[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 135 (Wednesday, October 10, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S10455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A TRIBUTE TO ``WOMEN OF INFLUENCE''

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to 
recognize ten outstanding women in business who have been honored by 
the Des Moines Business Record as ``Women of Influence.''
  Each in their own way, these women have left a positive mark in the 
Iowa business world and Iowa as a whole. More than 100 women were 
nominated for this honor and the selections were made based on lifetime 
achievements in the workplace and in the community.
  I wanted to take a few minutes to recognize a group of women who have 
recently been honored for their years of leadership in the Greater Des 
Moines area. They are: Mary Bontrager, executive vice president of the 
Greater Des Moines Partnership; Joyce Chapman, senior vice president of 
West Des Moines Bank; Angela Connolly, Polk County Supervisor; 
Christine Hensley, Des Moines City Councilwoman; Elizabeth Jacobs, 
state legislator and, assistant director of corporate relations to the 
Principle Financial Group; Jerilee M. Mace, executive director of the 
Des Moines Opera; Dr. Sheila McGuire Riggs, executive director of the 
Wellmark Foundation; Dr. Rizwan Z. Shah, medical director of the Child 
Abuse Program at Blank Children's Hospital; Margaret Swanson, 50-year 
volunteer and philanthropist; Margaret Toomey, activist for youths 
living in poverty, community college teacher and former executive 
director of the Oakridge Neighborhood, a private non-profit subsidized 
housing community.
  I congratulate each of them on this notable achievement. In addition 
to their specific accomplishments, each of these women serve as an 
inspiration to young women in Iowa who hope to achieve great heights in 
business and in the community. I applaud Connie Wimer and the Des 
Moines Business Record for recognizing their outstanding contributions. 
These women are an integral part of the strength of Iowa's 
community.

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