Prior to this past year, not many people could name Lewis and Clark County s health officer, but it was not long into the global health pandemic that Drenda Niemann became a household name locally.
Niemann s leadership throughout the COVID-19 outbreak has netted her Helena YWCA s Woman of the Year award to be presented at the annual Salute to Women Awards Luncheon on Thursday at noon.
Also set to receive awards are former Lewis and Clark County Commissioner Susan Good Geise; single mother and nursing student Michelle Bright; local philanthropist and former Capital High School Valedictorian Nikki MacMillan; and Helena High School graduate Emma Niederstadt.
Helena s 2021 Salute to Women winners announced
and last updated 2021-02-22 12:25:07-05
HELENA â The 2021 Salute to Women Luncheon has gone virtual, but that doesnât stop the organization from surprising this yearâs winners.
Soroptimist International of Helena and the American Business Women Association of Helena continued their annual traditions of naming 2021âs Salute to Women awardees.
The recipient of the Woman Achievement Award went to former Lewis & Clark County Commissioner, Susan Good Geise. She was nominated by her fellow commissioners and the Rocky Mountain Development Council for empowering young women through her career in public service.
âSusan has led a life of public service, from serving in the Montana Legislature, to teaching school in under-served communities, to serving as a Lewis & Clark County Commissioner. I have no doubt that she has empowered many young women throughout her career to achieve more than they thought they could,â�