Category: News

This year we received 19 PWN Scholarship Foundation applications, all detailing stories of inspiration and devotion to education, as well as balancing work and home life. We are fortunate to have so many hardworking women in our community who are pursuing their education goals.

We are pleased to spotlight the 2019-2020 PWN Scholarship Foundation award recipients.

Ashley Leverty recently returned to Iowa State University working towards a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Sciences with an emphasis on Kinesiology and Management. Ashley has served on the PWN Board since January 2018; she is also the Director of Golf for Veterans, an annual fundraising golf event for the National Disabled Veterans TEE Tournament, the weeklong event promotes rehabilitation by instructing veterans with visual impairments and other life-changing disabilities in adaptive golf. 

Her courage to return to school, while working full-time and volunteering does not go unnoticed. She is a valuable member of our team, and we are cheering her on as she continues her college journey. Congratulations Ashley.

Brenda Lansing has returned to school after 30 years to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration at Mount Mercy University. She has worked in healthcare her entire career and is currently the Patient Services Manager at Unity Point Health. She enjoys mentoring people to help them see their true potential.

Brenda works in a full-time leadership position, which sometimes requires long hours, along with managing and balancing family but she is thriving and has been successful in achieving a 4.0 GPA since her return to school. Way to go Brenda. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

Our next award winner, Katie McGowan, was referred to our scholarship program by one of last year’s dynamic recipients, Erin Young.

Katie has returned to school to pursue a degree in Healthcare Administration at the University of Dubuque. Along with being a single mom of three children, two of whom have special needs, Katie works two jobs and donates plasma to support her family. She wants to complete her education journey so that she may have opportunities for professional growth and development at St. Lukes, where she is employed as a Financial Counselor and Scheduling Specialist. Katie your passion and determination will help you soar in school and in life. Thank you for letting us be a small part of your story.

Melanie Dilly is our next award recipient. Her story is certainly one of inspiration. She found her way back to school and is earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa; next year, she and her daughter will walk across the commencement stage, graduating at the same time.

She has volunteered internationally to aid victims of hurricanes and even adopted two young girls from the Iowa Foster program. Her education story continues as she looks to pursue her master’s degree in public health following receiving her diploma. Melanie’s love of learning, working hard, and serving others was instilled upon her by her father, who in memory, continues to empower and inspire her.

Introducing Nouran Othman, our next award winner. Nouran completed high school during the Syrian civil war. After she earned her diploma, she worked a variety of jobs and even established a Girl Scout Troup at a Syrian refugee camp.

She wanted to continue her education after high school, but it was simply not possible as she needed to help support her family.

The opportunity presented itself for Nouran to come to the United States and even though she knew she would miss her family terribly; she took the leap and now lives, learns and works here in Iowa.

Nouran attends the University of Northern Iowa and is earning her bachelor’s degree in Accounting, as she has always loved numbers. Between working full-time at Veridian Credit Union and completing her degree, her life is very busy.  Nouran has been inspired and empowered by a variety of determined, hardworking women and plans to motivate other women as she fulfills her dream of earning her college degree. Nouran, your story truly filled our hearts with pride, thank you for sharing your journey this far; we know you will do amazing things in the future.

Tracy Timmons is the final award recipient for the 2019-2020 scholarship year. Tracy attends Mount Mercy University and her major is Human Resources Management. She is employed at Collins Community Credit Union and was inspired to return to school after attending a professional development opportunity with the credit union. She began classes in 2018 as part of their Adult Accelerated Program; she has been on the Deans List and offered membership into the National Honors Society. Tracy is a working mom of two, wife, and student; this scholarship she receives will help alleviate some financial burden of her college expenses. Congrats Tracy on your hard work and determination, we celebrate you!

The 2020-2021 scholarship application will be available to complete soon. Please help us spread the word about this opportunity. Contact Laura Kamienski for further information regarding the Professional Women’s Network Scholarship Foundation or how to make a tax-deductible donation.

Professional Women’s Network, Inc (PWN) announces its 40^th anniversary as a driving force on women helping women in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City corridor.

PWN was founded by Jean Kruse, Liz Sparks, and Carolyn Stephens in November of 1979 with the intent of growing their professional networks, as many opportunities during this era were focused solely on male networking.

Over the years, PWN has provided opportunities for networking, education, and leadership training to women in our community.

The organization has been a supporter of the PWN Scholarship Foundation, which was established to financially assist non-traditional women students. Through this foundation, scholarships are awarded annually to women who are local, non-traditional students pursuing their college education.

We are pleased to announce the award recipients for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Ashley Leverty, Iowa State University
Brenda Lansing, Mt. Mercy University
Katie McGowan, University of Dubuque
Melanie Dilly, University of Northern Iowa
Nouran Othman, University of Northern Iowa
Tracy Timmons, Mt. Mercy University

We invite you to join us at PWN Presents: A Celebration of Women Helping Women annual breakfast event where the scholarship recipients will be presented with awards.

We will also hear from UnityPoint President and CEO, Michelle Niermann, who will share her personal leadership journey and help attendees identify a clear answer as to why and how they should map their own journey.

This celebration will be emceed by CBS2 news anchor Karen Fuller and held on Thursday, September 26, at the Hotel Kirkwood beginning with a full breakfast buffet at 7:30 am. The event is presented by UnityPoint Health, Hills Bank, and Professional Women’s Network. Individual tickets for the public are $40.00 and corporate table sponsorships are currently available at www.pwnia.org.

To celebrate our 40th year in the community, we are spotlighting impact stories shared from past and present members. The fabulously energetic, Jamie Meyers, PWN Membership Committee Co-Chair shares her PWN story below.

“PWN was the first opportunity I had to truly engage with just women, in various roles, in the Cedar Rapids community.

Something about being around all these fascinating, inspiring, and motivating women, helped me to feel ok stepping “up to the plate” so to say and know I can hit the ball out of the park.

PWN carries an unspoken bond of leadership, community, giving, and purpose. I have come to know a few of the ladies and have been able to find them in a room full of strangers and know I can have a great conversation!

I did not know groups like this existed until my friend and mentor, Becky Helle, asked if I wanted to come with to a meeting. And before I knew it, I was the Co-Chair of Membership! The topics covered always have takeaways for every woman in attendance and always great food to boot!

I am thankful for the opportunity to sit down with these ladies each month and focus on bettering myself, or finding a place where I can be of assistance to someone else at our meetings.”

We are grateful to have a dynamic force like Jamie in our community. If you would like to share the love, email your story to Ann Roushar.

To celebrate our 40th year in the community, we are spotlighting impact stories shared from past and present members. Former President of PWN and current PWN Foundation Scholarship President, Laura Kamienski shares her story below.

“PWN is the only networking group that I ever actually got business from. I’ve tried all kinds of groups – the weekly mandatory referrals, the one-per-industry, the good old boys’ clubs – but I got actual referrals that became real business clients from my PWN friends.

I might not have left my first meeting with a list of names, but over time I built real relationships that made people think of me when the time came. And I really do mean it when I call them my PWN “friends.”

When I was new in town, this was a place where I met women I had something in common with. And they’ve supported and celebrated with me through job transitions. It’s great to have someone you can count on to meet you for a glass of wine or order of cheese wontons to work through that issue with your new boss. I just cannot say enough great things about the PWN women!”

Thanks for sharing, Laura. We appreciate you!

If you would like to share the love, email your story to Ann Roushar.

Professional Women’s Network (PWN) is proud to partner with the PWN Scholarship Foundation to promote the awarding of monetary scholarships to local women returning to college, but we need YOUR help!

Please spread the word to women in your local network who are returning to school, or have already returned to school and need a little extra help to make their graduation dreams a reality. Applications for the 2019-2020 school year will be accepted until May 31, 2019.

To celebrate our 40th year in the community, each Monday we will spotlight an impact story shared from past and present members.

This week we hear from one of the first-year members, Cathy Johnson.

40 years is an awesome milestone! 

My first PWN meeting was in the fall of 1979.  It was a networking event at a bar that occupied the back of what is now Noodles & Company on Collins Road. 

I was quite nervous to attend by myself, but I had recently changed jobs and knew it was important to meet other business women.  I was 22 at the time. 

That evening after work, I met a handful of ambitious “older” business women.  I was impressed and felt welcomed.  I was hooked! 

Over the years, I met so many leaders and we grew professionally together.  My time on the PWN board helped to shape my leadership skills as well. 

The business world was different back in 1979.  I was the first professional woman hired at the firm where I worked.  Rotary would not permit women to join for many more years. As a result, the PWN meetings would routinely draw 100 women thirsting for female professional companionship and the skills that were taught at those meetings.  It is where I learned what networking was all about. 

I would like to think that PWN helped to change the course of leadership in the Corridor!  Congratulations on 40 years of “women helping women”!

This story warms my heart; thanks for sharing Cathy.

If you would like to share the love, email your story to Ann Roushar.

Cyanna Boggess has been a member of PWN for the last 5 years and has recently joined the Board of Directors. She is currently an Event Sales Manager at the Cedar Rapids Marriott serving primarily corporate clients traveling to the Cedar Rapids area. She has lived her entire professional life in the hospitality industry and has spent the last 15 years planning events for corporate and social events from Las Vegas to Iowa.

When not working you can find her enjoying whatever sport is currently in season, sipping on a nice cocktail with friends or chasing/chauffeuring her children around. She currently lives in Vinton, IA with her husband Matt and two daughters Rylee (8) and Parker (3).

 

Courtney Misener currently serves as the Director of Programs and Community Engagement at House of Hope, teaching a quarterly curriculum she developed that focuses on three major areas: addressing negative childhood patterns and belief systems, taking on hard conversations, and emotional health. She frequently teaches classes and workshops that provide opportunities for women to be themselves while learning how to reclaim their emotional lives.

She is also a professional speaker and writer. An advocate and student of emotional wellness, Courtney frequently leaves her audience with tools to help identify and tackle common pitfalls that lead to emotional unrest.

Courtney is an Iowan by marriage, transplanted from Tennessee. She serves as the family CFO, and head negotiator of three very spunky boys. In her spare time, she enjoys rapping, car karaoke, dancing in grocery store aisles and generally doing everything she can to embarrass her kids.

Sarah Murphy, CPA is the new Treasurer for the PWN Board of Directors, Executive Committee. She is a Manager at Terry Lockridge & Dunn in Cedar Rapids. She lives in Hiawatha with her husband, Kody, and their cat, Seamus. When she isn’t working those long hours during tax season she loves to travel, attend concerts, visit craft breweries, and tailgate in Iowa City. She graduated from the University of Iowa in December 2013 and is a lifelong Hawkeye fan.

 

 

 

During the September luncheon, PWN Member, Kate Varcoe announced a new initiative that she has created titled, “You Are Not Alone”; in conjunction with Raygun, Kate created a new t-shirt to be sold on the Raygun website.

In Kate’s words, “The t-shirt is to be worn to promote safer environments for women. So many of the activities we do, we do by ourselves i.e. running, walking, biking, etc. When we wear this shirt we are saying that we see each other and that “You Are Not Alone’.”.

We can wear these tees in solidarity as share with our “sisters” that we have each others’ backs.

The shirt can be ordered from the Raygun website here; some proceeds go to support domestic violence awareness programs across the state of Iowa and locally, Waypoint. Buy yours today!

 

PWN Announces Six Annual Scholarship Award Recipients
Scholarship Foundation Allows Local Women to Continue Their Education

The Professional Women’s Network is pleased to announce six local recipients of PWN Foundation scholarships. These women were chosen based on written personal essays outlining their character, educational and personal career goals and volunteerism. Recipients will be honored at the annual scholarship luncheon to be held September 27, 2018, at the Shores Events Center in Cedar Rapids. To attend the luncheon, register online at www.pwnia.org

Erin Young (Cedar Rapids) attends the University of Dubuque/CR Campus and is studying Human Resources Management. Ms. Young is currently employed by St. Luke’s/Unity Point.

Jessica Aulwes (Edgewood) attends Mount Mercy University and is studying Human Resource Management. Ms. Aulwes is employed by Community Savings Bank.

Obenewaa Ahen (Cedar Rapids) attends Kirkwood Community College and is enrolled in the nursing program. Ms. Ahen is employed by Cottage Grove Place.

Kristin Heck (Cedar Rapids) attends Purdue Global University and is enrolled in the nursing program. Ms. Heck is employed by Mercy Hospital.

Garmai Kpartipa (Cedar Rapids) attends Mount Mercy University and is studying nursing. Ms. Kpartipa is employed by Methwick Manor.

Madeline Thompson (Cedar Rapids) attends Mt. Mercy University and earning her BBA in Business and Human Resources Management. Ms. Thompson is employed by PMX Industries.

We look forward to celebrating their hard work and accomplishments on September 27th.