Local businesswomen will be honored by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Southern Nevada chapter this month. Four will receive a grant aimed at helping to propel their organization forward, and 13 will be named the 2021 Women of Distinction.
The following grant finalists have been announced:
Community Angel Grant — Janise Wiggins, executive director of Solutions of Change; Amy-Marie Merrell, executive director of The Cupcake Girls; and Julia Lazareck, founder of Prison Families Alliance
Minority Woman-Owned Business Grant — Felicia Parker, founder of Any Occasion Baskets; TaChelle Lawson, president of FIG Strategy & Consulting; and Victoria Martinez, owner/teacher at Sunset Montessori Community
Woman of Distinction Grant — Gail Swift, president of Plans to Prosper Coaching; Kirsten Larsen, real estate salesperson at Key Realty LLC; and Christine Maddela, managing partner of Storyville RD
The Accelerate Grant — Arlene Rivera, founder of The Arlene Inspires Organization; Marcie Hirschi, life coach/weight coach at The Marcie Partie; and JoAnn Higa, life coach for J Higa Coaching
The Women of Distinction Award finalists are:
Entrepreneur of the Year — Cathy Brooks, owner of The Hydrant Club; Dida Clifton, CEO/founder of The Office Squad; and Kortney Olson, CEO of GRRRL
Glass Ceiling — Dr. Brittnie Watkins, Esq., member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board; Kenyatta Lewis, executive director of supplier diversity and sustainable procurement at MGM Resorts International; and M.J. Maynard, CEO of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern
Nevada Rising Star — Christine Maddela, managing partner at Storyville RD and correspondent at BNC; Justine Hill, owner of Moon Lit Beauty Supply; and Mary Bacon, partner at Spencer Fane LLP
Arts/Entertainment/Media — Gina May, founder/artist of Paper Petals and Wine; Jessica Vargas, owner, freelance photographer and artist at Jess V, LLC; and Maria Ngo, co-founder of VipNET Media
Education/Sports — Cami Taiwo, founder/CEO of Mind Your Books Education, Inc.; Gail Swift, founder of Plans to Prosper Coaching; and Michelle Jackson, president/CEO of Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada.
Gaming/Hospitality/Convention Services — Cristina Catania, senior national sales manager at MGM Resorts International/Mandalay Bay; Dolores (Campuzano) Pignatello, executive director of banquet operations and property ambassador for community involvement at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas; and Sylvia Tiscareno, general counsel at William Hill U.S.
Corporate/Government Services — Delen Goldberg, assistant city manager at City of North Las Vegas; Elizabeth Anderlik, assistant city attorney at Henderson City Attorney’s Office; and Lisa Levine, principal of Sagebrush Strategies
Medical/Healthcare Services — Christina Madison, PharmD, FCCP, AAHIVP, clinical pharmacist and public health and communications specialist at The Public Health Pharmacist, PLLC (A Public Health Consulting Firm); Dinisha Mingo, founder/CEO of Mingo Health Solutions Behavioral Services; and Sue Rodriguez, health coach at My Coach Sue
Philanthropy/Community Service — Dina Patel, co-founder/president of Healthy Sunrise Foundation; Pauline Lee, board member/communications director for the Keystone Corporation; and Tiffany Tyler-Garner, PhD., executive director at the Children’s Advocacy Alliance
Professional Services/Public Relations — Augusta Massey, managing attorney/principal of Massey & Associates; Larissa Drohobyczer, attorney at Stovall & Associates; and Lynn Purdue, partner at Purdue Marion
Real Estate/Construction — Delinda Crampton, realtor at The Crampton Group, Berkshire Hathaway; Elena Ledoux, chief operating officer of Boss Security Screens; and Nicole Bloom, division president at Richmond American Homes
Business/Retail/Manufacturing — Jill Shlesinger, chef/entrepreneur at Starburst Parlor; Kitty Heck, partner at Chinglish Wine Bar; and Monica Brown, owner of Plus Love Fashions LLC
STEM — Christine Heinrich, talent sorceress at Taurean Consulting; Erika Moonin, president of Moonin Associates, PLLC; and Jennifer McCloskey, CEO/founder of Girls Athletic Leadership School
Winners will be announced during the Women of Distinction Awards from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Paris Las Vegas Versailles Ballroom, 3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South.
The event will be emceed by Emmy Award-winning journalist Patranya Bhoolsuwan of Patranya Media LLC and will feature a keynote speech by Punam Mathur, executive director of the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation and speaker/trainer/writer.
Bhoolsuwan has worked as a news reporter and anchor for two decades, with her stories appearing on local and national TV networks including CBS, CNN and CNN Headline News.
Mathur has held senior executive positions in the gaming industry for more than 25 years and is heavily involved in local agencies through volunteer and service roles. In response to the needs that arose due to COVID-19, she also co-founded Delivering with Dignity, an emergency management solution in which meals made by independently-owned restaurants are delivered to the most vulnerable members of the community. She has been appointed to statewide leadership positions by the past four Nevada governors and received numerous awards from entities such as local chambers of commerce, Junior League, the National Association of Women Business Owners and more. She is an advocate for children and public education, working closely with the Clark County School District, Nevada Department of Education, Communities in Schools, and organizations to improve the effectiveness of the child welfare and foster care systems.
MORE ABOUT NAWBO SOUTHERN NEVADA
The National Association of Women Business Owners Southern Nevada works to connect women to the resources, people, information and organizations that can help them achieve their personal, business and political goals. Members are given opportunities to build relationships with other female entrepreneurs; attend e-learning webinars, public policy calls, leadership development trainings and more; and get greater visibility in their local market. Member businesses range in size from sole proprietorship to those with hundreds of employees and represent a variety of industries.
For more information, visit nawbosnv.org.
MORE ABOUT WODA
NAWBO Southern Nevada has hosted the Women of Distinction Awards since 1998 to celebrate the accomplishments of business women in the community. The program highlights women whose excellence and dedication sets them apart in their fields and inspires success.
This year’s event is sponsored by Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts and Nevada State College, among other businesses.
For more information about being a vendor, sponsorship or attending the event, visit https://nawbosnv.org/woda-2021.