ATHENA winner: Executive or politician?

The Women’s Network will present the winner of the annual ATHENA Award Thursday night, and the finalists are Boone Hospital Center Vice President Mary Beck, Landmark Bank Executive Vice President Sabrina McDonnell and County Commissioner Karen Miller.
The Chamber of Commerce group will also present the winner of the Young ATHENA Award during the banquet at the University Club, and the finalists are Shatenita Horton of Boone County National Bank, Shelly DeVore of Columbia Insurance Group and Kerrie Bloss of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri.
Last year, Theresa Maledy of Commerce Bank received the ATHENA Award, and Kelly Marchbanks of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine received the Young ATHENA Award.
The Women’s Network created the ATHENA Award 16 years ago, created its own event two years ago and announced finalists for the first time this year. Nominations were submitted to the ATHENA committee, which is made up of former ATHENA winners and the past and current presidents. The judges look for leaders in their professions, volunteers in their communities and, most importantly, people who have worked to advance professional women or acted as mentors or role models.

The Finalists:

Mary Beck, as vice president of patient care services, led Boone Hospital Center’s effort to achieve Magnet Recognition for Nursing Excellence in 2005 and again in 2009. Beck received the Mizzou Alumni Association Citation of Merit in 2009 for outstanding achievement and service. She is active in community service through work with the United Way Board and the Women’s Network and was recently appointed to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

As EVP and chief administrative executive, Sabrina McDonnell helped develop the STARS program at Landmark Bank. She also is responsible for monitoring and managing risk for the entire enterprise. She has been very active with the Chamber of Commerce and has served as an ambassador since 1993. She was president of the Women’s Network from 1993 to 1994. She has been involved with the United Way since the mid-’90s and has served in many capacities including the Board of Directors.

Karen Miller, the southern district commissioner for Boone County, is serving her sixth term. She was elected in 2000 as an officer in the National Association of Counties and was president from 2003 to 2004. Miller was named one of Government Technology Magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers of Government Technology in 2009. She also developed the Leadership Series for the Women’s Network.

Shatenita Horton is an assistant vice president and managing officer at BCNB’s Lake of the Woods and Paris Road branches. She has been active in the United Way for 10 years and has been a United Way loaned executive.

Shelly Devore supervises the Commercial Lines Department of Columbia Insurance Group. She is a co-chair of Leadership Columbia and of the Membership Development Committee for the Women’s Network.

Kerri Bloss’ program team at “the Bigs” was recognized as one of the top three in the nation. She is a charter member of the Sunrise/Southwest Rotary Club and will be Rotary District 6080 secretary next year.