Monica Dale, Dawson and Keenan commercial account executive and past Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce president, received the Chamber’s ATHENA Award for 2018 at the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce Annual Women in Business Breakfast, held at The Water Tower Inn Thursday morning.
The ATHENA award is presented to an individual recognized for professional excellence, providing valuable service to the community and for actively assisting women in the attainment of their professional goals and leadership skills.
Dale was the winner from among 11 women nominated for the award.
“It’s a great honour and extremely humbling to be in front of all you outstanding business women,” Dale told the audience of more than 200 local business women at the event, a part of International Women’s Day celebrations.
“Serving my clients and the community has been a pleasure and a privilege that I’m grateful for every single day. I wouldn’t be able to do it if I didn’t have all the amazing people behind me supporting me along the way.”
“I always feel recharged after this amazing event each year from the energy in this room. It is meaningful to recognize the importance of women, their role in the home, workplace and the community, but Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said it best: “In the future there will be no female leaders, there will just be leaders.”
“I encourage all of you to find your passion and prioritize the time to do it. Life’s an adventure. Embrace the journey,” Dale said.
“Monica is a highly motivated person with a deep sense of rallying community spirit whose commitment to the women of our community exceeds expectations, and has demonstrated her ability to lead nd mentor those within the insurance industry,” said award presenter Lyne Gagnon, former Sault College board of governors chair.
A panel consisting of Dionne Elgie, Village Electric president and editor-in-chief of Sault Ste. Marie content on NorthernOntario.travel, Sherry Berlinghoff, SK Group president, Heather Mendes, a partner in O’Neill Delorenzi and Mendes law firm and Katherine MacRae, Be Your Own Super Hero! president/organizer, shared their stories and provided insight as business women with Thursday’s audience.
Elgie said she is a strong believer in stepping out of one’s comfort zone, referring to her own skydiving experience as a way of conquering a fear of heights she once had.
Berlinghoff said she is inspired by business people who believe in themselves and their businesses, who don’t dwell on past mistakes.
Mendes, who said she wanted to be a lawyer since she was a child, spoke of how she balances her career with her family life, which includes the recent adoption of three sons.
“You have to take care of yourself first or you won’t be able to take care of other people,” Mendes advised, mentioning the importance of maintaining physical fitness to stay physically and mentally sharp.
MacRae, who has worked as a mechanic and Rolls Royce salesperson, and who is also a Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce past president and ATHENA award winner, said “we need to develop women’s skills to sit on boards as chairs and business leaders…there’s a life force in every woman.”
Natasha Colak, Sault College Public Relations and Event Management (PEM) program instructor, who served as the panel’s moderator, added she is encouraged by Mattel’s introduction of three new figures based on real-life role models for women, such as aviator Amelia Earhart, artist and activist Frida Kahlo and mathematics pioneer/NASA technician Katherine Johnson.
A ‘visible minority’ of seven men, including Don Mitchell, Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce president, were present at Thursday’s event, who praised local business women for their contributions to the community.