Women’s Leadership Collaborative to Honor Trailblazers at Awards Luncheon

10/07/2024

JONESBORO - The Women's Leadership Collaborative (WLC) at Arkansas State University will host the Recognizing Remarkable Women awards luncheon Friday, Nov. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cooper Alumni Center.

Established in 2023 as an expansion of the Women's Business Leadership Center, the WLC aims to promote leadership opportunities and provide a support network for students and mentors as part of a campus-wide initiative led by Chancellor Todd Shields.

The awards honor women from the Delta region for their significant contributions to their communities and fields. Winners were selected by the Women's Business Leadership Center Steering Committee following months of nominations.

The seven women who will be recognized at this year's event are:

• Dr. Tochi Amagwula Keeton, a dual board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and obesity medicine specialist, is the recipient of the Champion of Women award. After moving to Pine Bluff in 2016, Keeton used her expertise to address women's health needs, focusing on issues such as fibroids, menopausal symptoms, and fertility. She owned Healthwise Wellness Direct, PLLC, a membership-based clinic that offered personalized care. A strong advocate for preventive medicine, Keeton is committed to empowering women in her community, believing that educating women strengthened entire communities.

• Sharon Davis is the recipient of the Mentor of the Year award. A 1976 graduate of Arkansas State University, Davis began her career in advertising before transitioning to the technology sector. She founded Strategic Technologies Corporation in 1993 and Strategic Continuity Services in 2005. In 2022, she sold Strategic Companies and established 4D Investments, LLC and Encore Consulting Group, LLC. Active in community service, Davis serves on several bank, governing, and foundation boards, including Arkansas Hospice and the ASU Foundation. She was also a founding member of the Women's Business Leadership Center.

• Christie Mink-Matthews, sales manager at the Jonesboro Radio Group, is the recipient of the Leader in Service award. With a career spanning roles from on-air personality to operations manager, Matthews has earned numerous accolades, including top awards from Saga Communications and recognition from Radio Ink Magazine. Outside of broadcasting, Matthews is a passionate advocate for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, spearheading the Have A Heart Wish-A-Thon, which has raised over $9 million since 1999. A cancer survivor, she also started a support group for survivors and thrivers. Matthews and her husband, Jeff, are proud parents and grandparents.

• Christy Valentine, manager of academic partnerships at Hytrol Conveyor Company, is a recipient of the Leader in Service award. A Northeast Arkansas native and Arkansas State University alumna, Valentine began her career with Philip Morris USA before joining A-State's College of Business, where she spent 15 years teaching and leading fundraising efforts. After leaving A-State in 2016, she served as chief development officer for the Soulsville Foundation in Memphis, securing vital funding for youth arts programs. At Hytrol, she connects students with careers in advanced manufacturing and oversees the company's philanthropic investments.

• Dr. Nina Crutchfield, assistant professor in the College of Agriculture at Arkansas State University, is one of the recipients of the Women to Watch award. A dedicated educator, Crutchfield began her career teaching high school agriculture before transitioning to provide professional development to students, teachers, and school leaders nationwide. Since joining A-State in 2022, she has worked to update the curriculum and mentor future agricultural educators. Crutchfield's efforts include securing nearly $500,000 in grants to address the shortage of agricultural educators in the Arkansas Delta and inspire minority and female students in agricultural STEM.

• Dr. Tywanna Smith, an international sports advisor and retired professional basketball player, is the second recipient of the Women to Watch award. As president of The Athlete's Nexus, Smith has spent over 17 years managing the careers of more than 50 professional athletes across various leagues, including the NBA and WNBA. A professor at the University of Memphis, she also launched a financial literacy program for teens and co-produced the award-winning documentary Ballin' Abroad. Smith, an Ole Miss and Memphis alumna, inspires young women and students across the country to pursue careers in sports business.

• Casey Kidd, executive director of the Family Crisis Center of Northeast Arkansas, is the final recipient of the Women to Watch award. A native of Monette, Ark., Kidd earned her bachelor's in corporate finance and an MBA from Arkansas State University. Her diverse career spans roles in higher education, corporate tax, and nonprofit leadership, including nearly six years as director of human services for Crowley's Ridge Development Council. Kidd now leads efforts to support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. She also serves as vice chair of the Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Tickets to the award ceremony luncheon are available for purchase. Those interested in purchasing tickets can purchase them online.

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