The Junior League of St. Joseph is expanding our educational component and bringing women together to raise their impact through discussions and community relations through a Women’s Forum. This event is intended to bring a wide variety of women from St. Joseph and surrounding areas together to better understand themselves and their relationship to the community and its needs.
March 1, 2025
Cultivate: provide the time and space for women to meet
Connect: a wide range of women participate in order to provide networking and resources across interests and ages
Engage: take time to learn and set goals that will impact the St. Joseph community through the improvement of the lives of women
Event Details
March 1, 2025
10 am – 3 pm
Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art
Lunch is included with your registration fee.
Keynote Speaker
Bobbi Howe
Bobbi Howe is a second generation real estate professional with 27+ years of active REALTOR® experience. In addition to being an active Realtor in the St Joseph, MO area, Bobbi is also an owner of RE/MAX Professionals. Bobbi is the 2025 Missouri REALTORS® President and is currently serving on the National Association of REALTORS® Finance Committee. She has served as the President of both the Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® and St Joseph Regional Association of Realtors. She has sat on NAR’s Executive Committee, in addition to being the chair of both the National Strategic Thinking Advisory Committee and the YPN Committee. Bobbi is passionate about mental health for those in the real estate industry. In her spare time, she loves running marathons and being an Association junkie.
We Speak Panelists
Michelle Davidson, Buchanan County Prosecutor
Michelle Davidson has been in public service leadership positions for the last 20 years. She is the first female elected to the Buchanan County Prosecutor’s Office where she currently serves. Her office consists of a criminal division and a child support division employing over 30 employees. Prior to becoming an elected official, she oversaw the Office of Public Defender – Area 05 (covering Buchanan and Andrew County) from 2005 – 2008. From there she became the District Defender in Area 04 and managed that office from 2008 – 2019. She joined the Buchanan County Prosecutor’s office in 2019 and successfully ran for office in 2022.
Some of her most notable recent achievements include 1) first female to serve as Prosecutor for Buchanan County 2) recipient of the Exemplary Victim Service Award from the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services 3) creating the vulnerable adult multi-disciplinary team for Buchanan County 4) participating as a speaker at Mosaic Lifecare’s Workplace Violence Conference and 5) previously serving as an elected council member of the Young Lawyers section of the Missouri Bar.
She also serves her community by being on various boards and committees. She is currently an executive officer on the Noyes Home Board, serves on the Habitat for Humanity Board, is a member of the MWSU Criminal Justice Advisory Board, the Junior League and Chapter EE of PEO St. Joseph. She is also a graduate of Leadership St. Joseph.
Ashley Dawson, Owner of The Story Collective
Ashley Dawson is the owner of The Story Collective, an independent bookstore in downtown St. Joseph. Equipped with an MBA and a dream, she has parlayed her love of stories and learning into a business that strives to be a community-hub that puts books into the hands of readers and visions of greatness into the citizens of St. Joe. She’s unrelentingly for the thriving and success of this town and its people.
Natalie Hawn, St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
As President and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Natalie Hawn oversees all of the Chamber’s activities, including economic development, membership and administration. In partnership with the business community, the Chamber identifies and facilitates the accomplishment of goals that lead to a strong, vibrant business environment.
Before being promoted to the president position she served as the Senior Vice President of Membership. Prior to joining the Chamber in August of 2005, she worked for Woody Bibens & Associates in St. Joseph as the Tradeshow & Educational Manager for the WESTERN Nursery & Landscape Association. Prior to that, Ms. Hawn was the Regional Account Manager for Pryor Resources, Inc. in Overland Park, Kansas. Ms. Hawn graduated from Missouri Western State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications, emphasis in Public Relations.
At the state level she is on the Executive Committee and serves as the Treasurer for the Hawthorn Foundation, which facilitates participation by Missouri-based businesses and community leaders in statewide economic development efforts. She is a commissioner of the Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission. She is a 2024 recipient of Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe’s Women of Achievement Awards. Nationally, she serves in the Air Mobility Command (AMC) Leadership Academy representing the 139th Airlift Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard.
Ms. Hawn is a United Way volunteer, graduate of Leadership St. Joseph, past president or chairman of the board for the Junior League of St. Joseph, YWCA, Allied Arts Association, Mosaic Auxiliary, Missouri Western State University Alumni and Chamber Executives of Missouri. She also serves on the following boards: St. Joseph School District Foundation, Specialty Industries, Innovation Stockyard and St. Joseph Sports Commission. She is married and has a son.
Natalie Maupin, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and Forensic Program Coordinator at Mosaic Life Care
Ashly McGinnis, Assistant Superintendent of Academic and Education Services
Dr. Ashly McGinnis has worked for St. Joseph School District since 2007. She has served as the Principal of Lafayette High School since 2018. Prior to 2018, McGinnis worked as an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Truman Middle School, as well as a teacher at Truman Middle School and Coleman Elementary School. Dr. McGinnis was recognized as the Northwest Region Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals Exemplary New Principal of the Year in 2021. In December, the St. Joseph School District Board of Education announced Dr. McGinnis as the next Superintendent of Schools effective July 1, 2025.
McGinnis earned her bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Emporia State University. She has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northwest Missouri State University and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri.
Dr. McGinnis is passionate about involvement in our community and equity in education. She serves on United Way’s Board of Directors and Missouri Western’s Teacher Education Advisory Board. She is a member of the Northwest Region Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals, Missouri Association of School Administrators, Kiwanis Club of St. Joseph, St. Joseph Host Lions Club, and the St. Joseph Downtown Rotary.
McGinnis and her husband, Brendan, have one child and they are members of Wellspring Community Church.
Kylee Strough, President of United Way of Greater St. Joseph
Kylee is a native of St. Joseph, thinking momentarily about going away to college and quickly realizing Missouri Western State College offered a great learning opportunity in her backyard. Nearing her 20-year anniversary at United Way of Greater St. Joseph, Kylee finds fulfillment in working for an organization that is conduit to connect caring community members to causes, action and solutions. Leading a non-profit was not in the list of “what she wanted to be when she grew up”- those things included teaching, until she realized real children don’t follow orders like stuffed animals; being a lawyer, until she realized how many additional years of schooling would be required; and helping people. After a few years post high school of selling insurance and working at the family business, Kylee had an opportunity to volunteer with United Way and six months later applied for and was hired as the Campaign Director. In 2010, she was promoted to President. When not working or volunteering, Kylee enjoys traveling with her husband and son, finding deals and watching Hallmark movies where happy endings are guaranteed.
Terry Turbak
Terry Turbak grew up in Nebraska but has been a resident of St. Joseph for 44 years. She attended Missouri Western State University, has worked in retail management and health care for 25 years and is now retired. A lifelong social activist, she is the Chairperson and founder of two local non-profits, Friends of Krug Park and Beautify St. Joseph. She is married, has a very spoiled dog and very fat cat, and also a grandchild and two great-grandchildren who live in Kansas. Her hobbies include Egyptology, writing, piano and Chiefs football.