Past Tribute Honorees
2011 PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY AWARD
Lileah Harris
Lileah Harris was born in Waterloo, Iowa, during the Great Depression. The daughter of the city’s first black physician and one of its first black educators, she learned early on the importance of education. After high school, she attended Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa). Two years later she married Percy G. Harris and moved with him to Washington D.C. while he finished medical school. In 1957 they settled in Cedar Rapids. Lileah put her formal education on hold while raising 12 children and becoming active in the community. In 1993, she fulfilled her lifelong goal and graduated with a degree in Russian from the University of Iowa. An ardent believer in education, she served on many school committees and became the first African-American PTA president at Erskine Elementary and Washington High Schools. Lileah also served on the advisory board for the Jane Boyd Community House and the Minnesota Early Learning Design program, which addressed the problems of parents in crisis. She served on the Human Relations Council and the Human Rights Commission throughout the 70s and 80s, focusing on housing equality. Lileah was president of the All Saints Catholic Church Parish Council and served on the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Association, Jane Boyd Community House, the NAACP and the Cedar Rapids Symphony Guild. She has also been an important contributor to the work of the African American Museum of Iowa. Lileah viewed her service and volunteerism as an avenue for improving opportunities for African-Americans and ensuring justice for all people.
2011 TRIBUTE TO WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT OUTSTANDING AWARD WINNERS
Melody Graham
Acting Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Mount Mercy University
Category of Achievement: Organizational Impact/Non-Profit
As Dean of Graduate Programs (2007-11), Dr. Melody Graham led the effort to bring graduate learning to Mount Mercy. Melody hired the graduate faculty, worked with faculty members to create the curriculum, and led the efforts to develop systems, policies and processes for graduate coursework. Today these four graduate programs designed for working adults – in Business Administration, Education, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Nursing – are fully accredited and serving more than 220 students. As Director of Academic Assessment (2000-11), she worked collaboratively with faculty to develop an overall assessment plan for all academic departments, earning a commendation from the Higher Learning Commission. Melody also directly impacts students in the classroom as a highly regarded longtime psychology professor. In her new role as Acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Melody is a visionary campus innovator who is leading curriculum growth and enhancement, providing dynamic leadership of academic programming, supporting institutional entrepreneurship and advancement, nurturing academic partnerships with educational and community organizations domestically and abroad, and leading the institution's strategic planning. Ten years ago, Melody's passion for empowering women and her love of teaching and mentoring led her to found the House of Hope, an organization that today provides classes, seminars, mentoring and/or living space to more than 250 women annually.
Lisa Henderson
Senior Manager - Project Management, Alliant Energy
Category of Achievement: Growth and Accomplishments in Personal Life
On August 18, 2008, Lisa Henderson was attending the first day of orientation for the University of Iowa Executive MBA program when she learned that she would have to incorporate one more thing into her busy schedule: treatment for breast cancer. In the months that followed, few people even knew that she was battling cancer. During her six months of treatment and two years in the MBA program, Lisa continued to work full-time, volunteer at her daughter’s school and serve on local boards. She provided a shining example of finding balance while succeeding in every area of life. Lisa has been with Alliant Energy and its predecessor companies for more than 25 years. She began her career dealing with radioactive waste disposal at a nuclear power plant and eventually headed emergency response and planning. She spent several years as the Corporate Safety and Environmental Manager, then gained financial and customer service experience managing the customer billing area. She was trained as a Six Sigma Black Belt and focused on looking for ways to streamline processes and eliminate waste in all areas of the company. In April 2011, she took on the role of Senior Manager of Project Management within the energy delivery department, taking charge of large construction projects which increase system reliability. Her extensive knowledge and passion for serving customers made her the right person for the job. Lisa makes a positive impact on everyone she meets because of her grace, courage and dedication to maximizing every opportunity.
Jane C. Meyer
Senior Associate Director of Athletics, The University of Iowa Department of Athletics
Category of Achievement: Achievements in Her Field
Dr. Jane Meyer is a fervent advocate for college athletes, ensuring that they have the opportunity both to use their gifts as an athlete and to get an education. Since 2001, Jane has served the University of Iowa as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator. From 1999 to 2001, Jane was the NCAA's Director of Education Outreach, directing the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program, alcohol education programs, the NCAA drug testing program, Title IX/gender equity education, women's issues and the injury surveillance program. Currently, she oversees all intercollegiate athletics facilities projects and operations, and her fingerprints are all over the UI campus. She has been involved in more than $250 million in athletics construction projects and is currently leading the $47 million renovation of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. When Iowa's campus was flooded in 2008, UI President Sally Mason asked Jane to lead the university's clean-up effort. For five years, Jane was a member of the prestigious NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee, responsible for the administration of the NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament. In 2006, Jane was named the recipient of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Administrator of the Year Award, presented annually to an administrator who has excelled at encouraging the growth and quality of women's basketball programs and women's athletic programs overall. Jane has ascended to the national stage and is a strong proponent for women and student athletes.
Jeanine Penticoff
Director - Economic Development, Energy Efficiency & Account Management, Alliant Energy
Category of Achievement: Organizational Impact/For-Profit
An integral member of Alliant Energy’s communications and marketing team for several years, Jeanine Penticoff was tapped to take on a leadership role in the energy efficiency area two years ago. The regulatory requirements, along with the need to build and maintain relationships with regulating bodies and partner agencies, were new to Jeanine. But she grasped what was important, prioritized resources and established herself as a knowledgeable resource. In 2010, her area hit or exceeded every energy-efficiency goal while under-spending the budget by 10 percent, saving money for customers during a difficult economic time. Her ability to quickly master new areas of strategic importance resulted in additional areas of responsbility being placed under her leadership less than a year later. The eventual combination of the Energy Efficiency, Economic Development and Account Management areas has enabled the company to pursue a more efficient and strategic approach with current and potential customers. Jeanine possesses a rare combination of common sense, interpersonal skills and positive approach that draws people to her. Finding and leveraging each person’s strengths, she consistently builds high-performing teams that also know how to have fun. Her ability to find positive solutions, nurture strong relationships – internally and externally – and achieve success in everything that has come her way makes her an invaluable member of the Alliant Energy team.
MarJoan Rhodes
Site Manager, Horizons, A Family Service Alliance - Meals On Wheels
Category of Achievement: Unsung Heroine
Seven days a week, MarJoan Rhodes can be found at the Horizons Meals On Wheels program. She might be in the kitchen helping on the food service line, bundled up in the walk-in cooler packing milk for the day's deliveries, or in her office calling clients and planning the delivery routes. As the Site Manager for the Meals On Wheels program, she coordinates the daily delivery of more than 400 meals in the Cedar Rapids metro area. Each day she reviews the client delivery list, monitors client dietary restrictions, and preps the kitchen with meal counts – all before 7 a.m. She then coordinates the meals for delivery, oversees the packing of the hot bags and the coolers, and works with volunteers as they arrive. Most days, she then loads up her own car and heads out to deliver meals. Afterwards, MarJoan ensures all deliveries have been completed and begins preparing to do it all over again the next day. She does all of this outside of the spotlight, because for her the reward is in the service she provides to the clients and the volunteers she works with every day. One of the greatest testaments to her dedication is the fact that during and after the Flood of 2008, while the program was displaced to two different locations, not a single client missed a meal. To MarJoan, Meals on Wheels clients are more than just a stop on a delivery route – they are individual people worthy of her time, respect and compassion. That's why you'll see her zipping around town, her Packer flag proudly waving atop her car, delivering meals no matter the weather or neighborhood.
Larissa Ruffin
Director and HouseManager, St. Johnof the Cross - Catholic Worker House
Category ofAchievement: Growth and Accomplishments in Personal Life
Lariss Norris made a decision to change her life in order tohelp others, using her experiences and challenges as a foundation for building strengthand hope. Her substance abuse led Lariss to reach her personal bottom – prison.She atoned for her mistakes, then decided that the only way to help herself wasto help others. She started by earning a college degree, then volunteered inthe community. In her evolving journey Lariss worked at a local homelessshelter, signed on with AmeriCorps as a VISTA volunteerand began delivering food baskets to shut-ins through Catholic Worker House.Today she is the live-in Director/House Manager for the Catholic Worker House.When an individual or a family walks through the doors, it's typically theworst time of their lives. To find a comfortable place and talk with acompassionate, non-judgmental young woman is the first step on their journey towholeness. When they learn that she has “been there” and was able to transformher own life, they begin to have hope. If they move forward successfully, Larissinvites them to become part of the Catholic Worker House team, allowing them toshare their experiences and pass hope forward. When women enter the shelterstruggling with emotional challenges, substance abuse or domestic violence,Lariss connects them with whomever is best equipped to help them address theirchallenges. By showing Catholic Worker House guests respect and compassion andsharing her story, she has inspired countless others to pursue their dreams andgoals.
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