In This Issue
President's Corner
Show Your Love: Get Involved with EWTG!
It’s February and love is in the air! How about showing your love for leadership and professional development by getting involved with EWTG? The easiest way to get started is to join EWTG if you’re not already a member. EWTG members enjoy so many benefits, including networking opportunities with other phenomenal women.
Your membership works best when you work your membership! I invite you to take the next step by becoming an active EWTG member. The best way to become active is to join a committee or Success Team Below is a short description of each committee and Success Team available for EWTG members.
- Advisory Committee: Advises the President by acting as a sounding board, sharing professional development topics of interest, and providing input on organizational activities.
- Affiliates Committee: Works with all affiliate chapters to strengthen membership and increase chapter visibility.
- Communications Committee(s): Assists with all public-facing communication content/design, including the website, newsletter, and social media platforms.
- Community Service Committee: Researches and recommends community service projects and develops partnerships with organizations of interest.
- Conference Committee(s): Assists with all aspects of planning the annual conference, including exhibits, program details, registration, evaluations, and networking.
- Education Committee: Selects and schedules virtual and in-person educational events, activities, and speakers.
- Engagement Committee: Assists with new member orientation, retiree engagement, and other activities to help existing members get involved.
- Finance Committee: Prepares/submits the annual budget, reviews distributions and deposits of funds, and ensures audits/reviews are conducted annually.
- Membership Committee: Assists with member recruitment, retention, involvement, and interaction.
- Nominating Committee: Solicits and selects nominees for Board and Committee Chair positions.
- Operations Committee: Provides contract oversight/project management assistance and manages updates to policies and procedures.
- Professional Development Committee(s): Assists with professional development and mentorship, including Success Teams, one-on-one mentoring, and peer mentoring programs.
- Scholarship Committee: Administers the EWTG scholarship program by researching and recommending ideas for scholarship opportunities.
- Strategic Planning Committee: Reviews the Strategic Plan, including monitoring goals and proposing changes as needed.
| Success Team | Description | Leads |
| Artificial Intelligence in Government | A mix of presentations, demonstrations, education, and networking related to the use of artificial intelligence in government operations. | Whitney Ajie and Terri Peirce |
| Book Club | Reads and discusses professional development and/or personal interest books. | Melissa Hield |
| Go Anyway Brunch Bunch | Meets at various brunch locations around Austin and surrounding areas for social and professional discussions. | Kim McConic |
| Networking on New Horizons | Provides a fun and engaging platform for members to network, build friendships, and share experiences while exploring Texas’ beauty through day trips. | Alida Bennett |
| Pizza My Heart | Meets at various pizza locations around Austin and surrounding areas for social and professional discussions. | Sarah Melecki |
| Procurement & Contracting | Discusses issues and helpful information for procurement and contracting professionals. | Holly Muir |
| Project Management | Focused on project management professionals or aspiring project management professionals. | Dr. Carol Egele |
| Shooting Stars | Focused on new managers/leaders or aspiring managers/leaders. | Marlene Phillips |
| Sole Mates | Monthly walks around various parks and trails in the Austin area. | Kim McConic |
| Speak! | Focused on public speaking and facilitation skills. | Laura Johannsen |
| We Lead | Provides an opportunity to explore EWTG and Leadership Women, network w/members, and learn from each other. | Audrey Selden & Chan McDermott |
If you’re interested in joining a committee or Success Team, send an email to communications@ewtg.org.
Affiliates
Affiliates Meeting in February
The Brazos Valley Affiliate has scheduled a meeting on Wednesday, February 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Location: College Station City Hall, 1700 Texas Ave, Bush 4141 conference room. We welcome everyone who can attend the meeting. I am looking forward to seeing you in person there.
Success Teams
Success Teams Kickoff
Join EWTG for our 2026 Success Teams Kickoff on Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 12:00-12:45 p.m. on Zoom! EWTG’s Success Teams are a popular membership perk offering members the opportunity to gain knowledge, socialize, and develop professional and personal relationships. We will introduce you to all 11 of our current Success Teams and provide guidance on how to create new ones. We hope to hear about Success Team topics that interest you!
We will also share some additional information about our EWTG Peer Mentoring groups. These groups are similar to EWTG’s old school Executive Success Teams, with a bit of a twist. Learn all about it at the kickoff!
Formerly known as Executive Success Teams, this year EWTG is rebranding to “Success Teams” to ensure that every member knows they are welcome to join these groups, regardless of their job title. Members can join one or more of our amazing groups, including:
- Artificial Intelligence in Government
- Book Club
- Go Anyway Brunch Bunch
- Networking on New Horizons
- Pizza My Heart
- Procurement & Contracting
- Project Management
- Shooting Stars
- Sole Mates
- Speak!
- We Lead (EWTG and Leadership Women)
We hope to see you on February 26th!
Questions? Contact Sarah Melecki at communications@ewtg.org.
Shooting Stars Executive Success Team
The Shooting Stars’ next meeting will be virtual on Thursday, February 12, at 6 p.m. During the February meeting, Trina Miller will shine the spotlight on women who changed the game, broke barriers, and paved the way for future generations. Trina will highlight their powerful stories of leadership, innovation, and resilience, showing how these women turned challenges into opportunities. Through their journeys, Trina will encourage you to see what’s possible, feel motivated, and imagine yourself stepping into your own potential.
During the January meeting, Shooting Stars members revisited the Success Team’s meeting format, times, and dates, settling on monthly, virtual meetings at 6 p.m., alternating between a planned presentation and open forum discussions. Members also created a draft schedule for 2026.
More about Shooting Stars
Shooting Stars is EWTG’s unique group for new or aspiring managers/leaders. This Success Team meets virtually, providing a mix of leadership programming and open discussion to help EWTG members achieve their professional and personal goals. The 2026 Shooting Stars schedule is as follows:
- February 12 @ 6 p.m. - Women leaders to admire by Trina Miller
- March 12 @ 6 p.m. - Open forum discussion
- April 9 @ 6 p.m. - AI for Leaders by Whitney Ajie
- May 5 @ 6 p.m. - Open forum discussion
- June 4 @ 6 p.m. - Topic TBD by Chan McDermott
- July 7 @ 6 p.m. - Open forum discussion
- August 6 @ 6 p.m. - Stepping out of your comfort zone by Coleen Hall
- September 1 @ 6 p.m. - Open forum discussion
- October 1 @ 6 p.m. - Topic TBD by Karen Avery
- November 3 @ 6 p.m. - Open forum discussion
- December 3 @ 6 p.m. - Topic TBD by Shantesa Terrell
If you’re looking for a safe space to speak freely in confidence with other women aspiring to even greater heights, this is the place for you!
Send a message to communications@ewtg.org for the upcoming Zoom meeting link. Give yourself an hour with Shooting Stars members to encourage and be encouraged by other women striving to be their best selves as managers/leaders.
New members are always welcome!
Go Anyway Brunch Bunch Executive Success Team
As winter draws to a close and we shed our winter coats, it is time to welcome the blossoming spring! The Go Anyway Brunch Bunch Success Team will begin its activities for the year in March with the theme Bloom and Brunch. This theme encourages members to embrace new opportunities, pursue personal growth, find renewed energy, and adopt a refreshed mindset as we enter a new season. Make the most of the spring and bloom where you are planted, personally and professionally!
The Brunch Bunch is an excellent way to network, cultivate professional connections with fellow EWTG members, and discover new restaurants in and around Austin. We gather quarterly throughout the year in a relaxed yet elevated setting to connect over delicious meals. Whether you're new to EWTG or a long-standing member, you'll find a welcoming environment that fosters friendly conversations and builds lasting relationships.
The next brunch bunch will be on March 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Hanks, 5811 Berkman Drive, Austin, TX 78723. Come ready to bloom together!
To RSVP or for more information, please email communications@ewtg.org.
Project Management Executive Success Team
The EWTG Project Management Success Team kicked off 2026 with a session on project management for Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives. The January meeting covered adapting project management frameworks for AI, including scoping, stakeholder engagement, risk management, and collaboration. All experience levels gained insights into integrating project management into AI projects.
The next session will be held on March 24, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., focusing on real-world applications and the evolving role of project management. Members are encouraged to participate and help drive innovation in Texas government.
Speak! Public Speaking and Facilitation Executive Success Team
At our January meeting, members explored how AI tools like ChatGPT can assist in developing presentations by helping speakers organize ideas, brainstorm titles, and prepare with greater confidence. Attendees shared how AI can serve as a sounding board, especially when preparing alone, and appreciated seeing practical prompt examples in action. The group also used the time to reconnect as we launched into the new year.
Our next Speak! Success Team meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 10, at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Whether you’re already developing your 5–10-minute talk or just curious about sharpening your presentation skills, you’re invited to join us.
At Speak!, we’re focused on progress, not perfection. We’ll revisit the presentation development process to help you stay grounded and intentional as you shape your message. This session (like many this year) includes coworking time. This time is a low-pressure space to outline, organize, or rehearse your ideas with support from a community that gets it.
Whether you want feedback, accountability, or simply time blocked on your calendar to focus, this session is for you.
Let’s keep finding our voices, together.
Pizza My Heart Executive Success Team
Pizza My Heart Success Team members met on January 10th to try out Love Supreme Pizza Bar and had a great time! This was the largest Pizza My Heart gathering yet with 10 pizza lovers in attendance. We enjoyed getting to know each other and discussing topics such as mistakes we have learned from and with which famous women we would like to eat dinner.
We rated Love Supreme Pizza Bar as follows:
Ambiance: 4.7
Price: 4.1
Taste: 4.5
Crust Consistency: 4.5
Sauce-to-Cheese Ratio: 4.6
Procurement and Contracting Executive Success Team
The Procurement & Contracting Success Team launched 2026 on Tuesday, January 20th, at 5:30 p.m. with an energizing kickoff session. Members discussed professional development resources to stay sharp in this complex field and finalized a 2026 calendar with monthly meetings, mostly virtual with two in-person sessions, designed to tackle real challenges that procurement and contracting leaders face.
This Success Team is an insider network for women government professionals who are, or aspire to be, leaders in procurement and contract management. Together, we’ll share strategies for navigating complex regulations, building executive skills, solving real-world challenges, and advancing our careers.
Our next meeting is Tuesday, February 17, at 5:30 p.m., and our topic will be Leading with a Compliance Mindset.
Whether you’re a seasoned procurement and contracting professional or building toward that goal, you’re welcome here. Check the EWTG website calendar for upcoming meetings or email communications@ewtg.org for the meeting link to join us!
EWTG-Leadership Women “We Lead” Success Team
The “We Lead” Success Team met in January to discuss how women can win in the workplace. No, this isn’t a new Success Team. The group’s first order of business was to vote on a new name for the EWTG-Leadership Women Success Team and “We Lead” was the winner!
The icebreaker included each participant sharing their word or phrase for 2026. Collaborative, fun, forward, audacity, equanimity, and “the best year ever” were among the items shared. The group then reviewed and discussed a summary of “How Can Women Win in the Workplace” (Harvard Business Review, March/April 2025). In addition to the ideas in the article, the group discussed concepts such as:
- The importance of executive presence and leaning-in as defined by Sheryl Sandberg in her book, Lean In.
- Operating as if “every day is an interview.”
- Carrying a mindset of “be your own brand” into every room you’re in.
- When networking, focus more on quality than quantity, i.e., fewer conversations, but richer conversations.
At the end of the evening, two lucky members, Aelia Akhtar and Terri Peirce, won copies of The Broken Rung: When the Career Ladder Breaks for Women and How They Can Succeed in Spite of It.
The evening concluded by encouraging participants to enjoy a beautiful EWTG cookie and take one to give to someone they would like to invite to join EWTG – a sweet invitation!
The next We Lead Success Team meeting is on May 16 and will include meeting with the 2026 Leadership Texas class when they come to Austin.
Submitted by Audrey Selden and Chan McDermott
EWTG-Leadership Women EST Co-Leaders, 2026
Sole Mates Walking Executive Success Team
The Sole Mates Success Team offers EWTG members opportunities to network while prioritizing their physical well-being. Walking together offers community, shared purpose, and valuable connections. As professional women leaders, we must incorporate regular physical activity to reduce stress, anxiety, and burnout.
Unfortunately, due to the cold and windy weather, we were not able to meet and walk in January. However, the Sole Mates Success Team will meet in February.
The next walk is scheduled on Saturday, February 21st, at 10:00 a.m. (location to be announced). For more information or to participate, please contact communications@ewtg.org.
Professional Development News
Join the 2026 EWTG Peer Mentoring Program!
Connect. Grow. Lead. Together.
The EWTG Peer Mentoring Program is expanding and we’re inviting more members to be part of this supportive, energizing, and leadership building experience.
Our peer mentoring groups meet monthly and offer a space where women across state government can learn from one another, share challenges, and celebrate wins. This year, we hope to have two to three peer mentoring groups that will be facilitated by a current EWTG peer mentoring member, creating more opportunities for members to join and engage meaningfully.
What to Expect in Each Meeting
Our sessions are structured to help you grow both personally and professionally:
- Continuous Improvement Segment
Explore tools, strategies, and insights that support ongoing development and leadership excellence. - Spotlight Segment
A rotating member brings forward a real-world issue, question, or topic for group discussion. It’s a chance to receive thoughtful feedback, gain new perspectives, and strengthen problem-solving skills.
Every member has the opportunity to lead segments, share expertise, and mentor one another. No hierarchy, just women supporting women.
Why Join?
- Build authentic connections across agencies.
- Strengthen leadership and facilitation skills.
- Gain support for your professional challenges and goals.
- Contribute to a culture of growth, collaboration, and empowerment.
- Be part of a community that invests in each other’s success.
If you’re interested in joining a peer mentoring group this year, we’d love to welcome you. Whether you’re seeking guidance, eager to share your experience, or simply looking for a community that “gets it,” there’s a place for you here.
Sign up today and help shape the next chapter of EWTG’s mentoring legacy.
Questions? Contact Sarah Melecki at communications@ewtg.org.
Membership News
New Year, New Connections: Growing EWTG in 2026
As we step into February, I’m excited to share an update on the Membership Committee and extend an open invitation to those who want to help shape the future of EWTG.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been finalizing our committee roster and getting our foundation in place. I’m happy to share that our first Membership Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 3rd, at 6:00 p.m. This meeting will set the tone for our work in 2026, discussing outreach strategies, engagement opportunities, ways we welcome new members into our community and a review of the past year.
An Invitation to Get Involved
If you’ve ever considered joining a committee or are looking for a meaningful way to contribute to EWTG, I would love for you to join us. The Membership Committee plays a vital role in strengthening our organization, and your voice, ideas, and energy can make a real impact. Whether you’re passionate about outreach, enjoy connecting with new members, or simply want to help shape the direction of our work, there is a place for you at the table. The more perspectives we bring together, the stronger and more vibrant our community becomes. This year, I’m committed to building a committee that reflects the diversity, talent, and leadership within our organization, and that starts with you.
If you’re interested in joining the committee or attending our first meeting, please reach out to communications@ewtg.org. I’d be thrilled to have you involved as we begin this year’s journey together. Thank you for your continued support and for being part of the EWTG community. I’m looking forward to a year of growth, connection, and shared purpose.
Engagement Committee
Are you starting off 2026 wanting to get more involved with EWTG, but don’t know where to begin? It’s your lucky day as we have scheduled a New Member Orientation on February 23, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. to cover that topic.
Our Engagement Committee members will introduce themselves and walk you through EWTG’s mission and background, the various EWTG committees, Success Teams, and comprehensive resources available on our website. You can ask as many questions as you have in an open, informative forum. This should help you determine the next steps.
This briefing is open to all EWTG members who want to get more actively involved in EWTG activities.
If you are interested in joining the Engagement Committee, please email us at communications@ewtg.org.
Get Involved
The Community Service Committee met on Tuesday, January 20th, and had an informative and productive meeting. We discussed and planned volunteer opportunities for the upcoming year. We are excited to share and get activities underway!
The Community Service Committee provides EWTG members with valuable opportunities to develop leadership skills, build partnerships, and serve others. As women leaders in government, we have the opportunity to drive positive change not just in our jobs, but also across the communities we support. We continually strive to be a community-focused and action-oriented organization for and within our community.
EWTG members are welcome to serve on the committee and are encouraged to participate in community service activities. Committee meetings are held monthly every third Tuesday. The next meeting will be on February 17th, at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Please look out for more Community Service activity information on the EWTG website or email the communications mailbox at communications@ewtg.org.
Events & Announcements
February Birthdays
Susana Carbajal, Jodi Contreras, Margaret Earnest, Tamala Fletcher, Dora Guardiola, Karen Howard, Rhonda Silguero
We wish you all a wonderful celebration!
Save the Date
February 3, 6:00 p.m. - Membership Committee Meeting [Learn More]
February 10, 5:30 p.m. - Speak! Success Team Meeting [Learn More]
February 11, 11:30 a.m. – Brazos Valley Affiliate Meeting [Learn More]
February 12, 6:00 p.m. - Shooting Stars Success Team Meeting [Learn More]
February 17, 5:30 p.m. - Procurement & Contracting Success Team Meeting [Learn More]
February 19. 12:00 p.m. – Artificial Intelligence in Government [Learn More]
February 21, 10:00 a.m. - Sole Mates Success Team Walk [Learn More]
February 23, 5:30 p.m. - New Member Orientation [Learn More]
February 26, 12:00 p.m. - Success Teams Kickoff [Learn More]
March 7, 11:00 a.m. - Go Anyway Brunch Bunch Success Team Meetup [Learn More]
March 24, 12:00 p.m. - Project Management Success Team Meeting [Learn More]
May 16 - We Lead Success Team Meeting [Learn More]
Connect with EWTG Online!
If you have news to share, we'd love to hear from you!
Send your news to communications@ewtg.org.