Ellen Blathers is the co-founder and Executive Director of Serenity Inns, a Milwaukee non-profit. Serenity Inns works with men who are the fringes of society – men who are estranged from friends and family, homeless, recently released from prison, addicted to drugs or alcohol – and engages them in a structured, long-term rehab program, which includes housing for alumni.  Ms. Blathers received a Black Excellence Award from the Milwaukee Times in 2019; she was also runner-up for the Nonprofit Executive of the Year Award in 2017.

Visit website: http://serenityinns.org

Speakers:

Ellen Blathers: Ellen is currently the Talent Acquisition Manager for A. O. Smith Corporation in Milwaukee. She also serves on the Human Resources & Compensation Committee for the Next Door Foundation of Milwaukee and the Talent & Education Committee for the Milwaukee Water Council.

Virginia Zignego: Virginia joined the staff of Serenity Inns in August 2018. She is responsible for Serenity's revenue streams which allow us to achieve our mission and maximize our impact in the community. She works on a daily basis with churches, foundations, individual donors and community partners. In her spare time, Virginia enjoys running, cooking, traveling and Milwaukee's arts.

David Romoser: David is the retired Senior V.P. General Counsel and Secretary of A. O. Smith Corporation. He maintains an alternate dispute resolution practice serving as a mediator and arbitrator. He also serves on a number of not-for-profit boards and as an advisor and consultant to several others.