Douglas County ABWA

Douglas County Charter Chapter

Douglas County ABWA
Douglasville, GA
ph: 404-245-9535
info@abwa-dc.com

News

ABWA CItes Business Leaders
American Business Women’s Association awards community business leaders

The Douglas County Charter Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) recognized women business leaders at their annual awards banquet and ceremony.
The ceremony included a “Business Associate of the Year” award, which was given to GreyStone Power Department Manager of Member Services Lan Thompson. The award recognizes a key individual in the community who has supported their local ABWA chapter, women in business, and local charities.
Chapter Treasurer Marcita Scharnhorst nominated Thompson and presented the award to her after remarking on Thompson’s management achievements. “She has increased self-service options for customers, instituted a rewards system for employees, given her employees myriad opportunities for cross-training, and can constantly be found coaching her employees to success through teamwork and improving themselves,” said Scharnhorst.
The “Boss of the Year” award was presented at the event to Utility Support Systems (USS) Founder and President Cathy Arnett. The award is given to a boss who motivates staff, provides clear goals and direction, and is committed and positive.
Another highlight of the event was the selection of Chapter Vice President Janet Crowe as the “Top Ten Nominee.” Crowe will go on to apply for national recognition as part of the Top Ten Business Women of ABWA. The chapter has been honored with two former top ten winners, with GreyStone Vice President of Human Resources Marcita Scharnhorst winning in 2008 and Dr. Maggie Mercer, owner of Douglas County Animal Hospital, winning in 2010.
The chapter chose current President Lucie Castro for the “Woman of the Year” award. The award was designed to recognize a member who has made notable contributions and outstanding achievements to their local ABWA chapter. Castro awarded her choice for the “President’s Award” to Helen Turpin, Atlanta Area Council Delegate.
The event also included guest speaker Rosemary Sims Willingham, who encouraged attendees to reach out to other women to find career opportunities. “ABWA gives you those tools for furthering your education. You may be at the pinnacle of your career. If so, share it with someone else,” she said.
The Douglas County Charter Chapter of the ABWA is part of a national network of businesswomen and was chartered in 1986. The national organization was formed as a non-profit organization in 1949 and now represents over 70,000 members throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

DR. Maggie Mercer Makes Top Ten

Each year, ABWA recognizes members nationally for exceptional achievements by being selected as the Top Ten Business Women of ABWA. These women were nominated by their local ABWA affiliation after having filled out an extensive comprehensive application that details their career, their education, their community involvement, personal goals and ABWA history. To achieve Top Ten status, they have excelled in meeting career goals and enhancing their education. These ladies give back tirelessly to their communities and are committed to the mission of ABWA. These women also strive to achieve a balance among their career, activities and family. The Top Ten represent our Association's image of success as well as that of our culture and serve as important role models for our members.

Marcita Scharnhorst, vice-President of Human Relations at GreystonePower EMC was named the chapter's first Top Ten Business Women of ABWA in 2008. She was honored at the National Conference in Greensboro, NC with a formal introduction, special luncheon and a commemorative award.

Since that time, Marcita has returned to our chapter and been a shining star showing direction and guiding others on how to be awesome every day in our community, in our careers, and in ABWA.

This year, Dr. Maggie Mercer, owner of Douglas County Animal Hospital, was named a 2010 Top Ten Business Woman of ABWA. Dr. Mercer moved to Douglasville in 2002 when she purchased the veterinary practice located on Highway 5. Within the first six months of that purchase, she moved the hospital into a double-wide trailer which sat on the front lawn and oversaw the building of a 4,000 sq ft facility. Being a business owner has certainly expanded her horizons and enabled her to learn new skills: such as wiring lighting ballasts, planting really hardy landscapes, digging ditches, and handling burst pipes on Sunday, April 1st. (No, this was not an April Fool's Joke!)

She joined ABWA because she wanted top get to know other women in business who could provide links in areas she was not schooled. And, she wanted a national organization that provided business orientated training. Although, she had completed her formal education, she felt that she could never learn too much about how better to be a business owner. The better the business runs, the better it can be an asset to the community.

After joining ABWA, Dr. Mercer also gained the invaluable friendship of many women and that fleeting feeling of sisterhood. Even though half of practicing veterinarians are women, men still dominate the industry as practice owners and office holders in state and national organizations. She was able to gain valuable insite into how to play by the rules in a man's world. Dr. Mercer feels that without ABWA and the attached friends, she would not be the successful business women she is today.

Dr. Maggie Mercer was officially recognized at the ABWA National Leadership Conference (abwa.org) in Kansas City September 24-26, 2009.

Dr. Mercer now joins Ms. Scharnhorst in an elite group of women known as the 'Forever Tens', but our chapter already knew they were tens.

Please, contact Dr. Maggie Mercer and congratulate her on her significant accomplishment.

2009-2010 Treasurer’s Reports