Annual Summit Speakers
We are proud to spotlight trailblazing women who are breaking barriers and shaping the future of leadership in business, media, and the culinary world.
We welcome some of Cincinnati’s top female news anchors, who have been at the forefront of delivering impactful stories and leading in the fast-paced world of journalism.
Joining them is Sherry Ratcliffe Taylor, President & CEO of the Mason Deerfield Chamber, whose visionary leadership has redefined business growth and community engagement in the region.
Attendees will also experience a special cooking demonstration by Chef Ashley Smithson, Sous Chef at Great Wolf Lodge, a rising culinary star whose journey from farm-to-table beginnings to award-winning leadership is truly inspiring.
Sheila Gray
Anchor, WKRC
Good Morning Cincinnati anchor Sheila Gray is thrilled to hear her alarm clock buzz in the middle of the night to bring the morning`s top stories to her friends in the Queen City. Sheila is an Ohio native who spent most of her childhood in Sidney and is now a member of the Sidney City Schools Hall of Honor. She studied at the prestigious Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, graduating magna cum laude in just three years.
She began her career in Charleston, W.Va., eventually being named the 6:00 and 11:00 p.m. news anchor at WSAZ. Sheila was recognized by the West Virginia Associated Press for her reporting. She then came to Cincinnati, where she co-hosted the morning news on WXIX.
Her community involvement includes: supporting Pink Ribbon Girls, Joe Nuxhall Scholarships and Miracle League Fields, the YWCA Career Women of Achievement, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Man and Woman of the Year, and regularly serving as the Queen at Mardi Gras for Homeless Children in Northern Kentucky. Sheila and her husband, Ric, are the parents of four children-- Kasey, Kari, Katie and Eric-- and live in the Cincinnati area.
Sheree Paolello
Anchor, WLWT
Sheree Paolello is an Emmy Award winning Anchor who grew up in Cincinnati. She’s been delivering the news at WLWT News 5 for the past 23 years. In 2018, Sheree received one of the highest honors in Journalism when she won an Edward R. Murrow Award, for a series of stories on a fugitive doctor accused of performing unnecessary surgeries on hundreds of patients in Greater Cincinnati.
Sheree is passionate about the stories and people she covers and giving back to charities and organizations like the MADE Chamber’s Leadership Summit.
Sheree is a busy woman. When she’s not on the air or volunteering, she’s spending time with her husband and their five kids.
Kelly Rippin
Anchor, WLWT
Kelly is a morning anchor and reporter for WLWT News 5 TODAY. She came back to Cincinnati in 2019 after time in Nashville and Orlando. She worked in Cincinnati previously and found that nothing can quite compare!
She’s one of those rare “morning people" that most try to avoid, so the morning show is truly her happy place & she loves being able to help people start their day.
When she’s not at work, she’s spending time with her dog, Penny, her two toddlers, or her husband. Yes, that order is chosen for a reason!
She loves going to sporting events, being outside, a nice long run, and trying all the delicious food the tri-state has to offer! Checking out local spots and sharing more about them is one of her favorite things to do.
Kelly is a proud graduate of Penn State University.
Jessica Schmidt
Anchor, FOX19 Now
Jessica Schmidt has been in the television news industry since 2013. She joined the FOX19 NOW team in September 2016 as a nightside reporter and Sunday night anchor. She's since moved into a different role as the 3 p.m. anchor and as the afternoon Alert Desk anchor. Jessica is also part of the investigative unit and special projects team where she focuses on the station's award-winning Crime Vault series and is the host and editor of the FOX19 Crime Vault podcast.
A Cincinnati native and Lakota West High School graduate, Jessica has loved working in her hometown. Before she returned to the Queen City, she spent three years working at FOX19 NOW's sister station, 14 News/WFIE in Evansville, Indiana. While at WFIE, Jessica was a weekend anchor, reporter, and producer. A highlight for her during her time there was getting the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. four times to report on the area's Honor Flight program.
Before moving to the Hoosier state, Jessica spent four years at Kent State University in the Honors College. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in broadcast news and a bachelor's degree in psychology. Every semester, Jessica worked at TV2, the university's completely student-run television station. She took on many different roles, including anchor, reporter, and the station's news director. A college storytelling course also led her overseas to India where she spent two weeks reporting on critical issues.
When Jessica isn't reporting or anchoring, you can usually find her spending time with her husband, her relatives, or her friends... often catching a Reds, Bengals, FC Cincy, or Cyclones game (because she's a huge Cincy sports fan), or relaxing with her pets - her precious cats.
Ashley Smithson
Chef, Great Wolf Lodge
Chef Ashley Smithson began her culinary journey at a young age, working on local farms and small, local mom & pop shops.  It was very clear to her that she had a passion and true interest in the Culinary Arts.  In 2014 she received her associate's degree in Culinary Arts from the Art Institute of Cincinnati which provided her with the knowledge, tools, and experience to join the Great Wolf Lodge Pack. She has spent the last 10 years with Great Wolf Lodge perfecting her expertise while focusing on bringing joy to our families and guests through a variety of culinary experiences. She has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience during this time.  She started out as a line level employee, 6 years later she was given the opportunity to advance as a Culinary Lead and then 3 months in this position was promoted to Sous Chef.  She has been thriving as a Sous Chef for the last 2 1/2 years and was recognized as the Great Wolf Lodge Mason 2024 Leader of the Year.
Sherry Taylor
President & CEO, MADE Chamber and MADECDC
Sherry Ratcliffe Taylor is the President and CEO of the Mason Deerfield Chamber, committed to fostering business growth and community prosperity. Since 2014, she has led efforts to redefine the Chamber’s mission, rebrand its identity, and enhance financial and employee stability. She also launched a nonprofit arm to drive strategic community development and ensure long-term regional success.
Nationally recognized for her leadership, Sherry has spoken at industry conferences and served on the ACCE Hometown Cities Council. Her achievements include being featured in Chamber Executive magazine and earning Lead Magazine’s Women of Influence award. Before joining the Chamber, she was Executive Director of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, where she led branding and economic initiatives.
A graduate of Southern Illinois University with a degree in finance, Sherry lives in Mason with her husband, children, and their cat.