Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM) will celebrate six community members during the Tribute awards reception at Stafford’s Perry Hotel in Petoskey, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, November 9. Tribute reception tickets are $25 per person and can be reserved by calling WRCNM’s main office at (231) 347-0067. Highlighted below are a few of the accomplishments of this year’s community-nominated Tribute award recipients.

Advocate Award
Stacey Ettawageshik, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Stacey Ettawageshik has helped put a name to the silent crime of domestic violence. She is the Domestic Violence Project Coordinator for Victim Support Services at Little Traverse Bay Bands (LTBB) of Odawa Indians.

Ettawageshik created LTBB’s survivor outreach services from the ground up and has helped more than 200 families who have experienced domestic violence and/or sexual assault. She has taken a lead role in seeking reform of LTBB statutes about victims’ rights, domestic violence and Personal Protection Orders (PPO) and is an active member on LTBB’s coordinated community response team. She has also been the public face of advocacy for LTBB by appearing in public service announcements, participating in news articles and undertaking extensive outreach.

Ettawageshik is not only a leader in her tribal community and surrounding geographic area, but she is also the current president of Uniting Three Fires Against Violence, a statewide tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalition.

Ettawageshik works to educate professionals and the public about the alarmingly high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault in Native American communities. She has furthered her own education by attending graduate school through Michigan State University to earn a Masters of Social Work degree while also holding a full-time job and raising her young son.

Business & Professions Award
Denise Croake, Encore Financial

Denise Croake displays this quote in her office, “You don’t get what you hope for. You don’t get what you wish for. You get what you believe.” These words describe the purposeful actions she takes in her business and personal life as a positive influence in her community and to inspire independence and self-sufficiency in women and families.

Croake, as business development manager with Encore Financial, is involved in many aspects of the business. She is known to handle challenges with poise while encouraging and empowering co-workers to improve themselves personally and professionally through goal-setting. Helping women establish themselves financially is a driving force for Croake. She is mindful of hiring qualified female financial advisors and holds educational and retirement seminars for women business owners, as well as those retiring.

Within the community, Croake is a volunteer board member for YMCA of Northern Michigan. She is involved in Women Can/Women Do fundraisers in Cheboygan and Emmet counties to raise dollars for Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan programs and services.

Croake also volunteers with Little Traverse Historical Society, a relationship that began when researching a restoration project for the Petoskey Encore Financial office. The restoration earned a Heritage Award honorable mention for architecture and beautification from the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce. She initiated another restoration project involving neighboring apartments in an effort to provide affordable, updated housing for those who live and work in Petoskey.

Her exemplary work has helped her earn industry distinctions, such as the GAMA International Frontline Leader Award which recognizes excellence in traditional and contemporary field management throughout the insurance, investment, and financial services industry.

Community Service Award
Jackie Burrell, business owner, volunteer, mentor and quiet force for good

Jackie Burrell opened her business, Flowers From Sky’s the Limit, more than 35 years ago. Since that time, she has immersed herself in the community as a Petoskey Jaycee, Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce board member and mentor for Junior Achievement, as well as with the STRIVE program to support local students’ academic success.

Burrell is known for her volunteerism and altruism. In spring, she and her staff deliver daffodils to area businesses and organizations; over a twenty year period she has delivered 100,000 flowers. Her volunteer activities with the Chamber of Commerce and annual Women Can/Women Do fundraiser of the Women’s Resource Center have spanned many years.

Burrell is a positive and encouraging mentor to employees as they further their professional development and gain certifications. She supported staff to become Michigan Certified Florists and Master Gardeners; she even helped build a handicap accessible vegetable garden for Bay Bluffs residents and has donated plants to sustain the gardens.

In 2007, Burrell mentored Girl Scout Troop 379 in pursuing their Gold Award community service project, Flowers for Friends. The Troop recycled and reassembled flowers used at weddings, church services and funerals and shared them with isolated community members. The scouts delivered more than 7,500 arrangements over two years to earn this highest scouting award. The scouts graduated in 2009, but Burrell has continued the Flowers for Friends project working with volunteers who have delivered nearly 50,000 arrangements. Flowers for Friends earned a 2016 Michigan Governor’s Service Award.

You would be hard-pressed to find someone in the Petoskey area who hasn’t been touched by Burrell’s generosity and service over self.

Man of Action Award
Kevin Burns, Architect and Role Model

Kevin Burns is a positive role model and has influenced young athletes and men in the community on how to play a role in ending violence against women and girls.

As a volunteer youth soccer coach over the past decade, Burns has influenced many athletes on how to compete respectfully. He currently coaches kindergarten through third grade players through the Harbor Springs Recreational Soccer program. He has also been a board member of Harbor Soccer, Inc., for many years, where he has helped parents and coaches throughout the area increase their awareness and understanding of gender-based violence and ways to prevent it.

As a member of the 100 Men Campaign and a volunteer with the Violence Prevention Team, Burns has worked to build awareness about violence against women and girls and how men can help end it. He has volunteered for local White Ribbon events, providing insight and a behind-the-scenes voice in organizing and implementing the campaigns, as well as working at the events. He has been a public face for the campaigns by speaking to student athletes during “Team Talks” prior to White Ribbon basketball games. He also co-facilitated a “Call to Men” town hall meeting to seek men’s input on the issue of ending violence against women, as well as their commitment to engage other men in this work.

Burns has shown he values equality, justice and the well-being of women. He approaches his work with humility, dedication and effective action to make the lives of those around him better. He has taken a humble and open-minded approach to learning about violence against women and girls; using that information to help get other people involved.

Pinnacle Award
Jan Mancinelli, retired executive director, consultant and civic-minded community leader

Jan Mancinelli provided vision and expected greatness while helping create one of the largest, most comprehensive and multi-faceted women’s service organization in Michigan. Mancinelli built her professional career around the goals of equality, justice and the well-being of women while serving as Executive Director of Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM) from 1978 to 2015.

Colleagues recall Mancinelli as the one who asked the difficult questions to address problems head-on and find a way to move forward. She has earned numerous local, regional and state awards and recognition for her leadership, dedication and expertise.

Leadership Little Traverse (LLT) launched in 1998 to inspire emerging leaders, and Mancinelli stepped forward to chair the human service portion of the program and continued to do so for many years. She continues to serve on the LLT Steering Committee and as a mentor.

Mancinelli served on the Resort Township Planning Commission for more than 20 years, ten as Chair, helping guide positive outcomes as the group addressed the pressures of growth. She also served on the boards of the Zonta Club of Petoskey, Little Traverse Conservancy, Char-Em Human Services Coordinating Body, Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce, Little Traverse Bay Sailors and others. Her contributions to each group and organization were always her vision and critical thinking.

Mancinelli retired from WRCNM in 2015, yet continues to share her leadership and vision with women’s programs throughout the Upper Peninsula where she works part-time for the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board.

Mancinelli embraces values of integrity, honesty and respect. She sets the bar high and expects others to do the same. Her journey has been one of service and meaningful contributions that have made a difference in northern Michigan communities and beyond.

Youth Award
Haylie Haase, student leader

Haylie Haase is a driven leader and role model interested in social issues that affect our northern Michigan communities and the world.

As a Resident Assistant at North Central Michigan College and a member of the Residence Hall Council, she has provided leadership and guidance to her peers on issues of community living and campus activism.

While Haase served as a Student Ambassador and president of the Student Senate, she encouraged those around her to become active in social justice issues and helped plan campus activities that reflected the values of kindness, respect and justice.

Haase serves as local president of Circle K International, the world’s largest student-led collegiate service organization. The club is self-governed and has a goal of making the world a better place one project at a time.

Haase has worked hard to raise awareness of societal issues that impact student populations and community members. She has helped organize student screenings for documentaries focused on cultural issues, such as sexism and gender stereotypes, with post-screening discussions about how these issues impact students and actions they can take to make a positive change.

Earlier this year, Haase received an Associates of Arts with Highest Distinction from North Central Michigan College. She was also named Presidential Scholar and received the Joseph W. McCarthy-William McCullough, M.D. Memorial Scholarship to attend Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology in Ireland during the fall 2017 semester. When reflecting on this opportunity, Haase said, “I think that it’s good to just get out and see the rest of the world and try to understand other people.”

Haase’s plans are to attend Grand Valley State University to pursue a public relations degree with a minor in international relations.