FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                  April 13, 2005

AAUW TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA

The third annual Women’s Recognition Ceremony and Dinner honoring women leaders in northwest Oklahoma will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 21, in the Student Center Ballroom on the campus of Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) will recognize five women from northwest Oklahoma for accomplishments and contributions to their communities, churches, businesses and families. 

Tickets for the event are $15 and must be purchased by April 15 from any AAUW member or by contacting Dr. Sheila Brintnall at (580) 327-8582.

Honorees this year are Janice Melton, warden of the Bill Johnson Correctional Center in Alva, Economic Development Award; Dr. Kathy Harris, chair of the Business, E-Commerce and Agriculture Department at Northwestern, Educational Development Award;  Ione Hada of Alva, a quilter who has given countless hours of her talent and time to making and donating her quilts to family, friends, and community organizations, Community Development Award; and Kimberly Weast, Northwestern assistant professor of theater and facilities/technical director of Herod Hall Auditorium, Cultural Development Award. 

The award given to the outstanding “Woman of the Year” will be announced during the ceremony.

The guest speaker will be Martha Burger, treasurer and senior vice president of human resources at Chesapeake Energy Corporation, the highest executive level of any woman in the independent energy industry. Chesapeake is the fourth largest independent energy company in the United States with a market capitalization of nearly $10 billion and is headquartered in Oklahoma.

Under Burger’s leadership, Chesapeake has grown from 85 employees when she started with the company in 1995 to more than 2,000 today. As treasurer, she has helped Chesapeake raise more than $6 billion, including $1 billion this year, most of which has been reinvested in Oklahoma,

Burger also heads up the administrative functions at Chesapeake, which include oversight of the 750,000 square feet of office space in Oklahoma City, as well as eight field offices across the state.

She has earned bachelor of science degrees from Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma and a master’s in business administration from Oklahoma City University.

Burger is treasurer of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and a member of the Executive Board of the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University, the Regional Food Bank and the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma County. 

She also has endowed a scholarship specifically dedicated to helping women in the college of business.  She is an accomplished woman, both personally and professionally; a leader and an example to others around her. 

The Woods County Cattlemen’s Association, Gregg Glass, Harris McCracken and Ky Luddington have contributed funds to support the serving of beef for the dinner. 

-NW-

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