Join Ann Thomas and Luanne Thomas Ewald for a spotlight show on women who are leading the way in business, civics, and humanity. Monthly shows offer insight on guest accomplishments, with background that is sure to inspire the rise of our next generation. Find empowering stories here!
MEET THE 2025 “WOMEN WHO LEAD” HONOREES:
“Women Who Lead” honors female leaders from throughout the Great Lakes region who are influencing our communities in positive ways. Each year, we honor 12 of these amazing ladies at our Women Who Lead Honoree Ceremony. These women come from all backgrounds and fields … business leaders, small business owners, community organizers, civil servants, volunteers, and more. Each of these ladies offers an inspiring story of a woman who is leaning in and pushing the world to new heights.
April 26, 2025 ~ Kelly Wolgamott, vice president of Pure Michigan and a 2025 Women Who Lead honoree, is a leader in the state’s $53 billion tourism industry. Her career with the state of Michigan dates back to 2011, working as the director of travel marketing for over 12 years at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Travel Michigan. Her work tirelessly pushed an image that Michigan is a vibrant place to visit, both in its attractions in the city and the beauty of its nature. As vice president of Pure Michigan, she drives the state’s tourism marketing, including the continued run of the iconic Pure Michigan campaign.
March 29, 2025 ~ Carol Zuniga has become a leader in her industry after 30 years in healthcare, currently serving as the CEO of Hegira Health, a mental and behavioral health clinic based in Livonia. She has initiated innovative practices at Hegira, such as its adult crisis service access system. Throughout her career, Zuniga has been driven by her commitment to ensure access to high-quality care for persons with serious behavioral health conditions in Wayne County’s communities, its Children’s Specialty Services Division, and to attaining federal grant awards. She also serves as a National Alliance for Mental Illness Michigan (NAMI-MI) board member, using her knowledge and passions in mental health care to push for improvements in the state of Michigan.
March 29, 2025 ~ Micheline “Micki” Maynard is a long-time journalist, broadcaster, and educator based out of Ann Arbor. Over the course of her over 30-year career, she has garnered significant expertise in the transportation and food industries, having been featured in the Boston Globe, Time Magazine, the New York Times, Food & Wine magazine, Forbes, and USA Today. She is also he author of six in-depth books on the ever-changing auto industry and the turbulent food and restaurant scene. Her most recent award was for her book “Satisfaction Guaranteed,” which was named one of the Best Business Books of 2022 in the Management and Workplace Culture category by Porchlight Books.
March 1, 2025 ~ Karen Arondoski is the owner of I.F. Metalworks, a business that started as an automotive tooling supplier that quickly diversified into other industries such as the architectural, aerospace, decorative metals, and defense industries. Arondoski has been leading the business as its owner and president since it began in the early 2000s, helping customers through the process of designing their products to completion. Not just content with running a successful metalworks business, she also works with the Women in Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan to help empower other women in the field. She also helps her community by sitting on the Board for Macomb County/St. Clair Workforce Development.
Jan. 19, 2025 ~ Dr. Sonia Hassan Duggan is the founding director of the Office of Women’s Health at Wayne State University. As part of her work at the university, Dr. Duggan spearheaded the Synergy of Scholars for Maternal and Infant Health Equity (SOS Maternity Network), a pioneering initiative aimed at addressing the maternal and child health crisis in Michigan. By uniting leading universities, hospitals, health systems, and community organizations, Dr. Duggan’s efforts are revolutionizing pregnancy care through innovative medical treatments, improved access to care, and comprehensive patient support.
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ABOUT THE HOSTS:
ANN THOMAS
Ann Thomas is the program director for 760 WJR. After graduating from Michigan State University in 1982, Ann began her career at 760 WJR as an intern, and has remained a part of the team ever since.
During her tenure at 760 WJR, Ann has received numerous awards. Honors from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, United Press International, the Associated Press, and the Detroit Press Club all celebrate her work both on and off the air. She was recently inducted into the Michigan Business Women Hall of Fame, and is the 2014 recipient of the Michigan Business and Professional Association’s Women & Leadership in the Workplace Award. She has also been given the prestigious “Diamond” award from the Association for Women in Communications.
LUANNE THOMAS EWALD
Luanne Thomas Ewald, FACHE, serves as Chief Operating Officer of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Marquette University and a Masters in Hospital and Health Administration from Xavier University.
Previously, Ms. Thomas Ewald served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Children’s Hospital of Michigan (CHM). Prior to her role as CEO, she was Regional Vice President of Business Development at the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) while simultaneously serving as Vice President of Business Development at CHM. She also held positions as DMC Corporate Vice President, Business Development and Marketing, Chief of Staff to the DMC President and CEO, Administrative Director at Hutzel Hospital for the Women’s Health Initiative, DMC Senior Planning and Marketing Analyst.
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