Shalanda Mitchell, recipient of the AAST Leadership Award, gives the nod to her powerhouse mentors, reports the American Association of Sleep Technologists’ blog.

“So many people have pulled me along the way within AAST, and Marietta Bibbs, who is like an older sister to me is the one who first helped me into volunteering with the AAST,” she said. “We have laughed together, cried together and all of the mentors I’ve had have really just been a phone call away for me when I needed them.”