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Our 7th annual WINGS Retreat last week was one filled with connection, intention, and celebration.
The event kicked off at Ridgemoor Country Club, with a welcome from Arora President and CEO Manik Arora and Julie Watts. Our returning guest speaker, Laura Weiner-Kiser, guided us through important conversations about both professional and personal growth. She shared different ways we can lift each other up, reach our goals, and navigate the challenges life throws our way.
We were also lucky enough to be joined by a few Arora Engineers women – Christyn Binder, Donna Guzewski, and Holly Marrone – who gained deeper insight into WINGS’ mission and how we can be better together, with WINGS leading the way.
Our four WINGS committees include the Chicago Chapter’s Professional Development, Giving Back, and Wellness, as well as the Denver Chapter. The retreat provides an opportunity to reassess committee membership and co-chairs’ roles, and to evaluate whether there’s a need for a shift in the committee’s purpose or a new committee altogether. This year, we introduced a new committee inclusive to all locations – a book club, aptly named, “A New Chapter”. Each committee then presented its plans and goals for the upcoming WINGS year to the broader group.
We also took time to revisit the WINGS Purpose Statement and reflect on whether the messaging still feels applicable and meaningful. This exercise continues to serve as a valuable reset, helping align us around our shared mission and intention.
The day concluded with one of our favorite traditions – celebrating our people! The past year’s committee chairs were recognized for their time and dedication, and our annual AVP Award was announced. This year’s well-deserved recipient, Kate Nichols, was recognized for her commitment to giving back across a variety of organizations in our communities and for consistently showing up as a leader and source of inspiration to others.
We had such a wonderful time celebrating all we’ve accomplished over the past year and setting goals for the year ahead by supporting our local communities, creating safe spaces to learn from and celebrate one another, all while focusing on our overall well-being. Cheers to our WINGS women and all the hard work happening behind the scenes!
