Please join us for our program meeting on Monday, April 18 at 5:30 p.m. in Bagley Hall Room 126, Northeastern State University. This month’s meeting will feature guest speaker Stephanie Rainwater, biologist for SWCA Environmental Consultants and co-chair of the Tulsa Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD) chapter.

Rainwater will mainly be speaking about WELD but also will include some remarks about her career in a male-dominated field. She has a B.S. in Biology from Northeastern State University and a M.S. in Environmental Management from Oklahoma State University. Her work at SWCA Environmental Consultants involves conducting wetland delineations and habitat assessments for a variety of species. She specializes in the controversial federally endangered beetle, the American burying beetle. This beetle often presents problems for industries that SWCA is tasked with obtaining agency permits for.

WELD’s mission is to develop and advance women’s leadership to strengthen the economic prosperity of the community it serves. The organization provides women with specific tools to enhance their individual economic status. It builds programs, events and a community to support female leadership development and business growth.

Rainwater is a co-founder of the Tulsa chapter of WELD. This organization has been a transformative organization for her. It has helped her recognize her potential not just as the expert in the field, but also as a professional business woman interfacing at all levels of communication.

Visitors to the presentation may park in the Bagley Hall parking lot and will not receive a ticket. We will have light snacks to enjoy before the meeting begins, which will contain a short discussion of organizational business at 5:30 p.m. before Rainwater begins her presentation. I look forward to seeing everyone next Monday!