Pursue the Vision: Power Up Conference Chair Does What It Takes To Help Others Succeed
Kim Tarnopolski is the conference chair of Take The Lead’s Power Up 2022 Conference: The Big RE.
The irony is that her vision literally stopped her from pursuing her dream career.
But it is her lifetime as a visionary that enables entrepreneurs and leaders to never stop pursuing their dreams.
Kim Tarnopolski, philanthropist, chief community builder and founder of the Valley of The Sun chapters of the 100 Women Who Care Alliance, spends her time and energy enabling organizations to get the necessary funding to realize their missions.
This powerhouse funder and organizer is also the conference chair of Take The Lead’s 2022 Power Up Concert and Conference, The BIG Re: REthink, REwire, REcreate August 25-26 in Phoenix, Arizona and virtually.
Learn more about Take The Lead’s Power Up Concert & Conference: The Big RE
“@KimTarnopolski, philanthropist, chief #community builder and founder of the Valley of The Sun chapters of the 100 Women Who Care Alliance, spends her time enabling organizations to get the necessary funding to realize their missions. #womenleaders”
Born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota, Tarnopolski graduated in 1989 from the University of South Dakota with a degree in criminal justice, and planned on joining the FBI and becoming an agent, just like her best friend’s father.
“I was immediately disqualified because of my uncorrected vision,” she says after her application was denied.
She entertained going to law school, but admits, “I took the LSAT twice and it was not my friend.”
Tarnopolski went on to earn a masters in public administration from Arizona State University in 1994 and has been in Phoenix ever since, with her first job as human resources director at McGladrey, (now RSM US) where she worked from 1995 to 2003.
Pregnant with her first child, the company was consolidating, so her position was eliminated and relocated to Las Vegas, and she says, “It was a blessing in disguise, but a blow to the ego. How could I travel 50% of the time with a newborn?”
After working at Chase PaymentTech from 2003 to 2005 as senior human resources manager, Tarnopolski moved to Human Resources on Call, LLC, where she was managing director until 2013.
“@KimTarnopolski is the conference chair of @Takeleadwomen ‘s 2022 Power Up Concert and Conference, #TheBIGRe: REthink, REwire, REcreate August 25-26 in Phoenix, Arizona and virtually. #womenleaders”
As her daughter, Alex, was entering middle school, Tarnopolski says, “I was starting to feel like I’m going to take a bit of a break and I’m going to be present. After a year at home, I was very bored.”
As a board member for Teen LifeLine, she says she was introduced to a member of 100 Women Who Care, that has 800 chapters around the world. In 2014 she started a local chapter of the organization, and now manages three chapters.
“It was about women and events and community and all I ever wanted to do was have an impact on community,” Tarnopolski says. “In eight years, we will meet the $1 million mark,” with three local groups giving away grants of $10,000 each to more than 100 organizations. She also sits on the national board.
That is why her leadership for the upcoming Take The Lead The Big Re Power Up Concert and Conference is so critical. Tarnopolski is an expert in connecting, community, fundraising and achieving intended missions.
“I am all about wherever I am and however I can lending my time to create a memorable experience,” Tarnopolski says, who also recently became the grants manager of the Lodestar Foundation.
After meeting with Take The Lead co-founder and president Gloria Feldt, Tarnopolski says she was so inspired and energized that she jumped into the role of conference chair for the 2022 Power Up Conference.
“After meeting with @Takeleadwomen co-founder and president @GloriaFeldt, @KimTarnopolski says she was so inspired and energized that she jumped into the role of conference chair for the 2022 #PowerUp Conference. #powerfulwomen”
“For me the conference is in alignment with who I am and how I support women. It fills my heart.”
This conference in 2022 comes at a perfect time for women who are reimagining and reinventing their careers post-COVID.
“@Takeleadwomen ‘s #PowerUp conference in 2022 comes at a perfect time for #women who are reimagining and reinventing their careers post-COVID. #careerchange ”
According to new research from ADP Research Institute, “Even as layoffs and furloughs have returned to normal, quits are on the rise. Quits rose 36 percent in 2021 from the year before, an increase of nearly 12 million people walking off the job. In all, 45.4 million people quit their jobs last year. The great resignation is real.”
Part of that is due to COVID, and part is due to exhaustion, frustration and concerns over continued inequities women face in the workplace.
“Part of #TheGreatResignation is due to COVID, and part is due to exhaustion, frustration and concerns over continued inequities #women face in the #workplace. ”
“Women worldwide face a burnout epidemic driven by rising stress levels, a lack of mental health support, and an ‘always-on’ work culture,” Michele Parmelee, chief people and purpose officer at Deloitte, tells Forbes. “Additionally, despite significant shifts in working arrangements since the start of the pandemic, flexibility is still not a reality for many women.”
The 2022 Take The Lead Power Up Conference, The Big RE, focuses on possibilities many can activate garnering the latest information, updates, strategies, networking and communication skills on hand from the speakers, panels and workshops.
“The 2022 @Takeleadwomen #PowerUp Conference, The Big RE, focuses on possibilities many can activate garnering the latest information, strategies, #networking and communication skills on hand from the speakers, panels and workshops. ”
The mission of Take The Lead aligns well with Tarnopolski’s mission for the Valley of the Sun chapters of 100 Women Who Care, whose members commit to one year of service and commitment of $100, so that each recipient organization receives $10,000.
“When you bring all those $100 together, it can add up quickly,” she says.
The local charities or organizations nominated go through a vetting process and then the members choose funding recipients.
Read more from Gloria Feldt on women in philanthropy
“For me 100 Women is about shifting the conversation around who is a philanthropist. Anybody can be a philanthropist. I think we are able to change the conversation and take the giving circle model and bring the causes to us.”
She adds, “When you shift who makes the contribution, you shift who gets the money.” Tarnopolski says those local causes have been geared toward homelessness, foster care, hunger, cancer, and many more.
“My takeaway is there are a lot of amazing causes you would never know about and so many needs that are so great. We hear about the big charities, but what I have learned from the people I have met is all the amazing work done in our communities. And that it is often a woman who has stepped in and created a nonprofit to answer that need.”
““We hear about the big charities, but what I have learned is all the amazing work done in our communities. And that it is often a woman who has stepped in and created a #nonprofit to answer that need.”—@KimTarnopolski. #womenleaders”
Read more in Take The Lead on the history of women in philanthropy
This career connector is about offering insight, advice as well as needed funding to those who are working to fulfill their goals. And she got to fulfill at least partially her goal of being in the FBI when three years ago she joined the FBI Citizens Academy, and has attended trainings, conferences and workshops. Though she says she does not have the badge she dreamed of, she was able to take advantage of the opportunity. And she advises others to do the same.
“Be present in your life,” says Tarnopolski. “I am a big believer that the universe puts opportunities in front of you everyday. And if you are paying attention, there are fantastic opportunities out there.”
Take The Lead’s Power Up Conference: The Big RE is just one of those opportunities for networking, learning, connecting, advancing ideas and intentioning a reimagined future with an agenda of panels, workshops, speakers and networking.
“@Takeleadwomen ‘s #PowerUp Conference: The Big RE is just one of those opportunities for #networking, learning, connecting, advancing ideas and intentioning a reimagined future with an agenda of panels, workshops, and speakers. #careergrowth”
The Big Re includes a concert featuring platinum-selling country music star Dierks Bentley, Emmy-nominated composer and pianist Marina Arsenijevic, Carmela y Mas and the band, BETTY on August 25.
The following day, speakers and panelists include Carla Harris, author, leader and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley; Lisa Mae Brunson, Chief Visionary and Founder of Wonder Women Tech, and host of the Wonder Women Tech Show Podcast; Felicia Davis, founder of The Black Women’s Collective; Dr. Nancy D. O’Reilly, author and founder of Women Connect4Good, Inc.; Jeanette Ceja, CEO of Jet Set with Jeannette and Take The Lead’s co-founder, Feldt, who inspired Tarnopolski to become involved with the conference.
“I think being present and listening for opportunities and taking action is key. These are things Gloria Feldt does. She is not afraid to try something new, and take action every day outside her comfort zone.”
““I think being present and listening for opportunities and taking action is key. These are things @GloriaFeldt does. She is not afraid to try something new, and take action every day outside her comfort zone.” —@KimTarnopolski. #careeradvice”
She adds, “I am thrilled to be aligned with her and Take The Lead because she’s that voice I would love to be. I support her as a trailblazer in shifting the conversation with women who are taking the next steps in their careers and their lives.”
