The announcement that Mickey Edwards Executive Director of our local United Way had been selected to follow Connie Cahoon to lead our SOS organization came as no surprise and with total approval from yours truly.
Edwards is homegrown and has distinguished herself in the CASA organization where she grew from leading the state CASA organization to her outstanding work at the United Way.
With that said it occurred to me that we have a large number of female leaders locally. Are Emporia’s numbers greater than most? Good question, but we are certainly blessed with a number of ladies who lead.
Here’s my quickly put-together list of Ladies in Charge. I do this knowing I’m leaving out many, but here it goes with apologies.
President Caron Daugherty, Flint Hills Tech, Allison Anderson-Harder, Superintendent of Schools USD 253, Cathy Pimple, newly named CEO at Newman Hospital, City Commissioner Becky Smith and Mayor Susan Brinkman, who also is an Executive with Southwick House and owns her own business, retiring Emporia Community Foundation CEO Becky Nuremberg, also retiring -Emporia Child Care’s Deb Crowell, Capt. Mylie Padden with the Salvation Army, Renee Hivley, CEO CareArc, Amanda Cunningham, Executive Director with Cross Winds, Pastors Karla Sheffy 1st United Methodist Church and Phyllis Stutesman, 1st Presbyterian Church, Jelinda Watts with ValuNet, Kristi Mohn, Co-Owner Caldwell Banker, Lisa Keith, Director, David Traylor Zoo, Jill Burton, Executive Director Hettinger’s, USD 253 Board of Education Members, Jennifer Thomas, Leslie Seeley, Lillian Linkenfelter, Jami Reever who is also the Executive with Kansas Appleseed, Jessica Symmonds, Gourmet to Go owner, Dawn Young, Executive at the Arts Council and last, but certainly not least Pharmacist Amber Haag and owner Haag Pharmacy.
Very impressive group – Emporia is indeed blessed!
