AURORA - The Colorado High School Activities Association will host its first-annual Women in Leadership conference, titled “The Many Faces of Leadership,” at the Stanley Marketplace on Thursday. In advance of the event, learn more about who the speakers and panelists are going to be.
 
Following the keynote speaker and administrators panel, and the NFHS and Officials/Coaches panels, there will be a networking break and then a lunch panel. The lunch panel will be moderated by former CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green and will feature many faces of leadership, including Liz Carey, Megan Scremin, Heather Grantham and Janet Buckner.
 
Learn more about each of the speakers:
 
Panelist: Liz Carey
Liz Carey is the Owner of Peak Athletics, an elite training facility for dance, gymnastics, and cheerleading. Peak Athletics prides itself in developing outstanding athletes and providing recreation opportunities for its community. Carey has been involved with cheerleading for more than 20 years, and had previously worked as a coach for Colorado State University’s All-Girl Cheerleading Squad and as a head instructor for the Universal Cheerleaders Association.

Panelist: Vina Maciel-Diaz
Vina Maciel-Diaz is a Detective on the Denver Police Department's R.A.V.E.N. unit, which deals with violent offenders. She's been with the Denver Police Department for approximately 10 years. Maciel-Diaz was born in Mexico, but came to the United States as a child, before joining the Marine Corps, earning her citizenship and becoming a police officer. 
 
Panelist: Megan Scremin
Megan Scremin has almost completed her fourth year as Special Olympics Colorado’s President and CEO. As President and CEO, she commands an organization that has partnered with more than 600 schools to impact more than 400,000 students through unified sports and inclusive youth leadership programming. She also works to provide 20,000 athletes with the opportunity to train and compete in their sport year-round.
 
Panelist: Heather Grantham
Heather Grantham is in her first year as the Educator Recruitment and Retention Specialist for the Colorado Department of Education. The Educator Recruitment and Retention Program works to provide Colorado’s shortage areas with educators. Prior to joining the CDE, she spent 17 years at Jefferson Academy Secondary School, working as a Science Teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal.
 
Panelist: Janet Buckner
Janet Buckner assumed office as the state representative for Colorado’s Senate District 29 this year. She previously served as the State Senator for District 28, and before that, represented Colorado’s House District 40 for seven years, where she won multiple re-election bids and earned the honor of Speaker Pro Tempore from Colorado House Speaker KC Becker. Also in 2019, she sponsored and passed the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, ensuring that women receive equitable compensation for their labor.