What is Voices?

Voices began taking shape in January of 2009. It started with groups of smart, professional women brainstorming about what it could be, what it could look like, and what it could do. On paper, in coversation, and in the imagination of over 40 women, it went through many changes before its birth on Monday, November 16, 2009.

Today, Voices is a Web site and a Facebook page. Most importantly, Voices is a community — a community of women in business and the men who want to work with them.

Watch for Voices to change and evolve. Take a moment to participate. Together, we can create something of real value to our community.

Who is Voices?

Judy Baker, Advisory Board Chair — Judy serves as a regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, she represented a portion of Columbia in the Missouri House of Representatives. She and her husband, Dr. John D. Baker, are the parents of Sarah, Lauren, and David.

Helen Wade, Advisory Board Member — Helen is a family law attorney with Harper, Evans, Wade & Netemeyer.

Karen Miller, Advisory Board Member — Karen is Boone County Missouri’s District I Commissioner. Karen owned and operated a restaurant in Columbia called “The Establishment” for eleven years, served on the Missouri Restaurant Association State Board for eight years, and has helped with numerous political campaigns prior to running for office herself. Active in her church and with numerous civic groups, Karen still finds the time to focus on the basic infrastructure of the County’s sewers, road and information highway.

Nelly Roach, Advisory Board Member — Nelly is a founding partner at Caledon Virtual, an award winning Columbia-based marketing firm. Caledon Virtual works with Voices Media to provide VoicesDaily.com.

Mary Ropp, Advisory Board Member — Mary is a business development officer at The Bank of Missouri.

Leigh Spence, Editor-in-Chief
leigh.voices@gmail.com
Leigh Leyshock Spence is a counselor at Hickman High School in Columbia. Prior to her work with the school district, Leigh gained ten years of experience in writing and marketing, including seven years reporting for and editing community newspapers.

Sean Spence, Publisher
seanspence@earthlink.net
Sean has a varied career that includes political campaign management in 11 states; creation of the global PR program for a $700 technology company; and twelve years of experience in professional business writing, layout, sales and marketing. This includes seven years of writing for community business newspapers – two in the Columbia market.

Denise Falco, Director of Development
denifalco@gmail.com