Girls Scouts name latest Women of Distinction
Becky Hobart, Stephania Vasconez and Anne Wenzel will be honored at an upcoming event for their professional and personal contributions in Western Colorado.
Girl Scouts of Colorado named the three Western Slope Women of Distinction for 2024 and will honor them at a benefit breakfast set for 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Oct. 25 at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.
Proceeds from the event will support leadership development programs for the more than 1,700 Girl Scouts across western Colorado. For more information about tickets and sponsorships, contact Katelyn Marchase at katelyn.marchase@gscolorado.org.
“I am honored to welcome this year’s class of Women of Distinction,” said Leanna Clark, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Colorado. “They are strong, bold and empowered women who represent the leadership and excellence that powers today’s world, and they are outstanding role models for our girls.”
Hobart serves as chief executive officer of Ariel Clinical Services, which offers services related to adoption, foster care, counseling and vocational training.
After relocating to Grand Junction in 1992, she worked as a family preservation therapist and later worked with the Healthy Steps program at Western Colorado Pediatric Associates. She founded Partners in Parenting, a parenting class for divorced parents. She serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations in Mesa County.
The Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers named her social worker of the year in 2009. Rocky Mountain Health Plans presented her with the Dr. Bruce Wilson Memorial Award in 2022.
Vasconez is founder and executive director of Mutual Aid Partners, a network that supports and connects grassroots efforts and community partners through collaborations. Mutual Aid Partners has assisted more than 56,000 families through the weekly distribution of food, clothing and personal care products as well as facilitated access to education, health care, shelter and transportation.
Vasconez is also a TEDx speaker. The Community Resource Center named her Community Trailblazer of the Year.
Wenzel has served as president and chief executive officer of the Western Colorado Community Foundation since 2001. The foundation serves seven counties in the region, managing more than 330 charitable funds and a combined $170 million in assets. The foundation awards a total of $6.6 million in grants and scholarships each year.
Prior to her current role, Wenzel was a partner in a national consulting firm helping charitable foundations with fund-raising, planning and program development. She also ran her own consulting practice and worked for a nonprofit board development institute.
In 2023, the Western Colorado Community Foundation moved into a renovated building in downtown Grand Junction. The WCCF Center for Philanthropy includes 18 offices, three meeting rooms and a multi-purpose room for donor appreciation, networking and training events.
