Girl Scouts announces 2024 Western Slope Women of Distinction

Three Extraordinary Women Honored

Each year, Girl Scouts of Colorado honors three exceptional women as Women of Distinction. These women have displayed exemplary leadership and a commitment to advancing the profile of women and girls in our community. This year’s honorees were selected by a committee of previous Women of Distinction honorees and chosen based on their contributions to the community, both professionally and personally. These women join a network of nearly 30 Western Slope WoD alums. They are shining examples of corporate, civic, and philanthropic leaders, who serve as role models for our female leaders of tomorrow.

Class of 2024, Women of Distinction

Rebecca Hobart, chief executive officer, Ariel Clinical Services – Becky was named the Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers Colorado Chapter in March 2009 and awarded the Dr. Bruce Wilson Memorial Award presented by Rocky Mountain Health Plans in 2022. Since Becky relocated to Grand Junction in 1992, she worked as a family preservation therapist and later worked with the Healthy Steps program at Western Colorado Pediatrics Associates. Becky was a founder of Partners In Parenting, a parenting class for divorced parents. She serves on several non-profit Boards in Mesa County. Becky's passion is to serve children, families, and individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. One of the things Becky is most proud of is developing Charley's Cookies using her husband's family recipe to help kids and adults learn job skills. Becky recalls selling Girl Scouts Cookies herself and loves seeing the joy that the cookie business brings to her clients.
Stephania Vasconez, founder and executive director, Mutual Aid Partners — Stephania has spent the last five years as a grassroots community advocate in Grand Junction and founded Mutual Aid Partners in 2020, as a direct response to the rising community needs due to the pandemic. With Stephania’s leadership and engagement as executive director, Mutual Aid Partners -- a network that supports and connects grassroots efforts and community partners through meaningful collaborations -- has been able to assist more than 56,000 families through the weekly distribution of essential resources, including food, clothing, hygiene, and period products, as well as facilitated access to education, sanitation, transportation, health care, and shelter. Stephania was born in Ecuador and immigrated to the United States at the age of 10. She grew up in Grand Junction and became a first-generation graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Colorado State University. Stephania also is a TEDx speaker and was named the Community Trailblazer of the Year by Community Resource Center.
Anne Wenzel, president and chief executive officer, Western Colorado Community Foundation – Anne has worked in the philanthropic sector her entire career. She currently serves as President and CEO of the Western Colorado Community Foundation, a position she has held since 2001. She has built the foundation from $1 million to $170 million in total assets, distributing $6.6 million in grants annually. Prior to her current role, she was partner in a national consulting firm helping charitable foundations with strategic grant-making and nonprofit clients with strategic planning, fundraising, and program development. She also ran her own consulting practice and worked for a nonprofit board development institute. In the past several years, Anne says it has been satisfying to raise $4 million to purchase and move the Community Foundation into a permanent home. The former Roper Music Store is both office for the organization and a Center for Philanthropy – a gathering place where they can host meetings for nonprofit groups, trainings, donor events, and community education programs.

Girl Scouts of Colorado will welcome the Class of 2024 honorees from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., Oct. 25, at the Colorado Mesa University.

“I am honored to welcome this year’s class of Women of Distinction. They are strong, bold, empowered women who represent the leadership and excellence that powers today’s world, and they are outstanding role models for our girls,” said Leanna Clark, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Colorado.

Proceeds from the event will support Girl Scouts of Colorado’s crucial leadership development programs in entrepreneurship, outdoors, STEM, and life skills for more than 1,700 members across the Western Slope.

For information regarding tickets and sponsorships, visit girlscoutsofcolorado.org or contact Katelyn Marchase at katelyn.marchase@gscolorado.org.

June 04, 2024