In support of Project Reach’s mission to increase the number of women, including TEMPO Madison members, serving on corporate and business boards, we are excited to announce the Board/Executive Resource is live on TEMPO Madison’s website!  This Resource contains a biography and professional summary for TEMPO Madison members who are seeking corporate and business board opportunities.

Please share the link widely with anyone you think could serve as an advocate or a connector for our members.  We have already received positive feedback from connections outside of TEMPO Madison, such as: 

“Thank you for sharing the profiles of these accomplished women, including all of you.  As I learn of anything, I will certainly keep this wonderful resource in mind.” 

As a result of this Resource, TEMPO Madison members are presently being considered for corporate and business board vacancies throughout Dane County.

If you are interested in being included in this Resource, please submit your biography and/or professional summary to Erin at tempomadison@tempomadison.org If you would like assistance preparing or revising your biography and professional summary,

Project Reach will be offering another workshop with ML Wattman in February 2022. 

If you are a TEMPO Madison member looking for corporate board opportunities, check out  How Women Lead, a champion for promoting the voices of all women and propelling their leadership forward. They offer a number of resources to those interested in board service including the ability to sign up to be notified of board vacancies and other opportunities.

Greetings TEMPO Madison Sisters and Happy November!

As I commence my latest monthly message, I am still glowing on the inside from our 40th Anniversary Kickoff event last week. After nearly a year of discussions, planning and strategizing on the part of our 40th Committee, and the TEMPO Madison and TEMPO Madison Foundation Boards we have officially started our year-long celebration with what proved to be an engaging event.

I extend my gratitude to our panel of past presidents; Susan Springman, Linda Balisle, Frances Huntley-Cooper and Kristine Euclide along with our event moderator, Carol Koby for such an insightful, open and honest discussion that looked back at how each woman came to be where she is today. What I loved most about their discussion is that they all had a compelling story to tell, each one of them chose different paths which led to amazing journeys complete with perils, heartbreaks and yet joy and successes too. I could have listened to our panelists all night. Kristine summed it up best during her closing when she said that any one of us ladies in the audience could have easily been up on the stage sharing their compelling, interesting and real-life stories. Being a past president may have been one of the markers of distinction among our panelists, but Kristine reminded us that we all have a common bond when it comes to being a woman.

With that idea in mind, I have been moved, as were many other event attendees with a desire to really get to know our fellow TEMPO Madison members. Think how great it would be to be able to dive deeper, understand their backgrounds and how they came to be the woman they are today; that lovely, awe inspiring, energy-packed woman we see at their best during our luncheons and events. To know their full story, with the bumps, leaps, re-starts and stops along their unique paths, would be in-and-of itself inspiring. As I see it, to experience someone else’s story is be invited into their private world. It allows us to form a deep bond of respect for one another. And deepening our connections as a sisterhood of women with common bonds, isn’t that something we all crave?

Now, it will likely take years, not the months I have left as your president to highlight our members more deeply. Our 40th committee and the boards are working out ideas to capture your member histories and preserve them for each other and the benefit of the new members that will follow us decades from today. Whether it be recording your stories via audio, video or written in our monthly newsletters and other venues, my goal is for us to reach as many TEMPO Madison members as possible that want to share their story. Ladies, you all have a compelling and interesting story to share. I welcome any suggestions you might have on getting this initiative off the ground.

I will close my message and take a minute to reflect on our upcoming traditional Thanksgiving holiday. It has always been my favorite holiday because we get to take a day to pause, reflect and express gratitude for the love and fullness our lives bring us. For me personally, I am ever grateful for my loving and supportive husband, children, family and friends. I am also extraordinarily lucky and thankful for my TEMPO Madison sisters and the friendships and connections I have formed with you over the years. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

With gratitude,

Elaine Rich, TEMPO Madison President

Greetings TEMPO Madison Sisters and Happy October!

I love the month of October.  I’m a little surprised in my declaration.  I really do love the transition we go through this month, moving from the start of fall in September to now seeing leaves change their color and feeling the crispness in the air as we move more fully into the season. I know it will soon be cold but with a sunny clear day like today it seems like we can fend off winter for a while.

October marks the beginning of our official celebration of TEMPO Madison turning 40 years old!  It was in this very season, in the fall of 1981 that TEMPO of Madison, Inc. was formed. It was the brainchild of three women who decided they needed to do something about the phenomenon they had observed, namely, that most women, regardless of talent, competence, or position, were outside the Madison area power structure.  The need was seen for an organization to break down barriers and to integrate women executives into the fiber of Madison while partnering with the institutions and leaders that were directing Madison’s future.

Today TEMPO Madison members represent diversity in background, experience, and leadership. They lead in every sector of the business community as well as non-profit organizations.  Our members started 150+ for-profit businesses, employ nearly 21,000, serve on 153 for-profit and 1,487 not-for-profit boards of directors and volunteer 17,000 hours a year—all while raising more than 450 children.   Ladies, we are a force, and we have our founders to thank for the enduring sisterhood that continues today. 

By now, you’ve probably seen our emails and posts about our upcoming 40^th Anniversary Kick-Off event.  All TEMPO  Madison members and their guests are invited to our celebration on October 27^th at the Edgewater Hotel.  We will get a chance to re-connect with one another, meet our newest members, network and socialize.  We will be adhering to current COVID-19 safety protocols.  Our program will feature a panel of four past TEMPO Madison Presidents representing each of our past decades.  Our goal is to raise funds for our TEMPO Madison Scholarship Program which annually provides needs-based college scholarships.  Please show your support of TEMPO Madison and its mission to nurture the next generation of women leaders by attending this event! Tickets are on sale now and sponsorship opportunities are still available.

October is also Breast Cancer Awareness month.  I believe it’s a safe assumption, (sigh), that most of our members have had some personal connection with breast cancer and its impact on our lives and the lives of our loved ones.  Consider taking a moment this month to thank someone, whether it be a friend, healthcare worker or one of our exceptional breast cancer support or research charities for their help and support to someone whose life was impacted by this disease. 

With this month acting as our kick-off to 40 years, it hints that we’ll be celebrating all year long.  Look for announcements about other events, especially our big gala in October 2022, when we’ll come together again to cap-off what will be a joyous and eventful year of looking back and moving forward.   

With gratitude,

Elaine Rich, TEMPO Madison President

Ciao, TEMPO Madison Members!

I begin my September message with the word “ciao” as I just came home from two weeks in Italy last night.  This month we will learn about re-engaging with travel during--and hopefully someday after-- the COVID pandemic.  At our upcoming luncheon, I’m excited to hear from Tania Burke, President and Founder of TREK Travel as she provides us her perspective on how the travel industry has been impacted by COVID-19 and getting back out to travel the world by bike.  I also want to highlight that TEMPO Madison has its own Traveler Group which meets the first Monday of each month over lunch.  I hope to pop in for one of their gatherings very soon. 

For those of you who do not know me well, one thing I live for is European travel, particularly Italy.  My husband, Chris, our children, Jackie and Henry, and I try to make it to Europe annually.  COVID hampered our 2020 plans to celebrate my husband Chris’s 50th birthday in Tuscany with friends and family.  As we rebooked our trip for this August little did we know we’d be “threading the needle” being allowed into and home from Italy right before travel restrictions might begin anew.  One of my major observations as we ventured from Venice and Lake Como in the north to Tuscany is that Italians follow their pandemic guidelines pragmatically; they wear masks indoors and they’ve created a “Green Pass” that allows you to dine indoors and enter museums as long as you show proof of vaccination or have a recent negative COVID test.  We felt as safe as we could be.

If there is one thing I’ve learned from travel abroad, in my opinion, is that it is about more than just visiting a foreign place as an outsider looking in.  It is about, and this will be no surprise to my fellow TEMPO Madison members, making connections with the people you encounter.  Now, that can be pretty hard when you do not speak the language and really only interact with locals when dining, shopping and taking in the cultural sites.  Connections do happen, though when you least expect them. 

We befriended Franceso Maramai two years ago on a previous trip.  Franceso and his parents own Osteria del Borgo in Montepulciano, Tuscany.  Francesco runs their wine club.  Franceso is genuinely warm and gregarious.  As we fell in love with Franceso, his food, wine and hometown, we ended up becoming his first U.S. wine-club members.  While we stayed a week in Montepulciano this year, it was Franceso who connected us with his very gracious friends who gave us tours of their small wineries.  Life in Tuscany, however, is not all back to sunshine. Franceso shared with us tales of how he and his parents barely hung on during their two lock-downs last year.  Even today, his staff is about a quarter of where it needs to be.  Franceso waits tables while his father makes the Tiramisu.  Just one week ago, both of his chefs injured themselves, and they struggled with the tough decision of whether or not to stay open or close for good.  Lucky for everyone, they managed to find temporary help to stay in business.  His story echoes what so many Americans have gone through during this pandemic.  As I recount this story, a flood of emotions runs through me as I recognize a man, his family and friends, living thousands of miles away from Madison and yet, they have so much in common with us.  Seeing one another’s humanity is what travel is all about.

Our family hopes to soon host Francesco in Madison, so he can tour our country and bring his stories and wine to our friends. Further, our Sicilian Italian heritage is making it possible for Chris, the kids and I to become Italian citizens.  It will be a years-long process, but we hope to continue bridging the gap between our two countries, cultures and peoples.  Maybe our children will work in the EU someday, pick up the Italian language and continue learning and sharing with one another.

Make September a great month and here’s to your next adventure, when you are ready to take on travel once more.

Cin cin!

Elaine Rich, President

TEMPO Madison

Happy August!  It’s hard to believe that there’s only about a month before summer starts to come to a close.  I always have to remind myself that summer, if you look at the calendar, is just as long as our other three seasons but it’s too short and oh-so-sweet here in Madison.  I hope you are able to take some time this month to be with those you love whether it be on a family picnic, reunion, or travels. I’ll be taking part in the latter two while trying to stay as safe as possible during this pandemic.

Speaking of our new normal, when was the last time you were in a museum?  As I asked myself this same question, I came up with December 2019.  Considering I used to make it to museums at least every few months, this has been a sad dry spell.  I miss museums and am ready to get back to surrounding myself with beautiful and meaningful works of art.   COVID-19 has certainly presented challenges to all of us as individuals, businesses, organizations, governments and industries.  One industry that has really had more than its fair share of challenges is nonprofit organizations, particularly community arts organizations.  This month, we’ll get the chance to learn about the challenges one of our local arts organizations faced during the pandemic and how they met those challenges and stayed true to their mission of providing a space to engage in conversations about our world.  I hope you’ll be able to join me for our August luncheon, when Christina Brungardt, Director of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art talks to us about her experiences dealing with those challenges while charting a course for their future in our community. 

TEMPO Madison is also charting our course for the future. We have a plan in place to transition to hybrid programming in September 2021. We are all eager to get back to connecting with one another. The past year-and-a-half has shown us all how meaningful and important our TEMPO Madison relationships are. 

A couple weeks ago, we lost too soon, one very dear TEMPO Madison Member and Past President (2008/09), Sue Ann Kaestner.  Sue Ann was beloved by many fellow TEMPO Madison members.  I remember her for her willingness to jump in and help with anything when I was part of the TEMPO Madison Foundation.  The bonds of our TEMPO Madison sisterhood were evident when I arrived at her visitation last week.  The room was full of caring and grieving TEMPO Madison sisters. Many past Presidents and a founding member were present.  It felt so good to come together to celebrate Sue Ann’s life.  I think she would have loved that we had a chance to commune together in her honor. Sue Ann asked that any memorial donations in her name be made to our TEMPO Madison Foundation.  For that we are honored.

As we embark on our group’s 40^th year of existence I’m consistently reminded of why we have come together.  It’s all about the sisterhood we’ve developed.  We support and step up for one another, through the good times and in times of sorrow.  It’s through those experiences that we really do embrace our mission of leading, connecting and engaging with women of our community.    If you are new to our group, welcome!  We cannot wait to get to know you. 

Finally, I’ll close with I hope you have seen some of our recent social media teasers about the speakers for our 40^th kickoff event on October 27^th at the Edgewater Hotel.  The photos will make you smile.  The full “reveal” Is set for August 4^th.  Stay tuned!

With gratitude,

Elaine Rich

TEMPO Madison President 

TEMPO Madison is hosting a kick-off event on October 27, 2021, as we mark 40 years of connecting Madison-area women in executive and professional leadership roles. This event will set the stage for a year-long celebration of our organization and the women leaders we support.  All proceeds will benefit the TEMPO of Madison Foundation, a 501(c)(3)  nonprofit organization  that provides needs-based scholarships to promising Madison-area high school seniors.   

We would be excited to have your support of our mission to lead, engage, and connect influential women of diverse backgrounds and experience to help them succeed at the highest professional levels in our community. 

We would be honored if you would consider being a sponsor for our 40^th anniversary kick-off event, which will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on October 27, 2021, at the Edgewater Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin. 

A range of opportunities are available. Detailed sponsorship information can be found on our sponsorship form. 

We ask that all sponsorship forms be returned by October 1^st. 

Over the last 5 years, this one-of-a-kind event has raised over $27,000 for the TEMPO Madison Foundation, which provides educational support to TEMPO Madison members and area high school seniors, and $6,500 for “No Strings Attached”, our member-led micro-giving program that supports women in need. Your contributions magnify TEMPO Madison's ability to make an impact in the lives of women throughout our community.  The TEMPOShares committee is planning to make this year’s event better! Mark Your Calendars! TEMPOShares will be held Tuesday, October 12, 2021 from 5:00 – 7:30 pm at the Madison Club! Register here to join us for a casual evening of meeting new members, catching up with old friends, enjoying great food, and an amazing raffle! How You Can Help! This year we are hosting a raffle of amazing donations from TEMPO Madison members and the community! Our goal is to have 9 – 14 raffle items and baskets with a minimum value of $200. You can donate a pre-made basket of items like last year's popular fall drinks kit. Or you can donate an item or service that may be combined with other donated items to create a unique experience.  Be creative, share something of yourself! We will also continue to highlight TEMPO Madison member experiences! You can donate your time by offering to host an event for members, where multiple people may purchase the experience for a certain price. Past popular examples include: Pinot on the Prairie*, Pickleball for 4, Golf and Drinks on the Deck. Each member may bring one guest to join us for the evening! Know what you would like to donate today? Complete your submission form.

Raffle / Event Donation Form

Vendor Members (or any Interested Members) Last year, we had a blast with our virtual demonstration rooms and would love to replicate the experience this year! Would you like to showcase your products or talents: Make a Drink  Cook a Recipe / Taste something great Demonstrate a hobby (scarves, art project)  Contact Megan Purtell for more information or questions.

Fatou Ceesay, Owner, Cairasu Home Care

Fatou Ceesay's business Cairasu Home Care won a 2021 Dane County Small Business Award. The award will be presented on July 14 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Madison Marriott West.

Betty Harris Custer, Owner, Custer Financial Services

Betty Harris Custer's business Custer Financial Services won a 2021 Dane County Small Business Award. The award will be presented on July 14 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Madison Marriott West.

Barbara Hughes, Retired

Barbara Hughes was awarded the 2021 Powley Elder Law Award by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). This award is presented annually to a NAELA member who is recognized in his or her community as a leader in promoting a greater understanding of the rights and needs of the elderly and people with special needs, and of how elder law attorneys advocate for those rights. You can watch Barbara's acceptance speech here.

Marilyn Ruffin, VP Family & Community Initiatives, One City Schools

Marilyn Ruffin was interviewed in an hour-long podcast about her experiences as a Black Substitute Teacher in Madison and Sun Prairie, former School Board Member and work at One City Schools. Listen here.

Elizabeth Zeidler Schreiter, PsyD, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, Access Community Health Centers

Dr. Elizabeth Zeidler Schreiter is the co-chair for the 2021 Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA) annual conference to be held in Madison, WI and virtually in October 2021. CFHA is the premier national conference to advance the integration of behavioral health into overall healthcare.

This year the conference focus is Justice, Health Equity, and Reducing the Digital Divide. In the wake of a global pandemic and increased national awareness of systemic racism, the time is now for sustainable action to address health and social inequities. This year’s conference will focus on acknowledging and addressing the systemic racial and socioeconomic inequities in healthcare and will examine a path forward together. We will emphasize, not only research and ideas, but actionable steps to help bring equitable health care to all. We will take a close look at the rapid growth of telehealth as a sustainable part of healthcare and examine ways to leverage virtual care to reduce disparities and enhance access to needed care. Additionally, we will address the need for health care leaders to impress and practice self-care, resiliency, and cultural humility to make this journey one that lasts.

Tanya Lettman-Shue, President and CEO of Journey Mental Health Center

Tanya Lettman-Shue has been named President and CEO of Journey Mental Health Center. Tanya succeeds Lynn Brady who announced her retirement this spring. Tanya is uniquely qualified for her new position, having held leadership positions at Journey for ten years, the past six as a member of the executive leadership group. Tanya most recently served as Journey’s Chief Clinical Officer, and has been instrumental in moving Journey forward through challenging economic times as well as the Covid- 19 pandemic.

by Christine Lidbury, Executive Director, Wisconsin Women's Council

July 2021 marks the 100th Anniversary of women in Wisconsin gaining the right to hold public office. The provision came fifth in a list of “rights and privileges” extended to women in the landmark 1921 Wisconsin Equal Rights Act, with the preamble, “[t]o remove discriminations against women and give them equal rights before the law.” The first state to ratify the 19th Amendment, a year later, Wisconsin was again recognized nationally for passing the first equal rights bill in any U.S. state.

In 1923, a UW-Extension survey of Wisconsin cities and villages identified Wisconsin’s first “Lady Mayor” (Crandon), county board supervisor (Brown County), alderwomen (Clintonville, Janesville, Marshfield, Mellon, Phillips, Platteville, Waukesha, Wausau), more than a dozen village trustees and nearly three dozen municipal clerks and treasurers. In 1924, the first women were elected to the Wisconsin State Legislature as “Assemblymen.” It wasn’t until 1975 that a woman was elected to the State Senate.

That was then, where are we a century later? Women’s representation in public office still lags. Often significantly. The influx of women into elected office began in numbers in the late 1970s, making slow progress to the current day. Today, women in elected office in state and local government still account for less than a 25% of office holders and only about 12% of leadership positions.

Marking this Centennial, women sworn into the 2021 State Legislature exceed 30% of all Legislators for the first time and passed the previous record of 29% set more than three decades ago, in 1989, and again in 1993 and 2003. In fact, the share of women in the State Legislature had hovered around 25% for more than 30 years. “First” for women holding office in Wisconsin state and federal elected offices gained momentum starting in the 1970s and continue today – with some yet to come.
See a timeline here. 

In a new report from the Wisconsin Women’s Council, more than 3,000 women serve in elected office across state and local governments in Wisconsin. Today, women’s representation in elected office includes, 25 mayors (14%), 41 state legislators (31%), and about 250 county board, 400 city council and 650 village board members. Women represent most of the state’s elected and appointed local government clerks  and treasurers.

The 1921 Equal Rights Act did not live up to the hopes of reformers, having included loopholes that quickly undermined reforms. Nonetheless, on the heels of suffrage, it presaged a modern era for American women and set Wisconsin women on a new path as government leaders.

Women’s place in public office in this next century starts today. What happens with that is up to us.

Hello TEMPO Madison Sisters,

It is with great honor that I step in this month to serve as your 2021-2022 TEMPO Madison President. As I write this, my inaugural message, on June 27th 2021, I am reflecting on this past year with the hardships and tragedies we have endured, from the pandemic to social injustice. However, I feel that there is a sense of hope and an opening for healing emerging. While we are just days from celebrating another year of our country’s independence on the Fourth of July, I am proud of the fact that our nation has finally recognized Juneteenth as a national holiday. It may seem like a small step toward facing our nation’s toll of slavery and a too long legacy of systemic racism and social injustice, it is thus, a step forward. This is a moment where we can recommit ourselves to working toward diversity, equity and inclusion.

To that charge, our newly formed TEMPO Madison DEI Committee will soon be meeting to develop a vision, goals and objectives and to hold our organization accountable to meet the commitments we created in our Diversity Equity and Inclusion Statement.

I am so excited for and hope you can join us on July 13th when we will feature a moderated panel on the four sororities that are members of the Divine Nine Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs). We’ll learn more about the rich history and impact of these strong, female-led organizations. It’s going to be yet another opportunity for TEMPO Madison Members to learn from leading women and to connect and engage.

One final note, we will be kicking off our 40th Anniversary year-long celebration this fall with a not-to-be missed event on October 27th at the Edgewater Hotel. Look for more updates on this and all of our exciting 40th Anniversary plans soon!

Warmest Regards,

Elaine Rich

President, TEMPO Madison