Member of TN BPW/USA
2008 Woman of the Year
YANA DICUS IS BPW’S WOMAN OF THE YEAR
BPW President, Rhonda Griffith, presents plaque to
Yana Dicus, BPW Woman of the Year.
Yana Dicus was congratulated by her family and friends on Monday, October 27, 2008 when they watched her receive the highest honor that Benton Co. Business and Professional Women (BPW) can bestow, that of Woman of the Year. She gathered with her loved ones, as well as the members of Benton Co. BPW at the Country and Western Steakhouse at the annual banquet celebrating National Businesswomen’s Week (NBWW), held each year in October.
NBWW is the one week of the year set aside to celebrate the contributions of working women. Each year at this time, the organization chooses a woman who makes outstanding contributions to the community, and Yana is such a woman. Surrounded by members and guests, President Rhonda Griffith presented Yana with a large spring mix bouquet and a Woman of the Year pin. Yana also received gifts donated by women in the community including Rhonda Griffith, Laurie Pierce and Dawn Sacks Duke, as well as The Ivy Corner.
Yana is the owner and president of ATA Defense Industries in Camden, which makes computerized and radio-controlled target systems for the military. ATA has been in business since 1959, but she and her husband, James Gary Dicus, took over the business in 2001. As a business owner, Yana is a strong believer in the success of women in business. Women often seek her assistance and knowledge in starting and running a business. She also has participated in workshops relating to business ethics and women-owned businesses. Yana has 3 grown children, Kristi Ezell, Talia Douglas and James T. (Trint) Dicus. They have given her 3 grandchildren whom she enjoys spending her small amount of spare time with. She also enjoys reading and spending time on the boat.
Yana serves on numerous Boards and Committees in Benton Co. As a Board member of the West Tenn. Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Yana is instrumental in helping both unemployed and employed women retrain or obtain the education required to further enrich their lives. Yana holds to a strong belief that women can be the best in any job and she goes the extra mile to help. She is also a Board member of Camden General Hospital and co-chairperson of Kentucky Lake Friends of NRA as well as a member of the Rotary Club. She has served as the President of the Benton Co. Chamber of Commerce and the 3 Star Committee. Her dedication to each Board/Committee proves her commitment to the community.
Yana is also a licensed nurse and very passionate about women’s health issues. Members of the community who endorsed Yana for this nomination feel that she possesses the ability and uses her collective knowledge of business and nursing to the betterment of all women. They strongly value her input and are impressed with her dedication to women and the community. Thus she represents the epitome of the type of woman that Benton Co. BPW seeks in bestowing this honor. We hope that you will join us in congratulating Yana and thanking her for the many contributions she has made to the women of Benton County.
enton Co. BPW traditionally celebrates National BusinessWomens Week (NBWW) in the third week of October by selecting and honoring a Woman of the Year..a woman who has made significant contributions to women and the community. Yana is one such woman. NBWW was first observed in 1928. The objectives are to promote full participation and equity for women in the workplace; to publicize the achievements of business and professional women on the local, state and national level; to publicize the objectives and programs of BPW/USA as they relate to the millions of business and professional women across the country. Founded in 1919, BPW/USA is a cross-generational, nonpartisan membership organization with a mission to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information. Established as th first organization to focus on issues of workingwomen, BPW is historically a leader in grassroots activism, policy influence and advocacy for millions of workingwomen.
