The 2018 Series Speakers - Third Season

Thanks to these incredible women for a remarkable third season

Anne Spaeth

Founder, The Lynhall
​​February 7, 2017
The Lynhall
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​A self-described "horrible cook,” Anne is a North Dakota native whose early food influences included pizza, fast food, and TV dinners. Later, living in London, she experienced Borough Market with its artisan, local vendors. After returning to Minnesota and becoming a busy mom of three young boys, she yearned to replicate the relationships she experienced in London and to also provide artisan meal options for other busy families, professionals, and empty-nesters at The Lynhall.

Barbara Lupient

Retired CEO and current Chairman, The Lupient Companies 
June 14, 2019
Wells Fargo 550 Tower
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The Lupient Companies are a household name in Minneapolis, Minnesota, known for their quality products and commitment to customer service. Barbara Lupient built on the reputation her husband helped create. Following his death, she carried on the business and mentored her children to assume greater responsibility and ownership roles. Today, the second generation of Lupient family members continue the business while Barbara "retires to" the next stage of her career -- managing Lupient properties and as a philanthropist with Opportunity International, an organization dedicated to helping people in developing countries create and successfully manage their own businesses.

Elizabeth Lilly

Founder and President of Crocus Hill Partners
September 12, 2018
St. Mary's Lake Calhoun Event Center
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Beth provides insights on the experience of creating and leading her own investment firm. Beth founded Crocus Hill Partners in 2017 with a focus on small and micro-capitalization equities. From 2002-2017 Beth was a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at GAMCO Investors and was a portfolio manager of the $1.0 Billion Teton Westwood Mighty Mites Fund as well as being actively involved in the $3 Billion small cap value portfolio at GAMCO Investors. Beth began her career at Goldman Sachs in 1985 in New York. In 1988, she joined Fund American Companies in Greenwich CT where she worked as an analyst under the tutelage of Bob Bruce and Warren Buffett learning the merits of Value Investing.

Amy Backman

Owner, Spruce Flowers and Home
November 14, 2018
Studio 125 Fisk Building

In 1988, Amy landed an after-school job at a family-owned florist in the small town where she grew up. It was the start of a lifelong interest and, for nearly eight years now, her livelihood. After attaining a degree in retail merchandising, she entered the corporate world gaining valuable experience in product design, display, vendor relations, and marketing.  During her corporate years she began honing a vision to create a new-fashioned flower shop experience. With a belief that giving flowers feels as good as receiving flowers, she decided to follow her dream and open Spruce in 2010. Inspired by good design that ranges from classic, to modern to organic, she leads a team of talented florists and designers to deliver artistically crafted flower arrangements in the Twin Cities. 

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Founding Presenter