The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce closed nominations in February to support its fourth annual Women’s Leadership Conference. Thirty-two women were nominated for their efforts in creating a better community. The 2017 theme is “Opportunity: Recognize, Seize and Create,” and the women who have been nominated are quite accomplished in achieving this theme.
According to Melinda Dunford, Board Chair of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, “we have encouraged members to support local business women through this nomination process annually. In the review of the nominees, we captured the essence of our community.”
“We have women who have founded businesses, touch the lives of patients, work to improve the health of those in our community, raise money for those in need outside our community, serve as role models for women, written books, and work to solve national problems beginning in our community,” Dunford said.
Chamber Past-Chair, Terri Mitchell served on the selection team added, “there is so much talent in this community, and we are harnessing that energy. I was grateful to see so many newcomers to our list of nominees this year.”
The four categories are Women Business Leader of the Year, Emerging Business Leader of the Year, 2017 Spirit Award, and Community Builder Award. Each of the four categories focused on the work that was done in the last 12 months that impact our local community and the business sector.
The local women recognized and nominated by category are:
Business Woman of the Year:
- Louise Baker, Long & Foster Realtors
- Joyce Beliveau, Beliveau Estate
- Sara Bohn, First Citizens Financial Planning
- Mary Biggs, Montgomery County Board of Supervisors
- Nancy Creed, Owner Orange Bandana
- Bonnie Lyons, Ferguson Enterprises
- Michelle Raub, Owner of t.r. collection
- Jennifer Rathman, Tuck Chiropractic
- Allison Shaw, Dominos
- Christine Smith, Ameriprise Blacksburg
- Robin Sutphin, Commonwealth Senior Living
- Emerging Business Woman of the Year:
- Danielle Burcham, Old Town Printing
- Kiaya Duffey, Consultant and Product Designer
- Nancy Harder, Music
- Kelly Kendrick, First Bank & Trust
- Heather Leeper, Little Leapers Dance Studio
- Melody Warnick, Author
- Nichole Williams, Empower Leadership
- Patricia Wooten, Lewis Gale Hospital – Montgomery
Spirit Award:
- Mary Biggs, Montgomery County Board of Supervisors
- Lisa Bleakley, Regional Tourism
- Krisha Chachra, Blacksburg Town Council
- Kiaya Duffey, Researcher, Product Designer
- Melody Warnick, Journalist, and Author
Community Builder
- Laureen Blakemore, DBI
- Angie Covey, New River Community College Foundation
- Karie Geiss, Cumulus Radio Blacksburg
- Anne Giles, Handshake 2.0 Media
- Lois Graham, Ed.D, Montgomery County Public Schools
- Melissa Gregson, Community Health Center of the NRV
- Kim Haug, Captain of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department
- Rhonda Morgan, Blacksburg Historical Foundation
- Sheila Roop, Executive Director of IDA of the NRV
- Laura Sands, Ph.D., Virginia Tech
- Margie Vitali, Volunteer Manager for Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program
- Terri Welch, Owner of Wine and Design
The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce serves Blacksburg, Christiansburg and all of Montgomery County. The MCCC supports approximately 700 local businesses through marketing, educational, and network building opportunities. For more information on The Women’s Leadership Conference 2017, visit the chamber website at www.montgomerycc.org, Facebook page, or call The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce at 382-3020.
— Submitted by Sharon Scott
