Meet the women who will bring “The Heart of a Champion” to life at the SHINE Women’s Summit! Our emcee, panelists and keynote speaker reflect the strength, determination and heart of women who make a difference on and off the field. Like the Sisters of Notre Dame, they recognize the power of encouraging others and helping them reach their potential. Their stories remind us that being a champion goes beyond personal achievement. It means being in someone else’s corner, too.
Get to know our inspiring lineup below, then reserve your seat to join us!
This Year's Speakers
2026 Emcee
Joining us as our emcee this year is Kristian Brown, award-winning 13abc anchor and Toledo native whose dedication to sharing women’s stories and serving her community helps others SHINE! We are thrilled to welcome Kristian to facilitate our panel discussion and lead the Keynote Conversation with Zia Cooke.
Kristian Brown is an award-winning journalist and an integral member of the 13abc news team, where she has worked since 2002. She anchors the 5:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. newscasts alongside Lee Conklin, as well as 13abc’s Emmy-nominated 7:00 p.m. newscast.
Her professional journey began as a reporter at KTVE in Monroe, LA, before she returned to her hometown of Toledo. There, she briefly worked as a reporter for WTOL before joining 13abc. A proud alumna of the prestigious E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, Kristian holds a degree in Broadcast Journalism. She is also a proud graduate of Saint Ursula Academy. Throughout her career, she has covered a wide array of significant news stories, including devastating tornadoes and other severe weather events. In 2002, Kristian contributed to 13abc’s Emmy-winning coverage after deadly tornadoes ripped through the region.
Kristian’s dedication to her craft and community has been recognized with numerous accolades. In 2011, she was inducted into the Ohio School Boards Association Media Honor Roll for her impactful education reporting. She received the Northwest Ohio Black Media Association Media Achievement Award in 2009 and Toledo’s coveted 20 Under 40 Award in 2007. Her story, “Hip Hop Math”, earned both a Telly Award and an Associated Press Award.A committed member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Kristian is a leader in her industry and a passionate community supporter. She frequently speaks to girls’ and women’s groups about personal development and positive choices. Her community involvement includes serving on the Blessings with Disguise Board of Directors and previously serving on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio Board of Directors.
In 2024, Kristian received the Drum Major for Justice Award from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, for her extensive service to the Toledo community. The previous year, she was honored by the Toledo Chapter of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. for her efforts in highlighting women’s stories in the community. In 2021, to celebrate her 20 years in broadcasting, she was immortalized in Toledo history by signing a bun at the original Tony Packo’s on Front Street.
The Toledo native’s accolades also include being named a 2016 Freedom Fund Honoree and receiving the 2018 Lifetime Membership Award from the Toledo Chapter of the NAACP for her unwavering commitment to community service.
Kristian and her husband, Tirrell, are proud parents of three children: their son, Isaiah and twin daughters, Laila and Lauren.
2026 Panelist
At this year’s SHINE Women’s Summit, “The Heart of a Champion,” Sister Jenny Zimmerman will bring her lifelong love of sports and her experiences as an athlete, athletic trainer, coach and Sister of Notre Dame to our panel.Sports have been part of Sister Jenny’s life for as long as she can remember. Growing up in Defiance, OH, she played almost every sport possible. In high school alone, she competed in five sports: volleyball, basketball, swimming, track and softball.
Her athletic career continued at the University of Toledo, where she competed on the track team in shot put, discus and hammer throw. As Sister Jenny puts it, she simply “loved to throw heavy objects!” Unfortunately, a knee injury and subsequent surgeries brought her time as a collegiate athlete to an end.
Sister Jenny earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science with a concentration in athletic training. After college, she worked as a high school athletic trainer before moving into industrial athletic training at General Motors in Defiance. There, her work included physical therapy, personal exercise programs, incentive programs and ergonomic assessments to help address and prevent injuries in the factory.
After entering the Sisters of Notre Dame in 2004, Sister Jenny continued to find ways to bring together athletics, wellness and ministry. She used her medical background while serving as a chaplain at St. Vincent Medical Center from 2006 to 2009. From 2010 to 2015, she served as a strength and conditioning coach at Notre Dame Academy while also working in campus ministry and teaching freshman theology for two years. Her approach focused on something that continues to fascinate her today: the connection between body, mind and spirit.
Throughout her experiences, Sister Jenny has had a special connection to young adult ministry, leading retreats, hosting young adult events and offering spiritual mentorship while accompanying young adults through the joys, questions and challenges of their faith journeys.
Her passion for health and wellness has also extended to her fellow sisters. Over the years, Sister Jenny has taught exercise classes, organized several Wellness Walks, joined the SND Toledo Region Wellness Committee and helped countless sisters with exercise programs, injury prevention and assessments.
Sister Jenny also holds a master’s degree in theology and is a certified spiritual director. Today, she serves as activities director at the SND Center in Whitehouse, OH, along with other admin responsibilities, including one of her more fun-loving titles, “Shenanigans Coordinator.”
Whether she is working with an athlete, accompanying someone on their faith journey or bringing a little fun to the SND Center, Sister Jenny loves building relationships. Her background allows her to speak the same language as athletes while exploring the powerful connection between physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
And as for being a Sister and an athletic trainer? Sister Jenny is convinced she is the only religious sister athletic trainer, a fact she is sticking to until someone proves her wrong!
2026 Panelist
Amanda Jerzykowski serves as the Digital Marketing Manager for the Toledo Mud Hens, Toledo Walleye and Hensville, where she leads digital strategy across email, text messaging and web platforms to drive fan engagement and ticket sales.
In this role, she plays an integral part in promoting major events, enhancing the game day experience and supporting community initiatives that connect fans to the organization year-round.
Now in her tenth year with the organization, Amanda is passionate about storytelling, mentorship and creating meaningful fan experiences through innovative marketing. She is actively involved in initiatives that support women in sports and is dedicated to sharing her experiences with students and young professionals pursuing careers in the industry.
A native of Toledo, OH, Amanda attended Central Catholic High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan, where her passion for sports was first sparked during her time on campus.
For Amanda, the excitement of sports extends beyond the scoreboard. It’s about the stories, connections and shared experiences that bring a community together.
Through her work, she helps fans feel part of something bigger, turning the excitement of a single game into a lasting connection with their teams and hometown. Those connections continue long after the final pitch or buzzer, keeping the spirit of Toledo sports alive year-round.
2026 Panelist
As a high school student at Toledo’s Libbey High School, Linda Jefferson was an accomplished athlete. She was an All-City track star in 1971 and 1972 and one of two African American women named to the first-ever All-City girls basketball team.
Jefferson’s career would go on to include many notable firsts. She was the first African American woman to complete the world-renowned Outward Bound course in Denver, CO. She also was the first African American woman to work for the United Parcel Service of Northwest Ohio and the Dundee Cement Company.
In 1972, before Title IX expanded opportunities for women to participate in college sports, Jefferson tried out for the Toledo Troopers, an all-women’s football team.
Jefferson played running back for the Toledo Troopers from 1972-79. In 1975, she gained national recognition when she became the first woman to be named Female Athlete of the Year by Woman Sport Magazine. She also competed on ABC’s “Women’s Superstars” in 1976 and 1979 alongside athletes including Althea Gibson and Martina Navratilova.
One of Jefferson’s most memorable seasons came in 1977, when she rushed for 1,967 yards on 132 carries and scored 35 touchdowns. She averaged 14.9 yards per carry that season.
Jefferson was part of a Toledo Troopers team that won seven world championships, including six perfect seasons in the National Women’s Football League. The team was recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH, as the winningest team in professional football history. Jefferson has often credited her teammates as an important part of her success.
In 1979, Jefferson retired from football as the all-time leading rusher and scorer in women’s professional football history. That same year, she was inducted into the Libbey High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 1980, Jefferson became the first African American woman to speak at an NFL Hall of Fame luncheon in Canton, OH. In 2002, she became the first African American woman inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.
In July 2014, Jefferson and her fellow Toledo Troopers became the first inductees into the Women’s Football Foundation Hall of Fame. Later that year, she was inducted into the Toledo City Athletic League Hall of Fame. In 2016, she was inducted into the African American Legacy Project Hall of Fame.
Over the course of her football career, Jefferson rushed for more than 8,000 yards and scored 145 touchdowns.
Beyond football, Jefferson spent 35 years working with children with autism and children in preschool before retiring in 2016. Her athletic accomplishments and service to others have left a lasting impact on the Toledo community, on the history of women’s football and beyond.
“You have to believe it to achieve it” is her motto.
2026 Keynote
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