Chamber president receives state honor

By Ashley Luthans

A St. Joseph leader was one of 10 to receive a statewide Women of Achievement Award.

Natalie Hawn, the president of the Chamber of Commerce in St. Joseph, was awarded the honor from Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe this year out of more than 500 women nominated from across the state. Hawn was nominated for the award by state Rep. Brenda Shields for her involvement in the community.

The award was created in 2022 in order to recognize the achievements of women in Missouri.

“I am just proud that I get to represent St. Joseph and I was very humbled that I received this,” Hawn said.

Hawn added that she works with many women who inspire her and are also deserving of recognition.

“I have so many wonderful women that I work with day-in and day-out, it almost feels like I don’t deserve it,” Hawn said. “There are so many women that do so many great things that I have the privilege of working with.”

One of the founding members of Madame President’s Camp in St. Joseph, Hawn also looks to help girls ages 11-13 gain confidence and leadership skills.

“Women are such an important part of our community and our country and our world that it’s great we get to shed a month on them and learn about the history and the women that came before us, and the women that will come after us,” Hawn said.

Ashley Albers, chair of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, spoke highly of Hawn and her leadership.

“She was one of the first people that I met through the Chamber and I’ve always enjoyed working with her,” Albers said. “And I’ve just really enjoyed watching her grow in her role at the Chamber and her position in the community and just seeing the amount of influence and effort that she’s able to put into our town and the results she gets. She’s a really impressive woman. I’m honored to know her and call her a friend.”

Hawn said she loves getting to help the people of St. Joseph through her role.

“I love working at the Chamber because I get to be a champion for St. Joseph, Missouri, my favorite little corner of the world,” Hawn said. “And I also get to be a champion for business … and uplift those entrepreneurs and their spirit every day. It’s just really a fun job that I get the privilege to do.”

Albers said Hawn is truly enthusiastic about St. Joseph, constantly trying to help the town.

“She has so much energy for things that she is truly passionate about,” Albers said. “She gives a hundred percent of herself to everything that she becomes a part of. And whether it’s the Chamber and the business community or our community in general; our school district, our hospital, the arts in St. Joe. She truly is passionate about making St. Joseph the best place in the state to live, work and play.”

Hawn is glad she gets to represent St. Joseph with this award and uplift what it has to offer.

“I love St. Joseph, Missouri,” Hawn said. “It’s definitely got so much potential and grit and it’s got so much, really, if you look at the architecture and the history and the businesses that are here … We have accomplished so much as a community and we still have so much more that we can accomplish as a community. So I love getting to shed any kind of spotlight on St. Joseph, Missouri.”

Hawn and the other award recipients will be honored in Jefferson City on March 14.