The Frisco Enterprise Star
Women of Vision Announces Mentor of Year
(Saturday, October 27, 2007)
Women of Visionary Influence honored outstanding mentors at its recent annual Mentor Recognition Awards Luncheon.
Frances Pelley of the Texoma Council of Governments was named Mentor of the Year. Community Mentor of the Year was Carol Martinez of State Farm Insurance, and Education Mentor of the Year was Dr. Julia Shahid of Austin College.
Each year, the awards recognize women who clearly encourage and motivate other women in the workplace, provide special value to their organization, and impact measurable growth in the development of women and their organization.
Pelley, executive director of Texoma Council of Governments, is active in Sherman community organizations and has served as a role model throughout her career. During the flooding in Cooke, Grayson and Fannin counties, she helped many navigate the channels of governmental agencies. Pelley is also a long-time advocate of Austin College and had several student mentees as well as mentoring Austin College’s Posey Leadership Institute employees with career exploration assistance and advice.
Martinez, a State Farm agent, heads her own insurance agency. She has mentored many others in the insurance industry as well as being instrumental in developing the “emerging markets” department for State Farm. Martinez also educates the community, speaking at many schools and encouraging young students. Martinez founded “Viva Dallas” for the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is President-Elect 2008 for The Hispanic 100.
Shahid, an associate professor of education at Austin College, teaches the teachers, mentoring her students to be prepared to influence the next generation. She has traveled internationally, touring schools and observing teaching methods, integrating her new insight into her classes, seminars and workshops. Shahid also serves on the Steering Committee of the Austin College Posey Leadership Institute. She is a resident of McKinney.
In the Friday luncheon keynote, Liz McNabb shared her story and advised the audience of ways to best benefit from mentoring. She also explained her newest passion of w2wlink.com, a web site providing a place for ideas, knowledge, tools and connections women need to support growth during professional and personal change or transition.
The Saturday conference featured keynote speakers Dr. Stefanie Sanford, deputy advocacy director for National Initiatives at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and White House Fellows board of directors, and Mercedes Ramirez-Johnson, airplane crash survivor, “Return on Investment Living” speaker, and soon-to-be author.
Women of Visionary Influence Inc., a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization, develops programs and activities designed to lead, educate and mentor women. WOVI has chapters in Addison, Austin, Frisco, North Dallas and Sherman (Red River). For information, go to www.wovi.com.