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Dallas Regional Chamber Announces 2008 ATHENA® Award Recipient
SUZANNE CHARRIERE
DALLAS, TEXAS (August 15, 2008)… Suzanne Charriere, Retired Managing Principal, Corgan Associates, Inc., has been selected as the 2008 ATHENA Award® recipient. The ATHENA Award® is a national program that recognizes the accomplishments of a Dallas businesswoman. Sponsored by Chase and the Dallas Regional Chamber, the award will be presented to Ms. Charriere at the 2008 Women's Business Conference luncheon on October 14, 2008 at the Dallas Convention Center (650 S. Griffin Street, Dallas, TX 75202.) This year’s conference promises to be an informative and productive day and features luncheon keynote speaker Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York and closing keynote speaker Jane Seymour. Jackson Walker L.L.P. and Wachovia Bank are Platinum Sponsors for the 2008 Conference.
Ms. Charriere has been a shining example of a leader in her own profession as the first woman managing principal of a major architectural firm in the nation. She has been instrumental in recruiting females to her own firm and in providing leadership opportunities for them. Her advocacy for women in the firm has propelled a line of leaders integral to the firm’s future. Suzanne began LeadershipCorgan to educate new employees about Dallas and to introduce them to Dallas leaders. She is highly respected at Corgan as evidenced by being chosen as one of the four, and only female, to lead the firm when Jack Corgan retired. Under Suzanne and her three partners’ guidance, Corgan grew into one of the nation’s top ranked design firms focused on architecture.
Suzanne has also been a role model, mentor and advocate of women in business for over 30 years. She has been at the forefront of the movement in Dallas to help women develop
leadership skills through involvement in high visibility non-profit boards and committees. She helped women secure seats on the boards of Goodwill Industries and the Friends of the Dallas Police Association at a time when there were virtually no women serving on those boards. Suzanne stepped up to the plate and chaired many of Dallas’ most important women’s events which not only raised money for women’s charities but also provided a venue for leadership development of women working under Suzanne’s direction.
Suzanne Charriere has also been highly involved in the Dallas Regional Chamber as a Board Member (1987-1990), member of the Leadership Dallas program, and the inaugural recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association in 1989. In 1990, she helped initiate The Dallas Morning News Distinguished Women Leaders Lecture Series, which focuses on the obstacles that women have met and overcome in the corporate, government and non-profit arenas.
Ms. Charriere has served as a board member of multiple organizations including Goodwill Industries of Dallas, Inc., Friends of the Dallas Police Association, Dallas Parks & Trees Foundation, Dallas Historical Society, Friends of Fair Park, and Dallas Women’s Foundation.
The ATHENA® Award is open to individuals who strive toward the highest levels of professional accomplishment, excel in their chosen field, devote time and energy to their community in a meaningful way and forge new paths encouraging others to follow. Administered today through the non-profit ATHENA Foundation, more than 5,000 awards have been presented in over 500 communities throughout the world. By honoring exceptional leaders, the ATHENA Award® Program seeks to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives.
Past recipients of the Dallas ATHENA Award® include Wanda Brice, The Women’s Museum; Wendy Lopez, LOPEZGARCIA GROUP; Becky Sykes, Dallas Women’s Foundation; Camille Keith, Southwest Airlines (formerly); Retta Miller, Jackson Walker LLP; Valerie Freeman, Imprimis Group; Liz Minyard, Minyard Food Stores (formerly); Grace McDermott, US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce; Brenda Jackson, TXU Electric Delivery; Gale Duff-Bloom, JCPenney Company (formerly); Norma Lea Beasley, SAFECO Texas; Jinger Heath, BeautiControl Cosmetics (formerly); and Tegwin Pulley, Texas Instruments.
The Women’s Business Conference is an annual, daylong business education conference and networking opportunity for businesswomen and men – professional, corporate and entrepreneurial – at all levels in their careers. The conference began in 1995 and hosts more than 1,900 attendees. It is a great way to re-charge, network and build alliances with other business professionals.
For more information on the ATHENA Award® or the Women’s Business Conference call 214-746-6787 or womenbiz@dallaschamber.org. Corporate sponsorships are still available.
The Dallas Regional Chamber promotes regional prosperity through public policy, economic development and member service.
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(Note to Editors: To RSVP to this event for photo/interview opportunities please contact Suzanne Massey at 214-746-6727)
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