johncombest.com

The Rise & Run Women’s Political Empowerment Workshop is a 1.5 day conference to be held Jan. 30-31, 2026 at Lindenwood University in the Spellman Center in St. Charles, Missouri. The first 50 registrants receive free admission with coupon code (found below.) After the first 50 slots are filled, the registration fee is $50 per person. The workshop is designed for women, and registrants must identify as a woman.

The event is underwritten by local personal finance expert Nina Needleman. Needleman appeared on Westplex Talk 104.5 FM’s “The Brad & John Show” on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 to promote the event. Needleman noted that speakers include state Rep. Wendy Hausman (R-St. Peters), former state sen. Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur), St. Louis Alderwoman Daniela Velazquez, as well as Maryville University professor Leilani Carver-Madalon. The full interview, conducted by St. Louis Media Hall of Famer Brad Hildebrand, follows:

The following day (Jan. 9, 2026) Hildebrand’s co-host John Combest dedicated the #1 slot in his “John’s Top 3” segment to amplifying highlights of the Rise & Run event, as well as gently correcting some of the previous day’s misstatements and omissions. Of note:

• The “Fundraising techniques and donor cultivation” session will be led by renowned Democratic campaign fundraiser Angela Bingaman. In her Thursday interview, Ms. Needleman mistakenly stated that she (Needleman) would be leading the session. In addition, Bingaman will also present on “How to create a budget.”
• State Sen. Tracy McCreery (D-Olivette) will team up with former Missouri Republican Party Executive Director Jean Evans for a session titled, “One Woman Matters: How to Collaborate and Why NOW is Important.” This session was not mentioned in Thursday’s interview.
• St. Louis Alderwoman Jami Cox Antwi will lead a session titled “Volunteer recruitment, management, retention.” Cox Antwi was misidentified during the Thursday interview.

In addition to correcting misinformation and omissions, Combest offered Needleman and event organizers suggestions including:

• Creating a web page – or a basic social media post – to show the workshop agenda and speakers. No such information was available as of 1/9/26.
• Using a vanity URL or an easy-to-remember social media handle as a path to the registration page. “I’ll send you the QR code” is not a viable call to action. (Note: registration link is at the bottom of this page.)
• Basic outreach to Democrat and Republican township committeewomen in St. Louis County, St. Charles County and St. Louis City.
• Beginning a basic level of effort to promote the event, as the speakers have received no meaningful social media support or promotion from organizers.

Combest concluded his promotion of the event with a pep talk for event organizers. You can hear the full discussion here:

Although organizers have not provided potential attendees basic information like speakers and sessions, here’s a list:

• Voter contact strategies & grassroots organizing: State Rep. Wendy Hausman (R-St. Peters)
• Fundraising techniques & donor cultivation AND How to create a budget : Angela Bingaman (D)
• Endorsement strategies & coalition building: former state Sen. Jill Schupp (D)
• Media training: Daniela Velazquez (D)
• Social media training: Maryville University professor Leilani Carver-Madalon
• Campaign team building: Former state Rep. Deb Lavender (D)
• Volunteer recruitment, management, retention: St. Louis Alderwoman Jami Cox Antwi (D)
• Field operations/canvassing: Former state Rep. Trish Gunby (D)
• Missouri Ethics Commission compliance: Kaley Barry

Partisan tally: 6 Democrats, 2 Republicans

Registration link: Rise and Run – MyProVenue™ First 50 women using code RISEANDRUN26 will receive free registration.

Are you new to johncombest.com? A quick FAQ for readers and journalists