Quad Cities Chamber and The Women’s Connection Announce 2011 ATHENA Award Honorees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Quad Cities Chamber and The Women’s Connection Announce 2011 ATHENA Award Honorees
ROCK ISLAND, Illinois (February 09, 2011) The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce and The Women’s Connection today announced the recipients of the 2011 ATHENA Awards®, honoring those women within the Quad City Region excelling in their business or profession and making a significant difference in the community. The 2011 ATHENA Awards, to be held March 22, Noon, at Jumer’s Casino and Hotel, Rock Island, are presented by Missman Stanley & Associates.
In 2011, The Women’s Connection and the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce made a significant change to what was previously a local award event, affiliating with ATHENA International to present the ATHENA Leadership Awards® to deserving honorees in the region. The mission of ATHENA International is “to support, develop and honor women leaders; to inspire women to achieve their full potential; and to create balance in leadership worldwide.” The mission of the ATHENA Leadership Award program is very similar to the former Athena Business Women’s Awards program – to elevate and honor those women who are setting a gold standard in their business and community leadership, and who are helping to bring along the next generation of women leaders.
During this year’s event, past local Athena honorees will be retroactively inducted as ATHENA Award recipients, and one ATHENA Recipient will be named from the field of six honorees. Since 1982, 6,000 ATHENA Awards and Global ATHENA Leadership Awards have been presented by ATHENA International in more than 500 communities in the United States, Canada, Russia, China, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
The 2011 Athena Business Women honorees were selected based on the following criteria:
- Honoree demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in her business or profession
- Honoree provides valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community.
- Honoree actively assists women in realizing their full leadership potential.
The 2011 honorees are as follows:
Julie Bechtel, Publisher, Quad-City Times
Publisher of the Quad-City Times since 2005, Julie Bechtel’s newspaper career began in 1987 at the Des Moines Register and has included management positions with the Lawrence (KS) Journal World, the Lincoln (NE) Journal Star, and The Bismarck (ND) Tribune.
In her role as publisher, Bechtel is responsible for management of the Quad-City Times, the Quad-City Business Journal, the commercial print operations Trico and Hawkeye Printing, and several niche publications. Publishers from three Lee Enterprises properties also report to her: Muscatine (IA) Journal, Maysville (KY) Ledger Independent and Orangeburg (SC) Times and Democrat.
Since Bechtel was named publisher, the Quad-City Times has won prestigious awards, including Lee Enterprises’ President’s Award for Innovation. The Suburban Newspaper Association, Associated Press, Iowa Newspaper Association and the Newspaper Association of America also have recognized the Quad-City Times and qcctimes.com with numerous awards for news coverage, innovation, marketing and overall excellence.
As she has in all communities she has worked, Bechtel commits significant time to betterment of the Quad Cities and empowerment of women. Currently, she serves on the boards of Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce Board, United Way (serving as Chairperson in 2009), YMCA, Quad-City Arts and the Student Hunger Drive. Additionally, Bechtel is a Big Sister for a teenage girl through the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Program, a member of the Women’s Leadership Council, and she volunteered to assist the Girl Scouts with its Night on Broadway Event. Tragedy struck Bechtel’s family in 2009 when her infant granddaughter, Kennedi, died of SIDS. In memory of Kennedi, Bechtel started a non-profit called Kennedi’s Kisses, to help young couples suffering the loss of their baby with the financial burden of burying their child.
Julie and her husband, Rick, have two sons, Matt and Nate, and two grandchildren, Cole and Coy.
Denise Bulat, Executive Director, Bi-State Regional Commission
In a community the size and complexity of the Quad Cities, it takes tremendous effort to ensure all the parts are operating in unison. For the past decade, Bi-State Regional Commission Executive Director Denise Bulat has strived to do just that.
In her role, Bulat oversees 26 staff members and implements the guidance of a 36-member Commission that facilitates intergovernmental programs and supports the work of five counties and 43 municipalities. Her work includes keeping current on legislation affecting local governments; organizing major transportation projects such as the I-74 bridge overhaul; promoting community economic development, environmental and health improvements; and facilitating communications an emergency management systems.
Bulat’s passion for a better, more collaborative community extends beyond her work. Since 1993, she has served the United Way, as a board member, Campaign Cabinet member, Women’s Leadership Council Steering Committee, and Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee. Since 2004, Bulat has served the Quad City Health Initiative, currently as Board Chair. Additionally, Bulat has volunteered with Junior Achievement, American Red Cross and Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.
A graduate of Iowa State University, Bulat received her Master of Science Degree from the University of Iowa and her Master of Public Administration Degree from Northern Illinois University. She and her husband, Carl, have two children, Kelsey and Corinne.
Sr. Joan Lescinski, President, St. Ambrose University
A role model for women across all walks of life and professions, Sr. Joan Lescinski was selected as the 13th President of St. Ambrose University in 2007, the first woman ever to lead the university in its 125-year history.
Sr. Joan has taught and administered at the college level since 1974, including College of St. Rose in Albany (NY), Avila University in Kansas City (MO) and Fontbonne University in St. Louis (MO). Before coming to St. Ambrose University, Sr. Joan was president and professor of English at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College (IN).
While at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Sr. Joan led record gains in enrollment, facilitated development of institutional and strategic master plans, introduced several undergraduate and two new graduate academic programs, and significantly increased fundraising, including a $25 million capital campaign. While at St. Ambrose, Sr. Joan led the groundbreaking of the new Health Sciences building, and has introduced several new undergraduate and graduate academic programs. She hosts student groups at her home each month, cooking for them and engaging them in making St. Ambrose better. She also spends one night each week in the classroom, teaching a course on Victorian Literature.
Widely known for her energy, Sr. Joan contributes time to the Putnam Museum, sitting on its board of directors, and to the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, sitting on the Quad City First Board of Directors. Additionally, Sr. Joan lends her expertise in education and leadership on the boards of the College of St. Rose (NY) and Marymount College (CA). Sr. Joan serves on the Council of Independent Colleges President’s Association, the Midwest Modern Language Association, and the Association for Religion and Intellectual Life.
A native of Albany (NY) Sr. Joan earned a doctorate in English literature from Brown University, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English literature from the College of Saint Rose, and holds certificates in Fund Raising Management and Educational Management from Indiana and Harvard universities, respectively. She has been a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis, Mo., since 1965.
Caroline Ruhl, President, Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors
Since 1997, Caroline Ruhl has served as President of Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors, one of the largest women-owned businesses in Iowa. During this time, Ruhl has more than doubled revenues and expanded market reach into communities including Cedar Rapids, Muscatine, Dubuque, Clinton and DeWitt.
Ruhl began her career at Rockwell International, serving in a variety of management and Human Resources positions. She joined Ruhl & Ruhl in 1980 as a Realtor, eventually serving as Head of the Relocation Department, Manager of the Quad Cities Real Estate Relocation Center, and Bettendorf Office Manager, before assuming the role of President and becoming the fourth generation of Ruhls to lead the company.
Under Ruhl’s leadership, Ruhl & Ruhl ranks 102nd of more than 8,000 real estate companies in the U.S. and ranks first among large brokers in per agent productivity. Additionally, Ruhl is one of only a handful of women CEOs of the top 150 real estate companies.
Additionally, Ruhl is committed to actively improving our community and her industry. She serves on the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, on the steering committee for the Women’s Leadership Council, and on the Realty Alliance Board of Directors. Previously, she served as the first female chairperson of the Davenport One Board of Directors, on the Scott County Family YMCA Board of Directors, and on the Junior Achievement Board of Directors. Ruhl was the first woman member of the Davenport Club Board of Directors, and she works to ensure parity in representation on boards in the Quad Cities.
Ruhl received her BA from DePauw University and her MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She is married to John Thompson, and has two sons, Chris and John.
Jackie Staron, President, River City Tire Company
A leader in the historically male-dominated fields of automotive and manufacturing, Jackie Staron began her career at Chicago Tube and Iron in Milan, serving as Tubular Product Manager. In 1987 she joined River City Tire Company in Davenport working in office management and sales, becoming co-owner and president in 1989. In her role, Staron helped grow River City Tire from a struggling business to the thriving, full-service tire and automotive company it is today.
Many regional women have benefited from Staron’s free, female-focused car care clinics, and she also devotes countless hours to volunteer causes that support women. As Chairwomen of Family Resource’s DOVE (Domestic Violence Ended) “Fill the Truck” event, which collects household items, school supplied, clothing and cash to support mothers and their children in shelters. Staron also serves on the DOVE Golf Outing Planning Committee, which raises funds to support awareness of domestic violence.
Additionally, Staron served on the Board of Directors for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a lifelong member of Friends of Trinity, and she donates countless hours to Our Lady of Victory Church and to North High School’s music and athletic booster programs.
Staron received her BS from University of Mississippi for Women. She and her husband, Gene, have two children, Sarah and Shaun.
Ginny Wilson-Peters, President, Integrity Integrated
With a career that started as a CPA at McGladrey and Pullen, followed by roles as Chief Financial Officer and then President of Midland Press Corporation, Ginny Wilson Peters, honored as one of the top 40 presidents of printing companies in the U.S. under the age of 40, quickly rose to the heights of corporate leadership.
Never one to shy away from risk, Wilson-Peters left the corporate world to pursue her dream, ownership of Integrity Integrated, a leadership development company with national and international clients. Wilson-Peters also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Iowa’s Evening MBA Program and International Executive MBA Program in Hong Kong. Additionally, she holds monthly “Women in Leadership” groups and writes a blog resource for aspiring leaders.
Wilson-Peters volunteers significant time to causes supporting our community, particularly women. She serves on the boards for the Child Abuse Council and Family Resources, and has previously served on the boards for the Quad Cities Health Initiative and the United Way Women’s Leadership Council. Wilson-Peters is a member of the Iowa Women’s Leadership Steering Committee and has been actively involved in the Quad Cities American Heart Association Go Red for Women movement, dedicated to educating women about heart disease. In 2010, she served as Executive Chair of the Go Red for Women Luncheon, which raised nearly $100,000 for research and heart health education.
Wilson-Peters received her BBA in Accounting from the University of Iowa, and her MBA from the University of Iowa’s Executive MBA Program. She has two step-children, Makaila and Brice Peters, with her husband, Greg Peters.
The 2011 ATHENA Award Honorees will be honored at a luncheon event on March 22, Noon, at Jumer’s Casino and Hotel, Rock Island. The event is presented by Missman Stanley & Associates, with sponsor support from MediaWork Productions, Venus Envy, IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union and Ashford University. To register to attend, go to www.asktwc.com or call (309)631-0167.
Contact:
Colleen Rafferty, The Women’s Connection, 309-791-1603
Elaine Barreca, Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, 563-823-2665
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