
Home
Email
Site Map

MANDY GOETZE 21st CENTURY AWARD

Marian E. Goetze (or Mandy to all those that know her) was a part of the creation of TIAW from the beginning, planning sessions in 1979 through her association with the Baltimore Executive Women's Network. She was a founding board member when the organization was first created and named the “National Association of Professional & Executive Women’s Networks” in 1980. Mandy has been here throughout our evolution to where we are today as TIAW. She has been leading and guiding us ever onwards through her passion and her tireless efforts.

From 1984-85 when she coordinated the TIA Washington Briefing/Meetings to 1986 when she became the Executive Vice President of TIA, Mandy has been an inspiration and TIAW’s sage advisor. Some of the highlights of her term include coordination of ten White House briefings for The International Alliance, from 1984-1993, as well as four European meetings. As someone who represents the heart and soul of this organization it was only fitting that there be an award in her honor: the Mandy Goetze 21st Century Award; an award that is bestowed annually to a TIAW member who has made an outstanding contribution to TIAW, which may be a long-standing effort or an exceptional achievement in a specific area.

2011 Recipient

Margie Armen

We are delighted to announce Margie Armen as the recipient of the Mandy Goetze 21st Century Award for 2011. Margie is well known in TIAW for her many years of dedication and service, including her board service as Secretary 2003-2005 and as Parliamentarian and Legal Advisor 2005-2008. Margie has also been a devoted, hard working member of the Microenterprise Development Program since 2000 serving as legal advisor. Now that this important program is once again being run solely by volunteers, Margie never hesitated to volunteer to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer of the program to oversee its day-to-day operations.

Margie is always ready to provide any additional help TIAW may ask of her including to help organize the 2010 Global Cities event in Washington, DC. Margie has participated in a number of TIAW Donor Trip for the Micro Program to visit countries and women receiving micro loans from the TIAW program.

In her professional life Margie spent over 28 years in the office of General Counsel of the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) and retired in 2006 as Deputy Assistant General Counsel.

Margie is passionate about volunteering to make a difference. Margie helped found Capital Area Women, a women's self development and support group and was its Treasurer from 2002-05. She served on the Board of the American Association for Budget and Program Analysis (AABPA) for 15 years as General Counsel and she was AABPA President in 1994. She was President of Public Financial Publications, Inc. (publishers of the Journal, Public Budgeting and Finance) from 2002-07, capping 20 years of service on that Board. Margie joined Executive Women in Government in 1998, and she served as EWG Vice President in 2002-03.

2010 Recipient

Virginia (Gini) Robinson

Virginia “Gini” Robinson became a member of TIAW through her association Executive Women in Government (EWG) in Washington, DC of which she is a past president. Gini became actively involved with TIAW in 1997 as a founding member of the TIAW Microenterprise Development Program. Gini has over the years served as Treasurer for TIAW and CFO for the Micro Program. Gini has given of her time to the organization in so many ways including visiting some of our Micro Finance Institute (MFI) partners in South Africa, Kenya and Ghana at different times at her own expense. She was able to see first-hand how our Village Bank program serves the women of these countries. Gini has also taken part in several “donor trips” as a donor and micro committee member to various countries in Latin America and Asia.

Gini helps organize conferences and welcome attendees from different lands as well as ensuring communication with various member groups, some of which she has sponsored in the past. Gini always has a smile and unless there are truly extenuating circumstances, always says yes, when asked to take on another task for TIAW.

Presently Virginia resides in the Washington, DC area. Throughout her career in the U. S. government, she opened avenues of communications in many countries and organizations focusing on international aspects of accounting, auditing, budgeting, financial analysis and reporting as well as human resource management. Her work as an international financial management consultant to the U.S. Treasury and the Harvard Institute for International Development led her to countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, and South America. Much of the work as an adviser to Treasury focused on assisting former Soviet Union countries and others receiving U.S. funds to transition from a command economy to a market economy. She has taught and given presentations on international aspects of financial management in countries and islands abroad, including Senegal, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Australia, Singapore, France, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Currently, she teaches and assists in the implementation of a certification program in governmental financial management.

One of her passions is volunteerism. Her volunteer work has included serving as National President of the Association of Government Accountants, President of Executive Women in Government, Vice President, International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management and President of the Washington, DC Chapter of the International Institute of Internal Auditors. She worked in The Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program for 17 years, and worked with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Program as an instructor and counselor. She has served as a mentor in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Public Sector Auditing Program. She has also mentored young women in the High Tea Society. Recently, she worked with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for victims of Hurricane Katrina. That experience was so rewarding she has decided to return next month. With all of the enriching volunteer opportunities to give back, she continues to reserve time for her duties as CFO for TIAW’s Microenterprise Program.

2009 Recipient
Lisa Mezzetti
Attorney at Law, Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC

The Mandy Goetze 21st Century Award is bestowed annually in honour of one of TIAW's dynamic founders and long-time Board Members Marian (Mandy) Goetze. This award is presented to a TIAW member who has made an outstanding contribution to TIAW, and personifies the TIAW mission. This may be a long-standing effort or an exceptional achievement in a specific area.

This year, that award goes to our dear friend and long time board member, Lisa Mezzetti. In her day job, Lisa is an Attorney at Law at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC in Washington, D.C.

Lisa’s devotion to, and passion for TIAW is well known within the organization. Lisa first became involved through TIAW member Financial Women’s Association of New York (FWANY), of which she is an active member. Lisa’s willingness to get involved, her great ability as a legal advisor along with her calm demeanor and wonderful sense of humor served TIAW well for a great many years.

Lisa has served on the Board of Directors for 11 years in a variety of positions such as Treasurer as well as serving three Presidents as Vice President of Sponsorship and Resource Development; Co-Chair of the very successful 1999 Washington Briefing; committee member for other conferences, FWANY liaison to the TIAW Board of Directors for over 4 years. Lisa has also been a strong supporter of the TIAW Microenterprise Development Program and Village Banks. While a very busy litigation attorney, Lisa has long been an integral member of the TIAW “Old Girls Network”, comprised of past presidents and board members, always making sure to keep everyone fully informed on the latest activities at TIAW.

Lisa participated in many TIAW International Trips and Conferences, always working hard to contribute all she could in time, energy and devotion to ensured they were a great success.

TIAW is honored to recognize Lisa for all of her outstanding contributions to TIAW with The Mandy Goetze 21st Century Award for 2009.

2008 Recipient
Hannah Sorscher

This year's honouree, Hannah Sorscher, has been a truly invaluable contributor to TIAW's development in countless significant ways.

In her day job, Hannah is Chief Financial Officer for Citi Cards Canada business of Citigroup, capping a 27-year career with Citigroup that has included senior roles in New York, Sydney, Tokyo, London and now Toronto.

Hannah first became involved with TIAW through Foreign Executive Women (FEW) in Tokyo, Japan and was led, by its connection, to also become a member in 1994 of another TIAW organization, the Financial Women's Association.

Hannah's association with TIAW has been marked by her passion for the cause, her willingness to get involved, her great executive ability and energy.

A small, but telling example of her fierce dedication and efficiency saw Hannah serving on the TIAW board while posted in London, often flying to North America to attend board meetings on a weekend. As the secretary for TIAW she used her time on the long flights to prepare minutes so that they would be ready for circulation to the Board by the time she returned to London.

In addition to acting as the FWA representative to TIAW for several years, Hannah has served as its Secretary, Treasurer, 2nd Vice President and VP of Membership and as President in 2004 and 2005. During her term as President, TIAW celebrated its 25th anniversary, published a 25th Anniversary History Book and raised the funds for 25 Village Banks as part of its Microenterprise Program. From its inception, Hannah was a key member of the TIAW Microenterprise Program and served as the Treasurer for the program for several years.

In addition to her superhuman effort of donating her time and expertise so selflessly, Hannah and her husband Frank have also been strong financial supporters of TIAW over the years, including fully funding several Village Banks for women in developing countries.

Hannah participated in many TIAW International Trips and conferences, always working hard to contribute all she could in time, energy and devotion to ensure they were a great success.

2007 Recipient
Erlina Edwards

Each year the Marion “Mandy” Goetze 21^st Century Award is bestowed on a TIAW member who has made an outstanding contribution to the organization. From the moment Erlina participated in a TIAW International Trip to Panama in January, 2001, along with the Strategic Planning Meeting held there, Erlina has provided her talents as a Thought Leader and a Strategic Thinker to the organization. As a committee member, and later as Vice President of Programs, Erlina has been a Model of Leadership and a True Inspiration to everyone who has had the privilege of knowing her.

In her day job as a busy executive with PeopleSoft in the San Francisco area and then as Human Resources Director and Site Leader for Intuit Ltd. in Tucson, Arizona, Erlina has continued to give of her time and expertise to TIAW. As a passionate, socially conscious leader Erlina brought a new direction to the annual TIAW Global Forum for two successive years as the Conference Chair.

Erlina has also demonstrated leadership in securing sponsorship for TIAW to ensure the financial stability of the organization.

Erlina and her husband Gene reside in Tucson where their shared passion in art has led to the creation of Galeria Mistica.

TIAW is honored to recognize Erlina for all of her outstanding contributions to TIAW with the Mandy Goetze Award for 2007.

2006 Recipient
Donna Heivilin

Donna's vitality and professionalism are legendary. Over a lifetime of service, Donna has put her energy and talent to good uses. For over three decades, Donna worked tirelessly as an auditor and investigator for the U.S. Congress. Donna achieved the highest rank of federal career civil service, the Senior Executive Service in 1978. Her areas of expertise are budgeting and national defense. Donna was a rarity when she began her career -- a woman in a man's field. However, she quickly set about changing that by supporting and encouraging other accomplished women to join her in that important work. Many women in public service in the United States today owe their start or their early recognition to Donna's trailblazing.

Many people would have settled for a career of distinction, but not Donna. She earned her doctorate degree in public finance from George Washington University, and made it her business to use her connections to benefit women. Donna joined and soon became a leader of Executive Women in Government, a network of women who hold high managerial and executive positions in the Federal Government. While serving as President of that organization, she discovered TIAW, and brought Executive Women in Government in as a TIAW member network. Again, her willingness to get involved, her ability and energy shone out, and she was quickly tapped for leadership of TIAW.

Donna served TIAW admirably as Treasurer, 1st Vice President and President from 2000 to 2002. The motto of her Presidency was "High Tech and High Touch," and that epitomizes her approach to TIAW.

Perhaps closest to Donna's heart, though, is the Microenterprise Development Program. Looking for a way to leverage TIAW resources and involve our member networks in rewarding philanthropic activity, Donna brought together a team to envision and create a program relevant to TIAW and its’ members, and thus was born the TIAW Microenterprise program supporting Microcredit loans for women in developing countries. The team, including Maxine Westaway, Virginia Robinson and Patricia Foley Hinnen, remain committed to improving economic opportunities for women whose poverty or lack of formal education does not impede their talents, ambitions and dreams. Forty village banks in fifteen countries and hundreds of women and families whose lives are more secure because of a micro loan and hard work are a fitting testament to Donna’s dedication and that of the TIAW Microenterprise Group.

Donna would be the first to credit all the dedicated women whose contributions were instrumental in making these wonderful things happen for TIAW, our Associations and for women in far flung countries and less advantaged circumstances. Everyone in this room knows that TIAW is a powerful engine for connecting professional women and promoting women’s economic advancement. We all know, too, that every engine needs a spark plug. We are fortunate that for better part of the last decade, Donna has been that spark plug for TIAW. It is an honor to present Donna, the “Mother” and “Founder” of the TIAW Microenterprise Program with The Marion Goetze 21st Century Award for 2006 in recognition of her varied and outstanding contributions on behalf of women and TIAW.

2005 Recipient
TIAW Past Presidents

In honor of our 25th Anniversary, this award was presented to all of the past TIAW Presidents for their outstanding contribution to making TIAW what it is today.

2004 Recipient
Patricia Foley Hinnen

The winner of this year's award has personally embodied TIAW's mission of "Connection to Make All the Difference in the World." Patricia Foley Hinnen has been Chair of the Microenterprise program for the last four years, putting her formidable organizational and persuasive powers to work to establish village banks. These banks provide women in underdeveloped countries with access to capital with which to start or expand businesses. Even though the amounts being lent are miniscule by Western standards, often as low as $50, these extremely modest loans have the power to transform lives.

More..

2003 Recipient
Kay Leaumont

This year’s most deserving recipient is TIAW’s very own Kay Leaumont. A TIAW Board Member for over a decade: Treasurer, First Vice-President, and President (1998-1999), Kay worked to bring financial stability to then-TIA. As the founder and Chair of the TIAW Daughters Program, she worked tirelessly with other Daughters groups and has successfully run three full programs, providing value to many girls and their families.

On a personal basis, Kay is a partner in the accounting firm of Gifford, Hillegass & Ingwersen, P.C., one of Atlanta, Georgia's top accounting firms. A true example of a successful and deserving businesswoman: in addition to traditional accounting and tax work, her specialty is in small business start-up requirements and strategic planning, and she has served as Acting CFO to companies in transition or those developing their accounting departments. Through her hard work and caring, she continues to set an example for, and provides mentoring to, her colleagues.