Attorney and Women's Rights Advocate

ERA Summit Keynote Speaker (Thursday)

Forty years ago, Arlaine Rockey entered the University of Miami School of Law with a clear mission: to defend battered women and protect children from abuse. She has never wavered. For more than 35 years she has practiced across Florida and North Carolina, representing what she calls Protective Mothers — women fighting to shield their children from physical and sexual abuse — and has spent her career encouraging women to enter the law and use it as a tool for change.

Her impact is concrete and documented. In October 1991, Ms. Rockey founded the Association for the Reform of NC Marital Rape Laws, a statewide multidisciplinary coalition whose work led directly to the NC Legislature fully repealing the NC Marital Rape Exemption on July 5, 1993 — ending a law that had barred prosecution for the sexual assault of a spouse prior to separation.

Today, Ms. Rockey is actively litigating trial and appellate cases in North Carolina arguing that the Equal Rights Amendment — ratified by the necessary 38 states on January 27, 2020 — should be recognized and enforced as the 28th Amendment to the US Constitution. She further argues that women deserve "strict scrutiny" protection under the courts, a legal standard that dramatically increases the likelihood of winning discrimination claims.

Learn more at ArlaineRockey.com and EQUALITYforWOMENisTheLAW.com.

Known, Trusted, Chosen: Building a Brand that Opens Doors

Agatha Barreto is a strategic communications and business development professional and the founder of Global Practice Advisors, a consultancy specializing in branding, stakeholder engagement, and institutional positioning for high trust industries such as legal and healthcare. Through her company, she has supported more than 150 clients, managed over US$1.2M in media investments that contributed to more than US$24M in attributable client revenue, and led positioning initiatives associated with internationally recognized organizations such as Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Leaders League, and Lexology.

Her academic background combines Organizational Communications, Law, and an MBA in Business Development & Entrepreneurship, alongside executive education in innovation, artificial intelligence, corporate communications, and product management through institutions including UC Irvine, IBM, Adobe, Meta, and Google. She also participated in a Silicon Valley immersion program focused on innovation and future oriented business strategy.

Beyond her professional work, Agatha has been actively involved in leadership, networking, and social impact initiatives through organizations such as Rotaract, BNI, BPW, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She also contributed to refugee support and humanitarian integration efforts assisting Syrian and Haitian communities and is currently supporting the development of a new BPW club in the Washington DC area. Her perspective on leadership and communication is also shaped by a significant personal health experience in 2022, which strengthened her commitment to resilience, purposeful leadership, and long-term impact.

Grant Writing 101: Unlocking Opportunities for Growth

Kelly discovered her love for grant writing 13 years ago when, hoping to better support non-profit consulting clients, she accepted a short-term position in the grants department at Central Carolina Community College (CCCC). In 2017 she joined the college full time, where she now serves as the Director of Grants Development and manages grant awards averaging $16M annually.

She sees grant writing as the perfect melding of her passions: writing and community service. In addition to her work at CCCC, Kelly has regularly served on local non-profit boards including the Chamber of Commerce, Partnership for Children, Mann Center for the Arts, Agricultural Extension Advisory Board and, of course, Business and Professional Women.

Her ongoing work in support of small businesses earned her recognition as the 2014 Most Outstanding Young North Carolinian by the North Carolina Jaycees and the 2010 Small Business Advocate of the Year by the Lee County Small Business Center and Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce.

Before to moving to North Carolina in 2006, she founded and served as the first Executive Director of KeystoneWIT, an on-line network of women in business and technology in central Pennsylvania. Kelly’s initiatives in Pennsylvania’s Alleghenies region earned her recognition as Saint Francis University’s Women in Business Advocate of the Year for 2005 and one of Pennsylvania Business Central’s Top 100 People for 2005.

When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her hiking or behind her camera shooting for her other business, Frozen Bubble Photography.

Kelly received her B.S. from the School of Communications at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Bridges Beyond Borders: Women Lead Inclusive Networking through Work

Nicole Mpouli is a dedicated advocate for women’s leadership, empowerment, and access to meaningful resources. A member of Business and Professional Women (BPW) for five years and the NFBPWC Virtual Club for the past year, she currently serves as Chair of the NFBPWC Lifelong Leadership and Learning (L3) Committee.

Nicole is the Business Systems Analysts Manager at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington, a globally recognized leader in cancer and infectious disease research.

She is also a Leadership Identity Strategist, Maxwell-certified coach, and founder of ARP Consulting LLC, where she provides leadership development, coaching, and training programs that help individuals and organizations achieve their highest potential.

Getting GREAT with Money and Build a Life You Love

Laura Davis is a financial advisor and the founder of Financial Lab, Inc., a fee-only RIA.

She has over a decade of experience helping her clients and audience build confident, values-aligned financial lives. She is a dynamic speaker and workshop facilitator who delivers practical, relatable financial wellness programs for corporations, conferences, and professional organizations. As a trusted subject-matter expert, 

Laura creates educational content that transforms complex financial concepts into clear, actionable strategies. 

The New Rules of Leadership: Visibility, Voice, and Influence in a Compressed World

The Age of AI: Will People Matter?

Mark is a strategic, visionary leader shaping how industries harness data, analytics, AI, and trusted innovation to solve their most complex challenges. As head of Global Industry & Vertical Solutions Marketing, he is recognized for leading SAS' strategic mission for vertical strategy, solution positioning, and cross‑industry go‑to‑market alignment—ensuring SAS shows up with clarity, credibility, and domain depth in the sectors where trust and mission‑critical performance matter most.

Mark and his team work closely with SAS’s customers, industry analysts, influencers, sales, partners, R&D, and technical staff around the world, to position, message, market, evangelize and empower sales to sell SAS solutions for Government, Banking, Insurance, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Life Sciences, and Communications sectors that use AI and analytics to make better decisions.​

Demers’s decades of management experience include executive positions at several public and private companies before SAS, and he serves as a Board member for several innovative companies. Mark is a frequent speaker on the topics of "Women & Girls in Leadership" and in AIs use in Industries.   

Whether on stage, in the boardroom, or guiding cross‑functional strategy, he brings a rare blend of emotional intelligence, operational discipline, and creative clarity—helping audiences see not just what’s changing, but what’s possible.

Women Building Influence and Creating Opportunities

North Carolina Secretary of State

In 1996, Elaine F. Marshall didn't just break a barrier — she shattered it, becoming the first woman ever elected to a statewide executive branch office in North Carolina. She built her path from classroom teacher to small business owner, private practice attorney, and state senator before claiming a seat no woman had held before. Now in her eighth term and serving as President of the National Association of Secretaries of State, she remains one of the most decorated public servants in the state's history, honored with the NC Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the Governor's highest award for service.

Under her watch, more than 2.2 million businesses have been formed in North Carolina. Her Rural RISE NC initiative is putting real resources — mentors, funding, and business counsel — directly into the hands of entrepreneurs in underserved communities. From pioneering e-commerce in government to earning recognition from the US Chamber of Commerce, the NC Bar Association, and the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition, Secretary Marshall has spent decades proving that leadership looks like getting things done.

She holds a law degree from Campbell University, honorary doctorates from four institutions, and a permanent place in the NC Women Business Owners Hall of Fame and the National 4-H Hall of Fame. Secretary Marshall's career is not just a record of firsts — it is a masterclass in turning ambition into impact.