2008 Woman of Influence
Meet Mary Sheahen, PWI’s Co-President and our 2008 Woman of Influence
By B’Ann Dittmar, PWI Co-President
Mary is a former hospital executive that lost her position due to a “down-sizing”. This came at a time where she had just lost her mother and 4 months later lost her father. She took these tragedies and decided to make them into something positive by moving forward to develop her dream. She has seen in the healthcare industry what a toll stress, anxiety, and hectic living can take on people’s well being and developed her dream of opening a spa focusing on wellness. This venture required a major risk, moving from a professional position to a self-employed status and she has flourished.
She has also created an annual executive retreat focusing on women that covers the following areas: -Advancing Leadership, Creative Problem Solving, Diversity and Harmony in the Workplace, Excelling at Customer Care, Effective Communication, Goal Setting and Time Management, Life Balance and Team Building.
These executive and professional level retreats offer programming and personal enrichment services that help to rejuvenate the spirits' of leaders while restoring their commitments to serve their organization.
Mary is an active Galena Rotarian, and has given her personal time to go with fellow Rotarians to sing to the residents at the nursing home to cheer them up around the holidays. She has served on the fundraising committee for Tyler’s Justice Center for Children’s Building Campaign. She has served on the Galena Territory Association’s Board of Directors, and currently serves on the Galena Hospital’s Board of Directors, as well as the CVB Advisory board.
It seems that everything she does is centered on helping women. She has opened up her spa and provided services as a fund-raiser for CHOICES and Riverview, both of which provide services to women. She is a very giving person and not only is serving on the fund-raising committee of Tyler’s Justice Center for Children’s building campaign, by helping to organize a Gala event, she went further and decided on her own to donate the cost of the entertainment for the evening.
Her business is truly a reflection of women supporting women. She comes from the hectic, professional environment and knows how the services her business provides can support women’s mind, body and spirit to renew them to better able them to continue on with their work, by taking a break and taking care of themselves, first. She manages a large staff of women and has taken the effort to further develop skills in these women and has their respect and devotion.
Mary is also an excellent writer and writes many articles for publications, with a focus on leadership topics and finding balance.
Mary has all of the qualities that embody the spirit of the Woman of Influence award. She is a collaborative, dynamic and thoughtful leader that gives a great deal to this community through her volunteerism and outstanding leadership, all while owning and operating a successful business as an entrepreneur. I believe she is a role model for all women. There is not a more deserving nominee for this award!
