smart leaders miss the cues, (2) Six catalytic questions that instantly shift strained conversations into productive ones, (3) How to replace “Why did this happen?” with “What’s actually going on here?” (4) A simple relational-intelligence sequence that reduces reactivity and increases trust, and (5) A reflection practice “Absorption” that transforms one breakthrough into lasting behavioral change.

12:00 – 12:45  |  Lunch

12:45 – 1:45  |  AFTERNOON BREAKOUTS

OPTION 1 – “How Your WHY Can Guide Your WHAT and Anchor Your WHO” with Laurie Cameron

Ballroom D

Staying true to your authentic self is a lot easier when you’re connected to your personal WHY, HOW, and WHAT. To anchor your authentic self you need three things: (1) a clear vision of the world you want to leave for the next generation; (2) what you think it will take to make that world a reality, and (3) what you’re willing to do every day to help build that world. This fun and interactive session will guide you through this simple—but not always easy—process. Emboldened with this knowledge, you will leave with vibrant and intentional decisions that are aligned with your true self.

OPTION 2 – “Shelf Life: The Art of Knowing When to Pivot and Begin Again” with Monica Downen

Oyster Bay Room

Breakthroughs do not always come with fanfare; sometimes they whisper, “It’s time.” This interactive workshop invites participants to explore the idea of shelf life as a natural part of growth. Using storytelling, reflection, and conversation, Monica will help attendees uncover what elements in their lives or work might be nearing an expiration date and help identify which new possibilities are waiting to emerge. Through somatic mindfulness, discussion, and shared insights, participants will leave with greater clarity, courage, and confidence to take their next step, whether it is a small internal shift or a bold new direction.

1:45 – 2:00   |  Break

2:00 – 3:00  |  CLOSING KEYNOTE

“The Conflict Beneath the Conflict” with Cara Wilson

Main Ballroom

Conflict doesn’t destabilize us randomly — it destabilizes us when something we value feels threatened. In this interactive closing session, you’ll explore how your core values shape the way you experience tension, disagreement, and difficult conversations. Through guided reflection and practical application, you’ll uncover how your internal reactions are connected to what matters most to you. You’ll leave with a simple, portable framework for navigating conflict with clarity — not by abandoning your values, but by leading from them. As we integrate insights from throughout the day, this session will help you connect courage, voice, boundaries, and leadership presence back to a single grounding question: What do I stand for?

3:00 – 3:30  |  Closing Remarks and Networking

MEET THE PRESENTERS

Stephanie Mikulasek

Stephanie Mikulasek is a Transformational Speaker, Executive Coach, and founder of The ServantEDGE, a leadership development company helping people trade noise for alignment, urgency for presence, and success for significance. A former U.S. diplomat with two decades of global leadership experience, Stephanie has coached, trained and supported leaders in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Pacific Northwest, and across the United States.

Her proprietary Transformative Servant Model™ blends adult-development theory, emotional and somatic intelligence, and practical leadership tools that empower individuals to lead with clarity, curiosity, and grounded confidence. Stephanie is known for weaving compelling storytelling with real, actionable strategies that help audiences navigate communication challenges, bridge generational divides, and build workplace cultures rooted in belonging.

A Kitsap resident and community advocate, Stephanie brings her global experience home to help local leaders strengthen teams, navigate tough transitions, and ignite the kind of breakthrough that lasts. She speaks and coaches on what it means to be human in systems that often forget it — and how connection, presence, and courage can rebuild what division has broken.

Tracy Flood-Harris

Tracy Flood-Harris: Judge Tracy Flood is originally from Chicago and moved to Kitsap County, Washington while serving on active duty in the U.S. Navy. She graduated from Olympic College with an AA degree and the University of Washington with two BA degrees. She holds both a JD and an LL.M from Seattle University School of Law.

With a distinguished legal career spanning 24 years, Judge Flood has served in various leadership roles including President of the Kitsap County Chapter of Washington Women Lawyers, President of the Pierce County Minority Bar Association, Chair of the Civil Rights Committee, and interim chair of the Civil Rights Law Section. She also served two terms as President of the NAACP Unit 1134 Bremerton Branch and was a board member of the WSBA’s Client Protection Board.

Judge Flood was elected to the Bremerton Municipal Court on November 2, 2021. She is the first woman and the first Black woman in Kitsap County to be elected to a judicial position. Judge Flood has been featured in the WSBA News as a writing contributor and in the SU Law Magazine twice as a cover story. She presented at the WSBA/DMCJA Pro Tem training in 2023 and at the WSBA Solo and Small Business Conference in 2024. She established the first Kitsap County and Peninsula Youth and Law Forum in October 2023. Judge Flood was one of five recipients of the 2024 Community Pillar Awards. She has returned to the practice of law and is a lead panel public defender in Grays Harbor District Court.

Anna Flood

Anna Flood is a teacher, writer and lover of literature. She is a PhD Candidate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and proud alumna of Fisk University. She considers herself to be a teaching scholar and prides herself on providing high quality and equity centered education to every student that she engages with. She also works in program development and management at the university level and enjoys reading books on her kindle. Her research aims to advocate for the pedagogical potential of graphic novels when considering various portrayals to history. This work has been funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, the College Language Association and the Humanities Research Institute. 

She is deeply passionate about supporting women as they claim their power, create breakthroughs, and lead with purpose—especially in spaces not designed with them in mind. She believes that when women push past barriers together, their impact reshapes communities and the world.

Dr. Jeneise Briggs

Jeneise Briggs serves as the Diversity and Community Engagement Manager for the city. Briggs brings a unique perspective to this role having spearheaded inclusive community building initiatives across various systems, most recently in housing, local government, the legal field and higher education. Briggs will lead a robust and inclusive employee and community engagement plan to engage all voices, cultivate trust, and creatively problem-solve to ensure opportunities are accessible for all.

Sadie Houston

Sadie Houston is the Associate General Counsel for Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, where she provides strategic legal counsel across the organizations’ business and soccer operations. Her work includes advising on employment and regulatory matters, negotiating key commercial and operational agreements, and supporting compliance and risk management across a multi-club professional sports organization.

Previously, Sadie served as a Product Attorney at Zillow Group, working at the intersection of technology and real estate. A former student-athlete at the University of Oklahoma, she competed in Women’s Rugby and now serves on the OU Women’s Rugby Alumni Association Board. Sadie is a committed leader in the legal and sports communities, serving as Immediate Past President of the Loren Miller Bar Association, a Board Member of Seattle University School of Law’s Alumni Advisory Board, and a Member of the BESLA Women in Sports Council. She earned her Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law (2020) and holds degrees in Criminology and Women & Gender Studies from the University of Oklahoma (2016).

Lisa Kerwin

Lisa Kerwin, CFP®, ABFP®, is a former engineer turned financial advisor and speaker passionate about helping women design lives of freedom, flexibility, and purpose. After spending years “doing everything she should,” Lisa experienced her own breakthrough—leaving behind a career and life that no longer fit to build one she truly loves. Today, she empowers women to upgrade their financial confidence through her Freedom & Flexibility Formula, a framework that blends money strategy with mindset mastery. With a background in engineering and nearly a decade in financial services, Lisa brings a unique mix of analytical precision and heartfelt authenticity to her work. Her mission is to help 10,000 women create the clarity, confidence, and momentum to live life fully—on their own terms.

Whitney Tatum

Whitney Tatum is a dynamic entrepreneur, community builder, and systems strategist dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs, small business owners, and the community at large. With a background spanning corporate America, international development, and small business ownership, she brings real-world insight and a deep commitment to clarity, sustainability, and growth. As founder of MOXIE Entrepreneurial Support Services and co-creator of spaces like Firebrand and Entrepreneurs Anonymous, Whitney uplifts people navigating the highs and lows of business—believing wholeheartedly that we don’t have to do it alone.

Laurie Cameron

Laurie wants to build a world for the next generation where we feel safe, valued, and connected—because that’s when we can accomplish meaningful work together. To do this, she helps people communicate with kindness, respect and compassion. Laurie has been coaching, consulting and training since 1998. She’s also been a senior faculty member at one of the oldest coach training schools in the world since 2002, where she’s trained over 1,400 professional coaches. Laurie helps purpose-driven organizations build their teams from the inside out so they can create a vibrant and sustainable culture and fulfill their mission in the world.

Monica Downen

Monica S. Downen is a creative hospitality entrepreneur, culinary educator, certified somatic mindfulness guide, and leadership coach who believes true hospitality begins within. As the longtime owner of Monica’s Waterfront Bakery & Café and an instructor in sustainability and hospitality at Olympic College, Monica has spent her career helping people and teams grow through empathy, clarity, and care.

Through her work with Wild Abandon Leadership, she helps individuals, leaders, and organizations navigate change with greater steadiness, self-trust, and intention. Her approach integrates leadership development, body awareness, emotional intelligence, and practical reflection to support meaningful and lasting transformation. Monica’s work blends storytelling, humor, and grounded tools that invite participants to reconnect with themselves and move through transition with confidence, authenticity, and purpose.

Cara Wilson

Cara has been working as a coach with teams and leaders in healthcare, technology, and finance for over 20 years. She worked inside organizations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Tableau Software, Salesforce, and started Traction Leadership in 2023. 

Cara’s passion is in helping teams and leaders mature in ways that makes their work more meaningful, more productive, and more connected. She uses humor and candor to create engaging experiences for her clients. She’s known for helping her clients get to the root of intractable problems and for making difficult conversations feel manageable. Outcomes include teams and leaders that make faster decisions and lean into (instead of avoiding) conflict as a generative process.  

After discovering she is neurodivergent later in life, Cara brings a special affinity for building neuro-inclusive environments and supporting neurocomplex individuals in the workplace.

She lives on a blueberry farm in Poulsbo, Washington with her husband and dog, Harley. When not working, you can find her riding mountain bikes or motorcycles and working on a homestead in perpetual need of renovation.

Thank you to our sponsors!

The Kitsap Women’s Summit is proudly sponsored by Business Health Trust, Old Town Kitchen, Edward Jones, Women’s Giving Circle of the Kitsap Peninsula, Fishline, Catalyst Public Schools, Lisa Zulanas Coaching and Consulting, and Lori Sinclair | Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty. 

The Kitsap Women’s Summit is presented in partnership by Leadership Kitsap and the Greater Kitsap Chamber of Commerce.

The Kitsap Women’s Summit is Proudly Presented by

Past Kitsap Women’s Summit Programs

2025