Rethemeier takes home Woman of Achievement honors on Owatonna

Julie Rethemeier was named the 2010 Woman of Achievement last night. Her father was with her at the annual Woman of Achievement Scholarship fundraiser.

By BRIANA GEHRING

bgehring@owatonna.com

OWATONNA — Five amazing women were nominated for this years Woman of Achievement Awards. These women were business women, known in their field, but they were also more. They helped the women around them and the community, but one stood out among the rest.

“It’s always hard, but there seems to be one person that jumps out at you,” said veteran judge Barb Leining.

Julie Rethemeier won the judges over through her submitted application and interview. Although most judges agreed it was pretty hard to make a decision, Rethemeier seemed the most well-rounded of the candidates, the judges said. Still plenty of the candidates scored high.

“I was very proud to have a chance to meet the nominees and realize what a tame life I’ve lived,” Leining said.

For one judge, Mary DeWitte, Rethemeier stood out immediately. Through the application she caught DeWitte’s attention. DeWitte said that intuition was only confirmed by the interview.

“She was just an all-around outstanding woman as far as her volunteerism, being a career woman and being a mom,” DeWitte said.

Rethemeier is the director of public relations at Federated Insurance. She also serves as the president of the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Minnesota. At both places she works to help women look toward the future. The thing that really stood out was how Rethemeier helped and mentored women both young and old. At work, she’d help the women advance and work toward the next level, and through Big Brothers Big Sisters, she helped get young women off to a good start.

“She helped them move ahead, understand their strengths and succeed in life,” said Diane Norland, one of the judges.

Most of all, it was her passion and presence that stood out to the judges. They felt her dedication and that one her some critical points since many had high scores.

“She was very passionate about helping people grow, be successful and live up to their potential. You could just see it in her being,” Norland said.

Rethemeier received her title of 2010’s Woman of Achievement Friday night at the Owatonna Business Woman’s scholarship fundraiser. Although Rethemeier came out on top, the other women were honored even by being nominated.

“The people who nominated the candidates already had a feeling about them before they were ever nominees for the award,” Leining said.

Briana Gehring can be reached at 444-2378.

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