Stacey Keller, a senior project architect with Mead & Hunt, is the recipient of the 2020 ATHENA Award. Keller, a practice leader in historic preservation for Mead & Hunt, was selected over nine other accomplished women and honored on March 10 during the 23rd anniversary of the ATHENA Award Celebration at the Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor’s Club.
The ATHENA Award program is sponsored by The Business Forum, a professional women’s organization, and recognizes women who demonstrate excellence in their chosen profession and women who have contributed their time and talent to the enrichment of young women.
As the 2020 winner, Keller receives an ATHENA sculpture and will be invited to join the ATHENA International Foundation, which works to create leadership opportunities for women.
Keller called the award extremely special given the professional accomplishments and civic contributions of the 10 women who were nominated in the 2020 program, as well as past recipients.
“It’s unbelievable because there is such a great group of nominees, and it’s so exciting to be among this amazing group of women that have won this award,” says Keller, who noted that Jen Roman, the 2013 ATHENA Award recipient, is a mentor of hers. “I’ve always said that I’m no Jen Roman, but apparently she and I are the same caliber, and that’s so exciting.”
Keller was nominated by Laurie Whitney, vice president of Mead & Hunt, who notes that Keller is responsible for award-winning projects statewide, has won state and national awards for adaptive reuse and preservation projects, and shares her knowledge through organizations such as the Construction Specifications Institute and the American Institute of Architects.
“Stacey is really an incredible human being and an amazing woman,” says Whitney, who believes Keller must have a stunt double to handle all of her professional, family, and volunteer activities. “She’s really an inspiration to a lot of the women in our firm and also in our community. She’s done so much, both professionally and also as a volunteer.”
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All the ATHENA nominees (from left): Christina Smith-Wilkie, Wells Fargo Bank; Kristin Schmidt, C.G. Schmidt; Debra Alton, Atmosphere Commercial Interiors; Sujhey Beisser, Park Bank; ATHENA Award recipient Stacey Keller, Mead & Hunt; Samantha Crownover, Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society; Karen Kittelson Clay, Swimwest Swim School; Katie Lorenz, Campo Alpaca Inc.; and Kathleen Murphy, TASC. Not pictured is nominee Raya Clements of Waunakee Remodeling, who could not attend the awards program. Advertisement
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Elsewhere in the community, Keller led a successful American Institute of Architects initiative that developed a statewide disaster preparedness program in collaboration with the Wisconsin Emergency Management service. She further championed this effort by building a network of volunteer professionals who have been trained to assist local branches of government in times of disaster through the rapid assessment of buildings. Keller continues to serve as the chairman for the Disaster Assessment Committee–Wisconsin.
The Monona native hasn’t entirely shifted her focus to disaster preparedness, it’s just a natural extension of her interest in preservation. “It has always been integrative [with adaptive reuse], and I somehow keep layering my passions together,” she explains. “I have a love of old buildings and a calling to assist during times of disaster.”
Keller’s approach to servant leadership includes mentoring young women and other emerging architectural professionals, serving as the regional director to the Young Architects Forum and the Architect Mentorship Program, which focuses on developing leadership skills for young professionals. A mother of three, including a newborn, Keller led the inaugural 2018–19 AMP class and continues to serve as founding chair for a program that mentors on leadership, sustainability, ethics, and work-life balance.
Keller also enriches others through her long service as a leader in the Girl Scouts of America, especially when encouraging girls to pursue careers in the so-called STEM professions of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and when planning a Kon-Tiki Regatta event that empowers young girls in boating and outdoor activities.
For Keller, getting more young women interested in STEM and creative class careers like architecture and engineering is a constant focus, and one that starts earlier than middle school or high school. “We’re developing a pipeline all the time,” states Keller, who still considers herself to be a girl scout. “The Girl Scouts have a great set of STEM programs and we’re constantly developing them — even things like the Architect Barbie speak to how girls see themselves as architects.”
Nine other nominees
Local ATHENA Award judges had an impressive list of 2020 nominees to choose from, including:
- Debra Alton, workplace consultant, Atmosphere Commercial Interiors;
- Sujhey Beisser, retail support officer, Park Bank;
- Karen Kittelson Clay, owner, Swimwest Swim School;
- Raya Clements, project consultant, Waunakee Remodeling;
- Samantha Crownover, executive director, Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society;
- Katie Lorenz, founder & CEO, Campo Alpaca Inc.;
- Kathleen Murphy, director of business administration, TASC (Total Administrative Services Corp.);
- Kristin Schmidt, business development associate, C.G. Schmidt; and
- Christina Smith-Wilkie, commercial relationship manager, vice president, Wells Fargo Bank.
Dane County’s first ATHENA Award was presented in 1998 to community activist Carol Toussaint, a foundation consultant.
Last year’s recipient was Stephanie Bradley Wilson, director of health equity and violence prevention for Commonwealth Development in Madison.
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