Friday
April 5, 2019 11:30 a.m.
First Baptist Church Outreach Center 210 South Jackson Street Starkville, MS
2018 Women of Distinction Nominees
Elmarie Carr Brooks............................................................................................... page 2 Nadia Colom............................................................................................................... page 2 Chr i ste e H ol bro o k................................................................................................. page 3 Kathy Kenne............................................................................................................... page 3 N ora M i l l e r................................................................................................................. page 4
Luncheon Program
WELCOME.............................................................................................. Aundrea Self, WCBI INVOCATION............................................................................................................................. G I R L S C O U T P L E D G E ..............................................Golden Triangle Area Girl Scouts INTRODUC TION..............................................................................................Aundrea Self K E Y N OT E S P E A K E R S .................................................................ladies from Honey, Hush Lacy Arant, Michelle Tehan & Elizabeth Casano
GIRL SCOUT HIGHLIGHTS...................................................................... Venus Chaney Chief Development and Advocacy Officer, GSHS
2019 NOMINEES.............................................................................................Aundrea Self C LO S I N G ............................................................................................................Aundrea Self
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Nominees
elmarie carr brooks Elmarie Carr Brooks graduated from Jackson State College in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She received her master’s in public administration from Mississippi State University in 1983. She worked for the Prairie Girl Scout Council for more than 20 years, recruiting and supporting adult volunteers, organizing a Girl Scout Troop in Brooksville Garden and facilitating an annual 5-day, summer day camp for Girl Scouts. Elmarie retired from the Emerson Family Center where her work included operating the center, along with recruiting families and providing individuals with case management. She led numerous sessions with families and held a vast array of activities to involve the whole family. Some of the events included the Back 2 School Bash and April Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect month. She provided energy and experience to the program and worked as a team to be successful. Elmarie has always been very committed to working with families. Her smiling face and enthusiasm for her work was contagious both with her colleagues and the families she worked with. She is very passionate about the relationship she develops with families and is always willing to go the extra mile to meet the family’s needs. “She is truly a leader when it comes to taking charge and moving a project forward.”
nadia colom After graduating from Jackson State University, Nadia Colom longed to strengthen her skillset so that she could better serve the youth that needed her. Because of this, she began a graduate program at New York University. After graduating from NYU, Nadia began working for a nonprofit organization called the Wake Up Project in New York City. While working for the Wake Up Project, Nadia strived to make sure that every child that she served knew they were important. She also took a 3-month trip to Uganda, where she could further fulfill her need to serve. Nadia later began working for the Columbus Municipal School District as the outreach coordinator. In this role, Nadia worked tirelessly to encourage the pursuit of higher education for teens. After working for the Columbus Municipal School District, she began working at the Boys and Girls Club as unit director of the Columbus Club. She created a series of open houses in effort to revitalize the club and draw in more youth. She later became CEO of the organization and has moved the organization forward. Not only is Nadia the driving force behind the Boys and Girls Club of the Golden Triangle, but she is also active in her community through her participation as a board member on various committees and her participation in speaking events.
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Nominees
christee holbrook Christee Holbrook earned her B.S. in accounting from Mississippi University for Women in 1995, and began her career in her familyowned nursing home, Magnolia Manor, where she was training to be an administrator. When the family sold the business, she began working for Graham Roofing Incorporated (GRI) in 1997 as an assistant in the accounting department. For the next 21 years, Christee worked through all areas of the company, gradually adding more duties to her routine. In 2008, she was named chief operating officer with many additional responsibilities, including being the company’s safety director. When the last original owner decided to retire in 2017, she was invited to purchase and run the company as president. Christee represents herself and her company through involvement in a variety of professional organizations: The Trust by the LINK, Mississippi Associated Builders & Contractors, the National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing, and the Mississippi Economic Council. She has served on committees for the Mississippi ABC and the advisory board for the Lowndes County Vo-Tech Construction Class. Christee completed the Golden Triangle Leadership Class in 2017. As a founding member of FORGE, Christee goes into schools, vo-tech classes, and construction classes throughout the area to share important lessons with students. She is passionate about trade skills training and creating more opportunities to connect people to training and job placement.
kathy kenne Kathy Kenne is a graduate of Baylor University with a B.A. in elementary education and a master’s in psychology/counseling. Kathy began her career as director of Children’s Ministries at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS, followed by work as a regional director of development for Palmer Home for Children. Eventually, her creativity and interest in what makes people tick led to an interest in marketing. Kathy became an entrepreneur and business owner in 1995, co-founding Quest Marketing (Quest Group) in West Point, MS, with partner, Cindy Hodo. What started as a two-person operation based at Kathy’s kitchen table grew to include several employees and offices in West Point and Jackson, and it became a certified Women-Owned Small Business. When Cindy and her family moved away in 2014, Kathy established TellÕs Marketing, and in partnership with Robbie Coblentz, TellÕs Creative. The Starkville-based TellÕs agencies provide the full range of marketing services, and clients are local, statewide, regional and international entities. Some of the projects Kathy enjoys most are those that are tied to bettering the community, from planning announcement events for major new employers to developing promotional campaigns for local economic development agencies and directing conferences for a statewide professional transportation organization. A longtime member of First Presbyterian Church of West Point, Kathy introduced a Kenya ministry to her church family in 2006. She has led eight groups on short-term mission trips focused on construction and fellowship.
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Nominees
nora miller For decades, Nora Miller has been a leader among leaders in higher education in Mississippi. Now, serving as the 15th president of Mississippi University for Women, she is the sole female leading a public institution of higher learning in our state, providing a visible and effective example of how the talents of women are making a difference in Mississippi. President Miller was named to her current role in November 2018 after serving for 17 years in senior leadership at The W. As vice president for finance and administration, a position she held for 11 years, and as senior vice president for administration and chief financial officer, a position she held for six years, she was a key member of the President’s Cabinet and earned the distinction of keeping the university nearly debt free. She steered The W through challenges, such as rebuilding after a devastating tornado in 2002 that destroyed significant campus buildings; and she took the lead in overseeing the renovation of historic Poindexter Hall, built in 1905, and the recent $20.4 million renovation and expansion of the John Clayton Fant Memorial Library, its first significant face lift since 1989. Both renovations have earned preservation and architectural awards. A Leadership Mississippi graduate, Nora was named one of the Top 50 Businesswomen of the Year by the Mississippi Business Journal. A member of the Mississippi University for Women Alumni Association, she has served as treasurer for the MUW Alumnae Association and the MUW Ecumenical Council.
The Girl Scout Mission Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
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Master of Ceremonies
aundrea self We are pleased to again have Aundrea Self serving as our Master of Ceremonies for today’s luncheon. Aundrea is home grown. She graduated from Starkville High School and earned degrees in English and mass communications from Stillman College, where she also served as “Miss Stillman College.” After graduation, Aundrea began her broadcasting career at WACR radio. After joining the WCBI-TV family as a news producer, Aundrea eventually began reporting. That ultimately led to her 7-year run as co-anchor of “WCBI News Sunrise” and “Midday.” Aundrea currently anchors the five and six o’clock newscasts at WCBI and hosts the daily talk show, “MidMorning with Aundrea.” Outside of work, Aundrea spends time speaking to area churches, schools, and civic organizations. She is an active member of the Starkville chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and enjoys reading, spending time with family, and sampling her husband’s tasty dishes! Aundrea and her husband, David, have three children: Kimberly, Alan, and Emilee.
Keynote Speaker
honey, hush Honey, Hush is a podcast by Lacy Arant, Michelle Tehan, and Elizabeth Casano, three southern business women who know a thing or two about using honey to attract the bees. Every week, they discuss with up-and-coming and established leaders alike how to win influence with one simple strategy: kindness. Whether you are a successful entrepreneur or still in the dream phase, Honey, Hush will teach you that the sweeter the honey, the more bees you will attract!
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Event Sponsors
cadette level sponsors Kappa Delta Sorority Delta Omega Chapter
Mississippi University for Women
junior level sponsors Lara & Trey Bowman
brownie level sponsors 4-County Electric Power Association West Point/Clay County Community Growth Alliance
Special thanks to our dedicated 2019 Women of Distinction Committee Members: Lara Bowman, Kathleen Burnett, Melinda Lowe, and Cate Robinson. Without you, this extraordinary event would not be possible. Thank you for investing your time and talents to help recognize and honor Women of Distinction in the Golden Triangle Region and to promoting the mission of Girl Scouts. 6
Event Sponsors
luncheon sponsors Many thanks to the following restaurants for providing such a delicious lunch. As you patronize these eateries, please thank them for their generous contributions to our community.
Harding Catering Magnolia at The Ritz McAlister’s Deli, Starkville Newk’s Eatery, Starkville Sodexo Starkville Café
gifts provided by Kendra Scott
floral arrangements by Events Off 5th Fleur de Lis
The Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try: to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law. 7
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The Girl Scout Law I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Girl Scouts Heart of the South www.girlscoutshs.org I 800.624.4185