What a special Sunday afternoon!  At their 45^th Annual Woman of Achievement Awards Luncheon, the Zonta Club of Cortland honored our CEO, Lisa Hoeschele, as the 2024 Zonta Woman of Achievement.  The award is given to a nominee who demonstrates outstanding paid or volunteer work that enriches the community and improves the quality of life for women and children

Lisa was nominated for the award by her husband, John, who admitted he was “a little biased” but felt exonerated in his bias by the resounding letters of support for her nomination, congratulatory cards, complimentary newspaper articles and people attending the luncheon.  John highlighted the many agencies, boards, and other community projects with which Lisa has been involved and the impact she has made.  Throughout her entire career, Lisa has focused on serving and caring for people.  “She has done a lot,” he emphasized.

Since 2010, Lisa has assembled and led a team that has “transformed Family & Children’s Counseling Services from a modest financially struggling one-county agency to a regional powerhouse of preferred mental health services that provides hope, solace, treatment and compassion to thousands of at-risk individuals and families across five counties,” he stated. 

“When we think about achievement it’s common to envision a box being checked…a summit being reached, he shared.”   With reference to Game of Thrones, John emphasized that Lisa has battled in the trenches but remains undaunted by the work.  Their household has concluded that it is a battle that never ends and a summit that is never reached.  “But the constancy of that battle is what makes it even more of an achievement,” he concluded.

At the podium herself, Lisa was Lisa.  A passionate presenter when speaking about issues that matter to her.  Easily bringing laughter to the room, often with self-deprecating humor, and drawing a parallel to Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous quote that “a well behaved woman rarely makes history.”

“Since the announcement of this award, I have been humbled, grateful, so thankful to live in a community that honors those that do the best they can every day to help others,” she shared.  True to form, she first recognized others….past Zonta awardees, FCCS staff, her family, and members of her church for how they have impacted the community and her family personally.

Throughout her career, Lisa was inspired by her mother, who taught her how important it was to be a mentor of others.  Yet Lisa has found mentorship to be a challenge at times. Some women she has worked with and for have been helpful, some inspirational…some less so. However, the importance of mentoring helped her throughout her career.  When she was a high school teacher, the importance of mentoring was cemented when she felt it was her responsibility to not only teach French, but also teach kids to be present in their community. Through political activism, her students were engaged in protests that prevented a nuclear dumpsite from being located in Taylor.

She considers her ability to mobilize and manage talented people as one of her successes with a particular interest in supporting women who are in the later part of their careers and values all the skills and experience they bring to the table.  From her work in the Zero Adolescent Pregnancy (ZAP) Program to her role at FCCS today, she claims that others do all the work (though we all know that is not the case) while she is the one standing at the podium.  During the COVID Pandemic, Lisa mobilized a group of women who ultimately sewed 15,000 masks for first responders, teachers, children, community workers and others…with Lisa delivering fabric, elastic and other supplies to the sewists and dropping off finished masks throughout the community.

“Everyone’s perception of me is to move, to say something, to do something….to bring attention to something.  Every moment of every day, when you see a problem, you need to call attention to it.”   Acknowledging that sometimes you have to make some people angry but we need to bring attention to those things and those people who have needs.  “Be aware of those around you.  Try not to judge…try and support…try and understand,” she emphasized.  She advised, “AFTER careful deliberation, open your mouth,” which resulted in laughter throughout the room.  “And say what needs to be said.”

She shared her admiration for Leslie Knope, a fictional character on the television show Parks and Recreation.  “She’s very much like me.  A little crazy but she does stuff.  And that’s something that I think we all can take as a lesson for what we should do in our community.”  She strongly identifies with a well-recognized statement from Knope in one episode…I might seem too passionate, but that’s because I care.  I might come on too strong, that’s because I feel strongly.  I may push hard, because things aren’t moving fast enough. 

And with that, the 2024 Zonta Woman of Achievement pledged to continue to work tirelessly for the benefit of the community.

Well done Lisa. We are all very proud of you.  Pass the tissues.