Pumpspotting, Chicago Chamber of Mothers and ERIS Brewery and Cider House invite you to an evening of celebration, support, networking, and discussion. As part of the Breast Express Tour, we'll come together to build stronger community connections and improve maternal health outcomes through access to resources and knowledge. In partnership with the Chamber of Mothers Vote Like a Mother campaign, our networking event will support voter registration and include a short panel discussion with local and national leaders in the maternal health space. Start with a visit to Barb, the famous Breast Express Bus, connect with other parents and community leaders, and walk away feeling empowered, supported, uplifted, and ready to vote.
RSVP: All are welcome, but we appreciate your RSVP here
Join in the discussion with:
Nancy Ukpe Gargula & Abby Schmeling - Chamber of Mothers Chicago Chapter
Amy VanHaren - Pumpspotting Founder & CEO
Melissa Wirt - Latched Mama Founder & CEO
Jenny LeFlore - Writer, Community Builder, Founder of Mama Fresh
Ashley Farrow - CMO, The Lactation Network
Are you registered to vote? Text MOTHER to 26797 to register to vote, check current registration status, and access detailed ballot/polling information.
About our Panelists:
Melissa Wirt is the CEO & Founder of Latched Mama, a motherhood apparel company and community whose parent-friendly policies have set a new standard for flexible work and increase the likelihood of new mothers returning to work after childbirth. Melissa founded Latched Mama in 2014, in response to the lack of comfortable, stylish, affordable nursing wear options for women. Latched Mama has since grown into a robust 8-figure brand and community that counts nearly half a million members, and has been featured in media outlets ranging from Business Insider to USA Today to CBS This Morning. A native of Richmond, Melissa currently resides in Chesterfield, Virginia with her husband, Eric, and their six children. Follow @LatchedMama on Instagram or join the Latched Mama Love Facebook community for more.
Nancy Ukpe Gargula leads the People and Culture Team at MacArthur Foundation. Gargula is a community builder with a focus on driving results, fostering cross functional collaboration, and committed to effecting change through relationship building, active listening, and enhancing system frameworks. Over 14 years of professional experience co-creating, leading, and executing strategies and programs with a proven ability to drive organizational change while centering the voices of those most impacted.
Jenny LeFlore is a community builder, advocate, influencer, creator of Mama Fresh Chicago and Mama to 4-year-old ObieQ and 7-month-old Jameson. LeFlore has created a community with her brand Mama Fresh Opens a new window where the diversity in motherhood is celebrated. She is a resource on exploring the city with your little one. Her unique family programming has gained attention from families nationwide. Mama Fresh is all about taking a Fresh Approach to Motherhood. Her mission behind her content is to be that mom friend you didn’t know you needed. She wants mamas to know they aren’t alone!
Ashley Farrow is Chief Marketing Officer at The Lactation Network. She has spent her career shaping the brand, growth, and communications strategy for culturally-centric brands, including ESPN, PEOPLE, Entertainment Weekly, Equinox, and Ellevest. A thoughtful leader and skilled team builder, Ashley spends her days working towards creating more awareness of the critical role that IBCLCs play in the healthcare ecosystem and The Lactation Networks' mission of creating access to that care.
It was her experience as a first-time mom that introduced her to TLN. After struggling to feed her daughter, her IBCLC changed the relationship she had with her new baby. She knows first-hand the undeniable patient gap TLN fills and is thrilled to be able to increase access to lactation care and ultimately improve women’s physical, mental, and financial health. She believes that this is lifechanging care. Always an advocate for women’s careers and financial health, she understands how difficult the world makes it to be a working mother and considers it a gift to work TLN, a company that eases that burden. Ashley is also an amateur stand-up comedy writer, retired collegiate volleyball player, and active home renovator and decorator, who just relocated to her hometown of Evanston, IL with her husband Matt, and two daughters, Ruby, age 2, and Thea, 11 months.
Amy VanHaren is the CEO and founder of Pumpspotting, a women’s health technology company. Pumpspotting is closing the gap in maternal health through accessible breastfeeding solutions. Amy created Pumpspotting after struggling to feed both her family and career. Traveling 25,000 miles cross-country on her Breast Express RV she sparked a movement for mothers. Under her leadership, the company has served over 75,000 parents and designed lactation solutions for organizations from Fortune 100 companies to small businesses to NASA.
Amy is a former brand builder for iconic brands like Patagonia and Stonyfield and powerhouse in FamTech. Forbes recognized her as a Next 1000 Entrepreneur and Fast Company a creator of a World-Changing Idea. Vogue featured her leadership in the breastfeeding revolution. Amy is a Mainer, mother, and fierce advocate for creating support systems for women and families.