Emcee:

Jillian Hiscock

Founder & Owner, A Bar of Their Own

Jillian Hiscock (she/her) is the owner of A Bar of Their Own, the Midwest’s first sports bar to exclusively show women’s sports. Jillian graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2005 with a degree in Vocal Music Performance and earned her M.Ed in Higher Education from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2009. After years working in higher education and non-profits for 16 years, Jillian opened A Bar of Their Own in March of 2023 because she was tired of feeling like her fandom didn’t matter to traditional sports bars. In 2024, she was named a Women in Business Honoree by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and the WISE Twin Cities - Changemaker of the Year. Jillian is a lifelong learner, community builder, and eternal optimist excited to elevate and amplify women’s sports to the level they deserve.

2025 Executive of the Year:

Amy Rahja

Assistant General Manager, Target Center

Honoree Highlight Video

Amy Rahja serves as a member of the Legends Global Central Booking Team and Assistant General Manager at Target Center in Minneapolis, where she oversees booking, marketing, box office, and event management operations. With more than two decades of experience in live entertainment and venue management, she has played a key role in securing high-profile events such as the Big Ten Basketball Tournaments, USA Gymnastics Olympic Team Trials, and sell-out concerts. Prior to her current role, Amy held leadership positions with VStar Entertainment Group, Feld Entertainment, and Broadway Across America. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has completed the WISE Emerging Leaders Certificate Program.

2025 Changemaker of the Year: 

Chelsey Falzone

Manager - Youth Engagement, Minnesota Twins

Honoree Highlight Video

Chelsey Falzone, a Stillwater, Minn. native is in her 12th year with the Minnesota Twins. She began her career with the Twins as the only female baseball instructor for the team’s youth camps while also playing softball at Bethel University. Later, she moved into the Front Office as an intern with the Game Presentation department, then nearing the conclusion of her internship, Chelsey was hired full-time as the Ballpark Operations Assistant where she served for nearly five years. Now, Chelsey’s profession aligns with her passion of reaching all communities through baseball and softball as the Minnesota Twins Manager of Youth Engagement.

Chelsey’s career highlight includes helping select and coach the first-ever 14U Minnesota Twins Girls Baseball Team, who ultimately made it to the championship game at the biggest girls baseball tournament in the country.

Chelsey is the proud recipient of several Minnie & Paul Awards for outstanding teamwork, as well as the 2019 Twins Tradition Award for most exemplifying the four tenets of the Twins Tradition: passion, hustle, heart, and fun. Chelsey is a passionate and easily excitable person who deeply loves her wife, Becca, their toddler, Luciana, her people, and her life.

2025 Emerging Professional of the Year:

Samantha Ziwicki

Community Relations Coordinator, Minnesota Vikings

Honoree Highlight Video

Samantha Ziwicki is in her fifth season with the Minnesota Vikings.  In her role as a Community Relations Coordinator, she creates meaningful experiences for individuals and groups across the Twin Cities and beyond, leading and supporting more than 35 community events annually. Samantha oversees partnerships with organizations such as Special Olympics and Make-A-Wish, helps in securing annual grant funding, and supports key activations for NFL initiatives including Crucial Catch, Salute to Service, and Inspire Change. In addition to her role with the Vikings, Samantha serves as the Head Coach of the University of Wisconsin - Stout Dance Team.  She is passionate about using athletics as a platform for community connection, student leadership, and memorable experiences. Samantha is a proud UW–Stout graduate and resides in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Play it Forward: Rising Together for Girls in Sports

The panel discussion offered a powerful exploration of what true inclusion in sports really means—shifting the conversation beyond participation to genuine empowerment and representation. Panelists emphasized that inclusion is not just about giving girls and women access to the game but ensuring their voices are heard and their leadership valued at every level.

Speakers shared insights on elevating women through leadership, collaboration, and authentic impact, highlighting the importance of moving past performative gestures toward sustainable, systemic change. They discussed practical strategies for creating environments where women have both a seat and a voice at the decision-making table, underscoring that progress in sports should be measured not only in wins and losses, but in the lasting empowerment and equity built within the industry.