By Courtney Klemm Westlake
Recipients of the 2008 Women of Influence program, sponsored by Security Bank.
These five women will be recognized at a reception on May 13 at the Inn at 835. For more information about the reception or the Women of Influence progam, call (217) 492-2222 or email
info@springfieldbusinessjournal.com.
Women of Influence Reception Photos
EVELYN BRANDT THOMAS
Whether she's taking trips to St. Louis Cardinals baseball games, participating in fundraising efforts for local charities or continuing to help run the family business, Evelyn Brandt Thomas has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
"It's my therapy," she said of why she is enjoying working at an age long past when many of her peers have retired. "It gives me a reason to get up in the morning, a reason to keep my mind active; if you don't use it, you lose it."
Though she has accomplished much in her 84 years, Thomas said she is most proud of completing a book of Brandt's company history for its 50th anniversary. She finished the book just before her husband, Gordon, was diagnosed with cancer in 2002, and the couple gave copies of the book to friends and family as Christmas presents that year.
"It was more or less a tribute to him. Everybody was so pleased with it, and he said 'if you get one more compliment, you're going to get a big head!'" Thomas remembered with a laugh. "He was my supporter, my silent partner and my sounding board."
It is because of her husband, who graduated with a degree in agriculture, that Thomas, who has a daughter and two grandchildren as well, admits she is "so enthralled" with the field. This is a major reason that she is a huge supporter of agriculture education, providing scholarships for students studying the subject at Lincoln Land Community College, the University of Illinois, the FFA and more.
Thomas is also dedicated to the local community, having been involved with organizations like the Memorial Medical Center's Foundation Board, the National Association of Women Business Owners and Women in Leadership, to name a few. She also frequently takes part in local fundraisers like golf outings and donates to causes like the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the Pleasant Plains high school sports complex, the Memorial Medical Center Foundation and much more.
Thomas' most recent project, creating a Garden of Hope at the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine in memory of Gordon, is a big source of pride. The garden will be dedicated this year in July, on the birthday of her late husband.
"It's all more or less giving back," Thomas said. "This community has been so good to us. We wouldn't have this building (a new facility on Koke Mill Road) if we didn't have our wonderful customers. We started out on a shoestring, that's for sure."
It's not all work for Thomas though, who also loves to travel around the country and the world, play golf and attend musicals and baseball games. Work or play, she simply enjoys being around others.
"I just like people; I like working with people," she said.
DR. MARY LOKEN
Dr. Mary Loken feels very fortunate that she knew what she was called to do from a very young age.
While getting her bachelor's and master's degrees and eventually her Ph.D. in education, Loken discovered a true "love of learning and helping others."
"My first job out of college was during the polio years, and most of the children had disabilities as a result of the polio," she said. "It really piqued my interest. And about that time, there was the special education movement, so I was in the right place at the right time."
One of Loken's proudest accomplishments is establishing and supervising the Special Education and Alternative Program in for Springfield's District 186, which she began in 1965. Loken now works as an educational consultant for the Sangamon County Regional Office of Education and is an adjunct lecturer for the University of Illinois at Springfield and Quincy University, through which she has found a passion for teaching.
"I just love those 'ah-ha!' moments on students' faces, or when I see a student on the street, and they say 'remember that piece we talked about in class? I use it every day'," Loken said, her face lighting up. "I love to see the things I teach be put into play. I love to work with administrators, teachers and future teachers to give them the tools that enable them to help all students succeed."
Loken married Denny Loken, who passed away in 2006, and describes their relationship as a "wonderful partnership." The couple has one son, Alan, married to his wife Susan, and two grandsons. Some of Loken's favorite moments are spent with her grandsons during what they fondly call "Saturday adventures."
"We started out with Beck (now age nine), and we would pick him up and go somewhere, like the local museums, zoos, the fair," Loken said. "Now he has a little brother, Finn, who's three, and we're starting to do it with him too; we just recently had an outing to the library. We've had a lot of fun."
Loken also plays bridge with her friends and fishes off her dock on Lake Springfield in her spare time. Community activism is one of her passions as well, and being the first woman within several local organizations, such as the YMCA Board and president of the local United Way, has been a point of pride in her life.
Loken is still very involved in the community with numerous other organizations outside of her career and tries to "manage my time so I can be active on each one," she said.
"I believe in enjoying what you do and doing things for others; I think that sums up my life," Loken said. "I found out early on what I wanted to do, and I stuck with it. I feel so fortunate to be able to continue to work."
CARLISSA PUCKETT
There is a photo hanging in Carlissa Puckett's office that was framed and given to her by a friend, just to remind people she has another side to her.
In the photo, she is sitting on her motorcycle.
"People tend to think of me as being pretty serious, but I have a fun side," Puckett said with a laugh.
Puckett, the executive director of Sparc, has needed both – serious and fun – while serving in her position over the last 15 years to continue providing the quality service that Sparc offers to the Springfield and Central Illinois community.
The mission of Sparc, or Springfield ARC, is to help individuals with developmental
disabilities improve the quality of their lives; some of Sparc's programs include developmental training, 24-hour residential support, supported employment and much more. And as director, Puckett ensures that the needs of Sparc's clients are met, that Sparc is in a viable position financially to maintain its services and support, and that city, state and federal regulations are met and the staff is competent.
All of her hard work and dedication is more than worth it thanks to the wonderful clients of Sparc.
"The individuals, the hugs, the smiles, their accomplishments," Puckett said when asked about the most rewarding aspects of her job.
Puckett, who has three children and five grandchildren, lists raising her "great kids" as her proudest accomplishment. Her parents are her mentors, as well as Betty Ghent, Cathy Flicker-Terrill and Don Moss.
She enjoys traveling with her husband, usually to see family members around the United States, such as Tulsa, Pittsburgh and Colorado Springs. And of course, she enjoys the occasional ride locally on her motorcycle.
Puckett said she also feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel outside the country to destinations like Jamaica and Ireland.
Puckett, who moved to Springfield from southeastern Illinois 20 years ago, said she has found the city to be a great community.
"I've tried to become very involved in the community, and I appreciate the community being supportive of me," she said.
Puckett said she hopes she was nominated for the 2008 Women of Influence honor because people see value in what she is trying to achieve through her work.
"I hope it was because they believe I have high moral values and ethics and that I love getting involved with community organizations and projects," she said.
VERONICA ROBISON
When she's not working to better the Springfield community, she's working to better herself.
From documenting the influence of local past and present African-American leaders to advocating for political issues, Veronica Robison's impact on the community in which she grew up runs deep.
Robison, who is also known as "Ronnie" to her friends, retired in March from the Federal Bureau of Investigations where she served as the community outreach specialist for the Springfield Division, just shy of a 39-year stint.
"I'm still smiling; it was a good decision," she said with a big grin to prove it. "It was time for another change. This is a new phase in my life."
With much more free time, Robison said she is looking forward to furthering her vast array of hobbies and interests in the coming months and years, including training her German Sheppard Nadia, painting houses, writing and martial arts.
Through Grand Master Perry's School of TaeKwonDo, Robison is now in the preparation of becoming a 2nd degree black belt. She noted that her proudest accomplishment thus far has been winning her first gold medal in Las Vegas at the U.S. National TaeKwonDo Championship.
"I had just buried my mother before attending the tournament and felt her presence as I accomplished that goal," she said.
As if Robison's life isn't already full of family, friends and personal interests, she also takes time out for herself to relax and values what many consider the "smaller things" in life.
"I laugh out loud, dance, paint, play with my dogs and cats, work in the yard and value my friendships," Robison said. "I enjoy road trips such as the trip I took to Chicago to see 'Color Purple' with some great friends, the Fox Theater or a Mediterranean Cruise."
Though extremely active in the community, Robison said she was surprised to be nominated for one of this year's five Women of Influence, not because she is unworthy but because the "pool of influential women in Springfield is so great," she said.
"But I hope that I am seen for my fairness, my energy, my commitment, my dedication to my community, my strength in a difficult situation, speaking out on issues, my ability to work with all segments of the community from the homeless to the president' of banks and private companies," Robison said. "I have been left a wonderful legacy from my parents; they gave me the ability to cry when people are being mistreated and disrespected and to smile when I can do even the smallest thing to change the situation. I don't feel I was nominated for me, but for what I hopefully represent. I am truly honored to have been nominated."
JUDITH STEPHENS
Judy Stephens is an advocate for change. She believes strongly in change not for change's sake, but change that could improve situations, circumstances or attitudes.
"I believe we always must question the present, plan for the future and adapt ourselves appropriately," Stephens said. "We have to keep up with the times but also maintain our values and beliefs; you don't have to compromise your values and beliefs, and you shouldn't."
Partly because of this attitude, Stephens has been involved in a myriad of activities and organizations in the Springfield community, leaving each one changed for the better.
Stephens, who has been married to Harvey B. Stephens for almost 49 years, has two sons and a daughter, who passed away in 2006, and two grandsons. She has found volunteer work and community activism as her calling, and her resumé of community service is too lengthy to even begin to list.
From her community activism and work to improve the different organizations she has been involved in, Stephens has found that it usually takes a team to achieve a goal and thanks all the "teams" she has been involved with in leading her to receiving the honor of one of the 2008 Women of Influence.
"I am humbled to be selected for this honor," she said. "No person achieves good outcomes alone – it takes a team of believers working together."
Two "teams" that stand out in her mind as personal journeys include the Board of Education that she served on from 1980 to 1987 and the Sangamon County Community Foundation, on which she held the role of chairman for 11 years and now is a member of the advisory council.
"Some of us realized what was happening across the country in the philanthropic arena years ago: community foundations were becoming the way for persons to make their communities better places in years to come," Stephens said. "We saw no reason why Springfield shouldn't join the parade! A forward-thinking board of directors resolved that we could…and we did. Now five years later SCCF has attained an enviable and respected position in Sangamon County."
Stephens credits her mother and grandmother for providing her with the desire to change things for the better in the community.
"My life-long avocation as a volunteer has provided me with fantastic opportunities for personal growth along with perhaps helping to 'make a difference'," she said. "My mentors were my grandmother and my mother. Both of these remarkable women devoted their lives 'doing for others,' whether it was a ride to the doctor's office, a hot meal or a few dollars to help with the bills. They each left a legacy that actions speak louder than words."
Bios and photographs by Courtney Klemm Westlake.
