Recipients Announced for 2012 YW Tribute to Women
YWCA’s Tribute to Women Steering Committee is excited to announce the esteemed award recipients for 2012. A special panel of out-of-state judges considered nominees from the fields of art, business, education and community service. The YWCA proudly honors these 12 individuals from the Tri-Cities region and their many contributions to the artistic, cultural, educational and charitable facets of our community. This unique program empowers women by providing corporations, organizations and businesses the opportunity to publicly recognize the outstanding achievements of exceptional women in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Every day in the Tri-Cities, our communities are supported and strengthened by women devoted to enriching the quality of life for others. This year’s recipients are listed below.
ARTS
Ruth Jerauld Hill Goodpasture
Since 1977, Jerry Goodpasture's primary initiative has been to cultivate and enhance the arts community and provide a higher quality of life for all of Bristol." Jerry has supported the arts through a multitude of organizations, including; Bristol Ballet Company, Bristol Arts Council, Believe in Bristol's Arts and Entertainment District, Arts Alliance of the Mountain Empire, Art in Public Places and Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Capital Campaign Committee. Jerry also helped create a mission for the Arts and Entertainment District Steering Committee; "to promote and advocate the District in order to boost Bristol's creative economy and cultural tourism, and collaborate to develop, encourage and enhance ideas that cultivate Bristol's creativity," a mission she continues to live by.
Sarah K. Davis
Sarah Davis takes pride when she sees that "something is happening in children's internal landscape that is adding texture and color." Sarah began the Arts Corps program in 2005, which offers underprivileged children in Johnson City and Washington County, TN a variety of after-school classes in dance, visual arts, poetry, music and theater. Since its inception, the program has grown to now serve more than 600 youths each year. Her impact is clear - the Johnson City Area Arts Council now manages 28 programs, up from three that were there when Sarah began providing leadership. Sarah has been appointed by the Tennessee Arts Commission to be in charge of the funding for the five county areas that the Johnson City Area Arts Council serves.
Margaret D. Helvey
A member of the Kingsport Art Guild for more than 16 years, Margaret Helvey is "dependable and faithful to whatever commitment she has made." Margaret has held the position of Gallery chairman since 1998. As Gallery chairman, she dramatically increases the culture of art in the Kingsport community by filling the Renaissance Center each month with exhibits from different artists. She is responsible for every detail required, including reviewing the art, all paperwork, rules for the display, assisting in the placement and hanging of the chosen artists’ works, and promotion and marketing of the upcoming year. Additionally, Margaret as chaired the Member's Shows, Fun Fest Shows and selected judges, ribbons and sponsors for the shows.
BUSINESS
Kathi Lowe
Kathi Lowe's personal philosophy is that she "wants to provide a place for others to bring their gifts because no one person has all the answers." Living by this has enabled her great business success while positively impacting the community in which she lives. Kathi has worked with area resources and played an integral part of the creation of a food pantry, free medical care, a heating assistance program, a pharmacy program and a clothing warehouse, all of which were started in direct response to a community need. Kathi has been named the recipient of numerous awards related to her leadership and her work in the community, in addition to her role leader of the second "Poverty Summit" with area ministers to match community needs to other local/state providers.
Ann Fleming, RN, BSN, MPA
"Integrity, service, leadership and excellence" are qualities exalted by Mountain States Health Alliance, but they are mirrored in their employee Ann Fleming. In 1991, she received the Army Commendation Medal for her service to our country in Desert Storm as an operating room nurse, with the 475th MASH unit. She has launched several major service lines in several hospitals; she is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives, the Association for Operating Room Nurses, the Association of Nursing Executives and the Medical Group Management Association. Ann has also volunteered as an Examiner for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence, and is a board member of the Virginia SPQA and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, in addition to her role as head of operations for MSHA Virginia hospitals.
Virginia Frank
Virginia Frank, President of Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, began her career in hospital admissions and information services while working her way through college. Though her studies in business and leadership could have sent her career anywhere, she remained focused on health care. “I wanted to work in a field where I could help people,” she says. “Health care allows me to do that.” After moving to a hospital in Florida, Frank’s work ethic and desire to grow caught the attention of Denny DeNarvaez, the hospital’s chief financial officer. The two women have worked together for 20 years, running hospitals and health systems in Florida, Minnesota and Missouri. While in St. Louis, Frank was the driving force in creating PULSE, the area’s first awareness program for women’s heart health. With decades of business experience and excellence, Frank maintains her guiding principle. “You have to love what you’re doing,” she says. “Learn, work hard and enjoy it. That’s the secret.”
EDUCATION
Dr. Rosalind Reichard
Since the beginning of her tenure as President, Dr. Rosalind Reichard has encouraged the Emory & Henry community to believe that it could be a national model for service learning. In 2010, Emory & Henry was named one of six recipients of the President’s Award, which is the highest national recognition for service learning. Under Rosalind’s leadership, the school has also been recognized by Newsweek magazine, USA Today and in the Washington Monthly; Emory & Henry was named among the top 25 liberal arts institutions in the nation. “The history of Emory & Henry will mark President Reichard as not only its first female president, but the president who transformed the institution during challenging times from a small, high-quality regional college to a national model for academic excellence built on serving people well beyond its campus borders.”
Mary Anne Sowers, B.A., M.Ed.
A true leader and pioneer in the arts and arts education, Mary Anne Sowers was the 1st certified elementary school Teacher in the State of Tennessee, to acquire the Tennessee State Dance Certification Endorsement by the Tennessee State Education Department of Teacher’s Licensure. Mary Anne, a former dancer, moved up to Artistic Director of the notable, Bristol Ballet Company. She was also Director of Hardinge Ballet Center and has served on the Board of Director’s for Regional Dance America and the Southeastern Association of Ballet. Mary Anne is a forerunner in the field of arts integration, as she teaches creative movement, dance, and arts integration to over 550 elementary public school children, weekly, at Mountain View Elementary School in the Johnson City School system.
Susan Lodal
Dedicating her life to the education of children, Susan Lodal has become a resource for not only other local educators, but also for our state representatives and officials as a member of the Kingsport Board of Education. In 2006, she became a Tennessee School Boards Association Master School Board Member, which is the highest level that can be achieved. In 2008, she was awarded the Tennessee Economic Council on Women E-award for having distinguished herself in a field that has contributed to improving the lives of girls and women in Tennessee. Additionally, she was named with the highest recognition for service as a school board member in 2010, the Tennessee School Board Member of the year. Susan has a personal mission statement that reads: “to develop lifelong learners in a culture where leadership is fostered and children are valued, respected and encouraged to learn through exploration and inquiry,” and according to those who work with Susan, these are more than words, these are actions that she puts in place through everything she does.
VOLUNTEER – COMMUNITY SERVICE
Theresa S. Emory, MD
Theresa Emory takes the word “care” to a whole new level when it comes to serving her community. In 2011, she chaired the United Way of Russell and Washington Counties Campaign Cabinet, and led the community to raise $1 million in excess of its goal. During the campaign she worked also to promote the Backpacks Unite Program enabling over 340 backpacks to be packed each week for children at seventeen area elementary schools. Theresa has additionally impacted our area by establishing the University of Virginia Alumni Club of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee which has provided scholarships for over 60 students from our region. Also, she has volunteered at the Southwestern Harvest Food Bank, Abuse Alternatives of Bristol and through her medical practice, she donates medical care to Healing Hands of Bristol and Crossroads Medical Mission. As full-time wife, mother and professional, the magnitude of her involvement in the community certainly speaks for itself.
Theresa Shaw
A Girl Scout Volunteer for seven years, Theresa Shaw has grown from a novice leader to a thought provoking, respected leader of much more. Girl Scouts have recognized Theresa with several awards including the Leadership Development, Outstanding Volunteer, Outstanding Leader and the Appreciation Pin which is approved by the Council Board. Directly attributable to Theresa’s consistency in helping new troops getting started or newly registered girls being placed and training volunteers, there has been a marked growth in interest and activity. Theresa currently holds the positions of Troop Leader, Service Unit Manager and Delegate for the Washington County Tennessee service unit area of the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians. Currently, she is also the President Elect for the Johnson City Council of PTA’s, on a 5 year planning committee for the school board and on the board for the PTA at Indian Trail Middle School.
Bertina S. Dew
Bertina S. Dew’s greatest strengths have been said to be “that of a visionary with a servant leadership style.” Bertina holds a Master’s degree in Art Therapy which gives her a deep sense for the need for art in the lives of individuals. In 1998, she took leadership of Kingsport Ballet in an effort to preserve an organization which offered a unique product to the community. Under her leadership Kingsport Ballet’s annual budget has more than quadrupled. She was active in Rotary and (through Rotary) Habitat for Humanity, while at the same time she was active in school activities with her three daughters. Bertina has served as the volunteer Executive Director of the Kingsport Ballet for the past 13 years, all 13 years without pay. Her leadership philosophy implies a comprehensive view of the quality of people and a community spirit.
This year's awards banquet is scheduled for April 19, 2012 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Bristol, VA. Tickets for the event are $100 per person and are available by visiting www.ywcabristol.org or calling (423)968-9444. Support of the YWCA through Tribute to Women directly affects women, children and families in this region as the YWCA tackles the toughest community issues, which include affordable childcare, racial justice, teen pregnancy, youth development, technology education and much more.
