Over the past decade, All About the Girls (AATG) has grown from its humble beginnings at Valparaiso’s Industrial Revolution restaurant to an annually celebrated tradition, bringing together women of all backgrounds to share stories of courage, triumph, strength, and true grit. That impact was on full display as hundreds gathered at Urschel Pavilion on Thursday, June 12, 2025 for the 10th installment of the series – a powerful celebration to commemorate 10 years of women’s empowerment across Northern Indiana.
“I am honored to have an event that has been so successful for the last 10 years, especially in the female empowerment space. It feels like a dream come true!” said AATG Founder and GreatNews.Life Executive Director Jenny Craig-Brown. “I hope to have many more years of this event while growing the impact we make each year. This event takes all us women (and a few awesome guys) to come together to support one another to be successful, and we have for 10 years! That is incredible.”
Part 10 welcomed five new ladies to the AATG speaking roster: Sherina Gonzalez, director of development at A Rosie Place for Children; Dawn Zigler, senior account manager at Meridian Title; Tricia Hall, senior director of marketing and brand strategy at NorthShore Health Centers; Sherri Ziller, CEO of Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA); and Aubrey Zelenka, serial entrepreneur.
Two previous AATG speakers also graced their way back to the stage for Thursday’s event. Part 4 Alumna Traci Brubaker, talent recruiter for Zeigler Auto Group, returned for the opening remarks, and Part 9 Alumna Alyssa Gawliniski, area manager of Finishing Chicago and president of the board of directors for Fighting Pretty, returned as the nonprofit speaker. 4.1.3. Dance Academy got the party started with a show stopping opening dance number, and Lynn Carey, or DJ LyteBrite, additionally spun the tunes to keep the crowd dancing all night long.
It was an evening filled with empowerment, celebration, and reflection, centered around the heartfelt theme Dear Me, a personal favorite of Craig-Brown’s. Inspired by the idea of writing a letter to one’s younger self, the Dear Me theme invited attendees to pause and consider the guidance they would offer their past selves. The result was an outpouring of sincere advice, encouraging everyone to strive toward a brighter, more intentional future.
“This year I am so excited about celebrating a decade of the event with my favorite theme: Dear Me,” Craig-Brown said. “I think this theme is my favorite because it’s so thought provoking; it really pushes you to think of all the things you wish you knew yesterday, 10 years ago, or 30 years ago. What do you wish you had been told? What do you wish you knew then, and how can we give that to women and girls now? That is what we are building and putting out to the world, and it's really meaningful.”
As Craig-Brown reflected on the advice she would want her younger self to know as the event’s emcee, each speaker also did the same during her time at the podium. In her speech, Zigler shared what the theme meant to her as she spoke on learning to appreciate the people in her life who matter most at all times, the importance of giving to a cause bigger than herself, and living life to the fullest, no matter your age.
“Don’t wait until you're older to appreciate your parents, your grandparents, and if you’re fortunate enough, your great grandparents, because trust me, when you’re older, you’re going to crave more than just the recipe, you’re going to also crave the conversation,” Zigler said. “If I could go back and share one truth with my younger self, it would be this: true happiness. It doesn’t come from a new car, trendy clothes, or even hitting every goal on your list. Happiness comes from something outside of yourself. Help the community where you live, get involved, show up, and lift others, because when you help build something that’s greater than yourself, you don’t just find happiness, you find purpose.”
Ziller, who joked that a teenage her may not have been as willing to listen to her current day advice, also shared words of wisdom she’d give herself at various stages in her life – how important picking the right life partner and circle is in her younger years, how to trust her 12-year-old son to stand up for what’s right while also being his biggest supporter when bullies give him a hard time at school, and how to take up every opportunity granted – you never know when it may just be your last chance.
“Keep on your path and stay true to yourself. If you do that, you cannot fail. When things get rough, and they will, just remember what a mentor of mine told me. It’s simple words to live by, but when things get rough, you can laugh or you can cry. The choice is yours, and I choose to laugh,” Ziller said. “Don’t assume that you will always have more time. So buy those shoes, take that vacation, eat that dessert, don’t think you’re too old to live the life you've always wanted.”
With heartfelt stories fresh in the audience’s minds and fervent emotions still lingering in the air by the event’s end, everyone was inspired to fully embrace the messages from the speeches they resonated with most and carry those insights forward with purpose.
“I hope they gained a renewed sense of energy, confidence, and connection. I hope each attendee left with at least one speaker who they really, truly related to and connected with,” Craig-Brown said. “For me, this event is creating the change we need in our communities. If we want change, we need to be that same change, and that is what we are doing here - creating a space for everyone to come together, turn off the criticism, and turn on the love and connection we pull from people. We all have an energy that others absorb - let's come together to share a positive energy.”
Craig-Brown and the GreatNews.Life team would like to extend a genuine thank you to everyone who made the year’s AATG possible, from the speakers to the attendees and everyone in between, including Dear Me Sponsor Fighting Pretty, Empowerment Sponsor Goodwill, as well as additional event sponsors Korellis, Lerner & Rowe, Service Doctor, Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service, Currie Motors Ford of Valpo,Timeless Aerial Photography, Everwise Credit Union, NorthShore Health Centers, 1st Source Bank, and Pavlou Restaurant Group.
While AATG Part 10 has come to a close, there are still plenty of opportunities to celebrate and support the women in your communities. In addition to the annual event, stay up to date with all things All About the Girls year-round by listening to its monthly podcast, by subscribing to its Youtube channel, and by following its social media on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to follow and subscribe now, because more information will be launching soon for All About the Girls Part 11, currently set to return on Thursday, June 25, 2026!
