Women in Business: At The Heart of It All
2026-09-18 15:00 - 19:00 UTC | Drury Plaza Hotel Conference Center 3351 Percy Dr. Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Doors open at 10am and the program will start at 10:45am.
Join the Cape Chamber Women's Network for the fourth annual Women in Business: At the Heart of It All Celebration, honoring American Business Women's Day and celebrating the accomplishments of businesswomen across the nation and right here in our region.

This annual celebration brings together professionals, leaders, and community members for an inspiring event centered on resilience, leadership, and the stories of women breaking through and rising above.

This year's program will feature insight and inspiration from Amy Phillips, AIA with CannonDesign, named one of the Most Influential Businesswomen of St. Louis in 2025, along with a dynamic panel of regional businesswomen including Grayson Erlbacher of Erlbacher Gear and Machine, Olivia Wilson of Husch Blackwell Strategies, and Robin Tolbert of KT Power.

Together, these women will share their experiences, perspectives, and encouragement as we recognize the impact women continue to make in business, leadership, and community.

Tickets are on sale now. Join us as we celebrate the heart, strength, and influence of women in business.

Amy Phillips, AIA

Principal, Office Practice Leader St. Louis, CannonDesign

Amy Phillips is a licensed architect in Missouri and a Principal at CannonDesign serving as the Office Practice Leader for the St. Louis office. As the leader of the office, Amy's role is to connect and support. Whether that be with clients, the community, or our CannonDesign team Amy is about making connections between people and projects in places that otherwise may not be obvious.

She is focused on providing strategic leadership, achieving sustainable growth and outstanding topline results while building and guiding a high-performing, diverse, and inclusive team. Before assuming this role, she was the Business Practice Leader, responsible for managing profitability, attracting top talent to St. Louis, and delivering high-quality projects to clients. During her tenure, the St. Louis office became the most profitable in the firm and continues to hold that status. Amy is also a steward of the Powerhouse building where the St. Louis office is situated. Additionally, she has joined the ULI subcommittee of building owners focused on enhancing the Clark Street Corridor, where the Powerhouse is located, from the MLS stadium to Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village.

Architecture is Amy's second career; she initially graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa and worked as a full-time researcher on pediatric cancers, specifically medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma. Seeking a career change, she earned a master's in architecture from the University of Kansas, where she has now served on the Dean's Advisory Board for seven consecutive years. Since moving to St. Louis in 2007, she has worked for three downtown firms and lived in the City for 14 of those years, gaining firsthand insight into its challenges and opportunities.

There is a warmth about Amy that is hard to describe but if you've met her, you've felt it. Amy is a cheerleader for everyone, always pushing people to be the best versions of themselves. She embodies that in her own life through community involvement Since 2010, Amy has chaired the Board for ACE Mentor St. Louis and mentored students since 2007. She is actively involved with numerous local volunteer organizations, including Construction Forum STL, Women in Architecture, St. Patrick's Center, AIA St. Louis, Youth Build, Safe Connections, and CannonDesign employee resource groups. She has joined the Advisory Board for the St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP) and was elected to the Downtown St. Louis Community Improvement District Board in July 2024 and currently serves as Board Chair. Amy believes it is essential architects and design professionals to support and serve the communities in which they live and work.

On a personal note, Amy is a proud mother of two boys and enjoys watching various sports, particularly her sons' teams competing year-round. She loves home renovation projects, gardening, knitting, crocheting, and often makes gifts for the holidays. Amy is also an avid reader and participates in a book club at CannonDesign, discussing 4-5 books annually across diverse genres. In addition, she enjoys experimenting with new cooking and baking techniques, recipes, and flavors.

Grayson Erlbacher

Owner, Erlbacher Gear & Machine Works

Grayson Erlbacher is a business owner, leader, and advocate for women in business with more than 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, healthcare, and organizational leadership. As the owner of Erlbacher Gear & Machine Works and a board member for Alliance Bank, she is passionate about building strong teams, creating meaningful relationships, and encouraging women to step confidently into leadership roles. Her diverse background from serving as a Hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy Reserve to leading successful businesses in a traditionally male-dominated industry gives her a unique perspective on resilience, growth, and empowering others to pursue their goals with confidence and purpose.
