Athena

From a myriad of life experiences, Polo REO Tate intimately understands the transformational value in mindfully getting to know ourselves wholly and love ourselves unconditionally in order to live fully in the freedom of our own authenticity. An author by soul, actor by trade, artist at heart, and uplifter to the core of her being, this Joyful Warrior redefines what it means to be a Renaissance Woman. Her supreme love for people, and the clarity with which she sees and celebrates the superpowers of those around her, allows her to help elevate the energy of any relationship or situation in which she is present. Whether she is in front of a camera, a crowd, or the company of one, Polo revels in the kinetic web of creativity that is born from every interaction, every co-creation.

Tate has been a United States Air Force Cadet, a comedian having performed all over New York City and Los Angeles, and a passionate public speaker with the mission for all to see, feel and understand their own self-worth, empowerment and value.

She lives each moment to the fullest, lets no one take her joy, and avidly operates from the belief that we can do anything upon which we set our minds, hearts, and spirits.

President & CEO – Women’s Foundation

Wendy advances all women’s economic and civic leadership using evidenced-based research and policy solutions to make meaningful change in the Midwest. Wendy’s nonprofit career began as a national major gifts officer with the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. She worked as a nonprofit consultant who focused on board development and strategic planning. She later served as the Executive Vice President of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas.
Wendy earned a B.A. from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, and she serves on the Missouri Women’s Health Council, the Missouri Foundation for Health’s Missouri Opportunity Incubator, a Junior League of Kansas City Missouri’s C3KC Advisor, the University of Missouri – Kansas City Starr Education Committee, and Park University Civic Advisory Council.

Executive Director – Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas

Reva Wywadis has been the Executive Director of ERC Resource & Referral since October 2006. Before assuming the reins as Executive Director, Reva held other positions with the agency from 1999-2006 as Infant/Toddler Specialist and later the Director of Provider Services and Agency Development. Prior to her career with ERC, Reva operated a nationally accredited, licensed family child care home in Topeka for 12 years.  Reva earned her bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management and Leadership and master’s degree in management. Reva has held a variety of leadership roles in local, state and national child care and early education groups and is a graduate of the Kansas Health Foundation Leadership Institute, Leadership Greater Topeka, and the Children’s Defense Fund Advocacy and Leadership Institute. Reva currently has the honor of serving on the Kansas Child Care Systems Improvement Team and the Early Childhood Recommendations Panel. In her spare time, Reva and her husband Walt enjoy hanging out on their backyard patio (as weather permits) with their two lively dogs, cheering on their grandkids at baseball and softball games, and taking in the Kansas scenery as they tour the “roads less traveled” on their Harley!

Real Estate Agent-Genesis Real Estate, KW, One Legacy Partners

Del-Metrius Herron is a REALTOR® with Genesis Real Estate, KW, One Legacy Partners in Topeka, KS. She earned the Rising Star Award in 2020 from the Sunflower Association of Realtors after achieving over a million dollars in real estate sales within her first year in the industry and she is ranked as one of the top independent agents at Keller Williams. Recently, she was nominated as one of the top 3 relators though Best of Topeka in 2021.

Prior to her career in Real Estate, Del-Metrius served in the Kansas Army National Guard for eight years as an IT Specialist and Automation Technician. During her time of Service, she was deployed during Operation Spartan Shield & Inherent Resolve. Del-Metrius is dedicated to Topeka, she volunteers countless hours in the community, She also serves on numerous boards and committees including Kansas Emerging Leaders Advisory board, Topeka Planning Commission, SENT Housing Committee, Sunflower Association of Realtors, and FORGE Topeka.

Staff Attorney – Kansas National Education Association (KNEA)

LeTiffany Obozele or LT, as her friends refer to her, currently serves as a Staff Attorney with the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA). LT’s primary focus is education and employment law. LT’s career consists of prosecution and complex civil litigation. She has previously served as the Chief of Prosecution for the City of Topeka, an Assistant Attorney General at the Office of the Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, an Assistant District Attorney in Douglas County District Attorney’s Office Charles Branson, the Office of the District Attorney Mark Bennett in Sedgwick County, and as a Staff Attorney for Kansas Legal Services.

In 2007, Ms. Obozele earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Sociology from Emory University.  In 2012, Ms. Obozele earned her J.D. from Washburn University School of Law with certificates in Advocacy and Family Law.  During her time at Washburn, she was a member of the TYLA and ABA competition trial teams, which helped fuel her passion for courtroom advocacy and piqued her interest in serving as a prosecutor.

Ms. Obozele supports the community through her involvement in various organizations and boards. Ms. Obozele also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Washburn Law School teaching various trial advocacy skills courses and coaching the TYLA trial team. She also is a rotating host for KTWU (PBS)’s IGI (I’ve Got Issues) program. Ms. Obozele is passionate about making Topeka a place where folks want to work, live and play with Forge Young Talent within the Greater Topeka Partnership

LT is a 2017 Leadership Kansas graduate and 2018 Strategic Leadership Academy Graduate. In 2021, Ms. Obozele was honored as a Women of Excellence by the YWCA Northeast Kansas, as Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) by Washburn University School of Law, and a Topeka’s 20 Under 40 by the Jayhawk Area Council.

Envista Credit Union

Fatima Perez-Luthi was born in Tepatlaxco de Hidalgo Puebla, Mexico and migrated when she was two years old. Since then, Topeka Kansas is where she was raised and has called home.

Growing up there were a lot of challenges and obstacles that Fatima had to overcome, and with the help of family, friends and community, she was able to rise up.  When she joined the Envista Credit Union, she was entering the work force and didn’t know much about community engagement, civil duty or the financial industry . As Fatima grew with Envista CU,  she was empowered with the knowledge she had to give back to the Hispanic community and help bridge a gap with the greater Topeka community.

Having a daughter of her own who calls this community home, Fatima is inspired to lead – big or small.

Manager of Inside Sales & Marketing- Schendel Lawn & Landscape and Green Pest Solutions

Cassidy Roberson is the manager of inside sales and marketing at Schendel Lawn & Landscape and Green Pest Solutions. She currently serves as a board member for Forge and Crime Stoppers. In addition, she serves on various committees… She is the past chair of the Top City Interns Committee. Cassidy looks forward to her incoming leadership opportunities, such as being on the steering committee for Momentum 2027 and chairing Missions Team at Mission Church.

Director of Administration, Bureau Chief of Human Resources- Kansas Department of Transportation

Allison Sedore currently holds the position of Director of Administration, Bureau Chief of Human Resources for the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Alli grew up in South Central Kansas where she attended a small rural high school near Whitewater, KS. She then went on to receive a Bachelors of Business Management from K-State and a Master’s of Business Administration from Baker University.

Alli’s passion lies with working with people and she loves to accomplish goals through teamwork, efficiency, and hard work. 

Licensed Professional Counselor & Managing Partner – Ad Astra Per Aspera Counseling

Susana Ortiz is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the managing partner of Ad Astra Per Aspera Counseling, a telemental health private practice serving the state of Kansas. She also teaches school and clinical counseling graduate students as a Counselor Educator at Emporia State University. She began her professional career as an high school teacher and school counselor in Topeka school districts. She is a Ph.D. student in the Counseling Education & Supervision program at Kansas State University. She has served as President of the Kansas School Counselor Association and contributed to numerous projects supporting student development and healthy family and community systems. She frequently presents at Regional and National professional conferences on topics such as leadership, entrepreneurship, community engagement, Social Justice, Mental Health Advocacy, and legal and ethical issues in counseling and supervision.  

Susana is a 2015 graduate of Latino Leadership Collaborative of Kansas, she was recognized as one of Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40 in 2017, as a Women of Influence by the Greater Topeka Partnership in 2018, and was a member of the Greater Leadership Topeka Class of 2019. Susana recently completed terms serving on the YWCA – NE Kansas Board of Directors and the American Counseling Association Ethics Committee. She is a member of Rotary Club of Topeka South and also serves on the board for Topeka Latino Professionals, the Kansas School Counseling Association, and Downtown Topeka, Inc. She is proud to serve the greater Topeka community and call our capital city her home.  

Senior IT Security Analyst – Capitol Federal Savings Bank

I work at Capitol Federal Savings Bank as a Senior IT Security Analyst. I joined FORGE in late 2021 and am currently the Co-Liason for the DEI Oversight Committee.

Prior to Capitol Federal, I was active duty in the Army as Military Intelligence for 12 years and worked for the NSA. I served 2 years in the Kansas Army National Guard. During my service time, I lived in Korea, Hawaii, Philippines, Okinawa, Japan, Texas, Arizona, South Carolina, and California . My last duty station was Ft. Riley, KS, landing me here in Topeka.

For a short time, I owned and operated a children’s activity store in Topeka and Manhattan. It brought me a lot of joy to work for myself and provide a safe place for families to play and be active. I believe that in order to be successful, you must first trust that you have what it takes to make the journey. When I am not working I enjoy exploring my community, experiencing live music and finding great places to eat.