ATHENA symbolizes strength, perseverance, success for Quad Cities women.
As Yavapai College President Dr. Lisa Rhine and Prescott College President Dr. Barbara Morris shared deeply personal stories of their own challenges, women could empathize with their struggles, some could see themselves in their stories, and many fought to hold back tears.
Carmen Fredric Shelters Those in Need
With a standing ovation and roar of applause, Prescott Area Shelter Services (PASS) Executive Director Carmen Frederic was honored with the 2023 ATHENA Leadership Award. As she accepted the prestigious award, she didn’t share her story, but later reflected on how alcoholism and homelessness in her family motivated her to rise above her circumstances and then to commit herself to a career of supporting and encouraging other women.
“The Athena award is such a high honor and something I will always remember and treasure for the rest of my life!” she said in a Quad Cities Business News interview. “The award itself is beautiful and placed currently at the shelter office for all to see and enjoy. It will be a talking piece and maybe an inspiration to all of the women in shelter to aspire to someday, a pathway to be taken to be compassionate and build up other women as a goal in their life.”
Frederic left home for college after graduating from high school. “I helped to open the first teen pregnancy shelter in my hometown and worked for the education service district helping struggling families keep their kids in school. My biological father was a severe alcoholic and experienced homelessness himself. I often ran into him in my hometown when I would be working with my own clients.”
Today, she is credited with leading the evolution of PASS from a winter shelter in a church basement to a 26-bed facility at its own location, plus the creation of two transitional houses. The organization now serves about 180 women and children a year.
“All of these challenges in life have made me a better person and given me the insight and empathy in my work at the shelter,” she said.
Tracy Rogers Helps Students Stay in School
Cheered on by friends and associates from Yavapai College, YC Radiology Program Director Tracy Rogers was in disbelief as her name was called to join the stage to receive the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.
“I was in total shock,” she said of the moment.
Rogers told QCBN how she burst into tears hearing about Dr. Rhine’s difficult childhood. “Her story is very similar to my upbringing. So many people have faced things you’d never expect. She is such an inspiration. I look at her and think, ‘That could be my future!’”
Rogers recalls a time when she could not imagine herself as a successful professional. “Growing up in a poor home, we didn’t know if we were going to have Christmas, and work was a priority to help provide for the household, not school. But I realized school is what makes a better life possible. I just kept pursuing education.”
Through a difficult divorce three years ago, she felt her world crumbling around her. As a single mom, the thought of balancing all of life’s challenges felt impossible. “Women especially find themselves in this situation, but I had an amazing career as an X-ray tech. I am so thankful to have this career. I always wanted to be an instructor for the [YC radiology] program. Before I knew it, I became the program director!”
As with many women, Rogers says she struggles with feeling like an imposter in her work. “Every day I feel like I’ve got to prove my worthiness. I think, ‘Is this real? Am I really doing this? Am I working hard enough?’”
At YC, her colleagues call her a transformational and servant leader. She established an emergency fund to support students struggling with unexpected expenses and recently received the Great Ideas for Teaching (GIFT) Fellowship Award for Teaching Excellence.
“This award reminds me that I have something to continue to be worthy of,” she said. “I just feel really empowered now to keep moving forward and inspired to help other women.”
Prescott Woman Showcases Women
As with the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, QCBN added another award this year. Breeanya Hinkel accepted the ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award for her business, Prescott Woman Magazine.
“I’m honored and surprised to be the recipient of the first ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award,” said Hinkel. “Typically, we love to be the ones honoring other women and it is such a privilege to have stood on the stage and be recognized along with other outstanding organizations.”
Hinkel and Prescott Woman Magazine worked with Quad Cites Business News to bring the ATHENA Leadership Awards to the region in 2020. “I’m thrilled that Quad Cities Business News has kept the tradition of ATHENA going and for their commitment to honor women throughout the area.”
ATHENA Wisdom
Keynote speaker Julie Jones motivated the attendees to “Stop Waiting, Start Living,” which is also the name of one of her books. The former police officer and SWAT team member reminded the audience that tomorrow is not guaranteed. She urged women to be authentic and live the lives they were born to live.
ATHENA Leadership Program Founder Martha Mayhood Mertz delivered a recorded message congratulating the nominees. ATHENA International President and CEO Traci Costa reminded audience members that there is still work to do to support women in leadership. QCBN
By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN
Hear more from Julie Jones and Martha Mayhood Mertz on Zonie Living at StarWorldwideNetworks.com.
