As seen in the Tallahassee Democrat on February 28, 2010…
By Dave Hodges, DEMOCRAT BUSINESS EDITOR
Beginning today and continuing through March, Women’s History Month, the spotlight will be on these women and their accomplishments, both professional and civic.
The 25 Women You Need to Know celebration is a program of the Tallahasssee Democrat and is sponsored online at Tallahassee.com by local jeweler The Gem Collection.
“This is our fourth year of recognizing another amazing group of women who help this community to thrive, sometimes behind the scenes and sometimes out in the public eye,” said Democrat President and Publisher Patrick Dorsey. “We are proud to profile all of them in our pages and online during Women’s History Month, because it is these women who are making history right now.”
The annual reception for the winners in April will be sponsored by law firm Holland & Knight. The program is in its fourth year and attracted more than 130 nominations from area residents during February.
Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, was unaware that she had been nominated. “I am just thrilled,” she said when notified by phone that she was one of the honorees.
Spencer said she has watched the program grow in recent years. “We are pretty blessed in Tallahassee to have some dynamic women in leadership roles,” she added.
The nominees reflected a wide range of backgrounds, ages and experiences. In their selections, panelists looked for professional or business success, but also the individual’s support for local causes and their volunteer work.
The panel of judges included Deanna Mims, representing the local chapter of the Business & Professional Women’s Association, and 2009 honorees Judi Taylor, Janegale Boyd, Christie Koontz and LaTanya White. Also serving as a panelist was the Democrat’s Jeanie Booth.
“I was impressed by the width of the community service that people did,” said Mims. referring to the variety of organizations and causes supported, some of which are not well known.
“It was obviously that they had a heart for service and a passion for helping the community,” Mims added.
