Board Members
This Wisconsin Women's Network brings together women from diverse backgrounds. It was formed to ensure that women from all walks-of-life have a voice in the policy making process in Wisconsin, and the women on the Board and committees continue to work towards empowering future generations.
Shauntay Nelson, Board President
Shauntay is a strategist who has spent her career developing emerging and executive leaders through the concept that social empowerment is foundational in fostering growth. Prior to joining All Voting is Local’s national team, she served as All Voting is Local’s Wisconsin state director, where she initiated, developed, and co-led the Wisconsin Voting Rights Coalition (WVRC) to ensure access to the ballot. Nelson believes that it takes a combination of creativity and strategy to effectively provide tools designed to cultivate power where it belongs: with the people. Nelson has historically promoted expansion to the ballot through voter education and advocacy. Some of her accomplishments include lobbying for the expansion of early voting locations in the City of Milwaukee, influencing legislative action statewide, and serving as a national spokesperson on the need for voter expansions.
Nelson is a thought leader within her community, a strategist, a public policy guru, and a prolific speaker. She was selected as one of the TEDx Talk speakers for Marquette University in 2019. She has been quoted by NPR, Urban Milwaukee, Milwaukee Community Journal, the Shepherd Express, and was a guest on Milwaukee PBS’s “Black Nouveau.” She has an appreciation for nature and enjoys taking long walks to admire creation when she travels.
Bianca Shaw, Past PresiDent
Bianca is an innovative Director, Policy Advisor, and Senior Strategist with more than 16 years of leadership experience and progressive public service in non-profit, state and local governance.
Bianca has designed and managed social service, economic development, and community advocacy programs. She is an Executive Consultant who has influenced both state and local policy programs.
She is adept at crafting and executing a vision to transform communities and create effective social change. Bianca's mission is to help individuals move from poverty and low - income situations to middle income and stability. She is a proud graduate of the WI Women’s Network Policy Institute 2017 cohort.
Haley Swanson, Treasurer
Haley fell in love with Wisconsin, flaws and all, when she moved to Madison as an undergraduate accounting student. Since graduating, she’s worked in the finance space, first as an auditor for PwC and later with Exact Sciences. In 2020, she enrolled in Americorps to assist self-represented litigants with the complex legal system. Currently, Haley is pursuing her J.D at the University of Wisconsin Law School. She hopes to use her law degree, and prior background in finance, to work on economic justice issues here in Wisconsin. Haley joined the Wisconsin Women’s Network in 2022. Outside of work, you can find her discovering new neighborhoods with her dog & exploring every aisle of the grocery store.
Jennifer Lien, Advancement ChaiR
Jennifer is an arts and museum administration professional with experience in operations management, fundraising, relationship building, and event planning. After participating in WWN's accelerated policy institute and mentorship program, Jenni became involved with the network by volunteering as a grant writer in 2019 and joined the board in 2022. Jenni is happy to support the WWN because she has personally experienced the positive impact of both the mentorship program and the policy institute in promoting the advancement of women and girls in Wisconsin. She is a proud double badger with her Masters in Arts and Creative Enterprise Leadership from the University of Wisconsin School of Business, and her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Anthropology and Art History and with Certificates in Material Culture and Archaeology. On Wisconsin!
Katie Lee, Mentorship Chair
Katie joined the Wisconsin Women’s Network in 2019, working with the Mentorship Program committee. Mentored by many bold and brilliant women herself, Katie is committed to helping others create networks of strong women that embrace and stretch each other’s voices, confidence, and perspectives.
Originally from Michigan, Katie leads Events, Design, Recruiting, and Culinary teams at Epic, a healthcare software company based in Verona, WI. She is a mother of two, a stepmom of two, a wife, a lover of travel and nature - and is grateful for the opportunities to contribute to her communities.
APRIL SCHULTZ Special Events Chair
April is the Director of Business Services at Impact Association Management, an association management company that provides specialized administrative, operational, and strategic services to non-profit trade and professional associations. In her role, April oversees internal operations, marketing, and team management, ensuring that associations can focus on achieving their goals while Impact AMC handles their day-to-day operations.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, April is a dedicated volunteer with the Wisconsin Women's Network, where she plays a crucial role on the Mentorship Program Committee. She helps match women across Wisconsin with mentors who can best support their personal and professional growth. April is also actively involved in planning events like the Women’s Equality Day celebration, creating spaces where women can connect, learn, and be inspired. Her passion for empowering women and fostering community is evident in all aspects of her work and volunteer efforts.
CHandra Cooper, Member at large
Chandra is a dynamic leader, media strategist, and social entrepreneur dedicated to cultural preservation, community empowerment, advocacy and social impact. As the Founder & President of the Muddy Waters Mojo Museum, she secured over $1 million in funding to restore a historic Chicago landmark. She also leads Grateful Girls, Inc., a Wisconsin nonprofit advocating for girls and young women escaping human trafficking, by creating housing, mentorship, and educational programs that have impacted thousands.
With a background in broadcasting, Cooper has worked as a journalist for NBC 5 Chicago and CBS 58 Milwaukee, amplifying critical community stories. She is the CEO of Mojo Communications Group, producing documentaries and media campaigns that drive awareness and change. A Harvard-trained nonprofit strategist, she excels in fundraising, advocacy, and program development. Cooper’s work has shaped policy, empowered at-risk communities, and preserved cultural legacies, making her a transformative force in nonprofit leadership and in the media.
Leah Ujda, MEMBER AT LARGE
Leah has been an active member of the Wisconsin Women's Network community since 2018 - attending Feminism on tap happy hours, participating in the Professional Mentorship Program, and joining the Board as Member at Large in 2021.
Leah grew up in Wisconsin and has lived in Madison for over 15 years. She leads the User Experience team at a global software company and is passionate about advocating for women's opportunities in software and technology careers.
Jaquilynn Huff, Member AT Large
Jaquilynn first engaged with the Wisconsin Women’s Network in 2022 through its Mentorship Program, where she was introduced to and inspired by its strong community of leaders as a mentee. After completing the program, she joined the Mentorship Program Committee to continue supporting and strengthening mentorship opportunities, including efforts to expand the program’s reach in Milwaukee.
Professionally, Jaquilynn is a social impact and communications professional focused on building programs and partnerships that create lasting change. She has led initiatives at the intersection of business and community, advancing corporate social responsibility strategies, strengthening partnerships, and bringing impactful programs to life. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing & Communications from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and is currently pursuing an Executive Certificate in Social Impact Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, Jaquilynn is the Communications and Engagement Manager with Mortar Board National Honor Society where she leads the organization's communications and engagement strategy. Fun fact, founded in 1918, Mortar Board was the first collegiate honor society for women!
Amica Rapadas, Member at Large
Amica is a dedicated social impact professional passionate about gender and social inclusion, community resilience, and ensuring that people have access to resources they need. She has experience in program management and policy analysis across federal and state government, academic/research institutes, and international exchange programs.
Amica started volunteering for WWN last year supporting the special events and advancement committees. Outside of work, you can find her spending time outside, trying out a new recipe, or browsing local bookstores.
Ellaina Ontiberoz, Member at large
Ellaina is a full-time graduate student at the Louisiana State University School of Social Work. She joined the Policy Institute Committee in December 2024 and became a mentee in the Wisconsin Women’s Network Mentorship Program in 2025. Through this experience, she discovered a passion for legislative policy and advocacy to advance the well-being of women and children in Wisconsin. While policy advocacy initially drew her to the Network, the unity and support of the women within the Wisconsin Women’s Network empowered her to reach even further.
In 2025, Ellaina served as a legislative and social policy intern with the National Association of Social Workers–Wisconsin Chapter. Before that, she served in the United States Air Force, where she helped co-chair the Women’s Air and Space Symposium, addressing the needs and policy concerns of women, children, and broader communities.
BECCA HESS, MEMBER AT LARGE
Becca is the Director of Technology and Operations at REIX, where she leads the intersection of data, strategy, and marketing. Having built her career across two traditionally male-dominated industries — tech and real estate — she has developed a deep passion for advocating for women in both, believing that diverse voices and perspectives make them stronger.
A proud Milwaukeean for over ten years, Becca first connected with the Wisconsin Women's Network through the Mentorship Program in 2025 and was inspired by the network's commitment to amplifying women's voices across Wisconsin. Outside of work, she channels her love of design into house flipping and rental renovations and can often be found hiking and traveling with her dogs or exploring Milwaukee's ever-growing food scene.