2025 Women in Leadership Conference

Terri Barr-Moore is a seasoned leader with more than 25 years of experience in government relations, legal affairs, and community engagement. She joined the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) in November 2019 and currently serves as Chief of Staff, where she plays a pivotal role in executive leadership, strategy, and organizational management. As a trusted advisor and key communicator, Terri works closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), executive team, and board of directors to align the agency’s vision with actionable strategies. She is instrumental in fostering collaboration across departments, driving policy initiatives, government relations and ensuring the seamless execution of priority projects.

In her role, Terri serves as a bridge between leadership and stakeholders, facilitating communication between internal teams, government agencies, community organizations, and elected officials. She provides high-level guidance on strategic planning, operational efficiencies, and policy implementation, ensuring that KCATA remains responsive to the evolving needs of the Kansas City region. Additionally, she leads executive-level coordination, manages critical partnerships, and oversees cross-functional efforts to enhance transit services and infrastructure.

Prior to her appointment as Chief of Staff, Terri was the Executive Director of Government Affairs for KCATA, serving as a vital liaison to members of Congress, elected and appointed officials, key community stakeholders, and faith-based and educational groups. She ensured federal, state, and local leaders remained informed about KCATA’s capital projects, RideKC brand, and services.

Before joining KCATA, Terri dedicated more than a decade to public service as the political director, field representative, and office manager for U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill. Her legal expertise was honed over 15 years as a paralegal at Poham Law Firm and Hubbard & Kurtz Law Firm.

Terri holds a Bachelor degree from the University of Missouri–Kansas City.

Kellie Ann Coats was appointed to serve as the Executive Director of the Missouri Women’s Council in October of 2017. In this role, she leads the council’s efforts to support and advocate for women-owned businesses throughout the state of Missouri.  Currently, her duties are focused on workforce development programing that serve justice-involved women in state correctional facilities. She helped create a historic warehouse, manufacturing and supply chain training program for incarcerated individuals currently residing at the women’s Chillicothe Correctional Center.

Prior to joining the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Kellie Ann served in various fundraising capacities spanning a decade at the University of Missouri. Most recently, she held a leadership role at MU Health Care promoting their mission and vision through fundraising and advocacy.

She is a graduate of the Missouri Chamber Leadership Class of 2019, Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge Class of 2018 and Columbia Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class of 2013. Kellie Ann has served as a member of the Hawthorn Bank Business Leaders Council since 2015 and is a founding member of the Junior League of Columbia. She earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Missouri. Kellie Ann lives in Columbia, Missouri with her husband, Derek and son, Carter.

Representative Sherri Gallick is responsible for portions of Cass and Bates counties (District 62) in the Missouri House of Representatives. She was elected to her first two-year term in November 2022.

Gallick went to the University of Missouri. She holds a BS in Education and her MBA. She continues to be active with her alma mater, serving on executive boards for 15+ years, and as president of the MIZZOU Alumni Association in 2015. She is a committed community leader and volunteers for a variety of nonprofits. She is currently a Court Appointed Special Advocate with CASA and serves on the board at CASCO, a workshop for the developmentally disabled.

Prior to serving in the legislature, Gallick was an executive in the food industry with companies such as Jimmy Dean Foods. Her business expertise served her well during her first year in the Missouri House. She was named the 2023 Freshman of the Year by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce for her business insight and economic development experience.

Gallick is married. She and her husband, Randy, reside in Cass County. They have two sons, one a master trainer in the Indiana Army National Guard and the other an attorney in Miami, Florida.

Dr. Getch earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology and completed both her pre-doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital/Feinberg School of Medicine. While at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, she worked on several NIMH R01 and R21 projects focused on affective processing as well as perinatal anxiety and depression. After deciding to pursue a career in academia, Dr. Getch worked as an Assistant Professor at Midwestern University in the Department of Behavioral Medicine. In addition to teaching and mentoring Psy.D. students, she served as Director of Admissions, Education Chair, Co-Chair of the Self-Study & Accreditation Committee, and was a founding member of the Interprofessional Education Committee. More recently, Dr. Getch joined Kansas City University (KCU) as the Program Director of the Clinical Psychology program and Assistant Provost for Accreditation where she and her team have built an APA accredited PsyD program. She continues to build IPE curriculum both within the PsyD program and at a university-wide level by assisting in the creation of the university-wide IPE Committee, serving on the IPE steering committee, and through the creation of IPE coursework as well as multiple IPE student experiences.

Dr. Getch discloses that she has no relevant financial relationships with any organization producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients relative to the content of this presentation.

Anna Hui was appointed Director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations in March of 2017 and the Senate confirmed the appointment in January 2018, making her the first Asian American to serve in the governor’s cabinet in Missouri history. For over two decades, Anna has worked in numerous senior positions in both state and federal government.

Anna started her public service career working for Illinois Governor Jim Edgar as the Special Assistant to the Governor for Asian-American affairs and then for Governor George Ryan, as a senior-member of the Washington, D.C. policy management team. She then served as the Associate Deputy Secretary of Labor at the U.S. Department of Labor during President George W. Bush’s Administration.

After leaving federal service in 2009 and until she returned to Illinois in 2015, she was Chief of Staff to former U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.  From 2015 to 2017, Anna served as Assistant Director and later as Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Labor, where she implemented major reforms in process and program efficiency and effectiveness.

Anna received a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, a M.S.M. and a M.B.A. from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) and B.S. in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).  In April 2018, she was named the recipient of UIUC’s Outstanding Asian American Alumni Award from the Asian American Cultural Center for her dedication to public service. In November 2021, the St. Louis Asian American Chamber of Commerce named Anna the 2021 Connector of the Year for her outstanding accomplishments as a trailblazer to help connect the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) business/professional community, St. Louis and Asia.

Anna is very involved at the state and national levels and holds a numerous leadership positions related to her work at the department. Currently, Anna serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the National Association of Government Labor Officials (NAGLO); Board Secretary of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) and co-chairs the NASWA Workforce Information Technology Support Center (WITSC) Steering Committee. In addition, she is also Board President of the International Association of Industrial Accidents Boards and Commissions (IAIABC); Vice Chairperson of the U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Information Advisory Council (WIAC); Board member on the Family and Community Trust (FACT); Advisory Board member for the Women in Leadership Program (WLP) at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Advisory Board member for the Missouri Science and Technology (MOST) Policy Fellows; Chair of the Executive Committee of the Multi-State Data Collaboratives (MSDC); Interim Executive Council Member of the Midwest Collaborative(MWC); Member of the Science and Technology Advisory Board for the Coleridge Initiative; Member of the federal Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building (ACDEB); and a graduate of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce 2018 Leadership Missouri Program. Previously Anna has also served as NASWA Board President and as NAGLO President.

Dr. Kasi Lacey is a Confidence Coach, Psychologist, and Executive Leadership Speaker specializing in confidence-building, workplace psychology, and women’s leadership development. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, leadership development, and executive coaching, she has worked with professionals at all levels to break free from self-doubt, step into leadership, and lead with authenticity.

As the CEO & Founder of H & L Legacy Consulting, Dr. Lacey blends psychology, leadership strategy, and personal development to empower professionals to take bold action in their careers. Her mission is to help women achieve unshakable confidence, advocate for themselves, and lead with clarity, authenticity, and impact. A sought-after keynote speaker, she equips professionals with the mindset and strategies to apply boldly, interview with confidence, and lead powerfully in their careers.

An immigrant from Mexico, Gabriela Ramirez-Arellano uses her lived experiences to transform barriers into opportunities, advocating for equity, entrepreneurship, and language access. As Vice President of Entrepreneurship at Cortex Innovation District and Executive Director of The BALSA Foundation, she has helped hundreds of diverse founders launch and grow businesses, fueling economic empowerment in St. Louis.

Gabriela is a two-time #1 international best-selling author, having participated in three anthologies, including Calladitas Rising, which amplifies the voices of Latinas reclaiming their power. She co-founded Latinas Rising, a platform for women’s leadership and storytelling, and leads STL Juntos, a non-profit that advocates for Spanish-speaking communities to have access to critical resources.

A dedicated marathon runner and community leader, Gabriela serves on numerous boards focused on women’s empowerment, business development, and education. She is also a dynamic speaker and media personality, co-hosting She Led Badass Podcast and Auténtico Podcast, nonprofit and a cohost of Women Rising St. Louis which just launched.

Gabriela’s work has garnered numerous awards, and she continues to inspire others through her mentorship, speaking engagements, and community-building efforts. Her resilience, servant leadership, and passion for creating opportunities for others define her leadership and make her a powerful advocate for change.  With authenticity and passion, Gabriela inspires audiences to lead boldly, embrace their voices, and drive change.

Dr. Lynn Rossy is a health psychologist and an expert in mindfulness-based interventions for the workplace, stress, and eating. Her books, The Mindfulness-Based Eating Solution and Savor Every Bite: Mindful Ways to Eat, Love Your Body, and Live with Joy, were both highlighted as the best mindfulness books the year they were published. She teaches Kripalu and Energy Medicine Yoga in Columbia, MO. She leads retreats and workshops around the world in mindfulness, mindful eating, and yoga. She spent much of her career at the University of Missouri and now works for herself as the Executive Director of Tasting Mindfulness, LLC.

Dr. Ashley Smith is a licensed psychologist, speaker, and author who challenges audiences to master their minds, push past limits, and live boldly. As the co-founder of Peak Mind: The Center for Psychological Strength, she translates cutting-edge psychology and brain science into actionable insights for overcoming fear, building courage, and expanding what people believe is possible.

Born with a rare visual impairment that makes her legally—and increasingly—blind, Dr. Ashley knows firsthand what it takes to conquer both real and perceived limits. She has built a life filled with bold choices—and now teaches others how to do the same. By blending science with powerful storytelling and practical strategies, she shifts the way audiences see the world—and themselves.

Her message is simple: Your mind will keep you playing small—if you let it.

Courtney divides her practice between employment law and government affairs. In the labor and employment arena, she works most often with allegations of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, as well as wage and hour law. In addition to traditional wage and hour cases and violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), she has also assisted with California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) litigation. Courtney has experience defending clients both in court and through arbitration and mediation, and she regularly provides proactive advice and counsel designed to help employers avoid or mitigate the risk of future litigation.

The public policy portion of Courtney’s practice includes advice and representation of municipalities and local government, public officials, and candidates in matters of governmental affairs, campaign finance, and election law, as well as assistance for business clients in solving governmental issues. Earlier in her career, Courtney served as a staff member in the Missouri Senate, worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, and she externed with Chief Justice Mary Rhodes Russell of the Supreme Court of Missouri and Judge Karen King Mitchell of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. Her previous experience left her well-connected in Missouri state politics, and she understands the system from the inside.

Courtney loves advocating for clients within the government system—and using that system to effect change. Her behind-the-scenes knowledge makes her a particularly effective representative who can get matters resolved quickly and efficiently.

With an LL.M. in dispute resolution, Courtney excels at resolving matters outside of court—but she’s never afraid to try a case when in the client’s best interest, and she has experience in both bench and jury trials on the state and federal levels. Known for her composure in the courtroom and the intentionality of her litigation strategies, Courtney endeavors to achieve the best results possible. Clients also appreciate the priority she places on communication, as well as her dedication to ensuring they understand both the process and the strategy.

Pat Thomas serves as Chief of Staff for Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin. As the chief of staff her focus is on policy as well as administrative issues impacting the Senate. Prior to Senator O’Laughlin she served for Senators Hough and Munzlinger.

She was raised in Mexico, the oldest of three and the first in her family to graduate from college. Growing up her family served as a foster home for children through Department of Social Services. It was here that she got a glimpse into issues that impact families and communities differently and how to draw resources together to help others.

Pat believes in giving back to her community. She currently serves on the Jefferson City Parks Commission and the America 250- Missouri Commission. She has previously served on the Missouri Clean Water Commission, the House Independent Bi-partisan Redistricting Commission, the MU College of Agriculture Alumni board and held multiple leadership positions within her church.

Pat has been recognized for her leadership in higher education with the Mizzou Alumni Association Geyer Award for prioritizing higher education.; the Zonta Club of Jefferson City as a Woman of Achievement and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the first recipient of the Legislative Leadership Award.