YWCA Madison honors five outstanding women with the 35th
Annual Women of Distinction Awards
Annual Women of Distinction Awards
MADISON – On May 28, 2009, the YWCA Madison will present the 35th annual Women of Distinction Awards at the Concourse Hotel. Brenda Brown,
Sharon Chamberlain, Iris Christenson, Mary Lang Sollinger and Jeanette Schreier will be honored for work exemplary to our mission:
Empowering women and eliminating racism
The YWCA is proud to have recognized 176 women since the first Woman of Distinction was bestowed the honor in 1974. Their community service,
professional achievement, integrity, leadership and dedication to the lives of others and to the quality of life for all stands as a reflection of the YWCA’s
historic mission and values. “We are thankful and proud that our community is drawn towards these awards and that many people have taken the time to
recognize so many committed and accomplished women,” said Therese Gulbransen, Board Chair of the YWCA Madison.
The 35th annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at the Concourse Hotel. For more information
or to purchase tickets, please contact Shannon at (608) 257-1436 or visit www.ywcamadison.org.
The YWCA Women of Distinction awards were established in 1974 to increase community awareness and appreciation of the diverse contributions
of women in the work force and in the community. A luncheon is held every spring at the Concourse Hotel, with an average attendance of about 700.
Through its Housing, Racial Justice, Girls Inc.®, YW Transit, and mployment, Education & Training programs the YWCA has emerged as a leader in
Madison and Dane County. As a result of these programs, hundreds of women, children and families have discovered their collective self-worth and how
to make their lives better.
The YWCA is grateful to American Family Insurance, The Capital Times, The Printing Partners, Madison Magazine, UW Health and many other
generous area businesses and individual contributors for making this event possible. With the financial assistance of corporate sponsors, the YWCA will
continue to provide vital services to women and families in Dane County to build a better and brighter future for all.
This year’s awardees
Brenda Brown
Since 2003 Brenda has served as administrator of the Division of Business Management at the Department of Transportation for the state of Wisconsin. She
formerly held positions as associate director of the Dane County Department of Human Services where she lead the department’s cultural competency initiative
to improve service delivery for families of color living in Dane County.
She has also actively participated in many community service efforts. She served as treasurer for the Wisconsin Association of Black Public Service
Employees (WABPSE) and has been active in the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (WCADB). Brenda is an associate minister at Mount Zion Baptist
Church.
Sharon Chamberlain
Sharon is the founder and President of Chamberlain Research Consultants. She started the market research firm in Madison in 1989 with just two full time
staff and a dozen part-time employees. Her dedication to high ethical standards and excellence in her work has proven very successful as her company has
grown to have international reach with clients overseas and provides jobs for up to 150 people at seasonal peaks.
As a business owner Sharon has a philosophy of giving back to the community. Her company offers discounted rates to non-profit community organizations
and fundraises for multiple sclerosis research. All employees of her company are given incentive to give back to the community in some way. Sharon serves on
the board of directors for HospiceCare, Inc., the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the Madison Club, and helped form No Stings Attached, a group that
provides financial assistance to women and children in need.
Iris Christenson
Iris is a lawyer that has dedicated much of her life to helping women and institutional clients. Her earlier career as an Occupational Therapist and
experiences in nursing homes let her to pursue graduate degrees at UW Madison in Law and Public Administration (both of which she received in 1990) in order
to help people in institutional settings.
Iris is a founding member of Family Connections, Inc., a non-profit organization with a mission to promote relationships between women prisoners and their
children. She was the first Director of the RESPECT Project, a support group and referral service for women leaving prostitution.
Mary Lang Sollinger
Mary was recently appointed the Finance Director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. She is known for her dedicated fundraising work for Barack Obama’
s presidential campaign and is currently serving on his National Finance Committee.
Described by her nominator, Barbara B. Crab, as a “one-woman city improvement commission” Mary is well known for her many years of service on city
committees (City Planning committee and Commission for the Monona Terrace Convention Center) and fundraising for various organizations and projects,
including campaign chair for the Goodman Community Center. She has also served as president of the Greater State Street Business Association, and is a
former owner of two women’s clothing stores on State Street.
Jeanette Schreier
Jeanette is recently retired from the Department of Pediatrics at the UW-School of Medicine and Public Health, where she served most recently as assistant
director. During this time she was a strong advocate for those who worked for her, providing gentle leadership and guidance. This increased workplace trust and
respect, improved morale and performance and retained highly competent employees.
Dismayed by the lack of sports programs for girls when she first moved to Madison, Jeanette helped establish a Middleton women’s softball program, served
on the Middleton Baseball and Softball Commission, and was the first softball commissioner for the Badger State Games.
Jeanette is a domestic abuse survivor and has been a speaker in many forums about the issue. She hopes to encourage people in domestic abuse situations
to find hope and find help.
Brenda Brown
Since 2003 Brenda has served as administrator of the Division of Business Management at the Department of Transportation for the state of Wisconsin. She
formerly held positions as associate director of the Dane County Department of Human Services where she lead the department’s cultural competency initiative
to improve service delivery for families of color living in Dane County.
She has also actively participated in many community service efforts. She served as treasurer for the Wisconsin Association of Black Public Service
Employees (WABPSE) and has been active in the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (WCADB). Brenda is an associate minister at Mount Zion Baptist
Church.
Sharon Chamberlain
Sharon is the founder and President of Chamberlain Research Consultants. She started the market research firm in Madison in 1989 with just two full time
staff and a dozen part-time employees. Her dedication to high ethical standards and excellence in her work has proven very successful as her company has
grown to have international reach with clients overseas and provides jobs for up to 150 people at seasonal peaks.
As a business owner Sharon has a philosophy of giving back to the community. Her company offers discounted rates to non-profit community organizations
and fundraises for multiple sclerosis research. All employees of her company are given incentive to give back to the community in some way. Sharon serves on
the board of directors for HospiceCare, Inc., the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the Madison Club, and helped form No Stings Attached, a group that
provides financial assistance to women and children in need.
Iris Christenson
Iris is a lawyer that has dedicated much of her life to helping women and institutional clients. Her earlier career as an Occupational Therapist and
experiences in nursing homes let her to pursue graduate degrees at UW Madison in Law and Public Administration (both of which she received in 1990) in order
to help people in institutional settings.
Iris is a founding member of Family Connections, Inc., a non-profit organization with a mission to promote relationships between women prisoners and their
children. She was the first Director of the RESPECT Project, a support group and referral service for women leaving prostitution.
Mary Lang Sollinger
Mary was recently appointed the Finance Director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. She is known for her dedicated fundraising work for Barack Obama’
s presidential campaign and is currently serving on his National Finance Committee.
Described by her nominator, Barbara B. Crab, as a “one-woman city improvement commission” Mary is well known for her many years of service on city
committees (City Planning committee and Commission for the Monona Terrace Convention Center) and fundraising for various organizations and projects,
including campaign chair for the Goodman Community Center. She has also served as president of the Greater State Street Business Association, and is a
former owner of two women’s clothing stores on State Street.
Jeanette Schreier
Jeanette is recently retired from the Department of Pediatrics at the UW-School of Medicine and Public Health, where she served most recently as assistant
director. During this time she was a strong advocate for those who worked for her, providing gentle leadership and guidance. This increased workplace trust and
respect, improved morale and performance and retained highly competent employees.
Dismayed by the lack of sports programs for girls when she first moved to Madison, Jeanette helped establish a Middleton women’s softball program, served
on the Middleton Baseball and Softball Commission, and was the first softball commissioner for the Badger State Games.
Jeanette is a domestic abuse survivor and has been a speaker in many forums about the issue. She hopes to encourage people in domestic abuse situations
to find hope and find help.