Girl Scouts announces 2024 Colorado Springs Women of Distinction
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Girl Scouts of Colorado is honoring six women in the community as the new 2024 class of Women of Distinction. This year's honorees were selected by a committee of their peers and chosen based on their contributions to the community, both professionally and personally. The 2024 honorees join a network of more than 500 Women of Distinction alums.
Class of 2024, Women of Distinction
Jessica Fierro, owner & head brewer, Atrevida Beer Co. – Jessica is responsible for recipe building, brewing and sales operations, allocating resources, and developing policies for Atrevida Beer Co. Prior to owning and brewing at Atrevida, Jessica was a homebrewer and the winner of a national homebrew competition called BEERLAND. She also, as a homebrewer, brewed with the Makin’ Noise, an all-women's non-profit brewer group, Pink Boots Society, and multiple charity organizations across Colorado Springs and Denver. Jessica is the first Latina brewery owner and head brewer in Colorado. She builds all her recipes and her beers have become staples and flagships to many, even winning awards such as, Best Lager, People’s Choice, and being highlighted in magazines. Atrevida aims to create a safe, welcoming environment for all. They’ve hosted events like Cotton Club Revival, Women in Cyber Security socials, Women in Coding socials, and fundraisers for a local LGBTQ+ shelter. Atrevida Beer Co lives out their motto, proudly and loudly. “Diversity, It’s on tap!” She is the mother of two beautiful children, Kassy and Ricky. She started training her daughter Kassy to brew at age 8, it was Jessica’s way to show her daughter that boundaries don’t exist if you don’t let them.
Pamela Roberts-Mora, chief operations officer, Sachs Foundation – Born in Southern California and raised in Las Vegas, Nev., Pamela is one of five children and proud to be of Black and Mexican heritage. From working with homebound seniors, to providing behavioral treatment plans for youth, to supporting people with developmental disabilities, social work became a passion for Pamela. Pamela began working to support marginalized students in out-of-school time in Denver’s Five Points and surrounding neighborhoods. A previous Big Sister for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Denver and volunteer with Reading Partners, volunteering has long been an integral part of her life. Pamela was named as Next Generation Leader Award winner through the National After-School Association and was a Fellow with the National Institute of Out-of-School Time with Wellesley College. Currently, Pamela is chair of the El Paso County Block Grant Community Advisory Board, and African American Youth Leadership Conference Parent Committee. She also serves as a board member for the Pikes Peak Children’s Museum, Safe Passage, and 4th District Judicial Judges Commission. In her spare time, Pamela can be found hiking, going to food festivals and spending time with family.
Renita Wolf, founder & chief executive officer, Poe Wolf Partners – Renita founded Poe Wolf Partners, an Exit Planning Advisory firm, following a 25-year corporate career in mergers and acquisitions, where she represented the buy side of transactions. Before Poe Wolf Partners, she held CFO and senior finance positions with companies including Wells Fargo, Hewlett-Packard, Agilent Technologies, Cray Research, and two other companies founded by Seymour Cray. With her expertise and experience, Renita speaks on entrepreneurship and corporate finance and has published articles in leading trade magazines. Her articles have been featured in Strategic Finance, Financial Executive, Association for Financial Professionals Exchange, and NAWBO One. She has served as Chair of the CPCD Head Start, TESSA, and Girl Scouts of Colorado Board of Directors. She was awarded the Accolades Business Leader of the Year by the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, the Woman of Influence by the Colorado Springs Business Journal, and the Mentor of the Year by the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. You can find her out fly fishing, hiking, or mountain biking in her free time. Renita lives in Colorado Springs with her husband Andy and their two wheaten terriers, Tuula and Howler.
Susan Helms, Ret. Lieutenant General, United States Air Force – As a 3-star military commander for Air Force Space Command, Susan led more than 20,500 personnel responsible for providing missile warning, space superiority, space situational awareness, satellite operations, space launch, and range operations. Susan was commissioned from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1980, the first class to admit women into the ranks of the cadet corps. Selected by NASA in January 1990, Susan became an astronaut in July 1991. On Jan. 13, 1993, then an Air Force major and a member of the space shuttle Endeavour crew, she became the first U.S. military woman in space. Since retirement, Susan has spent her time on the Board of Trustees for the Aerospace Corporation and serves as a member of the NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel. She was appointed by President Obama to a two-year term as a Trustee, Board of Trustees, Woodrow Wilson International Center, a bi-partisan think tank in Washington, D.C. In collaboration with other retired female astronauts, she has started a non-profit, AstraFemina, to promote STEM for young women and girls. She has established her own consulting company, Orbital Visions, LLC, in Colorado Springs, and currently performs advisory services for numerous customers in the aerospace industry.
Lola Woloch, president & chief executive officer, Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce – Lola leads the chamber’s mission in empowering members through education, advocacy, and collaborative partnerships while focusing on economic vitality. Through her efforts, along with many dedicated volunteers, board members, and independent contractors, SCWCC has grown and now provides its members with resources, quality programming, business knowledge, and the networks to build and operate successful businesses. In her accomplished career, Lola has held numerous leadership positions and has expertise in strategic planning, business development, marketing, and sales. Lola has been recognized with many accolades, including by the Colorado Springs Business Journal as a Women of Influence. Lola was named the CEO of the Year for the Association of Colorado Chamber of Commerce. Lola was named Small Business Champion by the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center and Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado and the Colorado Spring Business Journal recognized SCWCC with Best in Business 2nd place award, Chamber of Commerce. In 2023 SCWCC was named the Best Chamber by the Colorado Springs Business Journal. Lola continues to champion the Chamber’s commitment to serving the best interests of SCWCC members and the community, to lead by example, embracing inclusiveness in our community, and advocating for our members.
Marty Kemmer Contreas, Chief Development Officer, CPCD - Giving children a head start – Marty has worked and volunteered in the political and nonprofit sectors for her entire career. She then began fundraising with Colorado Springs nonprofit organizations, including the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society and Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful. Marty became active in the Junior League of Colorado Springs, ultimately serving as president. “Developing women to develop communities with the JLCS was inspiring. Never underestimate the impact of women,” Marty explains. With the JLCS, she worked on the beginning development of Court Care. Creatively, she also acted with a local mystery dinner troupe, Red Herring Productions. Marty then began her 20-year commitment to vulnerable young children and families with CPCD ...giving children a head start. One of her greatest achievements is elevating CPCD awareness working to increase funding by more than $1million/year. She credits team synergy and innovation with this success. She is a graduate of the Head Start Fellowship program through UCLA, Leadership Pikes Peak, and the Institute for Leaders in Development at the University of Denver. Marty’s greatest joys are her three adult children: Luke, Nick, and Annie. First grandchild, James, entered the world in August of 2023.
Girl Scouts of Colorado will welcome the Class of 2024 honorees from 5:30 to 8 p.m., April 24, at the DoubleTree by Hilton.
“I am honored to welcome this year’s class of Women of Distinction. They are strong, bold, empowered women who represent the leadership and excellence that powers today’s world, and they are outstanding role models for our girls."
Leanna Clark, CEO of Girl Scouts of Colorado
Proceeds from the event will support Girl Scouts of Colorado’s crucial leadership development programs in entrepreneurship, outdoors, STEM, and life skills for more than 16,000 members across Colorado.
