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MICHELLE MASSEY: 2021 ATHENA LEADERSHIP RECIPIENT ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

designed to inspire girls in STEM-related activities. The
Dewpoint office was transformed into a STEM learning
center to provide the girls with a fun and educational
environment to learn about STEM and empowerment.
It also was used to educate the business community
and potential donors on the program and the need for
STEM talent.

“It gave girls an opportunity to understand math to
learn math in an environment that was supportive,”
said Massey. “That was reaching a group of children
and helping them understand what they can do with
their lives and visualize where they want to go.”

Michelle was also instrumental in the creation of Michelle Massey with Barb Whitney, executive
several other programs while at Dewpoint, including: director, Lansing Art Gallery and Education Center.

• 100 Women Who Care
— Serving as a member “Michelle “Michelle is passionate about improving the quality of
of a group of women Massey is highly life for others,” said Baumer “She makes it a priority
who contribute $100 to learn about the community’s greatest needs,
each quarter to support regarded as an determines which needs and opportunities are aligned
a local charity; with Dewpoint’s goals and values, and advocates for
outstanding supporting those with her leadership team.”
• Summer Block Party leader in
in Downtown Lansing business, caring Wendy Hamilton, CEO of TechSmith moved to Lansing
- The first privately several years ago and began to inquire about other
held block party in and compassion women working in the technology sector. Michelle
downtown Lansing to for her colleagues Massey was one of the first names she heard. Michelle
celebrate Dewpoint’s provided Hamilton with networking support and
clients and employees. and deeply helped her make connections in the community. The
Hired local bands and committed to two came to know each other while serving together
used local resources on the LRCC Board of Directors and Wendy eventually
to throw a spectacular serving the asked Michelle to join the TechSmith team.
annual event;
community.” “Michelle is a senior leader who also is a doer – she does
• Women & Wine — the work, and does it with passion and perseverance.
Created a forum She sets a goal, rolls up her sleeves, and attacks it
for female leaders to get together in a casual fearlessly. She has regularly increased her impact to
atmosphere to relax and communicate in a non- the community every year because she continually
business environment. The group started with identifies new ways to serve it,” said Hamilton. “I’ve
twelve members and now boasts up to 60; and never seen Michelle express negativity toward anyone
or anything. She is a consistently positive can-do
• Lansing Built to Last— Created a competition person who simply works around any barriers and
to identify one business to have a storefront in constraints until her goal is met.”
downtown Lansing. Lansing Built to Last was a
local startup competition held in response to Michelle says her decision to join TechSmith was not a
the COVID-19 pandemic. She realized that for decision to leave Dewpoint, but rather one to be in a
our community to thrive, businesses must have place that checked off all the boxes for what she would
a strategy in place and be prepared to make it like to achieve in life. She joined TechSmith as the
through the toughest of times. vice president of community outreach and customer
operations. Her current responsibilities include growing
Dewpoint has been a strong backer of downtown the philanthropic impact in K-12 education and
Lansing, and Michelle has been deeply involved in those engagement into STEM fields for underrepresented
efforts, most notably in Dewpoint’s sponsorship of the and underserved communities. She says her new role
construction of Rotary Park on the downtown Riverfront. allows her to make a lasting impact in the region.
Laurie Strauss Baumer,executive vice president of the
Capital Region Community Foundation, says Michelle’s “My position offers me the opportunity to open doors
commitment to the community is obvious. for others to walk through,” said Massey. “My focus is

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