The Girl Scouts of Central Texas honored and celebrated five women selected as the 2015 Women of Distinction and one Workplace of Distinction during a special luncheon held Thursday.
Girl Scouts of Central Texas celebrates these women who have distinguished themselves as outstanding members of their community through individual excellence and high levels of achievement. This year’s recipients include Jan Fisher, Beverly Norris, Suzanne Prosise, Lisa Ritter and Diane Winn. Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce was also recognized as the 2015 Workplace of Distinction, for being a business that supports women in the area.All 2015 Women of Distinction were also honored with a congratulatory letter from US Congressman K. Michael Conaway.
Past recipients have included women honored for excellence in the areas of business, education, government, communications, health care, sports, volunteer services, multicultural activities, and Girl Scouting. To honor women throughout its 46-county jurisdiction, Girl Scouts of Central Texas hosts four Women of Distinction events, including the one in Brownwood.
Pictured below are each honoree along with a short biography. Pictured with honorees are Lynelle McKay, CEO, Girl Scouts of Central Texas (left) and Beth Thorson, Board Chair, Girl Scouts of Central Texas (right).
Jan Fischer – Executive Director of Legacy Plaza in Goldthwaite.
Fisher was born in Hartford, Connecticut and moved to Long Beach, Indiana at 16, graduating from the Isaac C. Elston high School in Michigan City Indiana. She received her under graduate degree from Indiana University and her Master’s degree from Dominican College in San Rafael, California. She and her husband have lived all over the US and Canada, teaching and learning from each experience.
Fisher raised money and helped facilitate the building of Mills County Museum, the new Catholic Church and continues to raise money and head up the multi-million dollar Native American Interpretive Center and Botanical Gardens Project.
Beverly Norris – Curator of the Lehnis Railroad Museum, Past President of the Board of Brown County Museum of History, on the Board of Downtown Brownwood Inc., which promotes Brownwood.
Norris was born and raised in Brownwood. After graduating from Brownwood High School, she attended Texas A&M University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She started her career in marketing and transitioned to interior design. In her current position she is passionate and feels very blessed to be able to contribute to her community.
She has served on the board of Christian Women’s Job Corp, and as a volunteer with the Brown County Historical Commission and the Brown County Museum of History.
Suzanne Prosise – Member of Woman’s Club of Brownwood, served as Ways and Means Committee Chairman, chairing the “Glitz, Glamour and Gals” fundraiser. Prosise has served as a Community Board Member for Ron Jackson Correctional Facility and has been a member of the Auxiliary of Brownwood Regional Medical Center serving as manager, buyer and merchandiser of the Auxiliary Gift Shop working in excess of 5000 hours. Suzanne is also a member of St. John’s Church where she is on the Vestry, a Sunday school teacher, Stephens Minister and member of the Order of St. Luke’s. She also works with the St. John’s Food and Toiletry ministry at her church, volunteers with the Mullin ISD and CASA and is a member of the Garden Culture Club.
She was born in Brownwood, and due to her father being an officer in the army for 12 years, she attended 13 different schools as her family moved to various army bases. After graduating from Fountain-Ft. Carson High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado and attended Texas Christian University and the University of Texas at Austin.
Her professional career at 3M spanned 17 years, working in marketing, communications and scheduling.
Lisa Ritter – Born and raised in Mineral Wells, Ritter graduated from Mineral Wells High School and attended Hardin-Simmons University.
While working at the Brown/Mills Counties’ Juvenile Probation Department, she volunteers with Epiphany Ministries where she cooks and plans meals for the ministry team and for the incarcerated young people for whom they minister.
She has volunteered with the PTC Band Boosters, Girl Scout Leader, Epiphany Ministries Volunteer, Early Beautification Committee and Salvation Army Bell Ringer. Lisa serves on several Community Resource Coordination Groups, Vice-Chair of Brown Co. CRGG and MHMR Planning and Advisory Committee.
Diane Winn – Born and raised in DeKalb, Texas, Winn graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School and attended East Texas State University. She had a 30-year career as a banker and published two books.
She served on the boards of directors for multiple organizations including Greater Dallas Home Building, Cedar Hill Chamber of Commerce, and Lifeline Shelter for Families. She currently on Board of Directors of Boys & Girls Club of Brown County, the Woman’s Club of Brownwood and volunteers and serves on boards of several organizations in the DFW metroplex. Diane created and has chaired the “Glitz, Glamour & Gals” fundraiser. She contributes to Corinne T. Smith Animal Center, Brown County Youth Fair, Good Samaritan Ministries, Brown County Big Brothers Big Sisters, CASA in the Heart of Texas, Boys & Girls Club of Brown County, Salvation Army Brownwood, and helps support Scholarship Funds for Brownwood High School, Early High School, Bangs High School, Blanket High School, Zephyr High School and May High School.
Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce – Ray Tipton, Executive Director.
Founded in 1906, the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce has remained virtually unchanged in its purpose and goals for over 100 years, although the scope of work for the organization has greatly expanded. The principal goal of the chamber is to help create a healthy business climate for the area by offering business development opportunities and encouraging visitor spending. With a membership of over 500 people, today’s Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce has developed a slate of services and events to meet this goal.
The members of the chamber elect a 15-member board of directors to govern the organization. That board hires an executive director to manage the operations for the organization, and the executive director hires its staff. Of the six staff members at the Brownwood Chamber of Commerce, five of them are women. These staff members were chosen to head all principal departments and are encouraged to participate in other community organizations and events.
Many of the chamber staff are in leadership positions within the organization and are encouraged to get involved as leaders of other Brownwood community organizations. The women within the staff are in charge of the annual Brownwood Business Showcase, Young Leaders of Brown County, the Brownwood Reunion Celebration, Christmas Under the Stars Festival, annual Lighted Christmas Parade, annual Brownwood Bridal Fair, and many more.
Pictured above are (left to right) Hillary Stegemoller – representing Congressman Conaway, and 2015 Women of Distinction Jan Fisher, Beverly Norris, Diane Winn, Suzanne Prosise, and Lisa Ritter.
