Women of Distinction 2019 by The Examiner

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March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

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Table of

CONTENTS

Publisher’s Letter.................................................................................. 4 C. Jan Alderson......................................................................................5 Irene Baltrusaitis................................................................................... 6 Capt. Cindy Cotterman..........................................................................7 Amber Boes............................................................................................ 8 Sharon Dankenbring.......................................................................... 10 Laura B. Doan, MD.............................................................................12 Mikealene Evans..................................................................................14 Judy Forrester.......................................................................................16 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award.......................................... 18 & 19 2019 Woman of the Year.......................................................... 20 & 21 Dr. Danica Fuimaono......................................................................... 22 Dr. Sandra Jones................................................................................. 24 Susan Waters....................................................................................... 26 Melanie Moentmann.......................................................................... 28 Lisa Allen Morton...............................................................................30 Donna Pittman.....................................................................................31 Laura Palmer....................................................................................... 32 Jan Reding........................................................................................... 33 Beverly J. Powell.................................................................................. 34 Sandra K. Schiess................................................................................ 36 Ruth Ward........................................................................................... 37 2016-2018 Women of Distinction Alumni �� 38

2019 PHOTOGRAPHY BY

Jaime Russell, Photographer 816-914-2651 www.anthem-photo.com

Congratulations Irene Baltrusaitis

Sharon Dankenbring

Thank you for your years of service at The Examiner and to our community!

STORIES BY Debbie Coleman-Topi March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

A note from

e are excited to bring you this year’s honorees for our Women of Distinction awards. It is our pleasure to highlight 20 women from Eastern Jackson County and hope you will join us as we celebrate their contributions to the community. This event has continued to grow, and with our fourth year this year, our roster of new honorees and alumnae of Women of Distinction has grown to nearly 80 women strong. Strong is an appropriate way to describe this collective of women from Eastern Jackson County. As you look through the list of nominees this year, and also review our past honorees, this incredible list of women reflects a broad array of talents and contributions. But they are all similar in that they each bring a passion for their community that is reflected in the many and varied things they do that make our community better. Through each of them and the work they do, our community is stronger. Starting last December, we asked our readers to nominate area women to be recognized for their role in shaping our commu-

The Publisher

nity here in Eastern Jackson County. Readers submitted their picks for women in the region whose passions and achievements have helped to shape our local communities. From all the nominations, we honed the list down to the women that we are celebrating and recognizing for 2019. You will find out more about these women and their work here in this special section. Each of the honorees has made an impact in the communities that they serve. They are leaders in government, in industry, in philanthropy, in service, and their work has shaped our communities. They are also friends, neighbors and family here in Eastern Jackson County. From our honorees each year, a panel of judges selects one honoree for Woman of the Year, and this year MaryAnne Metheny is being recognized with this honor. Metheny has spent 26 years at Hope House, with 11 of them as CEO, working to break the cycle of abuse for victims of domestic violence. Her passion runs deep as she works to give survivors a voice and eliminate barriers to women seeking help. This year’s recipient of the Lifetime

Mikealene Evans! Your friends at the chamber are proud of you!

Our Business is Business 210 TRUMAN Road, INDEPENDENCE, MOAwards 64050 | 816-252-4745 | www.ichamber.biz Women of Distinction | March 8, 2019 4 W

Achievement Award is Roberta Coker. She served as the Independence School District’s longtime director of community relations, and several programs that were born during her time with the district continue to this day, including Teacher of the Year recognition and the McCoy Awards. Her profile and work over many years transcended the school district and has made an impact on the community at large. We are also grateful for the support of our sponsors – their partnership makes this event possible for our community. Thank you to Speaks Family Legacy Chapels, St. Mary’s Medical Center, Blue Ridge Bank and Trust, Blue Springs Ford, Kennedy Jewelers, Truman Heartland Community Foundation, Truman Medical Center Lakewood, and Centerpoint Medical Center. Special thanks also to our in-kind sponsors, including Alissa’s Flowers, Fashion, and Interiors, Cupcake A La Mode and Show-Me Presentation Resources. - Julie Moreno Senior Group Publisher The Examiner

C . Jan

ALDERSOn Retired Science Educator

hen Jan Alderson was in college, she sought counseling for a dysfunctional home life and the dean she consulted advised that students in her situation typically respond by acting in an extreme way – either becoming dysfunctional or rising above their obstacles. Alderson chose to excel.

“It also nurtures a person who was more responsible,” she said. “I grew up feeling you need to make a difference.” “Having a challenging life makes you tough,” she said, adding that the dean was one of many people “who came into my life just when I needed it.” Alderson dove head-first into a career as a middle, high school and college teacher, researcher, writer and program developer. She and her husband, Lyle, also a science teacher and originally her department leader at the school where they met, dedicated their lives to teaching students the importance of science by leading field trips to local spots such as fossil studies in a limestone outcropping and observ-

ing volcanoes in Hawaii. She said Lyle taught her that teaching requires taking students into the real world for observation and live laboratory lessons. Jan spent 48 years teaching in Kansas and Missouri and creating programs designed to foster a love of science in students of all ages. Her dedication was rewarded time and again with more than 20 local, state and national science educator awards. Those include the National Teacher Hall of Fame, the Mid-America Educators Hall of Fame and the Presidential Awardee for Excellence in the Teaching of Science. “Of course, you don’t do it for the awards,” she said. “You do it to make a difference for kids.” Along the way, she created several local and statewide programs designed to foster a love of science and test knowledge. She also wrote publications to assist teachers with creative lessons and laboratory experiments – necessary tools when dealing with a subject matter that often gets short-changed in including funding, equipment and administrative support. Sometimes, it’s difficult for school administrators to understand what takes place in science classrooms, she said of students who are talking and comparing notes and moving about. “If you’re up and out learning, it can lead to more mischief…there are a few more variables (than other classroom teaching),” she said. Looking back, Alderson believes her

early life perfectly primed her for teaching when she was charged with supervising her three younger siblings. “I was born in an era when you could just explore—I took my sisters out into the woods…” she wrote on a form de-

scribing her life. These early experiences helped shape her future. “It also nurtures a person who was more responsible,” she said. “I grew up feeling you need to make a difference.”

March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

Irene Baltrusaitis Community Services League

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

ooking back, Irene Baltrusaitis knows she and her mother, Irene Dwyer Gaskins, shared more than a career as they maneuvered through male-dominated newsrooms. Although the formative years of daughter Irene’s

career were during the more enlightened 1970s and ’80s, she sometimes was forced to fight as her mother did during the 1940s. The perseverance provides one more reason for daughter to look to her mother for inspiration. Because of their

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shared interest, daughter Irene mailed clippings of her writing and photos that appeared in The Blue Springs Examiner. One regret lingers – that her mother didn’t live to see her named publisher of the Blue Springs newspaper, a pinnacle of her daughter’s career. The younger Baltrusaitis remembers traversing all areas of media from news reporting to photography, advertising and finally, public relations. But, she never planned for her career to touch all media platforms. Once when Baltrusaitis needed a job, she fell into an advertising position at The Examiner, only planning to use the stint as a stepping stone to a preferred position in news. She was surprised to discover how seamlessly the genres are interwoven. “I approached it like I did as a reporter,” she said. “People have a story to tell and I helped them tell theirs through advertising.” In the final position of her career as communications director for the city of Independence, Baltrusaitis was able to tie her education and experience together by simultaneously performing in all media areas, while adding new skills to round out her resume. She said the changes she implemented turned the city’s communications department into a news organization. She not only improved the city’s print newsletter by making it appear more like a newspaper, but also wrote about and photographed hundreds of city events from building dedications to the opening of new bridges while putting a face on those who lead the city and shaped its character. She also learned new broad-

cast journalism skills by leading the city’s television station. Irene and husband Bill Baltrusaitis didn’t raise their daughters in Independence by accident. Both were children of fathers with Air Force careers and spent their childhoods living throughout the country. They yearned for their children to experience a stable childhood in one place and their enthusiasm for their choice never wavered.

“A community needs the efforts of its citizens to thrive.” “It’s always been a good community for families,” she said. Once settled, Irene said she was driven to do more. “The only thing I had to give Independence was my hard work to make it a good place to call home,” she wrote on a form describing her career. She has served alongside others in numerous community groups, including those at St. Mary’s High School, where their daughters graduated, the American Red Cross, the Chamber of Commerce, the Junior Service League and the Sunshine Center. She also has given back by her membership on numerous boards, including the Salvation Army, Tourism, the Community Services League and the Jackson County Historical Society. Baltrusaitis summed up her philosophy when she wrote, “A community needs the efforts of its citizens to thrive.”

Capt. Cindy

Cotterman Kansas City Police Department (Ret.)

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

efore she was a Kansas City Police Department Captain, Cindy Cotterman was a hairdresser and was trained in social work. Though they might seem divergent, the 28-year police veteran said she now realizes her career path provided the perfect platform to her roles, first as a patrol officer, next as a detective and eventually as a commanding officer. Along the way, God strategically positioned people in her path who mentored her until she was convinced to take the next step, she said. Cotterman’s parents modeled Christian hospitality through their involvement in church. “I grew up in a church environment where you were always seeing that hand extended,” she said of her parents who helped others with food, clothing and financial support. An empathetic listener, Cotterman trained her ear on clients who sat in her hairdressing chair. Volunteering at a home for teenage mothers who gave their babies up for adoption taught Cotterman she needed to learn more. At the time, she was a young mother. “I had no idea what it would be like to give my baby up for adoption,” she said. Volunteering has been a huge part of her life. She has worked with Mother’s Refuge, an Independence group that serves moms and young babies, for 14 years. She’s been on the board, has been a house parent and social worker, and she completed her social work internship there.

She’s given in other areas, too. For 12 years she was a coordinator and three years co-chair of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Kansas City Police Department. That benefits the Special Olympics, and four years ago she was given an unsung hero award for that work. For more than six years, she’s worked with Lions Beauty Queens, helping women who have been ensnared into sex trafficking. She’s rappelled off buildings, done the Broadway Bridge Run and even done the Super Polar Plunge – 24 plunges in 24 hours – all to raise money. She’s given free back-to-school haircuts and donated items for backpacks. She first considered a career in counseling, then quickly realized she wanted to do more. When she accepted a role working with juveniles at a detention center, she realized more education could allow her to better help the troubled youths she encountered. “It kept evolving,” she said of her efforts seeking first a bachelor’s degree, then a master’s in social work. Job positions evolved as well. A stint as a detention officer at a juvenile facility at the Kansas City Police Department led her to meet to a police sergeant who convinced her to seek employment in the vast Kansas City department. He explained the plethora of positions there, working with those impacted by sex crimes, domestic violence and other issues. While working patrol, she encountered victims in crisis who need-

ed advice and referrals to better their situations. She learned that a key to successful encounters is preventing making assumptions and avoiding stereotypes that can lead to cynicism. “You learn to keep a level head and always understand there’s a story behind their crisis and you need to get their whole story,” she said. “Everyone’s story is different…sometimes they don’t know what to do …” A Women of Distinction form, written by a police department peer, provides proof of Cotterman’s contribution to the department and the Kansas City community. “She provides a hand-up to the most vulnerable in our community,” the form states. “Her example keeps others focused on providing support to the broken and hurting.” Cotterman managed to climb the

department ladder despite being female in a predominantly male environment. As a female, she is one of few in leadership roles. Among department members, commanders, such as Cotterman, represent only 7 percent of the department’s approximately 1,300 law enforcement officers, according to department statistics. More pointedly, females represent only 1 percent of those commanders, the numbers reveal. One thing is clear. Police work is diverse. “We say we’re enforcement,” Cotterman said, “to make sure laws are followed, but also many victims we come in contact with” need our assistance beyond the point of crisis intervention.” She said, “You’ve heard the term ‘community policing’ – that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

Amber Boes Centerpoint Medical Center

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

mber Boes was in nursing school when her father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Watching the nurses care for her father, she made career-altering observations that still guide her today as chief nursing officer at Centerpoint Medical Center. She especially noticed how her fa-

ther’s care seemed to improve when nurses had more time to interact. She now believes communication between her father and his nurses and the input of his family were responsible for better care. “I saw the connection the nurses made with us, and it just stuck with me,” she said. “It’s part of the reason

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nurses having time at the bedside is so important to me.” Boes began her career as an oncology nurse and rose through the ranks before finally achieving the position of chief nursing officer, which oversees all nurses in a hospital. When Boes first accepted the position about two years ago, overall nursing turnover was high, but the facility lost an even higher number of new nurses just out of nursing school. By listening to her staff and implementing some of their suggestions, care has improved and, along with it, job satisfaction. “Amber is a dynamic leader – first in the office and always on the floors listening to her employees and creating pathways of change,” a co-worker stated on her Women of Distinction nomination form. Through these improvements, Boes has “ensured that happy employees are the faces those patients see when they walk in our door. She has empowered them, sent them for education when they asked, rewarded good leaders and made people feel important,” according to the form. Boes has implemented many new programs during her short tenure at the Independence hospital, including one aimed at educating citizens about how to care for others during a traumatic injury. The program, “Stop the Bleed” is aimed at training community members in how to limit bleeding until emergency medical personnel arrive, Boes said. The program includes distribution of a vital tool in treating such injuries: tourniquet kits. Boes also has partnered with local

emergency medical services to conduct educational seminars aimed at improving patient care before hospital arrival. To learn more about what’s needed at that level, she engages with EMS employees through quarterly visits to their stations and observes emergency personnel in action as she accompanies them on calls. She’s used information from those interactions to plan several educational seminars and plans to offer more in the future. Topics have included keeping abreast of commonly-used street drugs, various forms of pediatric care and obstetrical emergencies (including labor and delivery.)

“I saw the connection the nurses made with us, and it just stuck with me,” she said. “It’s part of the reason nurses having time at the bedside is so important to me.” Boes has adopted a philosophy that guides her overall management decisions, which, at its core, includes taking away barriers and adopting appropriate solutions so that staff can succeed. She said, “Make a process so easy that people cannot trip over it.”

March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

Sharon DanKenbring Fort Osage Board of Education

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

haron Dankenbring has spent a lifetime caring and working for children. Her roles have progressed along with life’s stages. Her experience began by helping her mother care for her four young-

hasn’t been exclusively focused on family. Her penchant for children was expanded to the broader community when she became a member of the Fort Osage Board of Education 27 years ago. She has played a role in establishing district policy ranging from graduation requirements to approving staff hiring. She and other members with whom she’s served have hired four superintendents during her tenure on the board. But Dankenbring’s expansive role with children doesn’t stop with the school board. She also wore various hats within the district while her children were students, from room mother to PTA president, and she had a lead role in raising funds through the district’s Athletic Booster Club. She also was a more-than-five-year member of the Fort Osage Education Foundation charitable foundation, which raises funds that are then awarded to teachers and various district programs. In 1988, she helped found Project Graduation, a fun-filled, drug-and alcohol-free event for graduating high school seniors. In addition to school-related involvement, Dankenbring also has an extensive fundraising and event background that allows her to assist numerous community causes, from the Rainbow Center, for children with special needs, to the Community Services League and the Independence Chamber er siblings, then raising her own two of Commerce. children and, finally, helping with her Dankenbring’s life has benefitted four grandchildren. from a strong work ethic which was “I always say, ‘I’ve been raising kids shaped while growing up on a farm east my whole life,’ “ she said. of Independence. But her time focusing on children

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“I’m a work horse,” she said. “When you grow up on a farm, you don’t get to play until the chores are done.” That philosophy has served her throughout life, including a career she relished in advertising at The Examiner. She filled that role at a time when men were paid more than women in the male-dominated industry. But Dankenbring didn’t let such obstacles keep her from lifelong pursuits of hard work and perseverance.

“I always say, ‘I’ve been raising kids my whole life,’ “ she said. “You don’t give up,” she said. “You always have a can-do attitude.” Dankenbring and her siblings each inherited a portion of their parents’ farm acreage and she and her immediate, and even extended family use the area to keep connected. Her grandchildren and the children of her nieces and nephews enjoy the wide-open space by running, playing football and gathering eggs. She has adopted many life mottos that she uses to keep herself grounded. One of her favorites is reminiscent of her rural background with a nod to a higher power. She uses this saying, even today, when asked to take on a new challenge: “Lord willing and the creek doesn’t rise.”

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to women of distinction. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.

Congratulations and THANK YOU to the 2019 Women of Distinction honorees who continue to make a positive impact within the Eastern Jackson County community!

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Laura B. Doan, MD Truman Medical Center Lakewood University Health Women’s Care

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

r. Laura Brown Doan has been an obstetrical-gynecological physician for the past 31 years but has no idea how many babies she’s delivered. “I stopped counting,” said the Truman Medical Center Lakewood physician, adding that during her medical residency she was required to track and counted 1,000.

“Counting is a bad thing because it makes everybody a number,” she said, adding that she believes her mission is to treat people with compassion and bring them to the realization that they’re important. Before Truman, when she was in private practice with Associated Women’s Care Physicians, she used to volunteer at free Kansas City area medical

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clinics and even worked overseas, in El Salvador and Honduras, providing care for those who otherwise would have none. In fact, while volunteering at Kansas City area clinics, she routinely referred patients who needed more care to Truman. She likes the way Truman provides the same care to everyone, despite financial circumstances. “I feel I can best serve people there,” she said, also praising Truman staff with whom she works. “I’m surrounded by amazing people,” she said. By practicing at Truman, Doan sometimes encounters patients who have not always made the best choices, such as those who have used drugs during pregnancy. Many of these patients have alienated their family and friends and come to the hospital alone, she said. But, Doan doesn’t believe it’s her place to scold. “They’ve had a million lectures,” she said. “I try to show them love. Sometimes we forget we need to show people unconditional love. I think everybody’s looking for that.” Truman Medical Center Lakewood Chief Operating Officer Lynette Wheeler described Doan on her Women of Distinction nomination form as having been “a caregiver for three generations of Eastern Jackson County women, most of whom have remained patients and who trust the care of their children and grandchildren to her. This loyal following of patients did not seek her out because of marketing. Laura earned their trust, and their referrals to friends and family because she treated all patients with compassionate care.”

Doan said her patients often return to visit, sometimes to show how her empathy helped them choose a better path.

“I think you make a bigger difference in people’s lives when they’re not doing things right and you still treat them with dignity and love,” she said. “I think you make a bigger difference in people’s lives when they’re not doing things right and you still treat them with dignity and love,” she said. Doan and her husband, Kirk, have raised two sons, one of whom is following his mother’s example and is an orthopedic surgical resident who plans to volunteer as a medical missionary. The other is a student at Yale Law School. Doan’s compassionate nature goes back to childhood, where she always liked helping take care of other people and pets and believes it was God’s plan that she become a doctor. She prayed before her medical school entrance exam, asking that if it was His plan, she would make the necessary scores. “Luckily, I got into medical school,” she said. “I can’t imagine not being a doctor now.”

March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

Mikealene

Evans

Indepenence Chamber of Commerce

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

or Mikealene Evans, working on the annual Santa-Cali-Gon Days festival is an adrenaline rush. She credits the yearround job planning for the festival with a swirling effect, where volunteers feed on camaraderie and the thrill of working toward a common goal. “Once you work and volunteer, it’s like it sucks you in,” she said. “It’s

something I can’t explain, really. … If you ask others, they’d probably tell you the same.” Evans, who is in charge of the community stage, said last year’s performances featuring the Beatles tribute band “Liverpool” were a highlight in her festival efforts. She estimated more than 1,000 people lined the stage where the band performed.

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“They hear the music and see the crowd and come to check it out,” she said of the Independence Chamber of Commerce fundraiser. Another highlight is watching parents and grandparents proudly witness dance performances. “I just love seeing them year after year,” she said. “It’s just a neat feeling they’re coming to watch their special person perform at a community event,” she said. But her role in Santa-Cali-Gon isn’t limited to the community stage. She and others also assist vendors in finding their spots at the extensive craft tent area and help set up chairs, tables and signs throughout the festival. There is so much anticipation preceding each festival, preparing for crowds of 300,000, that it creates mixed feelings when the weekend ends. Immediately following the event, leaders begin discussing next year’s festival. Despite the intense work, Evans doesn’t see her festival role ending anytime soon. “We’re all tired, but, at the same time, there’s sadness as we go our separate ways,” she said.“For as long as my body will let me, I’ll do this,” she said. Her work planning the community stage acts the last few years has done more than provide happiness. She also credits it with introducing her to many new friends, all community-minded movers and shakers. And it has helped lead to new career opportunities. “My volunteering has got me to where I am today,” she said, adding

that contacts made during her pursuits have allowed her to take on positions, such as her current role as director of marketing and communication at the Chamber of Commerce. She has held that position for the past two years and previously served six years as executive director of the Independence Square Association.

“I meet people who are in-the-know – people like me,” she said, “who really want to make the community a successful place to live and work.” She and her husband, David Evans, began coaching basketball when their three sons were playing for the Independence Youth Athletic Association. They also coached youth baseball through Queen City Baseball. Evans also was active in PTA at their sons’ schools, serving on the PTA executive board at three district level schools. Evans believes she’s the one who mostly benefits from her volunteerism. “I meet people who are in-theknow – people like me,” she said, “who really want to make the community a successful place to live and work.”

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Judy

FORRESTER Truman Heartland Community Foundation

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

n Judy Forrester’s first job as a new teacher she was placed in the only available space – a room housing a coal bin. Her classroom was not the only challenge that year. She worked for two rural districts that shared her po-

sition. Her expertise, speech therapy, had never been offered and onlookers were skeptical, and she felt as if she was “under a microscope,” she wrote on a Women of Distinction form. She had few supplies and was tasked with creating the program

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alone. During open house, she was excited so many came to meet her, but later learned the visitors were mainly interested in seeing her coal bin classroom, she wrote. Despite the challenges, she persevered and “it was one of the most impactful experiences of my life and gave me the confidence to always be willing to try something new …” she wrote. A pinnacle of her career, most of which was spent in the Independence School District, was participating in a central office team that created a new program at Bryant Elementary School. The pilot called for interns and student teachers to spend a school year doing classwork and a practicum in the school, which were led by veteran teachers. A goal was for experienced teachers to mentor new teachers and offer their support. But veteran teachers also learned from the teachers in training, Forrester said. With the program, all staff in the building was working toward a common goal and new teachers avoided the usual feelings of isolation, she said. “Bryant is still one of the highest-performing schools in the district,” she said, adding that although the program was established several years ago, “the premise is still there … the culture for the building was pretty well set,” she said. The team traveled to other school districts throughout the country, presenting their findings and many adopted at least portions of the program, she said. When Forrester was growing up, she learned from her Mom’s example coping with rheumatoid arthritis, a crippling disease that eventually took her ability to walk. She was diagnosed

at age 26 and eagerly volunteered to be examined and questioned by doctors and interns for research into the disease. She also willingly volunteered to take new medications (some of which are now available over-the-counter) in the hope that they might help others in the future. “I learned from her you just keep doing,” she said. Forrester said her mother never complained and her mother’s positive attitude has guided her throughout life. Forrester has served the community through her nearly decade-long membership on the board of the Truman Heartland Community Foundation. During her time, where she took a stint as chairman, the Eastern Jackson County-focused organization implemented a program for aging that coordinates resources provided by various area agencies. A website, which can be accessed from a link on the foundation’s website, offers a compilation of the results, she said. The foundation is beginning a new study to focus on technical and vocational job skills training. Forrester also has chaired the foundation’s annual gala, a fundraiser and event honoring community members, organizations and businesses. Her quarter-century involvement in the Junior Service League included a challenging year as president in which she supervised the remodeling and renovation of the group’s clubhouse. Her involvement in the league, which is focused on community service, she said, helped her “recognize the differences that could be made within our community.”

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March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

2019 Lifetime Achievement AWARD

Photography by Portrait Gallery

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Roberta

COKER

Independence School District By Debbie Coleman-Topi

ome of Roberta Coker’s earliest experiences have become life-defining. The first was a result of her parents nicknaming her “Poo” – a moniker based on her childhood love of “Winnie the Pooh” characters. She prefers this name to any other, including the more formal Roberta, which, she added with disdain, often is shortened to “Bobby.” This ‘Poo’ (without the ‘h’) hopes the title is more than a name and has become part of her persona. “He’s a nice, friendly little bear,” she explained.

“There’s an analogy between growing flowers and seeing things happen,” she said. “Like planting a seed…” Coker utilized a teenage talent for cheerleading in her role as the Independence School District’s longtime director of community relations. She accepted a position as publications coordinator in 1979, after answering a nondescript job advertisement. She soon discovered that the position required her to take her cheerleading techniques to a new level, especially when convincing voters to approve a bond or levy increase. A discovery of Harry Truman’s fourth grade report card while organizing the district ar-

chives was a surprise find. The report card now resides at the Truman Library and Museum. Cheerleading continued to play an important role, especially when working with Superintendent Robert Henley, who “had a lot of ideas… over the years, we invented a lot of things,” many of which have become school district tradition. Together, they implemented such morale-boosting forms of recognition as Teacher of the Year, which honors one teacher annually and the McCoy Awards, named for Independence’s first mayor and awarded to high school juniors with top grade point averages. The pace was exhausting, but fulfilling, Coker said. “‘Innovative’ was his (Henley’s) favorite word… he wore us all slick,” she said. “‘But it was fun to be a part of that.” Molly Clemons, who worked in the district with Coker, said she mostly remembers her former co-worker’s leadership skills, adding that her abilities, in part, came from her extensive community involvement. “She made a strong statement in the community and the district,” she said. Ron Clemons remembered Coker as “the face of the district.” Her role leading the district’s annual meeting each fall, welcoming back teachers and staff, was an indication of her importance, said Clemons, who also remembered having worked with Coker. “She was the one on the stage running the meeting, not the superintendent,” he said. “She was as hard a work-

Photography by Portrait Gallery

er as anybody I’ve ever seen,” he said. David Rock, who was assistant superintendent and then superintendent during Coker’s tenure with the district, said she was relatable and “had an openness” that allowed her to provide information to people throughout the district. Coker has faced new challenges since her retirement. A few years ago, the mother of two and grandmother of two suffered a spinal cord herniation, which required surgery. Following months of physical therapy, she finally regained balance and strength while

walking. But Coker refuses to let the challenge render her sidelined from life. Therefore, she travels the globe and regularly meets with friends. She credits her district job with leading her to become community-minded and making those close relationships. Coker continues to pursue a lifelong love of gardening, although today’s version is much less strenuous. This hobby is so important because it’s a metaphor for life. “There’s an analogy between growing flowers and seeing things happen,” she said. “Like planting a seed…”

March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

2019 Woman of the Year AWARD

20 Women of Distinction Awards | March 8, 2019

MaryAnne Metheny Hope House By Debbie Coleman-Topi

ome people believe survivors of domestic violence are weak. But MaryAnne Metheny, who’s dedicated her life to attempting to break the cycle of such abuse, knows a different reality. “People who survive domestic violence are the strongest people I’ve ever met,” she said. “ I really find my inspiration from them.” Even after more than 25 years in the field, she said she can’t fathom walking in their shoes. “It’s hard for me to even imagine,” she said.

“People who survive domestic violence are the strongest people I’ve ever met,” she said. “ I really find my inspiration from them.” Metheny, the CEO of Hope House for the past 11 years, oversees the domestic violence shelters in Independence and Lee’s Summit offering support to women throughout Eastern Jackson County. She said those who’ve experienced such abuse face many obstacles to recovery and some of the most significant involve how they see themselves. Victims feel misunderstood and not heard, and that affects their self-esteem, she said. “They don’t feel worthy or that they

matter enough to be heard,” she said. Many people mistakenly blame the victim for being in the abusive relationship. Leaving the abuser is usually the most dangerous time in the relationship, she said, adding that perpetrators often escalate their behavior to maintain control. Such actions sometimes even include showing up at their victim’s places of employment, where the abuser creates commotion and embarrassment. “We help give them a voice,” said Metheny, who holds a master’s degree in social work. Hope House works to eradicate other barriers to women seeking help, including helping them overcome a lack of education and job skills. Hope House also works to diminish fear caused by threats of violence from perpetrators, for which Hope House staff work in cooperation with local law enforcement. Changes in law can affect the process, she said. For instance, officers now can arrest perpetrators of domestic violence on probable cause, eliminating the need for victims to press charges. Jacqueline Clark, a longtime Hope House volunteer, said it’s fitting that Metheny be recognized. “She has devoted her whole adult life to the cause,” she said, “and she has a great heart and a deep, deep passion.” Metheny’s staff of 85, both parttime and full-time, oversee operations where more than 1,000 women and children are housed in the two shelters. But Hope House offers more than housing. Its outreach extends to many

areas, including counseling, court and legal services, advocacy and transitional and permanent housing. Many people may not realize the impact of domestic violence on the entire family, including children. “They can’t thrive and be their best, if families can’t function normally,” Metheny said. Hope House began 36 years ago in Independence, the brainchild of former Independence Mayor Barbara Potts, whom Metheny said is her hero. “I really admire her,” she said of Potts, who “truly had a vision,” hearing of the need and drawing support of many community leaders. Metheny said her staff and the

board of directors currently are working to establish next steps in the services they provide. They are planning for the next three to four years. The group faces some hard decisions about which programs need to be expanded and/or enhanced and in which new services will soon start being offered. They also are exploring how to prepare their programs to take on a greater number of people. “What do they (clients) need to be successful?” she asked. Metheny said she doesn’t believe Hope House will be deemed unnecessary anytime soon. “We’re always going to have domestic violence,” she said, “until we hold perpetrators accountable.”

March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

Dr. Danica

Fuimaono Blue Springs R-IV School District

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

anica Fuimaono tells her students at Valley View Alternative High School that she knows what it’s like not to fit in, to struggle and face challenges. Born to a teenage mother who raised her as a single parent, Fuimaono said she and her mother moved 10 times before she was 12 years old. She switched schools so often that she did not learn proper handwriting until she was in the sixth grade. “I had to kind of create my own version of what I thought it should look

like,” she said, adding that she placed tails and curlicues in places they didn’t belong. It’s no accident that the 150 students at Valley View, where Fuimaono is in her first year as principal, call her “Mom.” She relishes the close-knit relationship of the staff and students at the Blue Springs School District facility. She never misses a chance to tell her students that she understands their struggles. “My story just isn’t too much different from yours,’” she tells them. “‘My

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experiences give me a different lens into your world.’” She also offers encouragement and hope so students know they can overcome life’s obstacles. “‘Your current situation doesn’t have to dictate your future,’” she said she tells them. Because the school isn’t a traditional setting, Fuimaono said there’s ample opportunity to do things differently. For instance, she can choose to mix up the order of classes by using block scheduling. This past Thanksgiving, the school’s staff prepared and served students a traditional Thanksgiving meal. “Because of our size, we were able to have a family meal – and we are a family,” she said. Because Fuimaono grew up in a non-traditional family, her life proved the adage that “it takes a village to raise a child.” In fact, one of her favorite stories from childhood is when, as a 4-year-old, her mother left her alone for the first time so she could attend college classes at the University of Kansas. Fuimaono remembers immediately crying and knocking on doors in the Lawrence apartment building where they lived and the first to answer her knocks were members of the KU basketball team (members of the 1988 championship team). From then on, Fuimaono had a group of babysitters who took turns playing with her between studying. This is Fuimaono’s 16th year in the Blue Springs School District. She began her career as a special education teacher and moved into administration after instituting new programs and ini-

tiatives designed to educate students and staff about cultural diversity. As an assistant principal, she continued offering new programs, including seminars designed to inform teachers about poverty and how to support students from various socioeconomic backgrounds. She also has acted as co-facilitator of a grant intended to encourage positive behavior among students while reinforcing expectations.

“My story just isn’t too much different from yours,’” she tells them. “‘My experiences give me a different lens into your world.’” Fuimaono also formed a non-profit, Restore the Light, designed to educate teens about the dangers of human trafficking, which “happens here in America every day,” she said. Her program is designed to protect students from predators, including those who prey on teens’ vulnerabilities in an online setting. Fuimaono is married to Wendell, and the couple has three children. “When I tell you, ‘I like kids,’ I really do,” she said. “I drop off my three (each day at school) and pick up the rest (Valley View students and staff ). Once you’re my baby, you’re always my baby.”

Congratulations to all of the 2019 Women of Distinction Honorees!

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Dr. Sandra Jones Western Baptist Bible College

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

hen Sandra Jones retired six years ago following a 35-year career with AT&T, she purposely failed to plan. She was thankful for positions that spanned many departments including drafting, sales and marketing, human resource career development, staffing and recruiting, and billing and collections. Her career ended with a management position. “I was busy, and the Lord blessed me,” she said. But Jones knew the next phase of her life, like the previous one, would be planned by a higher power, so she opened her mind and heart, and many have come calling, especially youth. “It keeps me going because I love

working with young people, especially girls,” she said. Jones trusted that God would lead her down a specially chosen path to people and projects that require her perspective and passions. “I just trust in the Lord and go where He tells me,” Jones said, adding that she approaches retirement not as a time of rest but like it’s her new career. “He opens those doors, and sometimes I’m hesitant, but I remember he’s prepared me for that — to share the gospel and help others. It’s a very rewarding and fulfilling job I do.” Her early life was dominated by church, where she and her three siblings learned to serve. “We were in every aspect of that church,” she said of her early years at Second Baptist, where

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she has been a member for more than a half-century. Her father was a pastor to the congregation for 24 years before his death in 1984, and her involvement unknowingly equipped her for caring for the needs of others. As a pianist, Jones loves music and currently is serving as bell choir director to children in the congregation. Following a performance this past Christmas, members delivered a standing ovation and Jones credited her young students. “They worked really hard, and it was well-deserved,” she said. But her service to her church doesn’t stop there. It also includes her roles as a young adult Sunday school and Bible study teacher, various outreach ministries and work as an adult Bible study leader. She also works as Christian education director, where she draws upon her background with a doctorate of ministry in Christian education from Western Baptist Bible College. Jones has served young people in numerous capacities, including her work with Junior Achievement, where she helps prepare young people for the real world by assisting with relationship-building and brings in professionals as speakers. Her church partners with the Jackson County Juvenile Center, where she joined the program designed to keep children and youth out of the juvenile justice system. Her ministry also includes working with young adults. With her husband, Thad, the two have created ChristN1 Marriage Enrichment Ministry (titled “Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts”). As facilitators, the couple con-

ducts marriage seminars for organizations and churches. Through Western Baptist Bible College, she is the dean of academics and an instructor. She also has partnered with Friendship Baptist Church to adopt a mentoring program through the Kansas City School District’s Melcher Elementary. The goal is to cultivate positive attitudes in girls who will transition to seventh grade during the following school year, she said. In addition, Jones holds degrees from William Jewell College and serves on the alumni board of governors, which supports and celebrates others through several programs.

“I just trust in the Lord and go where He tells me. He opens those doors, and sometimes I’m hesitant, but I remember he’s prepared me for that — to share the gospel and help others. It’s a very rewarding and fulfilling job I do.” She summed up her “second career” – retirement – when she said, “It’s a very fulfilling and very rewarding job.”

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Susan WATERS Corporate CopyPrint

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

ike many Women of Distinction honorees, Susan Waters feels undeserving. “I feel like other people do as much, or even more than I do,” she said, adding that she prefers working quietly behind the scenes. “I like it that way,” she said. For the past 24 years, Waters and her husband Tom have been co-owners of Corporate CopyPrint, a business on

the historic Independence Square. Tom nominated his wife, writing: “Susan has always been an advocate for a better quality of life for people in Independence,” adding that she has tirelessly worked on numerous committees dedicated to helping others and described her as “underappreciated.” He added that he has been recognized several times for his contributions. “It is because of her work behind-

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the-scenes that he is able to achieve those awards and more,” he wrote. Their journey began when Tom felt compelled to pursue work in printing. He worked at several area print shops, rising through the ranks to managerial positions. When the couple was expecting their first of what would be two daughters, Tom unexpectedly told Susan he had quit his job and planned to open a business. “I was making good money, so, it was a good time,” she said, adding that she was a supervisor at an agency, handling group medical claims. Besides, Susan trusted Tom’s work ethic and business knowledge. “I had faith in him,” she said. Tom opened the store with two employees he hired from his previous place of employment. Soon after, Susan’s employer announced that they had been sold. The company asked Susan to stay, and she gladly agreed, but she noticed the culture had changed. “It was all I could do to go to work every day,” she said. That’s when she switched to a full-time role at Corporate CopyPrint. The couple agrees that business ownership and place in community come with responsibility and they act on those beliefs. Among Susan’s special projects are the Hillcrest Traditional Housing annual gala committee for which she’s served seven years. She also has taken a leadership role in organizing a youth rally that draws about 500 teens from throughout the area each January to the Community of Christ’s Family Life Center. For three years, she also took a major role in planning an annual

church women’s summer retreat by serving on the board.

“I feel like other people do as much, or even more than I do,” she said, adding that she prefers working quietly behind the scenes. “I like it that way,” she said. Tom and Susan also have worked with organizations such as the Independence Chamber of Commerce, the Salvation Army, the Truman Heartland Community Foundation, the Independence Economic Development Council, the Independence School District and the Community of Christ church. Their efforts are both monetary, through donations, and in services including discounts and free printing for brochures, newsletters, postcards and special non-profit events, such as fundraisers. At the beginning of each year, the two designate several charities to which they will give throughout the year. “It’s quite extensive,” she said, “so that’s why we have to set a cap.” Though entrepreneurship has its challenges, it’s always worked out. “Sometimes we didn’t bring home what we wanted (in pay) and you didn’t have anything left,” she said. “But we paid the bills and that’s what mattered.”

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March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

Melanie

Moentmann DST Systems

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

elanie Moentmann serves on the boards of three diverse area non-profits and volunteers her skills to other area organizations but is somewhat reluctant to have

her efforts recognized. “I just want to help,” she said. “I’m happy to use my skills and time to help others, and that’s all the credit I need.” The Independence Junior Service League is one of those boards, where,

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during the past two decades, she has served in many capacities, including president, vice president, treasurer, community grants chair, Sentinel editor, by-laws and long-range planning committee member. While serving on the group’s executive committee, she was involved in a multi-year project to renovate the group’s clubhouse, which serves as their meeting space and is rented, for a nominal fee, to other organizations for the same purpose, she said. She also has dedicated her time to many capacities on the board of directors of the Truman Heartland Community Foundation, where she’s helped award grants to various Eastern Jackson County organizations, has rewritten bylaws and has been involved in longrange planning. The third board on which she’s served is that of the Victorian Society of the Vaile Mansion and DeWitt Museum and Arboretum. Her five-year effort has included her current position as treasurer, where she helps with the society’s annual events, including the Strawberry Festival. For such events she “pays the bills for all the things that go along with putting on a festival.” The event draws 60 to 80 vendors with crafts, garden and nursery items, a gift shop, tours and entertainment. Moentmann said she had only to watch her parents volunteering in the small community of Norborne, Missouri, to learn about community service and is spending her life modeling their commitment. Her father, Earl Moentmann, was a charter member of the small city’s Lions Club, which took on many projects, including their best known – providing eye glasses to children in need. Her mother, Virginia Moentmann,

worked tirelessly for the garden club, where members “were like the Park Service,” tirelessly accepting duties performed in larger cities by an entire crew. “They were just so involved and such great examples for us,” she said of herself and her siblings. “It’s hard to beat.” Today, Moentmann sees those same qualities in those who share her passion for the non-profits they serve. “The folks in all three organizations are top-notch—smart and dedicated, well-meaning community volunteers,” she said. For 14 years, Moentmann has worked for SS&C (formerly DST) in software development, where she has advanced to a role as senior software engineer. Her position usually supports more than 50 clients and works as a liaison to support staff in Thailand. However, in a recent project, she was part of a 200-member team that completed a multi-year effort to bring a large client into the mutual fund platform. Her role in that project brought new challenges as she took on project manager-style duties. Additional community service efforts include helping parents choose gifts for their children at the annual Community Service League store and knitting blankets for the Linus Project, where hundreds of babies and children seeking medical treatment have taken home her blankets. She took up the cause after learning to knit as a child, but gave up the hobby until, as an adult, she learned her skills were needed. She quipped, “It keeps me out of trouble.”

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March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

Lisa

ALLEN MORTON Speaks Chapel

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

isa Morton didn’t meet the man she calls “father” the usual way. Her mother, Lawanna, was a young waitress, a single mother struggling to support her five children by waitressing at a small diner when a young man who was a customer named Sam asked her for a date. She was reluctant, but when he insisted, she agreed on one condition – that she bring her children along. Sam thought she was joking, but the joke was on him when she and her brood climbed into his sports car for their “first date.” That’s when Lisa and her siblings had their first taste of pizza. “He traded in the fast car and

bought a station wagon,” Lisa said. “He married all of us.” Sam also moved the family from a small apartment in the inner city to their first home in Independence. The couple later added a child of their own to the family, and her father continued to call all six “his children,” never differentiating between them. When Lisa was young, her mother modeled helping others, and that continues to drive her behaviors today. Lawanna routinely invited those in need to join the family for dinner. “Our house was an open door,” she said. “If Mom had five children, she cooked for ten because you never really knew who

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would come over.” Through her involvement in a local Kiwanis Club, Lisa found a place to practice what her mother demonstrated. She began volunteering at the Community Dinner, which provides a free weekly hot meal to anyone at the Stone Church, a Community of Christ church in Independence. Morton’s role is as hostess at the restaurant-style dinners where volunteers from dozens of area community groups, from area churches to students in school organizations, cook and serve others. “This is where I could make the biggest difference, serving 250 people each week,” she said. Morton has initiated several programs within the Community Dinner. Santa makes an appearance at an annual Christmas meal, handing out gifts to children, provided by the Marines Toys for Tots. In addition, Morton also initiated a project in which she distributes gift bags filled with gloves, hats, snack bars, candy and personal care items to adults in attendance. She also started a birthday club for children ages 16 and younger, where those celebrating a birthday during the quarterly time frame attend a traditional party, with balloons, cake, ice cream, party favors and a gift. Morton also manages another program, that she coordinates with a Kansas City group, “Give the Basics,” in which she collects and prepares monthly care packages of toiletries and other necessities that are given away at the dinners. Morton said she’s lucky to also

have found a fulfilling career in which she can also provide support to others. About 20 years ago, she applied to a classified ad for an undisclosed job and discovered, upon showing up for the interview, that the position was at Speaks Funeral Chapel. She planned to politely decline any job offer but finally accepted, only planning to stay for a few weeks. Today, Morton has advanced from office work to funeral director. She said while many people would be uneasy dealing with death daily, she has developed a different approach.

Working as a funeral director has other advantages. She said, “It makes you appreciate every day and prioritize your life.” “Things you used to think you didn’t like, you find out they’re not a big deal,” she said. Besides, Morton relishes the feeling she gets from “offering help, compassion and empathy when they need it most,” she said of her clients. Working as a funeral director has other advantages. She said, “It makes you appreciate every day and prioritize your life.”

Donna

PITTMAN

Former Proprietress of Curt’s Famous Meats By Debbie Coleman-Topi

or nearly two decades, Donna Pittman frequently engaged with her Maywood shopping district neighbors while operating a small grocery store and deli in the heart of the historic district in western Independence. The store, on Truman Road just west of the Truman Historic District, has its own rich history, as does the building where she ran the business for 19 years.

“There was never a day I regretted. But sometimes in life it’s time to write a new chapter.” Pittman closed the store in 2018, but never has regretted her decision. “I miss the people (including the dedicated staff of five), but I still see a lot of my customers,” she said. “I guess I have the best of both worlds.” When Pittman purchased Curt’s Meats from the original owner, Curtis Jones, she became only its second owner. During the 1930s and ’40s, the building operated as a produce stand. Jones, a butcher, opened the deli and market in 1947. Pittman carried on the legacy of small business owner in the building and adopted principles that she believes should guide entrepreneurs in order to thrive and make a positive impact. Among those obligations, which Pittman readily adopted, is getting to

know customers personally and engaging in the community to protect and improve the area. She did so by working with neighbors, including other Maywood area merchants, to improve the city’s western gateway on Truman Road. She served, for many years, on the public safety sales tax oversight board and a redevelopment group. Pittman said owning a small business, especially a small grocery store today, is difficult but can be done “if you’re willing to put in the hours and have the capital and a community willing to support you.” “But, it works both ways,” she said. “A lot of people want to run to Walmart to get the cheapest. Not everyone is concerned with supporting local businesses.” Pittman, who grew up near the Independence Square, remembers the district where the market was located as a vibrant shopping area for employees of two nearby industrial businesses that since have closed: Armco Steel in Kansas City and the Amoco Oil Refinery in nearby Sugar Creek.Those businesses “had a lot to do with keeping the area strong,” she said. That meant Pittman had to work hard to maintain a strong customer base, but, she managed not only by hard work, but by contributing to the area in other ways. She believed in working to improve the area, striving toward progress and renewal along Truman Road, including the restoration of the Stone Arch Bridge a few years ago. In addition, she also championed progress and renewal through the Northwest

Photography by Tim Williams Photography

Community Development Committee. Each fall, Pittman worked with other area business owners to sponsor a barbecue with proceeds to benefit the police sub-station in Englewood. She also served on a steering committee created to curb crime in the area, was active in the Independence Chamber of Commerce and the Independence School District, among other groups. Curt’s was a popular store and at-

tracted customers from throughout the Kansas City area and several American World Series of Barbecue contestants, including several champions, purchased their meat at Curt’s. Despite the hard work and busy times working in the community, Pittman said, “There was never a day I regretted. But sometimes in life it’s time to write a new chapter.”

March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

Lauren

PALMER Mid-America Regional Council

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

n Lauren Palmer’s office hangs a sign she uses as a daily reminder. “Work hard and be nice.” The sign reminds Palmer, a former Independence assistant city manager, of an approach to one of her job’s biggest hurdles. “Public service is rewarding but not always easy,” she wrote on a Women of Distinction form about her 15 years as a community servant. “There are many more critics than there are those willing to lead and grapple with the tough decisions about

how to utilize limited public resources to move the community forward,” she wrote. “There are so many challenges to overcome to build better communities, but progress always happens when I do my best and treat others with respect.” During her time in Independence, Palmer joined colleagues at City Hall in facing a financial crisis that led her to consolidate the duties of the Health Department with other departments and that move “was difficult and drew criticism,” she said, “but it was necessary to gain organizational efficiencies and to

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stabilize the city’s finances,” she wrote. “I laid off several employees whom I considered friends and hard-working professionals,” she wrote. “It was personally very difficult, but necessary to advance the greater good of the organization.” She added, “Public leaders face these challenges on a routine basis.” As assistant city manager, Palmer is most proud of her role in developing the city’s new Independence Uptown Market, which provides a venue for the farmer’s market offering locally-grown fresh produce and other products. The new market area also offers a venue for other events – more than 40 private rentals since it opened late last summer, Palmer said. A fundraiser for The Independence Square Association was held there and the Independence Chamber of Commerce plans to host a summer concert series at the market, as well, she said. “It’s just the beginning for that facility,” she said. Her role in planning the venue allowed her to be involved in each phase of the project, from development to fundraising, to design and construction. The market plan moved at an accelerated rate, due to the dedication and cooperation of those who worked on the project and she called the overall project “a community victory.” In fact, the yearlong time frame meant the project moved “at lightning speed…in the world of government, that’s unheard of,” she said. Palmer always has been interested in a career in public service. “My parents were civic-minded, but not in the

public eye,” she said of the family’s role while she was growing up in Joplin, Mo. Palmer’s career has moved throughout the Midwest, including positions in Des Moines, Iowa, Manhattan, Kansas and Parkville, Missouri. In September, Palmer moved on to a position with Mid-America Regional Council, where she was named director of local government services, working with municipalities, including Independence, Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs, in a regional capacity. At MARC, she helps municipalities establish shared initiatives and partnerships.

“I felt instantly welcomed…” she said. “It was a very difficult decision to leave my position … but I was attracted to the opportunity to make a bigger impact on a regional level.” But, she’ll always fondly remember her time in Independence. “I felt instantly welcomed…” she said. “It was a very difficult decision to leave my position … but I was attracted to the opportunity to make a bigger impact on a regional level.”

Jan REDING Grain Valley R5 School District By Debbie Coleman-Topi

n a Women of Distinction form, a person nominating Jan Reding named her “a matriarch of servitude” to her fellow Grain Valley residents. Jan and her husband, Joe, moved to Grain Valley more than 40 years ago, sparking Jan’s love affair with their new hometown.

“I’m one of those people who likes to be busy, all the time,” the 83-year-old explained. “I’m kind of a jack-of-all-trades,” she said. Reding learned about hard work from her father and role model, Lyle (known as Daubber) Hycraft, who owned and operated a berry farm in Independence. Jan was a regular worker there, picking, packing and selling gallon buckets of boysenberries, raspberries and gooseberries. They delivered the berries from a pickup truck in times when homemakers routinely canned fruit. The work ethic she formed there proved valuable as she worked a career managing the 310,000-square-foot, 34-story downtown Kansas City Power & Light building. “I visited all my tenants on a dai-

ly basis,” she said. A favorite heirloom is her master set of keys to each of the building’s areas. Although many changes have impacted the historic structure, Reding said her fondness remains. “I still love my building,” she said. Her longest, and perhaps favorite stint, is her two-decade involvement as a member of the Grain Valley Board of Education. She pledged to serve on the board “as long as the public will elect me. I love education,” she said during a telephone interview. Reding said it’s been a thrill to watch the town and school district bloom from 1,500 students when she moved to Grain Valley, to more than 4,000 today. She also has undertaken many other educational duties, including anonymously donating books to district schools, shelving books in school libraries and working to raise funds for the Grain Valley Educational Foundation. Her activism extends beyond the schools. She collects and sells used books to benefit the Grain Valley Assistance Council, manages plots at the Oakland Cemetery and is involved in the United Methodist Women of Faith. Her pledge that no Grain Valley child will be without a good pair of shoes has prompted her to collect pocket change from senior citizens during their monthly luncheon and use the donations to purchase $12,000 in shoes. The 1953 William Chrisman High School graduate said she began producing a periodic newsletter to help keep classmates informed of others’ joys and concerns. “It keeps us all together,” she

said of the time between class reunions. “I’m one of those people who likes to be busy, all the time,” the 83-year-old explained. “I’m kind of a jack-of-all-trades,” she said.. “There is no doubt she is the biggest little go-getter in the community,” according to the nomination form, which describes her large service despite her small stature. “There is probably no one who is a close second,” the form stated. Reding said she’s not yet ready

to scale back her activities, planning for many years yet to serve. “I tell all my friends a lady in France celebrated her 117th birthday,” she said of her goal to live a long, full life. To ensure her health and longevity, she continues to live in her own home, even using a push mower to care for the attached five acres. But, she knows it’s ultimately not her call. She said, “I know the good Lord is saying, ‘Now, Jan, I’m going to take care of that.’”

March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

Beverly J. Powell

Truman Heartland Community Foundation

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

everly Powell believes her job as a certified public accountant goes beyond numbers. Her work for area non-profits extends into the agencies of those they serve. “It’s an opportunity not just to keep track of numbers or prepare tax returns

but to strengthen the community,” said Powell, who has worked in her field for the past 35 years. She got her first exposure to numbers not in school but at home where her mother – who always wanted a career as a math teacher but couldn’t afford college tuition – instead drilled

34 Women of Distinction Awards | March 8, 2019

numbers into the minds of her five children. The family practiced math skills not only when doing homework, but also while enjoying other activities, such as playing board and card games. causing them to realize how numbers function in everyday life. When her children’s mathematical abilities went beyond her mother’s, the children took turns explaining complex calculations to her, which helped them better understand the concepts. Powell concedes that she and her siblings probably “had some basic genetic aptitude.” Her father was a carpenter, whose work also required measurements and calculations. Four chose careers as CPAs, and the fifth was an engineer. Powell recently stepped down from her 15-year role as chief financial officer at the Truman Heartland Community Foundation, which promotes and guides private giving. In that position, Powell was charged with advising donors and area non-profits in keeping accurate financial records and best practices in charitable giving. She also owns and operates an agency where she employs several other CPAs. “I used to tell people I worked four days (each week) there (Truman Heartland) and four days here (her firm),” she joked. During her busy time at Truman, she scaled back her role at her firm, Beverly Powell, CPA, and plans now to spend more time there. She traded the full-time Truman Heartland position for a part-time role there as Chief Investment Officer.

She and her husband, Bob, who have two grown children, purchased and restored a historic Independence home that now serves as the location for her CPA firm. In 2000, they purchased the Kritser House, which dates to 1847 and was built by a cabinet maker who settled in Independence to sell supplies to people on wagon trains passing through Independence as they migrated west. The house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was first occupied by the 11-member family who shared the tworoom brick house at 115 E. Walnut.

“It’s an opportunity not just to keep track of numbers or prepare tax returns but to strengthen the community,” said Powell, who has worked in her field for the past 35 years. Powell recently underwent successful breast cancer treatment, which played into she and her husband’s decision about her role at Truman Heartland. She said, “We decided it was time for me to scale down a little bit.”

March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

Sandra K.

Schiess FEMA Region VII

By Debbie Coleman-Topi

ormer Independence Fire Chief Sandy Schiess was the subject of clichés and stereotypes as a woman in a male-dominated career. But she bucked them all and, for a decade, held the top firefighter post in Independence. Schiess had good role models — her grandmothers and mother, from whom

she draws inspiration. Her mother, Retha Rudloff, was one of only two female medical school students in her class during the late 1940s (the same school where she met Robert Schiess, Sandy’s father). As chief, she oversaw 174 staff members in ten stations covering 78 square miles and responding to about

36 Women of Distinction Awards | March 8, 2019

17,000 calls each year. She also implemented the first training complex with a reusable burn building and training tower, and oversaw the budget and code enforcement. But she faced many obstacles before reaching the top post. She was one of very few female firefighters in the nation for at least 11 years of her career and continued to face discrimination as she climbed the firefighter ladder. She credits her husband of 34 years, Alan Davison, with whom she raised four sons, with supporting her when she felt discouraged, especially when she was denied promotions because of her gender. “I was told directly, ‘No one will take orders from you,’” she said. “There were times when he (Alan) helped me have the backbone to go for it,” she said. Schiess is a charter member of the International Women in Fire and Emergency Services, which helps and supports women in the field and reduces feelings of isolation. As chief, Schiess managed a lot of changes. She led the Fire Department through a citywide remodeling and modernizing project, which included upgrading trucks and stations. She also led an effort to replace and modernize the rest of the emergency fleet. She implemented programs to educate the public about safety and emergency preparedness. Those changes improved the city’s fire insurance rating, she said. But, Schiess does not credit herself with these accomplishments. “I am a composite of the strength and passions of people who have been willing to let

me be part of their world,” she said, citing her fellow firefighters and city leaders, who paved a path for change. “The reason I’ve been able to get where I am is because of them. It has a ripple effect.”

“The firefighters there are incredibly dedicated,” she said. “It was truly a very wonderful experience.” After 10 years at the helm, Schiess hung up her chief ’s gear in 2014 and retired from firefighting for a new start, working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency where she is one of only about a dozen federal disaster recovery coordinators in the nation. In that role, she works with governmental agencies and private groups to establish protocols to deal with large-scale disasters. Schiess outlasted most of her peers as chief, where, statistically, most only hold the top post for three to five years. Despite the difficulties, Schiess remains focused on the positive. “The firefighters there are incredibly dedicated,” she said. “It was truly a very wonderful experience.”

RuthWARD Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear By Debbie Coleman-Topi

uth Ward, a Kansas City mother of three, was satisfied with her station in life, strumming her guitar and singing folk music in area coffee houses and spending time with family. Since taking on her new persona as “Mama Bear,” Ward has traded coffee-house gigs for tours spanning the globe, has lunched with the famed singer/songwriter Janis Ian (best known for her 1970s hit “At Seventeen”), opened for BB King and has been a guest on the David Letterman television show.

“People want you to be real,” she said, “to know you’re the real deal, not being fake. Just be who you really are,” she said of their approach. One of the best compliments is when young teens tell her, “‘I want to grow up to be just like you.‘“ “Sometimes I think I’m going to wake up and this is all going to be a dream,” Ward said on a YouTube video chronicling her career the past few years. “But

it’s for real.” Ward was 63 years old when her son, Madisen Ward, suggested the two collaborate as a folk duo. “‘How would you like to do something for real?’” she remembered him asking. She and her husband had, several years ago, purchased a guitar for their youngest son, hoping one of their children might someday draw on their mother’s bent toward performance. Madisen, who was already a writer, turned his love of the written word into a new passion – combining singing, playing guitar and songwriting. The duo has released two professional albums – one using the producer Adel uses, titled “Skeleton Crew” and the second with a producer used by Taylor Swift. That album is titled “Radio Winners.” Both can be heard on Spotify. A third album will be released this summer, she said. The mother-son duo performs a form of Americana folk music, but, Ruth said it’s “hard to a finger on it. I think we have our own genre,” she said. “It’s hard to pin down.” The touring schedule is, at times, brutal, Ruth said, adding that they typically perform until midnight, make it into bed in the wee hours of the morning and get up the next day and repeat. She recently had knee replacement surgery, then, six weeks later, needed to be able to walk out on stage. “I knew that concert was coming up and I worked very hard,” she said, adding that she walked on stage with the help of a cane. “The fans were just awesome,” she said of their encouragement.

When their agent started booking international tours, he tried to warn Mama Bear about the pace. “When you’re in this business, time is no longer yours,” she said. He said, “‘Ruth, life as you know it will be totally changed,’” she remembered. “Now I know exactly what he was talking about,” she said. Mother and son try to make a personal connection with the audience. “People share their life with you,” she said, adding that their show touches people of all ages, from teens to people her age. The two work hard for that personal connection, she said, “‘Come in closer so we can be like family tonight,’“ she sometimes tells the audience.

She knows a connection is a necessary part of their shows. “People want you to be real,” she said, “to know you’re the real deal, not being fake. Just be who you really are,” she said of their approach. One of the best compliments is when young teens tell her, “‘I want to grow up to be just like you.‘“ “He and I work really well together,” she said of the mother-son combination. But she once told their manager never to book them in the same hotel room. “We give each other our space,” she said. “I’m just glad God has given me the energy to do all I do.”

March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

Class of 2016 Alumni

Debbie Bibbs �� Class of 2016 Alumni Eliene Blundell �� Class of 2016 Alumni Nancy Bruns �� Class of 2016 Alumni Roberta Coker �� Class of 2016 Alumni Susan Culpepper �� Class of 2016 Alumni Vicky Cundiff �� Class of 2016 Alumni Jill Esry �� Class of 2016 Alumni Kelly Lightfoot �� Class of 2016 Alumni Shelley Lowery �� Class of 2016 Alumni Betty Lennox �� 2016 Woman of the Year Cindy McClain �� Class of 2016 Alumni Lois McDonald �� Class of 2016 Alumni Deb Ohnoutka �� Class of 2016 Alumni Mary Potter �� Class of 2016 Alumni Barbara Potts �� Class of 2016 Alumni Freddye Smith �� Class of 2016 Alumni Pat Turner �� Class of 2016 Alumni Lara Vermillion �� Class of 2016 Alumni Eileen Weir �� Class of 2016 Alumni LaShawn Walker �� Class of 2016 Alumni

IT’S THE

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Class of 2017 Alumni

Marilyn Arnold �� Class of 2017 Alumni Carol Sue Bass �� Class of 2017 Alumni Melodie Chrisman �� Class of 2017 Alumni Janet Clark �� Class of 2017 Alumni Stassi Cramm �� Class of 2017 Alumni Ann Franklin �� Class of 2017 Alumni Janet Hessenflow �� Class of 2017 Alumni Yvonne Hall �� Class of 2017 Alumni Dr. Bridget McCandless �� 2017 Woman of the Year Jodi Krantz �� Class of 2017 Alumni Erika Lucas �� Class of 2017 Alumni Mary McNamara �� Class of 2017 Alumni Betty Meyer �� Class of 2017 Alumni Elizabeth McClure �� Class of 2017 Alumni Michelle Metje �� Class of 2017 Alumni LeAnn Ortner �� Class of 2017 Alumni Dr. Annette Seago �� Class of 2017 Alumni Dr. Kelly N. Spiller �� Class of 2017 Alumni Dr. Elizabeth Savidge �� Class of 2017 Alumni Dr. Patrica Schumacher �� Class of 2017 Alumni

Class of 2018 Alumni

Nina Anders ��Class of 2018 Alumni Jacqueline K. Clark ��Class of 2018 Alumni Alexandra Colley ��Class of 2018 Alumni Emily Crawford ��Class of 2018 Alumni Karen DeLuccie ��Class of 2018 Alumni Harriet E. Goettel ��Class of 2018 Alumni Jet Green ��Class of 2018 Alumni Diane Mack ��Class of 2018 Alumni Laura Maxwell ��Class of 2018 Alumni Jessica L. McClellan ��Class of 2018 Alumni Patricia Milne ��Class of 2018 Alumni Stephanie Myers ��Class of 2018 Alumni Carole Jean Price ��Class of 2018 Alumni Monica Roberts ��Class of 2018 Alumni Lori Ross ��Class of 2018 Alumni Allison Spencer ��Class of 2018 Alumni Carolyn Slayton Weeks ��Class of 2018 Alumni Lynette M. Wheeler ��2018 Woman of the Year Sharon Williams ��Class of 2018 Alumni

Congratulations to the 2019 Class of The Examinerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Thank you for your contributions to Eastern Jackson County We are honored to recognize your achievements.

C. Jan Alderson Irene Baltrusaitis Amber Boes Capt. Cindy Cotterman Sharon Dankenbring

Laura B. Doan, MD Mikealene Evans Judy Forrester Dr. Danica Fuimaono Dr. Sandra Jones

Susan Waters MaryAnne Metheny Melanie Moentmann Lisa Allen Morton Lauren Palmer

Donna Pittman Beverly J. Powell Jan Reding Sandra K. Schiess Ruth Ward

To our sponsors, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your partnership with us that allows us to celebrate these women.

Thank you!

March 8, 2019 | Women of Distinction Awards

40 Women of Distinction Awards | March 8, 2019