Description

Leading Waco Women was created to celebrate, empower and develop female leaders in the Greater Waco area. The series will conclude with the Serving Summit Luncheon on November 21st.

Leading Waco Women Serving Summit ticketholders will join us for a half-day conference (10:30am to 1:00pm) featuring a keynote presentation, lunch, a panel discussion with our four ATHENA Leadership Award Finalists, and the presentation of the ATHENA Leadership Award®. 

This year's keynote speaker is Mary Thompson, CEO of BNI.  

Beginning July 8, 2024, Mary Kennedy Thompson joined BNI and its affiliates (Corporate Connections and Scion Social) to lead as their CEO. BNI (Business Network International) is the world’s largest and most successful business networking organization with more than 320,000+ Member-businesses participating on 11,000+ BNI Chapters in 76 countries. BNI has helped more than two million businesses garner more than $190 billion in revenue.

Prior to stepping into her current CEO role at BNI, Mary served as COO of Neighborly, the world’s largest home services company. There she oversaw the ongoing business operations at Neighborly, working with 30 brands as she leads the execution of company strategies. Prior to her appointment as COO, Mary served as executive vice president of Neighborly and president of Mr. Rooter® for nine years.

Mary served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a logistics officer. She began franchising more than 30 years ago as a multi-unit franchise owner at Cookies by Design, leading the company in market penetration and sales, and earning numerous top-performer awards. After successfully selling her franchises, Mary joined the corporate headquarters to build Cookies by Design’s field support program, eventually leading the brand as its president.

In 2006, Mary joined Neighborly® (formerly Dwyer Group) as the brand president for Mr. Rooter® Plumbing, its largest brand. Under Mary's leadership, Mr. Rooter® Plumbing was included in Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500, Franchise Business Review's Franchisee Satisfaction Award, PHC News Top 100 Contractors, and USA Today's Top 50 Franchises for Veterans. As president of Mr. Rooter® Plumbing, U.S. Business Review selected Mary as one of its Editor's Choice Executives of the Year.

Mary is a board member and vice chair for The International Franchise Association (IFA). Over the years IFA has awarded Mary with the William Rosenberg Foundation Leadership Award in 2023 for her outstanding contributions and leadership in advancing the mission of the IFA Educational Foundation. She has also received the IFA Bonny Levine Award, their highest award for women who have made an impact on franchising, and the Crystal Compass award for extraordinary leadership in franchising. Mary is a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) through the IFA and currently serves as a board member as well as the 2024 Chair-Elect for the association.

Mary graduated from the University of Texas in 1984 with a bachelor's degree. In 2002, she completed the mini-MBA program in franchise management at the University of St. Thomas College of Business.