Though she always drew inspiration from the extensive checklist of Marion County’s Athena Management Award recipients, Heidi Jones never ever assumed she would be just one of them.
That changed on Monday afternoon when Jones was honored as the 2023 recipient by the Marion Women’s Small business Council.
“This is pretty distinctive,” stated Jones, who is the president of the Marion Spot Chamber of Commerce. “For years, I viewed so numerous amazing girls obtain this award, but you under no circumstances put on your own in that identical category with people girls. So to stand here these days getting the Athena recipient is such an honor for me. This group is stuffed with amazing female leaders and I get to see their function each day. I am very pleased to be in a category with these amazing women.”
The Marion Women’s Enterprise Council has been presenting the Athena Leadership Award to neighborhood ladies who have built an impression on the community because 1998. Jones is the 25th recipient of the award in Marion County. Influenced by the Greek goddess symbolizing power, bravery, wisdom and enlightenment, the Athena Leadership Award is introduced to an person who shows qualified excellence, creativity, initiative, and management to the neighborhood.
Prior to currently being appointed president of the Marion Region Chamber of Commerce, a position she assumed in February of this yr, Jones served as govt director of Marion Issues, Inc. for nine yrs. Prior to her time at Marion Issues, Jones spent almost 12 years in various positions, such as local financial institutions and a furniture organization. During her time with Marion Issues, Jones played a essential job in the improvement of a wide range of neighborhood projects.
Jones reported she encourages youthful ladies to be bold and to come across a put in which they can use their items and abilities to provide the group in a constructive fashion.
“If it’s on your coronary heart to do it, do it,” Jones mentioned. “I think we enable anxiety lead us in so a lot of methods society would not settle for or society does not acknowledge. But I imagine if you have it on your heart to do a little something, just do it.”
Jones explained she has been encouraged and mentored by numerous “awesome females” in Marion County all through her life time. She regarded a couple of them.
“I have pretty distinct mentors,” Jones mentioned. “Shirley Loving was my 1st supervisor in my 1st grownup work at Fahey Bank. I was often just amazed at what she stood for. I always connect with her my ‘game changer.’ Pam Hall, who was the president of the chamber of commerce, took me below her wing when I initially started at Marion Matters as the government director and I discovered so much from her.
“And previous, but not minimum, Choose Teresa Ballinger has been not just a mentor, but a friend to me above the very last 10 a long time. I am just so grateful for her tips and management in the local community. I’ve generally seemed up to her and admired everything that she has completed. She’s special to me, very particular to me.”
Through the ceremony on Monday, Jones was presented with several proclamations honoring her choice as the 2023 Athena Management Award recipient. She obtained proclamations from condition Rep. Tracy Richardson, Marion Mayor Scott Schertzer, and Marion County Commissioners Andy Appelfeller, Mark Davis, and Kerr Murray.
Jones specified Marion Matters, Inc. as her non-profit agency to obtain a donation from the proceeds of the Marion Women’s Enterprise Council silent auction and a matching present from Modern-day Woodmen Fraternal Economical. A full of $5,000 will be introduced to Marion Issues, Inc. in Jones’ title.
In addition to Jones, 5 other gals had been nominated for this year’s Athena Leadership Award, every of them outstanding contributors to the neighborhood. The other nominees were being:
- Lisa Cudd, entrepreneur and philanthropist, owner of Bluebird’s Nest Shop online retail retail store
- Jennifer Decker Lawson, senior training expert and coach for Concentration 3, an advisory company that gives consulting and schooling
- Amy Orr Parker, education specialist for the Ohio Office of Instruction and founder of Luke 3:11 Ministries
- Leslie Schneider, useful resource advancement director for United Way of North Central Ohio, Inc.
- Lora Troutman, founder of the Peace and Freedom Committee and retired Whirlpool Corp. staff
The Marion Women’s Small business Council was founded in 1994 with the function of fostering and endorsing self-utilized, entrepreneurial ladies, and women of all ages doing work in company environments and furnishing networking alternatives for regional ladies. Now, the organization has a membership of additional than 30 girls.
Current board customers of the Marion Women’s Organization Club are Kathie Seckel, president Pam Workman, senior vice president and acting treasurer Lisa Bush, junior vice president Maggie Breeding, secretary Nikki Workman, Karen Herr, Angie Carbetta, Jennifer Lawson, Lauren Watts, Sherry Goodman, Tammi Cowell, and Whittney Mahle.
For information and facts about the Marion Women’s Enterprise Council, go to its web site www.womensbusinesscouncil.com, or check out its Fb web site.
Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter
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