These days I am as much a mommy blogger as a news anchor. Since the birth of my second child in 2008, I have connected with hundreds of eastern Iowa parents through my blog, Baby Steps.
TV news has given me the opportunity to come full circle, in a sense. Growing up in Peoria, Illinois, I went out east to Boston University then started my career closer to home at KIMT in Mason City. An anchor/producer job at KIMA in Yakima, Washington, took me to the Northwest for nearly 7 years. KWWL gave me the chance to return to Iowa in 2002.
It was in Yakima where I met the love of my life. My husband, Dave, and I were married in 2005. We have two children, Charlotte and Thomas. My step-daughters, who live in Washington, are Taylor and Lauren.

I am the only non-educator in my family. Dad's a retired superintendent, mom's a retired elementary principal and my only sibling, Sara, is a second grade teacher. My husband is a teacher, too!

My family and my faith keep me "real" in a multi-media environment. Facebook and Twitter are a part of my free time, but so are church and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. I have been with my "little" for six years.

At KWWL, I co-anchor the KWWL News Live at 5, KWWL News at 6 and KWWL News at 10 with Ron Steele. Health Plus is my weekly featured report.

H.E. Mary E. Kramer served in the Iowa Senate beginning in 1991 and was elected President of the Senate in 1997. In 2003, President George W. Bush nominated her to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. Her experience began in May of 2003 and continued until November of 2007.

She began her career as a pianist, and then worked as a teacher and school administrator. She became the Corporate Personnel Director for Younkers, Inc. and later joined Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. During her tenure with the company she served as Vice President of Human Resources and Vice President of Community Investments.

Ambassador Kramer has served on the Board of the Directors for the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and was the Chairman of the Board for the Senate President’s Forum. She has served as President of the Board of the Des Moines Club, and as a director of the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Central Iowa, Brenton Bank, and Mercy Hospital, as well as numerous non-profit organizations. A lifetime member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), she has received the Society’s highest national award. In 2009, Kramer was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame.

Ambassador Kramer holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Iowa. She is married to Kay Kramer, also a graduate of the University and is the mother of two children Kent and Krista Kramer Hartman and the grandmother of four; Kelsey, Kallen, Karsen and Kennedy.

Her first book, “More Than a Walk on the Beach; Confessions of an Unlikely Diplomat” was published in the fall of 2010. Her web address is: www.madameambassador.com.

Kathy grew up on a farm outside a town of 300, called Panama. Yes, that is Iowa, NOT a malaria area as often asked while giving blood in college. With 10 siblings, hogs, cattle, chickens, dairy cattle, cats, a dog, corn, beans, hay, gardening, canning, 4-H, softball, basketball, dance and piano lessons, cheerleading and dance squad, life was anything but dull growing up in the country. Do small town values translate to corporate USA? How do you remain true to your core as you lead and develop others? Share in this journey of leadership lessons learned on the farm.

Kathy is a Regional Director, for Manpower. She began her career with Manpower, a Fortune 500, global workforce solution company, eleven years ago as a Staffing Specialist in Waterloo. She oversees 14 offices across Eastern Iowa and Southern Minnesota, and she co-founded the Welcome Home to Iowa program, recruiting relocated talent back to the state.
Kathy graduated with her B.S. in Psychology from Iowa State University, and earned her M.S. in Community Counseling from Indiana State University. Kathy is involved in Employer’s Council of Iowa, SHRM, Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, is a 09’/10’ Leadership Iowa graduate, and serves in leadership roles in her church. She has presented at the 2011 Annual ABI conference, Leadership Iowa University, and volunteers her time speaking to high school and college students on work readiness.

The Power of Personal Energy: Iron wrapped in cotton

The application of martial arts principles; breath, mind, energy and body control offer gateways to our personal energy. Using these principles, women can reach levels of interior and exterior “poise” to enhance their lives. Discover how these principles of power apply to daily life and business, revealing the secret of iron wrapped in cotton.

Leading from the Middle of the Pack

Leadership is a choice you make, not a place you sit. With three levels of professional relationship: those above you, those beside you and those beneath you, you are given the opportunity to lead and to be led. Learn how you can lead from the middle by understanding the differences between managing and leading, developing influence among others in your organization and living in the center of a mission to make a difference no matter where you sit in an organization.

Leadership? Lead Your Own Life First
Everyone can develop the skills to become an effective leader. Leadership is critical in today’s world and anyone can do it – it’s not magic, it’s practice. There are seven proven skills that can be yours. The first skill requires a vision of the desired future. Don’t have one? Get one! Leadership is critical to the future – you first…then others.

Work Life Balance: Living the Life you Want

Get off the “feeling-bad-about-yourself” treadmill with this interactive workshop. Workshop participants will go through a five-step, self-assessment process designed to provide a plan for moving towards the balanced life we each want.

Effective Communication—
Being heard in a LOUD world

From cell phones to Facebook, too many forms of communication can overwhelm women nowadays. Yet we are the gender stereotypically wired to share everything. So how can you make sure you’re being heard? KWWL News Anchor Tara Thomas talks about effective ways to communicate for working professionals charged with delivering a message.

Women, Work and Health

This session is packed with healthy ideas for working, thriving and living in the moment! We'll talk about dealing with the stress of daily lives as professional women, how to recognize anxiety and depression, learn stress-busting stretches you can do at work, participate in a one-minute meditation technique, and more!

WLN is about making connections with other area professionals. More and more women are opening their own businesses, succeeding in upper management, taking on the business world and doing it on their own terms. Attend the WLN Summit and discover the rewards of doing something just for you!