Perfect 10
Group of local leaders inducted to YWCA Academy of Women
WANT TO GO?
What: YWCA 20th annual Tribute to Women
When: Wednesday, May 20
Where: DiBurro's, Ward Hill
Why: To honor 10 women of Greater Haverhill who will be inducted into the YWCA Academy of Women
How: Tickets are $40 per person and tables of 10 may be reserved. Tickets are available at the YWCA, 107 Winter St., Haverhill
Details: The social preview begins at 11:30 a.m. followed by the luncheon program from noon to 2 p.m.
Ten women are nominated this year for the Haverhill YWCA's 20th annual Tribute to Women on Wednesday, May 20, at DiBurro's of Ward Hill from noon until 2 p.m.
Ten notable women have been nominated: Lisa Ford Polasek, Barbara Rowell, Maureen Crites Cartier, Grace Marcoux, Charlene Boucher, Dr. Marcia Chatfield, Karen Allen Currier, Lynn Murphy, Therese Jesionowski and Susan Bonenfant will be recognized.
Organizers, including Joan Cranton and Council on Aging co-director Kathy Bresnahan said all were nominated because they meet the criteria for inclusion in the YWCA Academy of Women, which was established to create a permanent tribute to the achievements and significant contributions of women. Each has unique and outstanding achievements.
Each is a role model because she sets high standards, blazes new trails, overcomes obstacles and participates in her community.
Those who come in contact with them are challenged to aspire to greater heights.
The goals of the Academy include leadership development, continuing education on public issues and community involvement.
New England Cable Network News reporter Lauren Collins will be keynote speaker and honorary chairwoman.
Collins is a native New Englander who has either worked, lived, or vacationed in every state that NECN covers. She is the New Hampshire bureau reporter and has received a national Edward R. Murrow Award.
These are the nominees
SUSAN BONENFANT
Susan Bonenfant is an assistant vice president of Deposit Compliance at Pentucket Bank, working as the bank's secrecy officer. She was awarded the bank's FISH award by her peers for embracing the philosophy of being a positive role model for fellow employees.
In 2005, Bonenfant developed a state recognized Elder Awareness Program for the bank.
She serves her community by having launched a book group program for the Haverhill Public Library, being a Relay for Life Co-Team Captain, a Community Meals coordinator, and a judge for the Haverhill School System's annual WRITE-A-WAY writing contest — to name a few.
Bonenfant was recently chosen to speak at a "Women Leaders Panel" in celebration of Women's History Month at Northern Essex Community College. Its theme was encouraging women to give back to their communities by volunteering, a very appropriate topic for her.
Bonenfant is a resident of Plaistow, N.H.
LYNN MURPHY
Lynn Murphy is the co-chairwoman of Haverhill's 2009 Soles of Shoe-la-bration, a team of local artists and sponsors working to celebrate the historic significance of the city's shoe industry by creating large-scale public shoe sculptures.
Using her master's in business administration degree with a background in leadership, she consults on marketing and strategic planning, and has been instrumental in bringing in state and federal funding for the restoration of Haverhill's Washington Street Shoe District and the Merrimack Riverfront.
Murphy is executive director of Rebuilding Together, formerly Christmas in April, an organization that uses mostly volunteer labor to repair and rehabilitate the homes of the elderly, disabled and those who are income-eligible so that they may remain safely in their homes and in the community.
Even in her busy life, Murphy still finds time to feed her passions of gardening and wildlife conservation. She is a resident of Bradford.
THERESA JESIONOWSKI
Theresa Jesionowski is a committed community activist. Despite the time constraints of raising six children, she made time for volunteering.
Jesionowski has volunteered for 15 years for the March of Dimes, 10 years for Boston's Walk for Hunger, 10 years for Christmas is April (now Rebuilding Together), and five years for the American Cancer Society.
She is also an avid hiker, having once walked the 2,160-mile trail from Georgia to Maine. At the age of 70, she walked the Eastern Continental Trail, hiking 600 miles a year for six years from Quebec, Canada, to Key West, Fla.
This passion led Jesionowski, as a travel angel, to volunteer for trail work. She has written a book, comprised of her journals, titled, "The Golden Years on the Appalachians."
Jesionowski is a resident of Plaistow, N.H.
KAREN M. CURRIER
Karen M. Currier is a detective in Sexual Assault Child Abuse investigations at the Haverhill Police Department, as well as being in charge of the Registration of Sexual Offenders.
In 2003, she was nominated for Police Officer of the Year, and in 2005 was recognized by the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section for her dedication, professionalism, and friendship. In 2007, she was named Exchangite of the Year by the members of the Haverhill Exchange Club for her service to the community.
In addition, Currier was recognized by the Association for Retarded Citizens for her outstanding efforts, and is currently a Board Member of Essex Children's Advocacy Center.
Currier lives in Haverhill.
CHARLENE BOUCHER
Charlene Boucher is the director of Life Long Learning at Northern Essex Community College.
Forty years after graduating from high school, Boucher returned to school and earned a business degree. She works with women who are considering returning to school to complete an educational path that was interrupted, or to encourage women who have never attended a post-secondary institution.
Boucher is a member of the Board of Directors of the Haverhill Breakfast Exchange Club, a service club that supports the needs of senior citizens and has received a Dale Carnegie Leadership/Achievement award.
Boucher lives in Methuen.
MARCIA CHATFIELD
Dr. Marcia Chatfield, an osteopathic doctor, is a hospitalist — a physician who takes care of only inpatients — at Merrimack Valley Hospital. Chatfield grew up in Brazil and is fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish. She has delivered lectures and presentations at cardiac conferences and has published related articles.
Presently, Chatfield is working toward her certification in palliative care medicine, which helps patients remain comfortable in their final months of life.
She wants to start a palliative care program at MVH, believing it will help patients stay in their homes and avoid unnecessary admissions. Her goal is to be able to alleviate the pain, stress and anxiety associated with death.
Chatfield is a resident of Lynnfield.
MAUREEN CARTIER
Maureen Cartier serves as the secretary of Haverhill's annual VFW Santa Parade, following in the tradition of one of its founders, her late father Al Crites.
She is a natural leader and role model for the children and teenagers who work on the parade committee, as well as those she instructs as the director of religious education at All Saints Parish in Haverhill for which she prepares curriculum and sacraments.
Cartier is also an active member of the Captain's Pond Protective Association in Salem, N.H., where she helps with the environment of New Hampshire lakes and ponds. She is a resident of Atkinson, N.H.
GRACE MARCOUX
Grace Marcoux, as board president of the Winnekenni Foundation, oversees all its planning and programming, private rental facilitation, castle restoration and maintenance projects, Renaissance fairs, musical festivals, and children's shows.
Her love of the arts and children has led her to service with many ballet companies.
In addition, as the Foundation representative of Haverhill's Cultural Treasures organization, she is working with Team Haverhill's Shoe-la-bration campaign in their efforts to reignite the arts in Haverhill.
Marcoux is a Haverhill resident.
LISA FORD POLASEK
Lisa Ford Polasek boasts 25 years in the restaurant business. Downtown Haverhill's First National Bank is now the home of George's at the Vault restaurant, a well-known eatery co-owned by Lisa and her husband Peter Polasek.
Polasek grew up in Groveland, went to school in San Francisco, Calif., and earned a degree in food and beverage management.
Now back in this area, she has shown herself to be a visionary and risk taker. The decision to expand George's from the previous popular location has helped to accelerate the revitalization of the historic and arts district of Haverhill.
Polasek is a resident of Groveland.
BARBARA ROWELL
Barbara Rowell, a licensed CPA in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, helped create Haverhill's first Finance Committee, serving as its chair.
Her devotion to the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce is exhibited through her supportive sponsorships, raffle donations, and participation. Last year she was named a Jerry Loy Outstanding Director.
Drawing on her experience as a member of the American Institute and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, Rowell assists many clients in the preparation of their Form 5500, and compliance audits of employee benefit plans like their 401(k), profit sharing, welfare, and fringe benefit plans.
Rowell lives in Haverhill.
