13th in The Courier's 20 under 40 series.

WATERLOO - Kristin Schaefer is nothing if not persistent.

Ask the powers that be at the National Speaking of Women's Health Foundation. When Schaefer, project manager at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, learned about the organization and its sold-out conferences at big-city venues across the United States, she thought, "Why not here?"

She successfully campaigned to bring the event to the Cedar Valley. "I stalked them," she recalls, laughing. "They hadn't looked at smaller communities or at Iowa. I convinced them to take a look. Women here are bright and have the same concerns as other women across the country and want encouragement and support," said Schaefer.

For the past five years, she has steered the local organization of the daylong national conference sponsored by the National Speaking of Women's Health Foundation and Covenant Foundation at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, supported by local and national sponsors. She is assisted by an able team composed of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare colleagues and community volunteers.

Waterloo is the only Iowa location for the national tour, which visits about 30 cities each year.

Beth Knipp, a friend and former colleague, credited Schaefer with being responsible for bringing the conference here.

"Kristin was determined to help women in Northeast Iowa benefit from the mission of 'Saving Lives Through Education.' Her passion for helping women stay healthy has benefited our community."

The fifth annual Speaking of Women's Health conference took place in October and was sold out for the fifth consecutive year. Through these events, more than $150,000 has been granted to more than 22 local agencies in investment grants that benefit women and children.

Schaefer also convinced the national SWH to help create a conference for younger women, the Tween Events, each spring.

She describes herself as a "Tigger," based on the famous "Last Lecture" about living life to the fullest given by Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon professor who died from pancreatic cancer. He urged his listeners to "really achieve their childhood dreams" and to decide if they are a Tigger or an Eeyore personality," based on "Winnie the Pooh" characters.

"I'm a Tigger. That's what I bring to the equation - energy, passion, bounce, and I hope, a sense of fun. I have a wonderful supportive husband and family. I'm the eternal optimist. That's my heart."

Contact Melody Parker at (319) 291-1429 or melody.parker@wcfcourier.com.