Community Leaders Named RutherfordCABLE ATHENA Award Winners

Dawn Nasoori & Jean Anne Rogers

Dr. Jean Anne Rogers, optometrist and local community leader, has been named the 2012 ATHENA Nominee from RutherfordCABLE. Dawn Nasoori, community leader, has been named the 2012 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Nominee from RutherfordCABLE.

The 2012 ATHENA Award Event is Monday, March 26, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. The program begins at 6 p.m. Twenty-nine area women from 29 sponsoring organizations are 2012 Athena Nominees; 21 area women from 21 sponsoring organizations are 2012 Young Professional Leadership Nominees.

For the past 20 years, the Nashville ATHENA Award and Scholarship program has honored outstanding women for their skills in business, leadership and service to the community. In 1993, ATHENA added a scholarship program to help afford access to higher education and to help build the pipeline of future leaders. Last year, the Scholarship Program awarded $21,000 in scholarships to six deserving recipients in four categories, based upon a 300-word essay and superior academic performance.

Eight principles lie at the heart of the Athena Leadership Model:
• Live authentically
• Learn constantly
• Advocate fiercely
• Act courageously
• Foster collaboration
• Build relationships
• Give back
• Celebrate

“We are thrilled that Jean Anne Rogers is representing RutherfordCABLE for this prestigious award,” said 2012 RutherfordCABLE President Paula Mansfield. “Jean Anne’s life is a representation of these distinctive ways of leading---the very principles outlined in the ATHENA Leadership Model---into a blueprint that aspiring leaders can follow.”

Mansfield continued: “In the Young Professionals Leadership Award category, we are equally pleased that Dawn Nasoori is representing our organization. This award recognizes emerging women leaders for exemplary leadership, and Dawn’s example is just that. She has spearheaded numerous efforts for our organization demonstrating excellence, creativity and initiative.

“We celebrate the accomplishments of both of these women and their inspiration to women to achieve their full potential,” Mansfield added.

RutherfordCABLE is a three-year-old organization with more than 130 members. The mission of the organization is connecting women and opportunity. RutherfordCABLE was formed in 2009 to help support and strengthen the professional and personal development of its members. The organization offers monthly breakfast meetings with top speakers; networking events; professional development opportunities; and members-only list-servs for business promotion.

Dr. Jean Anne Rogers

Dr. Jean Anne Rogers is an optometrist in private practice in Murfreesboro since 1979. She is a member of the Tennessee Academy of Optometry and has been active in a number of state and local optometric organizations throughout her career, including serving as the Sixth District Congressional Liaison from 1985 through 2011.

“I am truly honored by the Athena nomination, and the thought that, in some way, I have made a difference,” Rogers said. "I view leadership differently for various situations, however my basic model is a team approach where each member is important for success. Key elements are preparedness, direction and communication so the team and individuals both have success. Communicate the goal, effectively train, then turn loose for accomplishment!"

Rogers attended Mississippi State University and the University of Illinois before earning her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry degrees from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis in 1979. Rogers has served in numerous roles in many community organizations, including the League of Women Voters, serving on the Board of Directors, as Board President and

Chairman, Finance Chair, and Kids Voting and Student Voting Chair; Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce; United Way Board of Directors; Jr. Pro Basketball Coach; Pinnacle Bank Community Board of Directors; first President of the PTA at Siegel High School; Murfreesboro Power Board of Directors and Chair; Read to Succeed; Siegel High School Volleyball Booster Club vice president; Tennessee Board of Education representative from the Sixth Congressional District; Foundation, Motlow Community College Foundation Board Member; Motlow Ladies Philanthropic Society; RutherfordCABLE Charter Member and first President-Elect; Leader of Girls in Action at First Baptist Church; Superintendent of Education, Sunday School Teacher, Staff Parish Committee, Council of Stewards and Sunshine Visitor at First Methodist Church; Chair, Rutherford County Committee to elect Milton Hamilton, Pubic Service Commission; President of Rutherford County Democratic Women; Committee to Elect John Glenn President; Committee to Elect Bill Clinton President; Ran for Tennessee Senate, 16th district.

Rogers is married to Judge Mark Rogers, and the couple has three children:
Jan Margaret, 25, Anne Katherine, 23, and Addison, 18.

Dawn Nasoori

Dawn Nasoori is a community leader in Murfreesboro. Her professional career includes her work as Director of Operations with Ross Financial Planning; Tennessee Hemophilia Association, the Military Department of Tennessee; and Mid-State Automotive Distributors, Inc. She earned a Bachelor in Business Administration (cum laude) from Middle Tennessee State University.

Dawn’s community involvement includes RutherfordCABLE Programs, Networking, Door Prize and Reading Group Committees; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training, Volunteer and Mentor for the Music City Half Marathon; and Tennessee Hemophilia and Bleeding Disorders Foundation Auction Chair.

“I am so empowered and honored by my nomination for the Athena Young Professional Leadership Award,” Nasoori said. “This nomination is a priceless gift from my peers and colleagues, and I am so grateful to have made a difference. Leaders nurture people, help them attain goals, encourage their personal growth, and offer guidance and acknowledgement. That’s the kind of leader I want to be.”

Nasoori is married to Mashallah Nasoori, and the couple has three children; Marriam, 17, Jahon, 11, and Lahlai Katrine, 3.

2012 ATHENA Award
Since 1991, the ATHENA Award and Scholarship Program has honored outstanding women of Nashville for their skills in business, leadership and service to their community. Through a collaborative effort between local women's organizations, local businesses and individual sponsors, the ATHENA Award and Scholarship Program encourages women of all ages to achieve excellence, whether it be professionally, academically or personally.

More than 5,000 ATHENA sculptures have been presented to outstanding women in over 500 communities in the U.S. and around the world.
2012 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award
The Nashville ATHENA Award and Scholarship Program is awarding the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership (YPL) Award for the second consecutive year. The ATHENA YPL Award recognizes emerging women leaders across professional sectors for exemplary leadership. The YPL Award actively supports and celebrates the ATHENA mission of supporting, developing and honoring women leaders, inspiring women to achieve their full potential, and helping to create balance in leadership worldwide. It honors women between the ages of 25 and 40 who excel in their chosen field, devote time and energy to their community in a meaningful way, and serve as a role model for young women.
A distinguished panel of 21 judges will evaluate the candidates based upon how well each demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession; provides valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community; and serves clearly as a role model for young women, both personally and professionally.