PART TWO: More Memories to Celebrate WIA Summit’s 15th Anniversary
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By Michelle Pelletier Marshall, Women in Agribusiness Media (July 21, 2026)
Last week WIA Today talked with three “lifelong” Women in Agribusiness Summit attendees – Gloria Basse, ag consultant; Sharon Beals, founder of SKKB-LLC and more; and Michele Fite, CEO of Elo Life Systems – for their thoughts on what makes the Summit stand out among industry events.
This week we continue the interviews with three more industry icons who have made the annual Women in Agribusiness Summit their place for sector knowledge, networking and connection.
Please meet:
LAURA AMBIELLI-SWISHER
Laura Ambielli-Swisher is a senior consultant on the Nationwide Sponsor Relations Program Delivery team focused on agriculture programs and events. She has been with Nationwide since 2001, holding a variety of positions, including director of business development and sales manager. A graduate of Susquehanna University with a BS in Business Administration, Ambielli-Swisher and her family live on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
WIA TODAY: How did you get involved in WIA, and why does the event resonate with you?
AMBIELLI-SWISHER: I first heard about the Women in Agribusiness Summit in 2012 but it was too late to plan to attend. I attended my first WIA Summit in 2013 – I will never forget walking into the opening reception not knowing a soul and having another solo attendee approach and suggest that we pair up and make our way around the room. It was welcoming and invigorating to meet other women whose career focus was agriculture/agribusiness.
As the program progressed and I saw the banners with the sponsors and the companies represented, I knew that this was a place that Nationwide needed to be, not just attending, but supporting and engaging on a broader level. The following year was our first year as a sponsor and I had five other women from Nationwide attend.
Fast forward to 2026, we have proudly been a sponsor at varying levels and the Conference Bag Sponsor for 10 years. The Summit continues to highlight the broad spectrum of opportunities within the agri-food industry and the businesses that directly and indirectly support them. Every year the program content, networking, attendance, and engagement surpasses the prior year. I’d say that’s why the event resonates with me – the women who attend and actively engage are an integral part of what makes agribusiness (and all the facets) uniquely powerful, essential, and successful.
WIA TODAY: Best memory from a WIA Summit?
AMBIELLI-SWISHER: There are two: 2013 in New Orleans. The sing-along during the bus ride back from the off-site reception – IYKYK! And in 2022, helping the WIA team and other volunteers stuff the conference bags in Dallas – the teamwork and camaraderie demonstrated why ag is so great!
WIA TODAY: Top three reasons to join the WIA community?
The networking and educational resources
The opportunity to learn and grow
A community with a common goal to empower, support, leading to a vibrant and successful careers in agribusiness
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MARY SHELMAN
Mary Shelman, who was formerly the director of Harvard Business School’s Agribusiness Program, now leads Shelman Group, providing strategic consulting to the ag and food value chain. A Harvard MBA graduate, Shelman, who splits her time between N.H. and Boston, is a Kentucky native where she still owns a farm.
WIA TODAY: How did you get involved in WIA, and why does the event resonate with you?
SHELMAN: I was asked to co-chair the very first Women in Agribusiness Summit in New Orleans because of my role leading the Agribusiness Program at Harvard Business School at the time. What stood out immediately was the energy and excitement of being in a room full of talented women—both in the audience and on stage—in an industry where we were often a small minority.
I’ve always been passionate about developing talent in the industry, and it’s been incredibly fulfilling to see women take on a larger role across agribusiness, with WIA playing an important part in that progress.
WIA TODAY: Best memory from a WIA Summit?
SHELMAN: There are many, but one that always makes me smile is the bright pink tractor parked outside the conference hotel in Minneapolis in 2015. It perfectly captured the spirit of WIA—grounded in the industry, but bold, visible, and impossible to ignore.
WIA TODAY: Top three reasons to join the WIA community?
SHELMAN: First, the caliber of content and talent is exceptional—you learn as much from the conversations as the sessions. Second, it’s a unique opportunity to connect across the entire ag and food value chain, often including colleagues you don’t typically interact with. Third, the sense of community is real—these relationships often turn into lasting professional connections, mentorships, and friendships.
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LISA ZANNONI
Lisa Zannoni, an attorney and pharmacist, is a recognized industry leader in the ag technology policy and regulatory areas and is currently principal at Zannoni & Associates, focusing on strategic planning for gene editing and biotech startups. A former industry executive (Syngenta, BASF, Inari), she has held leadership positions in several international industry organizations and serves on numerous boards.
WIA TODAY: How did you get involved in WIA, and why does the event resonate with you?
ZANNONI: I was asked to be a panel participant at the second WIA Summit and have attended Summits ever since. I find it is a great networking event and provides a current snapshot of the state of the broader ag industry.
WIA TODAY: Best memory from a WIA Summit?
ZANNONI: My best memory from a WIA Summit is of Dr. Temple Grandin as a keynote speaker (WIA Summit 2018 in Denver). I had watched a movie about her life challenges and successes and was excited to have the opportunity to meet her in person.
WIA TODAY: Top three reasons to join the WIA community?
1. Great networking opportunities.
2. Great exposure to the broader ag industry.
3. Industry experts leading discussions on current topics affecting U.S. and global
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You can learn more about the stories of these accomplished women and steadfast WIA champions on our website, and register here to celebrate alongside them at the 15th annual Women in Agribusiness Summit in New Orleans, September 22–24, 2026.
Hear from Gloria Basse, Sharon Beals of WMIN and Elo Life's Michele Fite in Part One: 15 Years of Memories for WIA Summit’s 15th Anniversary.
