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BUSINESS 2020 Athena Award Nominees
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he Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation present the 2020 ATHENA Awards celebrating and honoring women who demonstrate excellence, leadership and creativity in their careers, valuable service to the community, and inspire other women in reaching their full leadership potential. The chamber is honored to recognize 15 extraordinary nominees for the 2020 awards. Recipients of the 2020 ATHENA and ATHENA Young Professional Awards will be announced during the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting and Luncheon Friday, Feb. 14, at the High Country Conference Center, 201 W. Butler Ave.
ATHENA Nominees
Ross Altenbaugh Bonnie Bouschet Jennifer Conn, MD Nancy Emerick Cherylee Frances Gail Jackson Deana Keck Jennifer Rolley Dr. Colleen Smith
ATHENA Young Professional Nominees
Jesica Barker Melissa Dohse Macy Kiim Anna Kurn Courtney McCarron Jessica Young
ATHENA History
The ATHENA leadership model identifies eight tenets of leadership that reflect women’s unique ways of leading. Infused with the 21st-century demands for balance, accountability and continuous learning, the model is a guide for leadership behavior and emphasizes the tenet’s interdependent relationship to the practice of dynamic leadership. The principles include the authentic self, relationships, giving back, collaboration, courageous acts, learning, fierce advocacy, celebration and joy. The ATHENA Award was founded nationally in 1982 by Martha Mayhood Mertz and ATHENA International, a nonprofit organization that seeks to support, develop and honor women leaders. The goddess Athena was chosen as the symbol for the program to reflect the qualities the award honors — strength, courage, wisdom and enlightenment. The Greater Flagstaff Chamber also recognizes an emerging female leader with the ATHENA Young Professional Award, designed to honor women under the age of 40 who have demonstrated excellence in their careers, who contribute to the community, and clearly stand out as role models for young women both professionally and personally.
Congratulations
Nancy
for your nomination for the 2019 Athena Award! The employees of Haven of Flagstaff are grateful for your dedication and leadership at our facility. We wish you the best on your nomination. Nancy Emerick,
Executive Director of Haven of Flagstaff
Haven Health of Flagstaff is known throughout rural Arizona as the respected provider of choice of skilled nursing and rehabilitation. While there are many intentional and deliberate efforts that have established that reputation, there is one undeniable influence that has made it all possible — its people. M 1
Haven of Flagstaff 800 W. University Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-779-6931
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ATHENA NOMINEES NANCY EMERICK
ROSS ALTENBAUGH
CEO, Haven Health of Flagstaff
Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce’s Nancy Emerick has been July 4th parade, receiving the CEO of Haven Health volunteers and students from of Flagstaff since 2013 and Northern Arizona University, was recently honored with and hosting physicians and the Executive Leadership other community healthcare Award by the Arizona Health providers and their spouses Care Association. She has led and families. Nancy is a role the organization through a model for women of the Hamulti-million dollar renoven Health Community. She vation and has been a caring has mentored numerous professional for more than women to help prepare them 20 years throughout the for leadership in healthcare roles. Having navigated a country. Nancy is an active particimale-driven field, she is a lispant in the Flagstaff commutener, a teacher and a cheernity, regularly seen participating in the leader for women under her charge.
BONNIE BOUSCHET General Manager, Flagstaff Mall
When Bonnie Bouschet came to Flagstaff in 2007, she successfully opened the new Best Buy, and by 2013, she was named the General Manager of Flagstaff Mall. She has taken her role at the mall very seriously, by reinventing and positioning the mall as a family-friendly destination. As a mentor, she is intentional in her efforts to tap the potential in each of her team members. Bonnie’s efforts have brought community-oriented activities to the mall, which include Clifford the Big Red Dog, Paw Patrol, Daniel the Tiger, an air show, local musicians and much more. She is an advocate for countless nonprofits in Flagstaff and quickly became involved with the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce as an Ambassador, where she sits currently as a dedicated leader. In
2016, Bonnie was honored to receive the Ambassador of the Year award. Shadows Foundation, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Club, and Salvation Army’s Angel Tree are just a few of the organizations that Bonnie volunteers for and helps lead. She is currently serving on the board of the Flagstaff YMCA, helped found the We Care Suicide Prevention and was recently the recipient of the Vitalant Blood Services HERO Award, their most prestigious honor that is given to only 3% of blood drive coordinators across the state. Bonnie is laser focused on mentoring and advancing other women, starting with Women of Leadership Forums, known as WoLF. Its mission is to empower women leaders to lead with passion and also become mentors. Bonnie has started WoLF packs in Syracuse, Phoenix and Flagstaff.
DEANA KECK VP of Marketing and Culture, Pine Canyon
that explores happiness in the workplace and leadership. She has become a Deana Keck is a mother of role model and inspiration to four and a top leader at Pine many who know her. Canyon, where she is a true Deana is a Flagstaff narole model to fellow women. tive committed to commuShe started with the comnity service, having sat on pany as a receptionist more the board of a domestic vithan 15 years ago and has olence charity and helped found Pine Canyon Cares, worked her way up to VP of Marketing and Culture and which focuses on giving back the Designated Broker. As to the Flagstaff community. a top executive leader, she Additionally, she has volunmanages large project portteered locally with Children’s folios and mentors leaders Domestic Violence Shelter and associates to heighten and Charity, Coconino Hutheir professional growth mane Society, Flagstaff Famand goals. Deana helped roll out “Search ily Food Center and Dream Court for the Inside Yourself,” a cutting-edge program Boys and Girls Club.
Executive Director, Flagstaff Shelter Services
AmeriCorps alum Ross Altenbaugh is a role model to many, with a history of service dating back to her childhood. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Flagstaff Shelter Services. Ross has led by using the Housing First vision, something she put into practice while she chaired the Front Door Coordinated Entry Program, a coordinated effort of all agencies to work together to have a single point of entry for housing assistance. Her vision expanded the emergency shelter site so that more families could be served, and additional programs could be offered at Flagstaff Shelter Services. She oversaw grant writing along with working with the City of Flagstaff for Community Development Block dollars to support shelter expansion. In
total, Ross raised an additional one million dollars for shelter expansion for a single project. In her tenure with Flagstaff Shelter Services, she has increased her budget from $350,000 to $3,000,0000. Ross is a leader in ending homelessness in Flagstaff. Ross loves her community. In 2018, when the residents of Arrowhead Village trailer park were given six months to vacate, she stepped up to the plate and helped ease the transition that earned her a thanks from the City of Flagstaff. That summer, when our forests closed due to the wildfires, Ross and her team assisted households displaced from camping in the national forest. Ross also mentors social work student interns and has a number of young professional employees who call on her for advice day and night.
CHERYLEE FRANCES Owner, CF Productions LLC
Cherylee Frances is a tribal member of the Navajo Nation and an award-winning video production specialist with nearly 20 years of experience in the TV industry. She has been on production crews for KUAT-TV (PBS), Citadel Broadcasting Corporation, KGUN9 Journal Communications (ABC) and on the video crew of the University of Arizona Intercollegiate Athletics/Video department. Her high-end video production has earned her numerous accolades including the Savvy Awards and NACo Achievement Award. She was also the winner of the 24th Annual Communicator Awards by the Academy of Interactive and Visual
Arts. She has been part of multiple productions of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series “In the Americas with David Yetman,” and is the recipient of the 2018 American Indian Business of the Year. Cherylee is very active in her community as a member of the Flagstaff Leadership Program, Flagstaff Citizen’s Police Academy and a volunteer violinist for Orchestra Northern Arizona. She also volunteers her time with Indigenous Circle of Flagstaff, American Indian Chamber of Commerce and National Center for American Indian Economic Development. Currently, Cherylee is the Executive Director of the Native American Women Entrepreneurs of Arizona.
GAIL JACKSON Interim President & CEO, ECoNA
dedicated to always doing the right thing. Gail Jackson shows excepGail has served on the board of many professional tional professional leadership daily through her deep and service-oriented boards, commitment to furthering beginning with Theatrikos Theatre Company. By 2015, economic growth in northern Arizona. Recently, Gail Gail was tapped to serve on was appointed Interim Presithe following boards: United dent and CEO of ECoNA. She Way of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff Women’s Leadhas a proven track record of professional leadership with ership Network, Flagstaff Shelter Services, Flagstaff innovative approaches to problem-solving and excellent commu- Auto Mall Development and Flagstaff nication. Gail leads with her heart and is Leadership Program.
CONGRATULATIONS, ANNA KURN! 2020 Athena Young Professional Award Nominee
Congratulations
Macy Kiim
As one of Loven Contracting’s valued team members, Anna is dedicated to the future of Flagstaff and to the construction industry!
We are proud to nominate you for the ATHENA Young Professional Award in recognition of your work to improve quality of life for others.
CONGRATULATIONS
NOMINEES
WE ARE PROUD OF TEAM FLAGSTAFF AND THE EXEMPLARY ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR NOMINEES
GAIL JACKSON ATHENA NOMINEE
JESSICA YOUNG
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL NOMINEE
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ATHENA NOMINEES JENNIFER CONN, MD Emergency Department Medical Director, Flagstaff Emergency Physicians and FMC
Jennifer Conn is the respected and trusted Emergency Department Medical Director, providing amazing care to improve the lives of people in the northern Arizona community. Dr. Conn started working at Flagstaff Medical Center in 2002, at a time when the community emergency department was only staffed by 11 physicians. In 2005, she became the Emergency Department Medical Director and began working with local general surgeons to create a trauma program to assure that FMC’s equipment, education, staff and care protocols were in place to
help quickly treat patients. In which offers low-cost swim 2008, she assisted Northern lessons to ages 2-18 in a Arizona Healthcare to adopt competitive team environCerner as its electronic medment, since 2013. Her passion ical record. She worked with started in the ER, where she practitioners to develop an treated many nearly drowned 80-symptom-based comvictims. Dr. Conn also serves puterized order set to make as a USA Swimming Judge patient admission seamless. and Referee and has twice In 2015, she helped revamp been on a HERO Medical FMC’s inefficient systems to Mission to Nicaragua, where transfer patients from small she served communities with regional hospitals in northern no local access to medical Arizona to the hospital. care. Dr. Conn has mentored Dr. Conn is passionate about contribut- students at FMC’s Future Health Leaders ing to the community. She has served on Summer Camp, where she educates teens the board of the Flagstaff Snow Sharks, on future careers in healthcare.
DR. COLLEEN SMITH President, Coconino Community College
Dr. Colleen Smith has dedicated the past 40 years of her life to serving the community, mentoring and being a true champion for women and the underserved. She is a first-generation college graduate, earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Texas A&M, and her doctorate at Texas Women’s University. In 1995, she took a position in Wyoming overseeing programs such as welding, electrical, mine maintenance, plumbing and pipefitting – careers that are filled by mostly men. She has consistently been a pioneer for women entering male-dominated fields. Dr. Smith was the first female president of the Southwest Junior College
Football Association and, in 2016, she became the fifth president of Coconino Community College. Today, only one in three college presidents are female, a statistic that demonstrates Dr. Smith’s extraordinary professional excellence and high-level talent that garners confidence and trust among her peers in a male dominated arena. Under her leadership, she was able to secure a one-million-dollar grant from Del E. Webb Foundation to allow the college to update its construction management facilities and add much-needed classes in the trades.
Dr. Smith is committed to giving back to Flagstaff outside of her role at CCC. She is an active member of the Arizona Community Coordinating Council, United Way of Northern Arizona, ECoNA, LAUNCH Flagstaff and the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce. Her passion for advancing and supporting women shines with leadership through the following organizations: Flagstaff Women’s Leadership, Arizona Women in Higher Education, League of Innovation Executive Leadership Institute and American Association of University Women.
JENNIFER ROLLEY Owner, Sweet Shoppe Candy Store
Jennifer opened Sweet Shoppe Candy Store in 2011, which went on to win the Arizona Daily Sun’s Best of Flagstaff award for six consecutive years. Her reputation has statewide appeal with articles appearing in the Phoenix Magazine and Northern Arizona’s Mountain Living Magazine. Her shop has also been featured on Phoenix TV stations Channel 3, 5 and 12, all shooting broadcast video of the amazing candy manufacturing business. Jennifer’s passion for bringing up new candy makers is evident in the number of
American Cancer Society’s younger employees she mentors daily on the business and Denim and Diamonds Commanufacturing side of Sweet mittee for five years and she co-chaired the United Shoppe Candy Store. The business initially opened Way of Northern Arizona’s with a team of eight, but with Summit Society Campaign. annual 12% growth, Jennifer In 2019, Jennifer joined the now employees up to 30 peoCity of Flagstaff’s Tourism ple, with 90% of her associCommission to help develop ates being young women. She and maintain Flagstaff as a takes great pride in mentoring year-round destination. each one individually in best Jennifer has a strong sense business practices, leadership of community service, regand customer service. ularly giving back to more After she and her family moved to than 60 organizations with donations Flagstaff in 1998, Jennifer served on the and gifts of products.
ATHENA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL NOMINEES ANNA KURN Project Engineer, Loven Contracting
Anna Kurn is an up-and-coming leader in the construction industry. At a time when this field is comprised of 92.3% men, Anna decided to pursue a degree in environmental engineering at Northern Arizona University and began her professional career as an intern with Loven Contracting before she graduated. In partnership with Loven Contracting’s technology team, Anna took initiative to transition the company to Bluebeam Studio software, setting up 75-plus projects and giving the field personnel and subcontractors new levels of interactivity and data access on jobsites across the state of Arizona. Anna has been instrumental in the creation of Loven’s training documents. She now works in the Healthcare Division supporting 50-plus vendors and Flagstaff Medical Center stakeholders. Anna’s community service is centered on her desire to pass along the same gift of mentorship she received. For the past few years, she has been a dedicated member of NAU’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers both nationally and locally. Her projects included the Society’s Let Girls Learn committee, where she wrote grants and pursued opportunities to introduce girls to the engineering process across the Colorado Plateau. Anna is also a member of EPIC (Equal Partners in Inclusive Community) at NAU’s College of Engineering. Here she provides community-based mentorship, career resources and connections to female students. Anna truly demonstrates that in a traditionally male-dominated profession, female mentorship is one of the most important factors for female retention in STEM.
MORE ATHENA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL NOMINEES ON PAGE 4
Flagstaff Mall would like to say Congratulations to
Bonnie Bouschet on her Athena Award Nomination.
Thank you for all the work you do not only in our community but to make Flagstaff Mall a wonderful place to shop locally. It is an honor to work alongside you. M 1
2019 NOMINEE
Congratulations to Symmetry’s Deana Keck for her Athena Award Nomination! SYMMETRYCOMPANIES.COM | 877.884.1035
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ATHENA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL NOMINEES COURTNEY MCCARRON Case Manager Inpatient Behavioral Health, Northern Arizona Healthcare
Courtney McCarron is an emerging leader in the mental health field in Flagstaff. Her career began four years ago when she became one of Flagstaff Medical Center’s youngest case managers. She is a Mental Health First Aid instructor and has trained more than 86 FMC teams and community members since the program began. Courtney is the chair of the Professional Governance Coordinating Council for Northern Arizona Healthcare. She has a passion for suicide prevention and was instrumental in bringing More Than Sad, a program from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, to Sinagua Middle School. Flagstaff Unified School District has committed to expanding the program to other schools in the district. At an early age, Courtney was taught the importance of empowering women and
JESSICA YOUNG bringing a better life to females in the community through volunteer work for Soroptimist International with her grandmother. Courtney has contributed volunteer time at Hope’s Closet, a pregnancy resource center in Flagstaff, and during college, she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority where she was the fundraising chair. The sorority’s focus was volunteering with kids who struggled with reading at Kinsey Elementary School. After school, Courtney traveled to Tanzania to help teach sustainability practices and English to villagers. As a member of the American Foundation Suicide Prevention, she serves as a Mental Health Mermaid who attends local festivals in costumes, spreading the word about suicide prevention. At the age of 26, Courtney is the youngest member of the Flagstaff Leadership Program’s class of 2020, where she spreads the word about Mental Health First Aid.
JESICA BARKER Owner & Founder, DancEvolution
ers who help with the busy schedule at DancEvolution. Jesica also recruits a half Jesica Barker founded DancEvolution in dozen other women to help with web de2011 to teach her 3-year-old twin daughters sign, costumes, social media, photography how to dance. Holding classes and more. in her basement, she had a toWhen Jesica is not busy tal of 10 students at the time. with her empowering dancIn 2018, enrollment exceeded ers, she is volunteering at her the capacity of her home and church, where she mentors women ages 11-18. She also the studio moved into a comsets up weekly activities to mercial building. Currently, Jesica has more than 200 girls help women set goals in their enrolled in classes. During her spiritual, intellectual, social nine years as a dance instrucand physical lives. The actor, she has impacted the lives tivities include clothing and bedding drives for homeless of more than 500 girls, and shelters and Hope Cottage. her annual revenue has grown They have also helped with more than 600% since her first class. Jesica employs four women teach- the city’s Graffiti Busters program.
Sales and Marketing Specialist, Discover Flagstaff
Jessica Young is a passionate and creative professional who strives to make a real difference. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management from NAU, which led her to a position at High Country Conference Center as the event coordinator. While at HCCC, Jessica became the Planning Manager responsible for NAU Summer Camps and Conferencing. In 2014, Jessica became a member of Team Flagstaff working at Discover Flagstaff. In her role as the Sales and Marketing specialist, she is tasked with promoting Flagstaff’s four seasons of events with planners. In her five years with Discover Flagstaff she has booked 37,000 hotel rooms for an estimated economic impact of $12.6 million.
Jessica loves to serve the community where she was born and raised. In 2017, she became an alum of the Flagstaff Leadership Program and now serves as the board president. She is also a board member of the Flagstaff Arts Council Executive Committee and a steering committee member for the Flagstaff Women’s Leadership Network. Jessica is a member of the Arizona Meeting Professionals, Arizona Small Business Association, Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International and the Arizona Society of Association Executives. Jessica was named the 2018 Tourism Employee of the Year and was recognized by the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce as a 20 Under 40 leader. Jessica also works closely with Lancaster Consulting as an ambassador for the 2020 Women’s Leadership Summit.
MELISSA DOHSE Founder and Clinical Director, Cultivate Counseling
Melissa Dohse is a champion for women survivors of trauma. She began her studies at NAU, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in social work before later earning her master’s at the University of Denver. While in Denver she worked for the Human Trafficking Clinic and completed her thesis on the intersection of Juvenile Sex Trafficking and the probation system. After a move back to Flagstaff in 2014, she continued working with women survivors through Postpartum Support International. While doing this work, it became obvious that there was a need for therapists and practitioners in Flagstaff. In
2017, Melissa started Cultivate Counseling, a practice that would provide women practitioners, who are mothers, a platform to work and thrive with the flexibility that motherhood requires. Since Melissa’s return to Flagstaff, she has joined the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, Flagstaff Young Professionals and Women Empowering Northern Arizona, and her business is a member of One Community. She is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers. Before her return to Flagstaff, Melissa traveled the world with her human trafficking research. Destinations included Southeast Asia, Mexico, Vanuatu, Guatemala and Kenya.
MACY KIIM Co-Founder, A New Dawn AZ
Macy Kiim co-founded A New Dawn AZ in 2015 with Pearl Santillan. The agency focuses on removing barriers for adults seeking oral health care. It was awarded $23,000 through a Northern Arizona Community Health Grant in 2018, and continues to serve Arizonans needing access to dental care. Macy’s upbringing in a very small community in northern Arizona led her to become community minded. She is passionate in her belief that access to oral health
care is a human right. So far, A New Dawn AZ has made 5,800 contacts, 550 people have visited the Northern Arizona Oral Health Coalition website and more than 70 adults have been supported on their journey to increased oral health-related quality of life through the program. In 2018, Macy joined efforts to begin a co-housing project, aimed at fostering connected-
ness, increasing social capital for residents and creating opportunities for the more conscious use of social, natural and man-made resources. As a contributor to the creation of Flagstaff Cohousing, she brings inter-generational connections to those in the community who could benefit. The goal is to bring 30 households together to grow, care for one another and engage actively
in Flagstaff. This passion for creating new ways of living in the community started 11 years ago when Macy and her family began cohabitating with Ted Garland, a beloved Flagstaff citizen who experienced cerebral palsy. She spent more than a decade living in Ted’s home and became like family. In her time with Ted, Macy guided and supported his aides, teaching these young women cooking skills and helping instill in them a deep passion for wholesome, real food and what it means to be in service of others.
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