A celebration of the achievements of 12 exemplary women is set for April 28 when RUTHERFORD Cable and Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital present the third annual ATHENA International Leadership Award Ceremony at Stones River Country Club in Murfreesboro.
The Nominees for the 2016 Rutherford ATHENA Award were introduced at RUTHERFORD Cable's February 9 breakfast meeting.
"ATHENA nominations have traditionally come from nonprofit organizations in the community who wish to recognize the exceptional professional and personal leadership and service of women involved in their organizations," said event chair Meagan Flippin. "This year, we are pleased also to have nominations from several businesses who want to recognize an exemplary employee; it is gratifying to see area businesses who value and wish to celebrate their own women leaders."
The ATHENA Award is an international program founded in 1982 and dedicated to supporting, honoring and developing women leaders. The award recognizes individuals who excel in their professions, give back to their communities and help raise up other leaders, especially women.
This year's ATHENA Award ceremony will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a welcome reception with cocktails and light dinner fare followed by the Award Ceremony at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person and are available online at RutherfordCable.org.
"There have been several exciting developments in the ATHENA Program this year," Flippin said. "We invited nominations for a separate ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, which recognizes an emerging leader under age 40 who exemplifies the ATHENA values and serves as a role model for young women personally and professionally. We were thrilled to receive 10 Young Professional nominations in the inaugural year of this award."
The ATHENA Young Professional Award recipient will be named at the April 12 RUTHERFORD Cable breakfast meeting. The cost is $20 per person and reservations may be made online at RutherfordCable.org.
The Rutherford ATHENA Award Program grants a scholarship to a Rutherford County woman who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree later in life. Flippin noted that the 2016 scholarship has been increased to $3,000, and the scholarship winner will be recognized at the ATHENA Award ceremony.
The ATHENA scholarship is supported by the ATHENA Patrons Society, which provides an ongoing foundation of sustainability for the Rutherford ATHENA Award. Patrons Society members make a $150 donation which includes their admission to the April 28 event as well as to a private event held the evening prior. Information regarding the Patrons Society may be found at RutherfordCable.org.
Also new in 2016 is the ATHENA Leadership Forum, a partnership of RUTHERFORD Cable and the Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University. "The Forum connects hand-selected women students from the Jones College, identified as emerging leaders, with RUTHERFORD Cable seasoned and young professionals for a day of networking and workshops," Flippin explained.
The ATHENA Leadership Forum takes place on March 18 on the MTSU campus. Student participants are then invited to attend the April 12 RUTHERFORD Cable breakfast and ATHENA Young Professional recognition, as well as the April 28 ATHENA Award Ceremony. About 70 students are expected to attend.
In addition to founding Sponsor RUTHERFORD Cable and presenting Sponsor Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, the ATHENA Awards are sponsored by Pinnacle Financial Partners, Ascend Federal Credit Union, Farrar|Wright PLLC, Parks, NHC Healthcare and State Farm, with additional support from Deloitte.
The 2016 ATHENA Award nominees are . . .
Dr. Gloria L. Bonner
Murfreesboro Rotary Club (Noon Club)
Dr. Gloria Bonner is Assistant to the President in the Office for University Community Relations at Middle Tennessee State University and is a professor in the Womack Educational Leadership Department. Dr. Bonner has served on the Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital Board of Directors and the City of Murfreesboro 2035 Comprehensive Plan Task Force, and as chair of the Main Street Murfreesboro Board of Directors. Her honors include the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation 2015 Volunteer Service of the Year and the 2010 Jerry Anderson Humanitarian Award.
Anne Courtenay Davis
Junior League of Murfreesboro
Anne Davis is Director of the Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation. She has been a dedicated volunteer in the community for over 30 years and has served on the boards of directors of the Junior League of Murfreesboro, Charity Circle of Murfreesboro and RUTHERFORD Cable, and the on vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Davis served as President of RUTHERFORD Cable in 2014-2015, was the Founding President of the Junior League of Murfreesboro, and was recognized by Murfreesboro Magazine as one of its 2014 Women in Business.
Joyce McGee-Gardner
General Mills, Murfreesboro Tennessee Plant
Joyce McGee-Gardner is a Training Manager at General Mills and sponsor of the company's local women's network, and represents the Murfreesboro site on the company's corporate Women's Plant Network Team. She volunteers for Feed My Sheep and is active with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. McGee-Gardner is the recipient of the 2013 General Mills Corporate Black Champion Network President's Award and the 2007 General Mills Golden Doughboy Award. She credits her inspiration to her son, "my rock," Christian Gardner, who also works for General Mills.
Nancy James
American Association of University Women of Murfreesboro
Nancy James is Director of the MTSU Child Care Lab. She has been actively involved with agencies that advocate access to equality, health care, economic success and educational opportunities. James was the first recipient of the MTSU Disabled Student Services Service Award which recognized her coordination of the first program at MTSU to assist students with disabilities. She received the 2010 Rutherford Association for the Education of Young Children Recognition Award honoring her years of service and dedication in the field of early childhood education.
Kathy Jones
RUTHERFORD Cable
Kathy Jones is Managing Broker at Parks Murfreesboro and the owner of Artisan Design Gallery. She has served in a leadership capacity in many community organizations including MTSU Foundation President, United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties Board Chair and Campaign Chair, and Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Board Chair. Jones currently serves on the Murfreesboro Planning Commission. Among her honors are the 2013 Rutherford County YMCA Humanitarian of the Year Award and the MTSU Jones College of Business 2012 Exemplar Award.
Pamela Little
DoubleTree by Hilton, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Pamela Little is Regional Director of Sales, Catering and Marketing for Cooper Hotel Group's Tennessee and Alabama Region DoubleTree by Hilton Portfolio. She has been recognized for Greatest Growth in Market Share and received a Spirit of Care award from Hilton. Her service includes Healing Fields/Flags of Remembrance Sponsorship Chair, Tennessee Promise Mentor and board service with the Murfreesboro Exchange Club, which named her Exchangite of the Year in 2014. Little was recognized by Murfreesboro Magazine as one of its 2013 Women in Business.
Laura Messick
Portico
Laura Messick is founder and Executive Director of Portico, which provides compassionate help and support for women and families facing unplanned pregnancies. She has been involved with Portico since its founding 30 years ago. Her community involvement has primarily been through World Outreach Church and her children's activities and schools. In 2015, Messick received a proclamation from the Tennessee House of Representatives recognizing her leadership in women's healthcare and her dedication to Tennessee and its citizens.
Ruth E. Nolte
Nissan Smyrna Women's Business Synergy Team
Ruth Nolte is Senior Manager, Production, for Nissan North America, and has worked in many functions of manufacturing including production, purchasing, pricing and business strategy. Her personal passion is for ongoing professional development for adults in the workplace. Nolte serves the community through her membership in Our Savior Lutheran Church in Nashville, where she was the first woman to hold the position of board of directors chair. She is a regular volunteer for Room in the Inn men's shelter and other ministries through her church.
Dr. Patricia Marie Patterson
MTSU June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students
Dr. Patricia Patterson is an Associate Professor in the department of chemistry at Middle Tennessee State University. She organized the MTSU National Science Teachers Association Student Chapter and has been its faculty advisor for more than 10 years. Dr. Patterson is active in the Tennessee Science Olympiad, has served on its board of directors and received its 2007 Board of Directors Service Award. Among her honors are several MTSU faculty awards including the 2005 MTSU John Pleas Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching, Research and Service.
Dr. Rhea Seddon
Charity Circle of Murfreesboro
Dr. Rhea Seddon is an author and speaker and a founding partner of LifeWings Partners, which teaches teamwork to healthcare organizations. Her book, Go for Orbit, recounts her experience as one of the first six women in the U.S. Astronaut Corps. Dr. Seddon left NASA after three space shuttle flights to become the Assistant Chief Medical Officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is active in Charity Circle of Murfreesboro, serves on the board of Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital and supports many of that organization's fundraising and community outreach events.
Hanna R. Witherspoon
United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties
Hanna Witherspoon retired from American Airlines in 1999 and is an active volunteer in Rutherford County. She is involved in numerous organizations in the community, serving on the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties Board of Directors, and its Days of Caring and Stuff the Bus campaigns. She is a committed supporter of MTSU, serving on the Centennial Committee, National Alumni Board, Athletic Campaign Committee, and Blue Raider Athletic Association. Witherspoon is also active in several ministries at First United Methodist church.
Susan Hanson Young
Murfreesboro Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter
Susan Young is retired from a 30-year career as a school teacher. She taught school in Georgia, North Carolina, Rutherford County and Murfreesboro City, and was recognized as a Distinguished Classroom Teacher while at Mitchell Neilson Primary School. Young is active in many areas of the community, including the Woman's Club of Murfreesboro where she is currently First Vice-President, the caretaker board of First Presbyterian Church and the Murfreesboro Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter. Young organized the 2006 Rutherford County Arthritis Foundation Walk.
The 2016 Young Professional nominees are . . .
Lauren Agee
Rutherford County Young Democrats
Lauren Agee serves as Senior Policy Advisor in the Tennessee General Assembly to the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Lee Harris (D-Memphis) where she formulates policy and legislation for the Senate Democratic Caucus and helps oversee passage of the Senator's and Caucus' yearly legislative package. Her community service includes United Way's annual Red, White and Bayou party and the annual Special Kids Race.
Megan B. Bynum, CFP®
LPL Financial
Megan Bynum is a Certified Financial Planner® with LPL Financial, where she works with individuals, families and businesses to educate, plan and ease concerns associated with financial planning. She serves on the boards of RUTHERFORD Cable and Dominion Financial Management, is a member of the Middle Tennessee Business Women's Roundtable and a Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Diplomat. Bynum received the 2014 RUTHERFORD Cable Rising Star Award.
Jennifer Copeland
General Mills, Murfreesboro Tennessee Plant
Jennifer Copeland is a Start Up Manager at the General Mills Murfreesboro plant, where she is responsible for creating and executing start up plans and leads a cross-functional team of contractors, engineers, operators and mechanics. Her service to United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties includes the boards of the Domestic Violence Program and Kymari House. She also serves in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.
Rachel Forlines
American Association of University Women of Murfreesboro
Rachel Forlines is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) professional at Wiser Company, where she produces maps for the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. Concurrently, she is a full-time graduate student in the geosciences department at Middle Tennessee State University. Forlines is active in the American Association of University Women where she advocates for public policy initiatives, facilitates workshops and educational programs, and serves as a resource in communications technology.
Lindsey Fournier
RUTHERFORD Cable
Lindsey Fournier is Development Coordinator for Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation. She serves on the boards of RUTHERFORD Cable, Ann Campbell Early Learning Center and the Community Development Center, and on the State Interagency Coordinating Council for Tennessee's Early Intervention System. Fournier received the 2014 RUTHERFORD Cable Link Award, and was recognized by Murfreesboro Magazine as one of its 2014 Young Professionals.
Lady L. Hamilton, ANP
Murfreesboro Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter
Lady Hamilton is a Nurse Practitioner with MTSU Health Services - Women's Health, where she counsels young women in their physical health and also cares for their emotional and mental health. She has served on the boards of ACE Learning Center (formerly Project Help) and the Rutherford County Heart Association, where she co-chaired the annual Heart Gala. She is active with Community Helpers and Charity Circle of Murfreesboro.
Jennifer Hill
Nissan Smyrna Women's Business Synergy Team
Jennifer Hill is a Manager in Process Engineering for Nissan North America and serves on Nissan Smyrna's Women's Business Synergy Team and Multicultural Business Team. She uses her experience as an NFL Cheerleader to inspire young girls to pursue careers in science and math as a member of "Science Cheerleaders." Hill has served the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and supported activities benefitting Angelman Syndrome.
Jennifer A. Petty, MSN, RN
NHC HealthCare Murfreesboro
Jennifer Petty is Director of Nursing at NHC Healthcare Murfreesboro. She serves on the Rutherford Workforce Development Committee and is an advocate for involving Rutherford County high school students in certified nurse assistant training. Her community involvement includes serving on the advisory boards of the MTSU School of Nursing, Motlow State Community College School of Nursing, and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Murfreesboro.
Kristen Swann
Murfreesboro Young Professionals, Inc.
Kristen Swann is the Economic and Workforce Development Marketing Coordinator with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. She is charged with creating a brand identity for these efforts and helping attract new business and talent to the area. Swann is a member of the board of directors of Murfreesboro Young Professionals and is a tutor at Bradley Academy. She was recognized as 2015 Murfreesboro Young Professionals Volunteer of the Year.
Jamie Wood Sybert
Junior League of Murfreesboro
Jamie Wood Sybert is a Senior Litigation Paralegal for an insurance defense firm. She is active in several roles with the Junior League of Murfreesboro, and currently serves as Vice President Community. Sybert is also involved in the League's "Be Well Boro" initiative. She serves as a Chapter Advisor for the Delta Pi Chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority at MTSU, and has volunteered with Feed America First and the Domestic Violence Program.
