BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO HONOR LEADERSHIP MODEL

The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Business Development Connection is once again honoring local businesswomen through the annual ATHENA Leadership Award Luncheon, which will be held from 12-1:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the Sam s Town Hotel & Casino. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m.

The 16 individuals being honored are

examples of professional excellence in a myriad of categories, showing creativity and initiative in their fields, exemplifying profound leadership skills, and committing themselves and their businesses to the betterment of the community as a whole.

During the luncheon, one of the honorees will be named the 2019 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient. This coveted award recognizes one particular individual who has gone over and above in assisting women in achieving their full potential through mentorship and service, and who has opened paths of leadership for women to help them grow and strive in the community. This recipient will also have, like the other nominees, devoted him or herself to improving life in a meaningful way for those around them.

The ATHENA Leadership Award was inspired by the goddess of Greek mythology, Athena – Greek goddess of wisdom and war – who, as legend has it, is known for her bravery, inner and outer strength, helping hand, knowledge and insight. These are all qualities that make up the ideal ATHENA leadership model.

Since 1982, more than 7,000 leaders in over 500 communities have received the prestigious ATHENA Award in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, China, Greece, India, Russia, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The ATHENA Leadership Award Program hopes to encourage other businessmen and businesswomen to strive for excellence in their careers.

Angelique Feaster Evans, Ph.D.

For over two decades, Angelique has been doing what brings her joy — not just a job. She has been a leader in the renaissance of African-American community theatre for North Louisiana, which was dormant for over 50 years. She is an artistic messenger and uses her God-given talents to touch, move and inspire others through powerful mediums of expression.

Although born completely deaf in her right ear, she uses her “voice” as a positive catalyst for change. Her passion for cultural and performing arts combined with her ability to connect with people of all ages allows her to inspire and lead others by planting seeds of artistic possibility. Using her craft, Angelique raises the bar of excellence for herself and others by discovering new ways to cultivate, create and collaborate to dramatically impact the cultural quality of life in communities.

Anna Flores Remick

Anna is an intellectually-curious, vision-driven professional who has attained the highest level of professional excellence. For the last 10 years, she has used exceptional engineering skills to drive product innovations and process improvements across multiple industries (primarily in power generation, a male-dominated field). While moving across the country as a military spouse, she has devoted time and energy to improving the quality of life for others in the community.

She is a co-founder of the Society of Military Spouses in STEM. This non-profit supports military spouses in technical fields to guide them through their academic and professional careers while also increasing job, internship and scholarship opportunities for them. Anna actively mentors and encourages women in the engineering field, colleagues at The Wharton School, and Shreveport fitness group members in achieving their full potential as leaders and professionals.

Britney Burton Spivey

Britney Burton Spivey owns Simply Chic Boutique and has proven successful in franchising five store locations across Louisiana in Bossier City, Shreveport, Natchitoches, Baton Rouge and Mandeville. Her creativity extends into all aspects of her business, from clothing design to creating a mobile boutique extension of her storefronts. She strives to make sure that every woman who enters Simply Chic leaves feeling valued, beautiful and special.

Britney has a passion for giving back to the community that has been her home for many years. She uses her platform to mentor young women to become thriving professionals and recognize their strengths. She is an entrepreneur, a leader, a wife and a mother to three handsome boys. Actively involved in her community and church, Britney serves in leadership roles organizing fundraisers, creating scholarship programs, and mentoring young women.

Emily Mott

In 1983, after moving to Shreveport from Lafayette, Emily joined the workforce as a sales executive for a local business publication. This was when she began building the foundation for the success she is so fortunate to have today. She learned that personal responsibility, hard work, creativity and endurance are essential. She is proud to say that she can still rely on 30 years of community involvement and the relationships she has formed over those years as resources and clients today.

Emily started E. Mott Solutions in 2017 using a business model concentrating on project management, business development and consulting for companies and political campaigns.

Her dedication to the community shows in her work with Providence House, serving on the Barksdale Air Force Base Shreveport-Bossier Military Affairs Council and volunteering with Junior Achievement teaching students the importance of business fundamentals.

Erica Richard Bryant

After serving 17 years as the director of finance and human resources for Caddo Parish, Erica was appointed to assistant parish administrator in June 2019. In this role, she supervises the daily operations of Caddo Parish.

Erica earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southern University and an MBA from LSUS. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Public Finance Officer. Erica strives to be active in both career and community and has served as the president of the Louisiana Government Finance Officers’ Association, president of the Caddo- Bossier Port Commission, and currently serves as the treasurer for the Caddo Community Action Agency. She is devoted to philanthropic service through organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Center for Families and many others. She is married to Willie Ellis Bryant and has four daughters.

Eureka Chitman

Eureka Chitman is a dynamic leader who uses natural persuasive ability, innovative thinking and determination to build a training system to develop leaders for the United States Air Force. Her efforts and creativity developed and implemented a database applicable to many other training systems.

Eureka poured herself into the Barksdale men's basketball program volunteering as the head coach. Women coaches in a military men's league have been an anomaly and not a rule. Coach Eureka's leadership and enthusiasm inspired this team to win the league championship in her very first season.

Ms. Chitman works tirelessly in her community, investing in the lives of women, men and children. She has a passion for mentoring youth through ministry and started "Praise Dance Angels," which teaches and encourages faith to young girls through dance. Eureka's selfless commitment to others and personal ability to overcome tragedy are an inspiration to everyone who knows her.

Jackie F. LaCour

Jackie F. LaCour is the bank security officer and information security officer for Citizens National Bank, where she has worked since 2015. She began her career in investigation as the loss prevention manager for a major retailer, while obtaining her real estate license.

In 1995, Jackie started her banking career as a teller and quickly rose through the ranks to become a senior fraud investigator. She joined Citizens National Bank as a banking officer and now holds the title of vice president. Jackie has worked in the investigation and banking arena for the past 25 years and takes great pride in educating and mentoring others on current fraud scams.

Her community service includes: being inducted into the Top Ladies of Distinction National Association, volunteering at the Shreveport- Bossier Rescue Mission, mentoring at the BPCC Adult Literacy Program, is a member of the Daughters who are the Sisters to Shriners and much more.

Jamie Ott Shaw

Jamie leads business development at Shriners Hospitals for Children- Shreveport and serves their mission of helping children beat the odds. She works diligently to advocate for excellent health care for children right here at home. She has served in the local health-care community for almost 20 years.

When she is not leading in health care, Jamie is leading in the arts. She has been a dance instructor and mentor at Power & Grace School of Performing Arts for 11 years. During that time, she has nurtured young dancers into confident women who have become leaders in their own professions.

Jamie is a woman of strong faith, a loving wife to husband Lucas for 17 years, and mother of three daughters: Logan, Avery and Sophie. She copes with personal tragedy and uses it as fuel for self-motivation and empowering other women.

K.C. Kilpatrick

K.C. Kilpatrick is the founder and executive director of Geaux 4 Kids Inc. and Project Geaux Bags serving foster children since 2013. She realized the gap in services after two siblings came to her in foster care with nothing but the clothes on their back. It was then that she began collecting and delivering supplies to foster children.

She holds a B.A. and Master of Human Service Administration degree from LSUS, is a Certified Non-Profit Professional and Volunteer Administrator and a 2005 graduate of the Greater Shreveport Chamber’s Leadership program.

Over the years K.C. has advised, trained and mentored countless interns, employees and students through her volunteer work and employment. She gives her time and attention to bettering her community by serving on the Louisiana Foster Parents Association, Caddo Council on Aging, the Louisiana Governor Children’s Cabinet Advisory Boards and many more.

Lauren G. Jackson

Lauren G. Jackson has committed her career to making a financial difference in the lives of every client she encounters. With 10+ years of banking experience, Lauren differentiates herself by sharing her passion and knowledge of the financial world with clients. Lauren has hosted numerous financial literacy programs throughout the Ark-La-Tex with the emphasis in helping clients reach their financial goals.

Lauren’s passion to see others succeed in all endeavors of their lives is one of her most distinctive attributes. She is an active member of the Junior League, helping empower women, mentor young girls and promote leadership amongst women in our community. She is also author of the book entitled “Purposeful Pain.” Lauren gives motivational messages through her platforms and launched a podcast promoting positivity and productivity. All of this creates a community for all women to interact, heal and, most importantly, find their purpose.

Linnea Fayard Allen

Linnea is the cultural communications officer/social media director for Origin Bank. In this position she counsels employees in reaching their goals and dreams, directs all social media strategy and is a member of the team that launched a new name/brand project in 2015. Linnea is also the manager/ coordinator of the bank’s Project Enrich program, which gives employees up to 20 hours of paid time off per year to volunteer in the community. She was one of four employees who created and launched this program within the bank.

She was the first woman to lead a local TV news sports team, volunteers countless hours to North Louisiana community theatre organizations, mentors and trains young women through the Miss Louisiana Organization and has performed nationally and internationally as a singer, emcee, speaker and commercial spokesperson. She is proud to have graduated with her master’s degree, earning a 4.0 GPA while being a single mother with a full-time job.

Lisa Ann Sweeney

Lisa Ann Sweeney has been a licensed ordained minister for over 19 years, a licensed practical nurse for 26 years, and is currently a staff nurse at Elite Health Solutions, LLC in Shreveport, La.

Lisa’s passion is for women, children and families that are domestic violence survivors and have come from hard places. She serves as executive director of SISTERS International Inc., where they empower, educate and encourage women and children as an outpatient life-skills service provider though mentorship, training and tutoring. She is dedicated to serving women and their children and has served as a volunteer for over 22 years in teaching life skills and after school tutoring.

Lisa is also known as that DatCajunGirl Precious Founder of Precious Signature Seasonings and is the author of three books – “Dabayou Cajun Cookbook,” “Gotta Throw Myself Into the Ministry Servant’s Handbook” and “Retrain your Brain and Reign in Life.”

Lisa Janes

Lisa Janes is a Shreveport-Bossier City native, having invested many years in volunteerism and community improvement. She prides herself on helping students, sales team members and business owners achieve their highest potential both personally and financially.

Lisa has years of experience in leadership positions on various boards and committees as well as having the good fortune to remain in media sales management for over 25 years within the same marketplace. Currently, she is the director of sales for Townsquare Media.

Lisa has been able to help many realize their own success. While working as a marketing and advertising consultant, she uses her gifts of conversation and love for her community to help business owners grow their own businesses. Throughout her career, Lisa has helped to instill the values of honesty and integrity in those that she has coached.

Martha Segura Nabors

Martha, a Greater Shreveport Chamber Diplomat, has had a long career in sales, including time as sales manager for Planters/LifeSavers in Houston. In 2000, she returned to Shreveport to be a part of the community she loves. She owns and manages Nabors Insurance, which she started in 2007, with the motto of “Nabors Helping Neighbors.”

Community involvement is important to Martha, who is a member of the Military Affairs Council, BNI Elite, NWLA Association of Realtors, Women's Council of Realtors, the Muses at Centenary College and First United Methodist Church. Martha also belongs to the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary, which hosts an annual event that enables her to invite other women so they, too, can learn how help others in the community. Martha has two sons, Josh and Nick, and is also a mother to rescue dogs Jack and Holly.

Pavunae Tiyest Jones

Pavunae Jones started her career in sales 17 years ago working with companies such as Gannett USA Today, Cumulus Broadcast, Reach Local and KTAL-NBC 6. She is currently the facility sales specialist with the Cintas Corporation by helping local and national businesses reduce their housekeeping costs while improving their facility image. She is also the owner of Pretty Please Cosmetic Company, where she offers distribution, cosmetics and esthetic services.

Pavunae, along with two others, started the Strength Within Sisterhood Organization. The goal was to help 10 problematic females at the Shreveport Job Corps campus and mentor them for one year. They assisted ladies in overcoming issues with anger, past grievances and depression.

Pavunae is the first in her family to go to and complete college. She enjoys being a great wife and mother focusing on preparing her children, Jay and Lyahna, for success.