Stagecrafters' Vonnie Miller Earns ATHENA Award

Vonnie Miller, administrative manager of Stagecrafters at the Baldwin Theatre, is the recipient of the ATHENA Leadership Award presented by the Greater Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce's Business Women's Network.

The award was presented Wednesday night at a special banquet at Club Venetian in Madison Heights. It is given bi-annually to a man or women who embodies professional excellence, community service and actively assists women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.


Miller, a passionate mentor of producers, directors, costumers and actors, is recovering from a broken hip and could not attend the award ceremony.

"I'm shocked and now I am overwhelmed," said Miller by phone. "I cannot thank everyone in Royal Oak enough. I will continue to mentor as long as I live."

The other nominees for this year’s award include Stephen Fleck (owner of Changez Salon); Dawne Ripinski (real estate agent from Team Ripinski Century 21 Town & Country); Carolyn Sinai (Changing Woman Sisterhood) Rebecca Sorensen (Senior Vice President from UBS Financial Services); and Dr. Anna Saylor-Wither (Doctor of Chiropractic and owner of Van Every Family Chiropractic).