Salt Lake Chamber names 7 Pathfinders for '05

The Salt Lake Chamber has named seven recipients of its 2005 Pathfinder Award, given annually to community leaders who demonstrate excellence in business and work to champion the cause of women.

The 2005 winners are:

• Susan Peterson and The Jones Waldo Women Lawyers Group.

• Allison Bridges, vice president of commercial operations for Northwest Pipeline.

• Ana Maria Fereday, owner of the Hispanic Yellow Pages.

• Mary Mark, owner of Mark & Associates.

• Kevin Potts, vice president and chief operating officer of Union Pacific Railroad Employes Health System.

• Jennifer Scoffield, small business liaison officer for ATK Thiokol in Utah.

• Lauryn Wingate, owner of LWCommunications.

The 2005 winners will receive their awards at a luncheon Nov. 2 in conjunction with the 29th Annual American Express Women & Business Conference at the Grand America Hotel.

"These are people who are working for women," said Kathy Hillis, vice president of Wells Fargo's Women's Financial Services group. Wells Fargo is a sponsor of the award and luncheon. "They're women who are successful. They are people who have helped women and can be thought of as mentors for women."

According to Susan Peterson, the Women Lawyers Group at Jones Waldo developed organically as the result of an e-mail invitation to the women in the law firm to go to lunch.

"We had never really done anything concerted as a group," Peterson said. "So we got together for lunch and started talking about things we'd like to do."

From that, Peterson — who was already a member of the board of directors at the firm — requested a budget, which was approved. And the rest, as they say . . .

"We realized that it is good for our group and good for our firm," she said. "It's good for women to have the recognition that we're stronger together than we are alone."

Kevin Potts was nominated because of his support for women-owned businesses, and his wife, corporate executive Becky Berkey Potts. Becky Berkey Potts is a former Athena Award and Pathfinder Award winner.