2009 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE RECOGNIZED

For their dedication to the community, service to others and commitment to helping women achieve their goals, today four women are honored as Women of Excellence at the 27^th Annual Sales and Marketing Executives, Inc. Women in Business Event.  The 2009 Women of Excellence winners are:

• Adela Casas-Melley, MD received the Women of Excellence Award in the Women Breaking Barriers category.  Casas-Melley was the first female physician to be appointed to work as a pediatric surgeon at Sanford Children’s Specialty Clinic.  She achieved this position through professionalism and raw talent and is one of only nine pediatric liver and kidney transplant surgeons in the country, as well as one of fewer than 50 pediatric surgeons in the world trained in robotic-assisted surgery.
    
  
  
• Michelle Lavallee received the Women of Excellence Award in the Women Mentoring Women category.  Lavallee is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Communication at Avera McKennan, where she has used her more than 20 years experience in marketing to help establish a partnership between Avera and the YWCA, which has a focus on mentoring young women in the community. She also shares her experience and talents on a volunteer basis as a board member for the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Youth Business Adventure and as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Washington Pavilion.
  
  
  
• Lindsay Leischner received the Women of Excellence Award in the Young Women of Excellence category.  Leischner currently serves as the administrator of the Avera Flandreau Medical Center.  As Administrative Fellow at Avera McKennan, Lindsay coordinated a developing relationship between Avera and the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Sioux tribes, resulting in the donation of an ambulance and needed medical equipment to a population which is medically underserved.  Now, she is directing her skills toward empowering staff to deliver quality health care in a rural environment.
  
  
  
• Mary Hitzemann received the Women of Excellence Award in the Women Working through the Decades category.  With 32 years of experience in the Human Resources profession, Hitzemann serves as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Home Federal Bank.  She also holds several leadership positions, with board memberships on the Sioux Falls Civil Service Board, the Youth Business Adventure Advisory Board, and SD Junior Achievement.  Hitzemann also is deeply involved in the new “Face It! Sioux Falls” addiction recovery initiative.
  
  

More than 1,000 women attended this year’s SME Sioux Falls Women in Business.  In addition to browsing vendor booths and networking, attendees heard Award-winning actress Jane Seymour speak.   Seymour is well-known for her work on Broadway, television, and in films.  One of her most notable roles includes her Golden Globe-winning performance as the title character on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.  The SME Women of Excellence is sponsored by Wireless World and the event is sponsored by Sanford Health Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Home Federal Bank, The Diamond Room, Midcontinent Communications, Stewarts School, State Farm Insurance and the Empire Mall.

Sales & Marketing Executives Inc., of Sioux Falls (SME) is an association of sales and marketing management professionals.  The SME Sioux Falls organization -- started more than 40 years ago – includes a rich history of executives dedicated to advancing sales and marketing excellence.  SME promotes local educational and meeting opportunities to improve sales and marketing management skills through workshops, newsletters, interesting meetings, events and idea-sharing discussions.  SME members include CEOs, marketing managers, sales managers and other senior level executives who contribute to the advancement of sales and marketing management.  More information about Sales and Marketing Executives is available at www.smesiouxfalls.org.

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