Don Shrubshell photo

Retired Boone County Circuit Judge Ellen Roper, right, the 2006 Athena Award recipient and co-chair of the 2008 Athena Award Committee, embraces Cindy Mustard yesterday after Mustard received the 14th annual Athena Award during a luncheon at the Holiday Inn Select Executive Center.

Some filmmakers might acknowledge a legendary Hollywood director or actor as their greatest source of inspiration, but Katie Mustard gives her mother, Cindy Mustard, the credit for her success as a movie producer.

Katie Mustard, who grew up in Columbia and now lives and works in Los Angeles, has worked on music videos for artists such as Aimee Mann and the Strokes as well as documentaries and feature films that have been recognized at prestigious film festivals such as Sundance and Tribeca.

But in a video tribute played at yesterday’s 2008 Athena Award presentation at the Holiday Inn Select Executive Center, she put the spotlight on her mother, whose encouragement she said helped make her who she is today.

"You’ll always be my biggest inspiration," Katie Mustard said in the video. "I’m so lucky to have you as a role model and my mom."

Cindy Mustard, executive director of the Voluntary Action Center, received the 14th annual Athena Award, which is presented for professional excellence, community contributions and efforts to actively encourage women to realize their full potential.

The award is given by the Women’s Network of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Mustard said she was thankful for the honor.

"I’m just so flabbergasted," she said. "I am really truly honored" to be "recognized with so many previous high-standing women in the community."

Mustard, a 64-year-old Columbia native and graduate of the University of Missouri, has devoted most of her career to helping others.

In addition to her work at the Voluntary Action Center, which has helped about 17,000 families in Mid-Missouri since Mustard became executive director in 1991, she also volunteers her time to a number of community organizations including Boys & Girls Club, the Columbia Commission on Cultural Affairs and United Way.

Chamber of Commerce President Don Laird said Mustard is a worthy recipient.

"She’s just a hardworking, wonderful person who has a big heart," he said. "She’s just very visible and always thinking about how she can help others."

Mustard said the award also recognizes the work being done at the Voluntary Action Center.

"I’m so pleased that we’re recognizing leaders in the not-for-profit sector, because we are a business, too," she said.

But it was the comments of her daughter that caused Mustard to shed tears. "You raise your child and you hope for the best and you’re just absolutely overwhelmed when they say such nice things," she said.

After nearly 20 years at the Voluntary Action Center, Mustard said she is considering retiring sometime in 2009 but is keeping her options open. Mustard said she might continue to do volunteer work, or "maybe I’ll do something completely different."

The Athena Award luncheon was part of the daylong Columbia Chamber of Commerce Business Conference & Showcase held yesterday at the Holiday Inn.

Motivational speaker and business trainer Ed Lamont, founder and president of Palm Beach, Fla.-based Lamont Consulting Groups Inc., offered the keynote address at the luncheon.

Lamont discussed the tools business professionals already possess and how they can use those tools to position themselves as experts in their professions or industries.

Lamont said everyone has an untapped reserve of sources to draw upon to show their knowledge.

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