Barb Butler Named 2012 ATHENA Award Recipient

Barb Butler, president and CEO of HealthSouth Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital, was recently named the 2012 ATHENA Award Recipient at the 22nd Annual ATHENA Award Luncheon, held on Friday, Oct. 19 at The Centre in Downtown Evansville.

Butler, an advocate of continuing education, is recognized for being a quiet leader in the community, encouraging women to achieve their full leadership potential, and serving as a role model for employees and the community.

Dedicating her entire professional career to caring for others, Butler joined the staff of HealthSouth Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital in 1989 and was named the president and CEO in 1998. Today, she serves as a preceptor for other leaders hired by HealthSouth, and serves on the HealthSouth National Diversity Council.

Butler, a graduate of the University of Southern Indiana (USI) and Indiana State University, serves on the local board of directors for the American Heart Association, Evansville ARC Foundation, Indiana Hospital Association, the Reitz Home, and the board for the Master’s Degree in Health Administration at USI.

Since The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana began presenting this prestigious award in the ’90s, hundreds of local women have been nominated, hundreds of local women have been selected as finalists, and just 21 women have been named the recipient of the humbling award.

When asked to select a community organization to benefit from a $500 charitable contribution made on her behalf by The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana, Butler chose House of Bread and Peace. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to provide for the basic needs of homeless women and their children while assisting them in becoming independent and self-sufficient.

Butler was among 10 finalists honored by The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana at the 22nd Annual ATHENA Award Luncheon, sponsored by Deaconess Health System and The Women’s Hospital. Finalists for the 2012 ATHENA Award were Barb Butler, Susan Elkington, Carrie Ellspermann, Sue Ann Hartig, Janet Heldt Baas, Sharon Kazee, Christine Keck, Lu Porter, Patricia Weinzapfel and Tracy Zeller.

In addition to recognizing the finalists for this year’s award, The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana presented scholarships to students from local higher education institutions. Lauren Reckelhoff from University of Southern Indiana, Samantha Pitt from University of Evansville and Kaci Leaf from Ivy Tech Community College — Southwest each received a $1,000 ATHENA Award Scholarship. The students’ scholarships will be matched by the schools, for a total scholarship of $2,000 each.

Past ATHENA Award Recipients:

Roxy Baas

Joyse Briding Rivers

Lisa Collins

Joan David

Meg Dettwiler

Lois Duncan

Diane Floyd

Carolyn Georgette

Cathlin Gray

Nancy Hartley Guant

Susan Hardwick

Lucy Himstedt

Sister Catherine Kelly

Jane Wittmer Kuhn

Sally Rideout Lambert

Donna Leader

Lynn Miller Pease

Kathy Schoettlin

Marjorie Soyugenc

Kristen Tucker

Linda White

Special thanks to the 2012 ATHENA Award Luncheon Planning Committee:

Kathy Schoettlin, Chairwoman

Jan Davies

Penne Gambrall

Ellada Hadjisavva

Natalie Hedde

Cheryl Martin

Lynn Miller Pease

Kate Miller

Tammy Schaefer

Lori Sullivan Beller

Amy Walker

Nazan Wolfe

Ben Wills