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6/19/05
They range from community activists and political leaders to physicians, educators, and business executives. Now, each of the 10 women honored by the Boston YWCA last week can add this kudo to a curriculum vitae: recipient of the 11th Annual Academy of Women Achiever Award. The event, held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel, drew more than 500 guests who heard about the work the women have done to encourage others, promote democracy, cure the sick, help raise funds for charitable organizations, launch new technology, or build a business. Marti Wilson-Taylor, president and chief executive of the YWCA, said the organization began recognizing such women a decade ago. "When we started this, women were just starting to move up in Boston," she said. "These were women who had either cracked the glass ceiling or had come close and were contributing to their communities, too. Today, we look to find women who, having been empowered, are empowering others." This year's recipients included some women who achieved after overcoming difficult circumstances, said Taylor. For example, Denise Kaigler, the 42-year-old senior vice president of corporate relations at Reebok International Ltd, is the daughter of a single mother who raised three girls in Washington, D.C., without the benefit of childcare. "Because of my background, by most people's rules, I should not be in the position I am now," said Kaigler. "We did not have access to the wonderful programs at the Y. There was no way to get there. To sit back and focus on the progression of my career makes my mouth fall open." Kaigler said her mother was so determined to succeed that she applied for and received a fellowship to attend an urban fellows program at MIT in 1978. Such programs help low-income participants with promise develop new skills and professional opportunities. Kaigler said her mother is now a statistical analysis manager at NASA. A 1985 graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Kaigler is one of five members of Reebok's corporate executive leadership team. As chief communications officer, she also protects the firm's reputation and shareholder value. In 1997, six years after joining Reebok as a media specialist, she became director of global public relations at the firm. In that role, she oversaw Reebok's media relations in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Kaigler is credited with leading the 2003 annual fundraiser drive for Dimock Community Health Center, and raising funds for the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston. She described the YWCA award "an incredible honor." "It makes you really think beyond the walls of your corporate office," Kaigler said. "It makes you realize the breadth of the impact we have and the responsibility we have to inspire other women to achieve." The other award recipients are: Nancy A. Altobello is managing partner of the assurance and advisory business services practice at Ernst & Young for the New England area. She is also the coordinating partner for Fidelity Investments and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Altobello also serves on the Ernst & Young Gender Equity Task Force and the Ethnicity Diversity Task Force. She is a graduate of Fairfield University and holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting. She also serves on several boards, including The Wang Center for the Performing Arts and Mass Mentoring. Alice M. Chiang, president and chief executive officer of Teratech Corporation. Chiang, who founded the company in 1994, uses her background in research and science to develop real-time signal processing technology. The technology is used in medical devices, sonar and radar processing, digital video systems and telecommunications. She holds 42 patents and a doctorate from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. She was named to the 2003 top women-led businesses in the state. Roberta Herlich Herman, MD, chief medical officer and senior vice president for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Inc., which along with its affiliates, has 900,000 members. Dr. Herman and her staff have designed clinical programs that have helped patients with asthma, depression, diabetes, heart disease, and menopause. She was also responsible for the development of Harvard Community Health Plan's adult asthma program and she served as an epidemiologic consultant in Harvard Pilgrim's deputy medical director's office. Ambassador Swanee Hunt, director of the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, where she also teaches. She is also chair and president of Hunt Alternatives Fund, a private foundation that encourages ways to strengthen democracy. Between 1993 and 1997, she served as American ambassador to Austria. During those years, she was involved in extending her diplomatic work to the conflict in the neighboring Balkan states. Her work with women in that area led to the organization Women Waging Peace, a worldwide group that calls for the participation of women in peace talks. Gloria Nemerowicz, the ninth president of Pine Manor College. Formerly founding executive director of the Women's Leadership Institute, she assumed the presidency of the college in 1996. The four-year women's college stresses inclusive leadership and social responsibility. The college is known for its diversity and reports that 55 percent of its students are women of color and 10 percent are international students. The college was ranked by US News & World Report as one of the most diverse private liberal arts colleges in the country in 2004 and 2005. Kellye L. Walker, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. She is responsible for oversight of all of the firm's legal, regulatory, and compliance matters. Prior to joining the company, she was a partner at the Boston law firm, Hill & Barlow. A former partner at Chaffe, McCall, Phillips, Toler & Sarpy in New Orleans, she also developed that firm's Women in Business Seminar series. She has served on the boards of a variety of charitable organizations, including the Northeast Legal Foundation, and the Advisory Board of the Initiative. Susan Lewis Solomont, senior fellow at The Philanthropic Initiative. The initiative is a nonprofit consulting firm that advises individuals, family foundations, and corporations on how to design philanthropic programs that create meaning and have significant impact. She is a trustee of several boards, and currently serves as co-chairperson of the Women's Health Initiative at Boston Medical Center. She holds a bachelor of science degree from Cornell University and a masters degree in education from Tufts University. Stephanie Sonnabend, chief executive and president of Sonesta International Hotels Corp. Founded in the 1940s by her grandfather, A.M. Sonnabend, the company has 27 hotels, resorts, and cruises throughout the US, parts of Europe, Egypt and the Caribbean. Sonnabend is a member of the World Presidents Organization, the Massachusetts Women's Forum and the Boston Club, among others. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard University, she received her masters degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Meg Vaillancourt, senior vice president of corporate relations for the Red Sox. She assists the president and chief executive, Larry Lucchino, in coordinating government relations. She also directs the ball club's philanthropic efforts and serves as executive director of the Red Sox Foundation, the largest sports foundation in New England. Thus far, it has donated $8 million. A Boston resident, Vaillaincort joined the Red Sox in 2003. Diane E. Lewis can be reached at .
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