Lead(h)er celebrated its eighth year of providing free mentorships that empower women with a sold-out Fuel the Fire Gala at the Old Oaks Winery in Milan by honoring a trio of Quad Cities women with its Girl on Fire Awards.
Top 2024 honors at the Thursday, Oct. 10, event went to: Heather Honig Schwenneker, Mentor of the Year; Maria Contreras Huerta, Mentee of the Year; and Laura Genis, Found(h)er of the Year; for their dedication to mentoring, professional growth and community empowerment, a Lead(h)er news release said.
Those awards recognized exceptional women within the Lead(h)er community who have shown outstanding dedication to mentorship, professional growth, and community empowerment, the release said.
This year’s gala also supported the organization’s empowerment of the more than 1,100 women who have been matched through Lead(h)er’s Strike a Match Mentorship Program. Among the evening’s highlights were the Girl on Fire Awards.
Trio of award winners
The 2024 winners nominated by their mentor or mentee who were honored Thursday are:
- Heather Honig Schwenneker – The Mentor of the Year was the first to be nominated by all three of her Strike a Match mentees. Ashley Allen Smith, Jennifer Askew and Jacqueline Houtekier spoke of how their mentor brought them together as a Mentee Family. In doing so, the release said, she created not only individual mentorship but a community of empowerment and support. Ms. Schwenneker’s mentees also said she inspired them to become more involved in their community and pursue mentoring roles themselves. “She has given her time, talents and energy to build the careers and lives of three very grateful women,” Ms. Houtekier said. She added “I believe her superpower is being such a wonderful mentor. There are no topics off limits and she makes you feel so comfortable to discuss whatever is on your mind.”
- Maria Contreras Huerta – The 2024 Mentee of the Year was praised for her drive and resilience. Mentor Jamie Fetty Ward highlighted her growth and leadership at work and within her community. For example, volunteering and advocating for causes including the Boys & Girls Club, Mercado on Fifth and Lead(h)er. Ms. Huerta’s story is a testament to the transformational power of mentorship and the lasting impact it has on mentor and mentee, the release said. Ms. Fetty Ward also shared what she learned from Ms. Huerta’s experiences: “One that will always stay with me is when she shared her story of coming to school in the United States without knowing English and how hard those first years were. As an educator, I learned so much from her story about how school feels for some of my students and the limitless future that awaits them if we pour into them. Hearing about that and the many hoops she has to jump through as a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient taught me a lot. If there was ever someone we need in the Quad Cities community, it is Maria.”
- Laura Genis – The 2024 Found(h)er of the Year was recognized for her commitment to Lead(h)er, not only through financial contributions but by serving on the Lead(h)er Board of Directors and the Finance Committee. Her dedication to Lead(h)er and its mission is evident in her hands-on involvement, from participating in events to driving its growth behind the scenes, the release said. Her past Strike a Match Mentor Tracy Schwind said this about Ms. Genis: “One of the beautiful outcomes of mentorship is a new connection that lasts for a long time afterward. It’s been wonderful to get to know Laura and hear about the many changes her life has made since we first met. I’m thrilled to see her get this well-deserved recognition.”
Nominees include
Winners were chosen from a list of nominees that also included 2024 Mentor of the Year nominees Amber Wood, Lindsey Hines, LuAnn Haydon and Saloni Patel. The other 2024 Mentee of the Year nominees were: Amanda Geffre, Alexa Bennett, Brea Morris, Kelsey Quintana and Mary Essma. Nominees were scored blindly by members of the Strike a Match community.
Lead(h)er also thanked Northwest Bank & Trust, soon to be Tower Trust and Investment Company, its presenting, Ignite Her Dreams Sponsor; and US Bank, its Girl on Fire Sponsor, for their commitment to supporting Lead(h)er’s mission.
For more information about Lead(h)er and the Fuel the Fire Gala, visit www.leadherqc.org/fuelthefire or email Lead(h)er Executive Director Hannah Howard at [email protected].
