Posted October 2006

Chattanooga, Tennesse -- The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday announced recipients of a new series of awards celebrating the strength, leadership and courage that characterize women who succeed in the business world.

The Chattanooga Nautilus Awards were presented, along with the ATHENA Award, during ceremonies in the Chattanoogan Hotel Ballroom. Heather Holloway, general manager of FASTSIGNS and chair of the Nautilus Awards Committee, emceed the event.

"The purpose of the Chattanooga Nautilus event is to honor organizations and individuals that are providing or advocating for increased opportunities for women in business," said Kristi Haulsee, Chamber vice president of member-investor services. "We are very pleased that more than 50 individuals and companies were nominated for this first presentation of our new awards."

Awards and recipients are: The ATHENA Award, Rae Bond, executive director of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society and Medical Foundation; Corporate Compass Award, G.R. Rush and Company; Lightkeeper Award, Sandi Brock, program director of the Southeast Women’s Business Center; Navigator of Entrepreneurship Award, Kary Klein, president of SmartHireHR; Pearl of Promise Award, Elizabeth Proctor, Red Bank High School senior.

The ATHENA Award, which has been presented in Chattanooga for nine years, is bestowed upon an individual who encourages women to realize their leadership potential, enjoys a successful career and participates in community service. Other finalists were Kary Klein, president of SmartHireHR; and Pam Ladd, owner of Custom Custodial.

Bond, who received the ATHENA Award, was cited for her leadership in the Scenic City Women’s Network, the Coalition Against Domestic and Community Violence and the Tennessee Economic Council on Women Summit Planning Committee.

She was also recognized for her volunteer work on behalf of the Chattanooga Theatre Center, Why kNOw Abstinence and the Widows Harvest Ministry.

The following awards comprise the new Nautilus Awards.

The Corporate Compass Award was presented to G.R. Rush and Co. for flexible workplace policies and placing women at all levels in the company, including on the board of directors, where women hold 25 percent of the seats. Other finalists were EPB and Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough.

The Navigator of Entrepreneurship Award recognizes a woman business owner who encourages work-life balance among employees, demonstrates a pioneering spirit of entrepreneurship and serves as a role model for other women. Kary Klein, SmartHireHR president, was cited for transforming a temp agency into a full service human resources firm; exceptional efforts on behalf of her clients and for nurturing her staff. Other finalists were Dr. Carol Berz, CEO of Private Dispute Resolution Services; and Sheila Boyington, president of Thinking Media.

The Lightkeeper Award honors an individual who has had an impact on issues affecting women and/or girls through grassroots efforts. Sandi Brock received the award for coaching women who are trying to launch or grow a business, for founding the Women in Business Forum and for assisting with a summit that addressed issues affecting women economically. Other finalists were Lisa Crawford, concierge of the Chattanoogan Hotel; Marj Flemming, owner of Launch Point Leadership; and Randall Hebert, dealership services manager of Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough.

The Pearl of Promise awards a $2,500 college scholarship to a female high school student with a strong aptitude in math and science and a career interest in a typically male-dominated field. Elizabeth Proctor received the award for working toward a career in medicine, excelling in math and science and acting as a leader at Red Bank High, where she is president of her class, a Student Council member and a Girls State delegate. Other finalists were Priya C. Boyington, Girls Preparatory School; and Elena Canler, Ooltewah High School.

The name Nautilus derives from the chambered nautilus, the sea snail that forms chambers as it grows. During its development, the nautilus builds new, larger chambers and seals off the old.

"Oliver Wendell Holmes, who wrote the celebrated Chambered Nautilus poem, saw the growth of the mollusk and its spiral shell as representative of the intellectual growth of humans," Haulsee said. "The nautilus shell seems an appropriate symbol for the strength, leadership and courage that women must demonstrate for success in the business place."