CREATE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW
Empowering Girls for Life is committed to uplifting and inspiring the next generation of leaders through motivational conversations with student-athletes, coaches, Olympians and businesswomen.
By creating channels to meet, interact with and learn from diverse, high profile women, EGFL aims to inspire and enable personal and professional success for girls and women everywhere.
Each year, EGFL hosts an event where we invite speakers from various industries and backgrounds to share their barrier-breaking stories and inspire young girls and women that anything they dream of, they can achieve – no matter the obstacles.
Our 2018 – 2025 events hosted Olympic medalists, businesswomen, entrepreneurs, educators, national championship coaches, athletes, philanthropists, and more for a day of inspiration, empowerment, fun, and scholarship giveaways. Together, we build the leaders of tomorrow by empowering girls today.
Empowering Girls for Life is committed to uplifting and inspiring the next generation of leaders through motivational conversations with student-athletes, coaches, Olympians and businesswomen.
By creating channels to meet, interact with and learn from diverse, high profile women, EGFL aims to inspire and enable personal and professional success for girls and women everywhere.
Each year, EGFL hosts an event where we invite speakers from various industries and backgrounds to share their barrier-breaking stories and inspire young girls and women that anything they dream of, they can achieve – no matter the obstacles.
Our 2018 – 2025 events hosted Olympic medalists, businesswomen, entrepreneurs, educators, national championship coaches, athletes, philanthropists, and more for a day of inspiration, empowerment, fun, and scholarship giveaways. Together, we build the leaders of tomorrow by empowering girls today.
Location
The Westin - Lombard, IL
70 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard, IL 60148, USA
70 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard, IL 60148, USA
Date & Time
August 8, 2026, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
10:00 AM
coaches corner
Hear from four powerhouse coaches who have - and continue to - change the standard of the game of softball. They are actively paving the way for future generations of standout student-athletes and coaches.
Kate Drohan - Northwestern Softball Head Coach, all-time wins leader and dominating the leaderboard in BIG 10 Softball
Tyra Perry -Illinois Softball Head Coach, 600 and counting career coaching wins across several programs
Bonnie Tholl - Michigan Softball Head Coach, former 29-year top assistant leading Michigan to multiple championships
Clarissa Crowell - Penn State Softball Head Coach, 300 career wins with 130 and counting wins at Penn State
Kate Drohan - Northwestern Softball Head Coach, all-time wins leader and dominating the leaderboard in BIG 10 Softball
Tyra Perry -Illinois Softball Head Coach, 600 and counting career coaching wins across several programs
Bonnie Tholl - Michigan Softball Head Coach, former 29-year top assistant leading Michigan to multiple championships
Clarissa Crowell - Penn State Softball Head Coach, 300 career wins with 130 and counting wins at Penn State
10:45 AM
League of LAdy leaders
Hear from a group of former softball student-athletes who used their time as student-athletes to shape their lives in different ways today.
Hanne Stuedemann - Vanderhorst - Former Ball State softball student-athlete; currently clinician and manager for the world's largest animal health company
Casey Skeens-Goff - Former Eastern Michigan University softball student-athlete; physical therapist at University of Kentucky Hospital
Rachel Becker - Professional Softball Player for the OKC Spark, entering her second season & ESPN+ Analyst for Oklahoma State Softball
Emerson Solano Marusak - Former volleyball student-athlete at Texas Tech University; currently an Enterprise Account Executive at Intel 471
Hanne Stuedemann - Vanderhorst - Former Ball State softball student-athlete; currently clinician and manager for the world's largest animal health company
Casey Skeens-Goff - Former Eastern Michigan University softball student-athlete; physical therapist at University of Kentucky Hospital
Rachel Becker - Professional Softball Player for the OKC Spark, entering her second season & ESPN+ Analyst for Oklahoma State Softball
Emerson Solano Marusak - Former volleyball student-athlete at Texas Tech University; currently an Enterprise Account Executive at Intel 471
11:30 AM
WELLNESS CENTER
Hear from an inspirational entrepreneur and leader in mental performance coaching for women's sports.
Ellie Cooper - Owner of Ellie Cooper Elite Performance and current Director of Player Performance for Florida State University Softball program
Ellie Cooper - Owner of Ellie Cooper Elite Performance and current Director of Player Performance for Florida State University Softball program
12:00 PM
DREAM MAKER
Hear from Tracy, a strong advocate for progressing women's sports, and a generous philanthropist building and supporting programs for women.
Tracy Sellers - Texas Tech Raiders Club Mentor and Women's Sports Advocate
Tracy Sellers - Texas Tech Raiders Club Mentor and Women's Sports Advocate
12:30 PM
CONQUEROR
Hear from the leader of one of the most dominating softball programs in the country.
Lonnie Alameda - NFCA Hall of Fame softball coach (2023), Florida sports Hall of Fame inductee (2025), and the current head coach of Florida State Softball
Lonnie Alameda - NFCA Hall of Fame softball coach (2023), Florida sports Hall of Fame inductee (2025), and the current head coach of Florida State Softball