Celebrating a Year of Firsts

Kelly Kleine, Highest Ranking Female Scout in NFL History

In her new role as the Broncos’ executive director of football operations/special advisor to the general manager, Kleine, a Sheboygan native, will play a pivotal role in the Broncos’ front office — and become the highest-ranking female in scouting in the history of the league.

“You don’t have to play football to work in the NFL. I hope I set a positive example for all women who want to break into football. I want to inspire women to keep growing in the NFL and throughout all of sports. It is important to show that women belong in sports. There have been so many women who paved the way for opportunities in this league and in football. I’m thankful to them, and I want to have the same impact for others,” says Kleine.

Women have had to fight to strengthen our voices.
We have had to be our own advocates.
We have had to make noise to gain a seat at the table and prove we belong there.

When women come together, we hold the power to create change. Our voices and investments are more powerful together.

Rhoda Lavinia Goodell, Wisconsin’s First Female Lawyer

Lavinia Goodell was the first woman licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, and the first woman admitted to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.

She read law in 1873-1874. No Janesville law firm would accept her as an apprentice, so she studied on her own. Supportive male lawyers guided her reading and gave her contract work. In June 1874, she passed the Rock County Circuit Court bar exam, immediately opened her own office, and started drumming up work. She tried her first case two months later.

In 1880, she also became the first to litigate (and win) an appeal to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.

Rhoda Lavinia Goodell, Wisconsin’s First Female Lawyer

Lavinia Goodell was the first woman licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, and the first woman admitted to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.

She read law in 1873-1874. No Janesville law firm would accept her as an apprentice, so she studied on her own. Supportive male lawyers guided her reading and gave her contract work. In June 1874, she passed the Rock County Circuit Court bar exam, immediately opened her own office, and started drumming up work. She tried her first case two months later.

In 1880, she also became the first to litigate (and win) an appeal to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.

Yolondria Dixon-Carter, First Female Senior Warrant Officer Advisor to Army’s Top General

In Baghdad Yolondria Dixon-Carter, a young medic, rushed through a crowd of Iraqis to help a young girl whose body was limp and looked lifeless. Dixon-Carter stroked the young girl’s hair and comforted the mother as she reassured the medic. She began singing a soft, calming song. The medic was able to successfully perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation to get the little girl breathing and then with Dixon-Carter’s help, put her on an IV, and prepared her for medical evacuation. “It was amazing” how the singing was able to calm the situation her commanding officer said, adding it saved the little girl’s life.

That was 2009, but Dixon-Carter is still singing to calm stressful situations, only now it’s in the office of the chief of staff of the Army, the first woman to serve in this position.

Meghan Duggan, First Openly Gay Person to Work in Hockey Operations at the NHL

 

As we celebrate firsts, we salute Meghan Duggan who joins the New Jersey Devils as a manager of player development. Duggan was Oct’s WF Presents keynote speaker. She is believed to be the first openly gay person to work in hockey operations in the NHL.

“I’m looking forward to getting to work, and adding value in an area that I’ve committed my entire life to,” Duggan told ESPN.

“The Devils know I’m a young mom. They know I have a 15-month-old son, and they’re excited about that too. They’re excited to welcome my family, my wife, into their group, and that speaks volumes to me,” Duggan said. “Setting the standard in hockey too — not only can women do things like this but working moms can do things like this — that’s important. I know that being a mom empowers me and makes me a better person, a better leader. I’ve learned new ways to work — maybe on less sleep — but it’s wonderful for me to be part of groups that recognize and value that.”

Women have had to fight to strengthen our voices. We have had to be our own advocates. We have had to make noise to gain a seat at the table and prove we belong there.

Meghan Duggan, First Openly Gay Person to Work in Hockey Operations at the NHL

 

As we celebrate firsts, we salute Meghan Duggan who joins the New Jersey Devils as a manager of player development. Duggan was Oct’s WF Presents keynote speaker. She is believed to be the first openly gay person to work in hockey operations in the NHL.

“I’m looking forward to getting to work, and adding value in an area that I’ve committed my entire life to,” Duggan told ESPN.

“The Devils know I’m a young mom. They know I have a 15-month-old son, and they’re excited about that too. They’re excited to welcome my family, my wife, into their group, and that speaks volumes to me,” Duggan said. “Setting the standard in hockey too — not only can women do things like this but working moms can do things like this — that’s important. I know that being a mom empowers me and makes me a better person, a better leader. I’ve learned new ways to work — maybe on less sleep — but it’s wonderful for me to be part of groups that recognize and value that.”

Women have had to fight to strengthen our voices. We have had to be our own advocates. We have had to make noise to gain a seat at the table and prove we belong there.

Leah Hextall, First Woman Play-by-Play Announcer in the NHL

For its NHL coverage, ESPN has signed Leah Hextall to do play-by-play and other roles. She will be the first woman play-by-player to be a regular part of a national NHL TV package.

Hextall has been broadcasting hockey for 17 years. Last year for Sportsnet, she became the first woman in Canada to call play-by-play for a national NHL broadcast.

She previously became the first woman to call the NCAA men’s tournament, which she did for ESPN.

First Females Graduate from U.S. Marine Recruit Training in San Diego

It takes 13 weeks to complete boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, where young recruits become hardened U.S. Marines. The three-month course is considered one of the most difficult in any branch of the U.S. military.

Last week, after grinding through three months of training and team building, the San Diego depot’s first gender-integrated class of Marines graduated after completing boot camp together. The historic first was motivated by the National Defense Authorization Act, signed in 2020, which required the Marines to begin training male and female recruits together before 2028.

The military branch has struggled to recruit women: According to the New York Times, just 8% of Marines are women — the lowest percentage among the U.S. military branches. It was also the last military branch to adopt gender integration at its training facilities, the Times reported.

First Females Graduate from U.S. Marine Recruit Training in San Diego

It takes 13 weeks to complete boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, where young recruits become hardened U.S. Marines. The three-month course is considered one of the most difficult in any branch of the U.S. military.

Last week, after grinding through three months of training and team building, the San Diego depot’s first gender-integrated class of Marines graduated after completing boot camp together. The historic first was motivated by the National Defense Authorization Act, signed in 2020, which required the Marines to begin training male and female recruits together before 2028.

The military branch has struggled to recruit women: According to the New York Times, just 8% of Marines are women — the lowest percentage among the U.S. military branches. It was also the last military branch to adopt gender integration at its training facilities, the Times reported.