Mentoring Through Quad Cities ATHENA Leadership Awards

By Bonnie Stevens, FBN

The Quad Cities ATHENA Leadership Awards not only celebrate, recognize and honor women for their leadership skills, career achievements, community service and mentorship, they also promote what leadership looks like. ATHENA recipients say this is powerful because younger or less experienced women in the workplace can identify local role models they can talk to, observe in action and learn from.

“Leaders become mentors for others and impact future growth,” said 2022 ATHENA recipient Teri Drew, executive director of NACOG’s Yavapai County Workforce Development, in a 2022 QCBN interview. “My parents and siblings were and continue to be my mentors. They taught me what to and not to do growing up, and those strong ethics pay off.”

On Sunday, Sept. 24, women from across the region will come together at Starting Point in the Prescott Gateway Mall for the 4th Annual Quad Cities ATHENA Leadership Awards High Tea, presented by Quad Cities Business News. They will hear stories of struggle and triumph, perseverance through fear and how to tap into their inner strength in times of adversity. They will also learn how women lean into their core values and their hopes for the future.

“I believe my life is a blessing and given as a blessing. Giving back is just what I believe I need to do. Mentoring others is one of my tenets and receiving the ATHENA award strengthened that,” said 2018 Flagstaff ATHENA recipient Theresa Bierer, an associate professor of practice in management in the W.A. Franke College of Business at Northern Arizona University. “In our lives, everyone is so busy, but what really makes the fabric of a community is people who step outside of themselves and put others and community first. To me, that’s what the ATHENA Award embodies.”

This year, QCBN will recognize an individual with the traditional ATHENA Leadership Award and also will present the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award. In addition, for the first time in Northern Arizona, the Quad Cities

ATHENA Leadership Awards will celebrate a business or organization that supports, develops and honors women leaders with the ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award.

Individuals, businesses and organizations are encouraged to nominate extraordinary women leaders who are making a difference in their communities and pioneering a path for others to impact the future.

“My hope for young women entering the workplace is for them to do what they love and love what they do,” added Drew.

Nominations are being accepted until Friday, Aug. 4, at prescottathena.com. FBN

CHICKEN continued from page 14 gamble, as most restaurants fail, but she said she believed in me. I would not be doing this without the amazing support of my wife.”

McIver’s goal, he says, is to do everything well. “Other than a few items, we make everything in-house, including our bread and butter pickles. We hand dredge our chicken in a flour mixture, fry it, dip it in chili oil to bring out the flavor, then add the rub, which infuses the crust.

Menu items include the Arizona Famous Chicken Sammie, a boneless tender coated in the Flew the Coop rub and served on a toasted brioche bun, topped with chili-lime coleslaw, pickles and the restaurant’s Arizona Comeback Sauce. “It’s a big seller and we often hear customers comment that it’s the best chicken sandwich they’ve ever had,” he said.

Menu selections include chicken baskets, chicken and waffles and sides of potato salad, coleslaw, fries and beans. Beer and specialty drinks complement the offerings, along with a doggie menu consisting of Chicken Jerky Treats and Chicken Stew.

While traveling from Phoenix to Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University quantum physics student Jaden Brewer stopped at Flew the Coop. “This is my second time here and I really like the chicken and especially the seasonings. I had the ‘hot’ heat level, and it was great. My friends really enjoyed it, too.”

McIver attended Yavapai College and taught science and biology there for a few semesters. He then studied environmental science at NAU. While in college, he started bartending. “I met my wife, Jennifer, at Yavapai College and soon after managed bars and restaurants in Sedona. Jennifer is a certified ophthalmic assistant at Eye Boutique of Sedona.”

The couple has four children be- tween the ages of 12 and 28. Daughter Ciara, age 16, works in the restaurant. “I love working there. The food is so good and it’s perfect every time, even when the chicken gets cold.”

The restaurant, located at Interstate 17 and Highway 260, operates every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, go to www. flewthecoophotchicken.com.

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With my family, camping or staying in cabins and just going outdoors to hike, swim in the creek and relax.

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SPACE continued from page 1

The 1,700-square-foot space is packed with telescopes, microscopes, clothing, games, puzzles, science kits, NASA memorabilia, books and so much more, including alien and science fiction souvenirs. And that’s just the merchandise part. An interactive kids’ area has tables and chairs where young people can sit and tinker with science kits and experiments, color space worksheets and figure out puzzles. “It’s an area where kids come and relax and have fun, and it’s all related to science,” said Kent.

Planet Science expects to attract astrotourists, students and families – anyone with an interest in science, especially geology and space. “This store promotes astrotourism, and we think visitors will be inspired to want to learn more and visit Northern Arizona’s many great science organizations.”

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday. Times will be periodically extended during downtown special events. FBN