Meet Some of Our County’s Influential Women
Last month’s feature on some of the inspiring women of Cherokee County was so well-received that I was asked to write a continuation, featuring a few more women who make our community great. Again, I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed listening and learning from them.
To finish off this two-part feature, I was invited to share my own responses. I’m delighted to share some of my own snippets and inspirations to include alongside the others, and hope that if you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting any of the women included here, ask them about their incredible lives. These conversations were an important reminder that despite everything going on in the world, connection is there, and women are so often at the center of it.
– Ashley Velez is a digital marketing strategist, freelance writer and company culture advocate. She’s a proud resident of Woodstock, where she lives with her family.
Cindy Nelson
Attorney at Nelson Elder Care Law Firm
Which women have made the biggest impact in your everyday life?
My mother was my first role model. She was always a professional woman with a keen sense of business. As I entered my adult life, I was fortunate to work at Hewlett Packard, a company known for including and encouraging diversity. Anne Livermore, an Executive Vice President at HP until 2011, was one of the only female executives of a Fortune 100 company at the time.
Throughout my career at Hewlett Packard I worked for great female role models. I started my career working in IT. At the time, there were not very many women working in that area of business, and it was not uncommon for me to be the only female at the table as I was promoted. This instilled a sense of responsibility in me to mentor women. I’ve spent my life helping women to live their best life, whatever that means to them. I have always believed that a woman can achieve any goal she sets for herself and is not restricted because of her gender.
What piece of advice would you offer young women who are just graduating from school?
Look for a female and a male mentor. Choose someone you admire and respect who is willing to give you honest guidance and feedback. Throughout your life, you should have many mentors who can offer you assistance in a variety of different skills and strengths.
Who’s one local female who’s inspired you?
Carol Tome, the CEO of UPS, is a wonderful inspiration. I worked with her when she was the CFO of The Home Depot. She has created her own style and maintains her individuality while still effectively working at the executive level in Fortune 100 companies. She is a brilliant woman who has the skills to lead large international companies and make it look easy. If you have not heard Carol on an earnings call, I would encourage you to make a point of listening to her. She is also an inspirational speaker.
Who’s one female leader you admire, and why?
Ruth Bader Ginsburg has always been a woman I admired. She had to put forth the extra effort to be seen beyond her gender and her looks. She was able to show the world that it didn’t matter whether she was a female, wife and mother. What mattered was she was an intelligent attorney who was interested in focusing her energy on making positive changes in the United States. She was effective making significant strides for women and people in general because of her brilliance and dedication.
Lori Baker
Executive Director, Next Step Ministries, Inc.
Which women have made the biggest impact in your everyday life?
My mother has probably made the biggest impact. She was very physically disabled, which led me into physical therapy and ultimately to founding Next Step Ministries. She taught me what it was like to live with a family member who was very disabled, as well as perseverance in life.
Another very impactful woman was Sally Washburn, one of my Sunday School teachers from FBCW?. Although older (in her 70s and 80s), she had such a zeal for life and new adventures. She also taught us about depending on the Lord and keeping our priorities straight. A very wise woman who now resides in heaven!
What piece of advice would you offer young women who are just graduating from school?
Find a job that you are passionate about doing – do it well – and the rewards will come.
Who’s one local female who’s inspired you?
Cindy O’Leary, the Executive Director at The Hope Center. Cindy has an amazing ability to see God’s work and presence in all situations, and to encourage people to see what God is doing in their lives.
Who’s one female leader you admire, and why?
Lynne Saunders, the Executive Director at Encompass Ministries. Lynne has a compassionate heart for people in need, and the ability to address those needs. From the food bank (Papa’s Pantry), helping people become more competent with life skills, working on affordable housing solutions, helping develop the Recovery Organization of Cherokee County, to writing an inspiring magazine – she has made a huge impact on the lives of people in Cherokee County.
Favorite women to learn from?
Christian business leaders.
Stefanie Joyner
Executive Director Cherokee County Historical Society
Which women have made the biggest impact in your everyday life?
I would say that my mother and sister have had the biggest impact on my everyday life. My mom was nurturing, yet inspired me to reach out of my comfort zone and try new things. My older sister, Diana, led by example, and has shown me how to be a good leader and business manager.
What piece of advice would you offer young women who are just graduating from school?
Just do it. Learn to be self-reliant, but don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Set ambitious goals and take small steps if necessary to keep moving in the right direction.
Who’s one local female who’s inspired you?
I am fortunate to be working with an amazing team of women on the new Cherokee County History Center. Many are volunteers, including Lisa Hillhouse Tressler, who is our building chair and Rebecca Johnston, the fundraising chair. They inspire me every day by their dedication and passion to this project. My staff, Jessica Gordy and Kaylee Johnson, are young museum professionals, who have an unending curiosity and enthusiasm to share history. They understand museums have the power to bring people together and change communities. And that is our goal – to build something bigger than ourselves that will have a lasting impact on the people around us.
Lynne Saunders
Founder and Executive Director, Encompass Ministries (Papa’s Pantry) The Master’s Training Center, My Community Spirit magazine
Which women have made the biggest impact in your everyday life?
The first woman who comes to mind is my Auntie Ruthie, my mother’s older sister. She knew how to laugh and love BIG. When I was young, we would visit her in upstate New York. No matter what the season, she made sure I was dressed properly for the weather and was exposed to experiences way outside my daily life in south Florida. In the winter, her friends helped provide me with head-to-toe snow gear. We would ride snowmobiles and hike through the most ridiculous of terrains. In the summer, I learned to sail and race 32-40 foot sailboats, assigned to various boat owners (captains) through race seasons. I was fearless as a teenager, and when it came to navigating treacherous passes, my captains would put me at the helm. I never had a mishap and always kept time.
The second woman who comes to mind is my Grandmother, Granny Helen, my mother’s and Aunt Ruth’s mother. She worked all the time, as the post office general (I think) for the small town of Sodus Point, and was a nurse at the community hospital. Granny Helen loved to garden, which is probably the root of my passion. Behind the Encompass/Papa’s building, there is an organic garden today, which produces fresh seasonal produce 12 months out of the year. She had a heart for serving the community, no matter what it took or the role it required.
What piece of advice would you offer young women who are just graduating from school?
I am a Christian, so biblical principles guide my life and decisions. I would absolutely encourage young women to seek the God of Christianity if they haven’t already. I have had some very real personal encounters with God that have propelled me into the ministry world I live in each day. There is no way I could achieve all that on my own.
Secondly, I would say, “trust your gut.” There are many voices in the world encouraging and promising great things. The easiest path is generally the wrong one. It’s better to take more time in making big decisions than feeling pressured to make quick ones.
Who’s one local female who has inspired you?
I have a very good friend, Holly Hill. She and her husband, Morgan, own Hill and Hill Financial with offices in Woodstock and in Tennessee. I met Holly when she reached out to me about a food drive as the recipient of a birthday celebration many years ago. I took a donation barrel to their house, then proceeded to have a long conversation about the ministry. She seemed to really enjoy connecting with people in need. I appreciated her professionalism in her approach to every situation and solution. Over the years she has served a few terms on our Board of Directors as well as launching her own non-profit, The 2:10 Foundation, that helps students financially finish their education.
Who’s one female leader you admire, and why?
Condoleezza Rice, because she is a woman of great grace, intelligence, talent and influence. Growing up, she was a prodigy, spending hours playing and perfecting the piano, advancing in school quickly, and learning several languages.
She grew up in the 1950s and ’60s in Birmingham–a very segregated time–and experienced discrimination firsthand. In 1963, two of her schoolmates and friends were killed in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing that killed four young black girls. Condoleezza had every reason to grow up hating the America she experienced at a young age. Instead, she worked hard in all she took on, including becoming the U.S. National Security Adviser under President Geroge W. Bush in 2001. Working in ministry for so many years, I appreciate her determination and hard work to never let circumstances get the best of her. That takes work and great courage. Now, in regard to playing the piano, that is a project I personally began last year… Sadly, I don’t ever expect to get very good any time soon. However, I’m proud to play Happy Birthday to my grands!
Ashley Velez
Digital marketing strategist
Which women have made the biggest impact in your everyday life?
My maternal grandmother, Evalyn Pierce, has had an enormous impact on my life. Meemaw, as she’s affectionately known, taught English and history for 35-plus years. We share a love of the written word, world history and traveling. As a small child (and the only granddaughter), we shared a love of makeup, fresh-picked flowers, and playing dress up. I owe so much to her during my formative years.
I’m very lucky to have other women in my family who encourage and inspire me daily, including my Mom, my mother-in-law, my stepmom, my other grandmother and my Aunt Angie. I also have a close group of female friends, many of whom I’ve known for 20-plus years. I am a better wife, mother, daughter and friend because of their love and guidance.
What piece of advice would you offer young women who are just graduating from school?
Take some time to figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life early on. Travel! Try new things and be open to the self-discovery process.
Who’s one local female who’s inspired you?
My friend, Paige Reid. She is kind, caring and a bright light for Cherokee County, and has started a special needs day program, Limitless Disability Services, for underserved special-needs families. She’s a friend, an influencer and supporter of small businesses and organizations that make up our wonderful community.
Who’s one female leader you admire, and why?
Jen Pastiloff, writer, podcast host, retreat leader – I’ve met many amazing women through Jen’s retreats and work, and they’ve become my extended family. Her retreats and workshops are a way for me to re-center and re-focus, and get back to the heart of being human. One of my favorite quotes of hers is: “When I get to the end of my life, and I ask one final ‘What have I done?’ let my answer be: ‘I have done love.’”
Favorite women to learn from?
There are so many women I gravitate toward for inspiration these days. I love Ann Handley, Tonya Ingram, Anne Lamott, Brené Brown, Maya Angelou, Jen Hatmaker, Austin Channing Brown, Elizabeth Gilbert, Morgan Harper Nichols and Byron Katie, to name just a handful.
<!–
–>
