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BOZEMAN BPW NAMES
RENEE HARRIS
WOMAN OF THE YEAR
February 24, 1999
Bozeman Business and Professional Women (BPW) announced today that Renee Harris has been selected as
Bozeman BPW's 1999 Woman of the Year - one of the highest honors bestowed by BPW. Harris will
continue on to compete for the BPW state award title this summer.
The "Woman of Achievement Award" is given annually to a distinguished woman who has advanced
women's interests throughout her working life and has shown dedication to the Gallatin Valley
community. Harris was recognized for her outstanding leadership in the Bozeman community for
many years, both in her professional work and as a volunteer in various capacities.
Harris has been the director of the Gallatin Valley Food Bank since 1994. Her work has
revolutionized the way the Food Bank operates. When she arrived, the Food Bank was simply
providing emergency food boxes. Renee has since developed programs to address the deeper
issues of hunger in our community. She instituted the Super Pantry Program to teach her
clients cooking, nutrition and life skills. She started a grocery delivery program to
low-income senior citizens. She also started a Community Garden Project that raised
5,000 pounds of produce last summer with 465 volunteer hours. In 1995 she received the
Governor's Award for the Most Innovative Food Bank in the State.
Harris has had a distinguished career in the food service industry as a business owner, chef,
manager and teacher. Prior to her work with the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, Harris owned several
businesses in Bozeman and California and worked as a chef and instructor in the industry on both coasts.
Her volunteer work has included positions with the American Red Cross (Disaster Action Team);
Montana Food Bank Network (Secretary of the Board); Bozeman Public Library (Development Director);
and the Sweet Pea Festival (PR Chair), among others.
Other award nominees included Paula Butterfield, superintendent of Bozeman Public Schools;
Ris Higgins, business owner of The Solutions Group; and Sue Leigland, business owner of
Montana Travel. Judges for the Woman of Achievement award were Marilyn Wessel and Dorothy Bradley.
Bozeman BPW is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization devoted to achieving equity for
all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information.
Bozeman BPW
P.O. Box 644
Bozeman, MT 59771
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