IN 2005

The fall of 2005 witnessed the inaugural TEMPO Leadership Event, a significant milestone that built upon the earlier success of the National Speaker Series. This flagship program featured distinguished speakers and was guided by dedicated co-chairs who helped shape its vision and execution. The Leadership Event would become an annual tradition, offering members valuable insights from thought leaders while creating opportunities for high-level networking.

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In 2007, TEMPO welcomed Tracy Johnson as Executive Director, beginning a significant seven-year tenure that would guide the organization through several important transitions. Johnson's leadership provided stability during a period when TEMPO was reassessing its strategic direction, particularly regarding its international affiliations.

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A pivotal organizational shift occurred in 2009 when TEMPO made the decision to resign from TEMPO International, signaling a strategic refocusing on its core strengths and local impact. This same year saw the creation of the Mentor Circles initiative by Louise Hermsen, which was formally launched in early 2010. This program represented an evolution of TEMPO's commitment to mentorship, moving beyond the recognition of mentors through awards to actively facilitating mentoring relationships in a group format.

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Building on its tradition of fostering connections between professional women, TEMPO formed the Women's Affinity Alliance in 2011 under the leadership of Krista Brookman, Tami Garrison, and Tracy Johnson. This initiative created a collaborative network of women's professional groups, amplifying their collective impact and reducing duplication of efforts across organizations with similar missions.

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The international chapter of TEMPO's history came to a definitive close in 2013 when TEMPO International ceased operations. This development confirmed the organization's shift toward focusing on depth of impact rather than geographic breadth.

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A significant organizational advancement came in 2014 with the appointment of Jennifer Dirks as TEMPO's first President & CEO, elevating the leadership structure to reflect the organization's growing prominence and operational complexity. This transition from an Executive Director model signaled TEMPO's evolution into a more sophisticated professional organization with Dirks at the helm.

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Throughout this period, TEMPO expanded its educational offerings through Quarterly TEMPO Discovery Programs held at various locations throughout the community. These programs provided members with opportunities to explore diverse topics and organizations, furthering professional development while strengthening community connections.

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This decade represented TEMPO's maturation as an organization—refining its focus, strengthening its programmatic offerings, and building a sustainable infrastructure to support women leaders for years to come.

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Thank you to our Past Presidents: 

2005-06: Tracey Klein
2006-07: Phyllis King
2007-08: Cristy Garcia-Thomas
2008-09: Nancy Hernandez
2009-10: Gina Peter
2010-11: Kimberly Kane
2011-12: Amy Rislov
2012-13: Jennifer Bartolotta
2013-14: Peggy Williams-Smith
2014-15: Linda Newberry-Ferguson