Serving Women and Girls in
Waukesha County since 2004!
Young Women of Tomorrow, Today
In celebration of the 35 th anniversary of the Women of Distinction Luncheon, we caught up with some of our past Young Woman of Tomorrow honorees to see what they were up to. We were delighted, but not surprised, to learn where their life journeys have taken them.
Kathy (Marsho) Williams
1992 Young Woman of Tomorrow

Kathy had just graduated from Valparaiso University when she received the YWOT honor. She now lives in DeForest, Wisconsin, with her husband Mark. Together they have two daughters.

WGF: What is your current position?

Williams: I am a reading specialist and literacy coach at the DeForest Area School District. I work in an elementary, K-4, building helping students to fall in love with reading. I also work closely with classroom teachers and other staff to implement best practices in literacy instruction. Leading professional development and serving on numerous district-level committees are also part of my role.

WGF: Tell us about your college studies.

Williams: I received a Bachelor of Arts in communicative disorders at Valparaiso University and a Master of Science in speech and hearing science at the University of Arizona.

WGF: Tell us about some of your previous positions.

Williams: After earning my master’s, I worked in a variety of settings as a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Some of these settings included Head Start programs, home health, acute care and hospital rehab and a county birth-to-three early intervention program. While working in the school setting as an SLP, I began to take additional coursework to pursue my licensure in reading development. I have also been involved in the Wisconsin State Reading Association.

WGF: What are some of the highlights of your career?

Williams:  In the fall of 2015, I traveled to Shijiazhuang, China, to present at the K-12 Global Research Symposium. The title of my presentation was "Nurturing a Lifelong Passion for Literacy, One Reader at a Time."

WGF: How did the YWOT honor impact your life?

Williams: More than anything, the Young Woman of Tomorrow honor meant that I had a community of support behind me as I continued to pursue my passions and dreams. To be surrounded and recognized by strong and accomplished women gave me confidence and encouragement. I have taken that experience to remember the impact of relationships and support in my interactions with my students and other young people I work with.

Kelly Riordan
2013 Young Woman of Tomorrow

Kelly was a senior at Kettle Moraine High School for the Arts and Performance when she received the YWOT honor. She now resides in Athens, Georgia.

WGF: What is your current position?

Riordan: I am pursuing a Master of Music degree at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia. I plan to graduate in May 2019.

WGF: Tell us about your undergraduate studies.

Riordan: I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

WGF: Tell us what you have been up to in recent years.

Riordan: While pursuing my undergraduate degree, I led small groups through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Newman Center, volunteered with the UWM Center for Community Based Learning, served as the education vice president of the Gamma Gamma Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta and president of the Psi Theta Chapter of Order of Omega Greek Honors Society. Currently, I volunteer with the Community Music School at the University of Georgia, and assist in operations for the middle school and high school band festivals. I am also a day camp director for the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast. I have attended the Alpha Moraine Day Camp since I was 5. I now work with seven of my peers to run one of the council's largest all volunteer-led day camps every summer.

WGF: What are some of the highlights of your journey so far?

Riordan : I have taught private clarinet lessons for nine years, and have performed professionally in the last year with the Augusta Symphony and University of Georgia Opera Theatre.

WGF: How did the YWOT honor impact your life?

Riordan : The stunning photograph I received as my award is displayed over my dining room table. The award was particularly meaningful because of who nominated me. I credit Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast with introducing me to many of my female mentors from a young age. Their leadership allowed me to gain skills to lead organizations of my peers throughout my collegiate and graduate career. The Young Woman of Tomorrow honor made me feel as though the work I had done to give back to such an important organization in my life had broader reach. It has inspired me to find opportunities to align myself with other organizations that positively impact my community. This honor continues to remind me that I received incredible support from my mentors, and that it is my duty to be a mentor and support system for other women in my community - wherever that might be.
Linda (Lardinois) Reis
1998 Young Woman of Tomorrow

Linda was a senior at Kettle Moraine High School when she received the YWOT honor. She now lives in Pewaukee and is married with three children.

WGF: What is your current position?

Reis: I am a program manager at the Medical College of Wisconsin. I coordinate a research study investigating the genetic causes of a variety of eye conditions that affect children and young adults. Through this study, we are able to provide a genetic diagnosis to affected families, which can help to guide the care a child receives.

WGF: Tell us about your college studies.

Reis:  I received a Bachelor of Science in Genetics at UW-Madison, and a Master of Science in genetic counseling at the University of Cincinnati.

WGF: Tell us about some of your previous positions.

Reis: I worked as a clinical genetic counselor at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, then moved into my current research position at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

WGF: Tell us about any professional or community organizations you have been involved with:

Reis:  I am an active volunteer in my local parish and have also volunteered at Pewaukee Lake Elementary School.

WGF: How did the YWOT honor impact your life?

Reis: It was a great honor to be recognized at the end of my high school years. I still have the painting I received hanging in my living room reminding me of the importance of giving back.


The Women and Girls Fund of Waukesha County, established in 2004, seeks to aid and enrich the lives of women and girls so they become thriving residents of their communities. Since 2005, the Women and Girls Fund has awarded more than $1,000,000 to nearly 60 non-profit organizations that promote the welfare, independence and self-sufficiency of women and girls of all ages.