Athena Award goes to CSMA head Athena Award goes to CSMA head (March 04, 2005)

McConnell honored for work with arts school

By Julie O'Shea

Angela McConnell, the executive director of the Community School of Music and Arts, is this year's winner of the Athena Award, presented annually by the Chamber of Commerce. McConnell oversaw the nonprofit's $11.7 million fund-raising effort to build its first permanent home in 36 years

She will receive the Women in Business 2005 Athena Award at a special luncheon March 8. The award, now in its 14th year, honors women whose professional leadership and contributions have had important impacts within the business community. In addition, the recipients are recognized for their strong commitment to promoting women in the workplace, acting as both mentors and role models.

"Angela definitely stood out," said Chamber President Carol Olson. "She has been a tremendous leader in our community. ... She has had a huge impact in our community. It's just important to take time out of our busy schedules and recognize that."

McConnell, 41, has been CSMA's executive director since 2001. One might say the job sort of fell into her lap. When McConnell moved to Mountain View in the early '90s with her husband, CSMA, founded in 1968 and now home to about 30,000 students from Mountain View and surrounding cities, had been looking for a director. But since McConnell's background was in psychology and consulting, she decided to become a student at the school instead.

"I was really, really impressed," McConnell said, adding that she remembers thinking "What can I do to help? This is an amazing place."

A few years later, McConnell, a New York native who now lives in Los Altos, decided to pursue a master's degree in nonprofit management from San Francisco State University. And after a short stint as the director of development for the San Jose Museum of Modern Art, McConnell finally landed back at CSMA as its top executive.

"It's funny how it's come full circle," McConnell mused during an interview last week. "I think I have the best job in Silicon Valley."

McConnell's crowning achievement came last year when the Finn Center, CSMA's 25,000 square-foot, award-winning home on San Antonio Circle, opened. McConnell has been credited with raising the bulk of the $11.7 million construction costs.

"It was very hard," she said, but "I just knew we would do it. There were discouraging times, but I never felt discouraged."

It is this type of optimistic, go-getter attitude that has earned McConnell so many accolades from her peers in the business community.

"Angela embodies the mission of CSMA, which strives to make quality music and art-education opportunities affordable and accessible to all in the community," wrote Lisa Kasperzak, a CSMA board member who nominated McConnell for the Athena Award. "Angela is a strong advocate for increasing the number of women leaders in the business environment ... (she) works tirelessly to ensure that women of all ages, abilities and backgrounds have the means with which to pursue their creative endeavors."

But her job hardly ends when she leaves the office. McConnell has another full-time job waiting for at home each night. The mother of three young children -- 6-year-old twins, Emily and Jake, who are piano students at CSMA, and newborn Lily -- McConnell admits that her life is indeed quite full.

"I absolutely love my children. And I absolutely love my job. So there's the challenge: to make sure you are giving enough energy to both."

McConnell smiles before adding "They (Emily and Jake) are proud of me, and that's really what's important."

The Athena Award is being presented this year by the Chamber of Commerce and the Heritage Bank of Commerce. To reserve a seat at the luncheon at Michael's at Shoreline, call the Chamber of Commerce at 968-8378.
E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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