"Tapestry: A Day for You", April 27, 2012, Fort Wayne, Indiana

If you missed the 2012 "Tapestry: A Day for You", unfortunately for you, you missed a wonderful event!  The Breakfast Speaker, Dedication Award Honoree, and Keynote Speaker all were inspirational.  The Breakout Sessions were informative and entertaining, plus the Artisan Boutique and Silent Auction had something for everyone's taste and price range.

The Breakfast Speaker was the Mayor of Kendallville, IN, Suzanne Handshoe. She spent nearly a quarter of a century in the U.S. Marine Corps, she's a wife and mother of two children.  She is beginning her third term as the first female Mayor of the City of Kendallville. She is a living, breathing example of what you can accomplish when you "break the mold."

In her presentation, Handshoe talked about how "Breaking the Mold" allowed her to excel and succeed in her life's journey as she faced challenges in what some would call "a man's world."

Handshoe is a 1998 graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) with a degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision. She and her husband Randy have two children, Christina, a 24 year old nursing student at IPFW, and Brice, an 18 year old high school student.

Next, Dedication Award Honoree, Donna Emley, gave a heart-felt acceptance message thanking the special people in her life - from her parents, who adopted her as a newborn through to the business people, family, and friends in her life today - that makes what she has the opportunity to do possible.  

Every day Donna Emley works hard in her business, community, and personal life to be a role model for women and men of all ages. She leads by example through leadership, passion, compassion, service, positive attitude, and character. She is principal and creative director of Emley Design Group and has long been active in the community, serving on numerous boards and committees and lending her expertise to organizations such as American Cancer Society, Leadership Fort Wayne, Invent Tomorrow, Fort Wayne Bicentennial and Millenium Committees, and more. Emley currently serves as a board member of Francine's Friends, and member of the marketing committees for Arts United Taste of the Arts and Early Childhood Alliance.

Emley is a graduate and Distinguished Leadership Award recipient of Leadership Fort Wayne and was honored by Indiana University—Purdue University Fort Wayne as an Honorary Lifetime Alumni Board Member. She has also been a very active member of Trinity English Lutheran Church, serving as vice president/chair of the congregation in 2010-2011 and communications director of its 3-plus year capital campaign. In business, community service, or personal issues, Emley's strong character shines through. As anyone who has interacted with her recognizes, Donna Emley is a woman who is never afraid to stand up for what is right. She is a wonderful role model.

Not to be missed was the lunchtime Keynote Speaker, Patricia Heaton.  The entire audiences enjoyed her refreshing candor, honesty, humor and willingness to tackle the tough topics facing people today. She shared with the audience her insights on marriage, motherhood, and raising four sons with how she's able to balance all that with her career. Her uplifting and humorous glimpses into her personal and professional life made Heaton a fascinating, entertaining and heartwarming speaker.

Heaton serves at the request of President Bush on his Council for Volunteerism, and lives out her commitment to serve through the many charities she supports, including Autism Speaks, The American Red Cross, World Vision, Compassion international, The Tuberousclerosis Society, The Every Child Foundation, Sparrows Gate Orphanage, and numerous other local, national and International organizations and causes. She is a highly sought-after charity emcee known for her eloquence and quick wit.  In keeping to her true character, Patricia Heaton was gracious in staying until everyone who wanted an autograph received one - risking missing her flight back home.