Henderson Engineers will receive two 2018 STEMMy Awards from Central Exchange. Both the companywide Corporate Hero award and Groundbreaking Leadership award for Vice President/Director of Kansas City, Missouri Operations Julie Pierce were announced by Central Exchange President and CEO Courtney Thomas during a surprise ceremony at the Henderson headquarters on Aug. 1.

“I am honored that our firm received both of these honors,” President and CEO Rich Smith said. “I am so proud of all the accomplishments of the Empow[HER] program and our female leaders throughout the company. Julie has played a huge part in Empow[HER] and so many other leadership initiatives within our firm and throughout the community. Her award is well-deserved.”

Created for women by women, Henderson’s Empow[HER] program – the firm’s dedicated women’s network – was designed to help propel women within the company and industry through collaboration and connections. Empow[HER] offers educational sessions, networking, and programs that foster the growth of professional relationships and encourages girls and young women to develop an interest in and eventually pursue careers in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine) fields. Since the program was launched by Pierce and other female leaders in 2014, membership in Empow[HER] has grown to more than 80 active members and now also includes men. The group meets often, has built and developed strong relationships internally and externally, and produces more than 15 internal and external programs each year.

The Empow[HER] Board of Directors is comprised primarily of women shareholders to provide additional support to further engage women and men around relevant issues. Empow[HER] is centered around four pillars: community outreach, professional development, networking, and sponsorships.

Annual Empow[HER] events include Junior Engineering Day, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, Expanding Your Horizons, monthly lean-in circles, speakers, panel discussions, a women’s roundtable, DIY nights, trivia night, an annual automobile maintenance session, and a women’s-only golf clinic designed to help employees and clients learn the basics of the game while enhancing professional relationships.

Pierce leads all operations for Henderson’s Kansas City, Missouri office and leads an engineering team that specializes primarily in the sports and recreation, higher education, and corporate markets. With a hands-on leadership style, she has been a mentor to countless colleagues. She serves in numerous capacities within the STEMM industry through teaching, mentoring, and advising both students and professionals. Pierce is a member of the Executive Women’s Leadership Council with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, serves on the executive committee and business attraction and retention committee for the Downtown Council of Kansas City, is on the board of directors for The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Kansas City chapter, and is on the Architectural Engineering Advisory Board for her alma mater, the University of Kansas School of Engineering. She has also served as a judge and mentor for Future City and participates in the Lead to Read KC program.

The official award presentations will take place during the fifth annual STEMMy Awards Gala Luncheon on Sept. 27 at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. At the event, Central Exchange will celebrate the accomplishments of all women in Kansas City who are setting trends and breaking barriers in their STEMM fields.

Central Exchange carries out its mission to empower and connect women across generations, promotes equity for women, ignites confidence in women, and cultivates and accelerates women leaders. The company’s vision is to be the region’s leading organization to advance women in meeting their full potential. Currently, there are 865 members of Central Exchange and 412 programs held annually by the organization.