Recipients announced for Oct. 14 program
TAYLOR — The Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber announced the award recipients for the sixth annual Women of Achievement Awards presented by Beaumont Health.
This year’s event is scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 14 place at Crystal Gardens, 16703 Fort St., Southgate.
The awards ceremony will showcase outstanding women in business and community leadership in southeast Michigan’s Downriver region.
The event will feature a Frontline Heroes Panel Conversation, powered by PNC Bank. The panel will provide a discussion with frontline leaders highlighting their personal stories of heroism throughout the COVID pandemic.
The panel includes Jenna Dicker of Howe-Peterson Funeral Home representing the memorial services industry; Amy DiBrano of Beaumont Health, a registered nurse and clinical manager representing healthcare; and Courtney Gutierrez, an Allen Park firefighter who was deployed on a FEMA mission during the onset of the COVID pandemic, and who will be representing first responders.
Detroit media personality Christy McDonald will return as emcee and panel moderator for the event.
This year, the SWCRC will honor recipients of the Kyle F. Stack Leadership Award, the Entrepreneur Award, the Unsung Heroine Award, and the Distinguished Young Woman Award to inspire and recognize future leaders in the region.
The 2022 award recipients are: Kyle F. Stack Leadership Award recipient Gina Wilson Steward, CEO of The Telegram newspaper in Ecorse; Entrepreneur Award recipient Jessica Bazner, owner of Kevin James Menswear in Trenton; Unsung Heroine Award recipient Lisa Rutledge, board chair of The Information Center in Taylor; and Distinguished Young Woman Award recipient Alyssa Angellotti, vice president of Business Development at Expert Heating and Cooling in Taylor.
The Telegram, started out serving Ecorse, River Rouge and southwest Detroit. The paper now covers 15 communities in Wayne County. Beyond her role at the newspaper, Steward also has served on the board of the Michigan Press Association, and is president of the Downriver Delta Community Development Corp. and the Western Wayne NAACP, among many other community leadership roles she holds.
At Kevin James Menswear, Bazner consistently receives five-star reviews from customers. During the onset of the stay-at-home order of the COVID-19 pandemic, she started sewing masks at her store for first responders, hospital workers and local nonprofits. Bazner also is active in Trenton Rotary, sponsoring and volunteering at community events in her minimal spare time.
Rutledge has served as board chair of The Information Center since 2009, helping steer the direction of the organization for more than a decade. She also is a board member of Everybody Ready, a Downriver organization focused on improving early childhood education outcomes. Additionally, she is special projects manager for Western Wayne Family Health Centers, working to improve the health and well-being of people in western Wayne County.
Angellotti’s work goes beyond her role at Expert Heating and Cooling. While leading efforts to grow Expert’s business, she also is active in community organizations, including the Rotary Club of Trenton 6:01 Group, leading fundraisers and helping the club achieve its goals. Additionally, she has placed an emphasis on education, earning her master’s degree while performing a leadership role at her company.
“This signature event has become one of our region’s most highly anticipated celebrations of the year,” SWCRC President and CEO Ronald Hinrichs said. “I am thrilled to congratulate the 2022 recipients and nominees. These remarkable women exemplify tremendous leadership and demonstrate a passionate commitment to improving our Downriver community.
“Their strong efforts and outstanding achievement are worthy of this recognition and more, and we are honored to have the opportunity to celebrate each of these women at this year’s awards ceremony.”
This year’s award nominees were:
• Kyle F. Stack Leadership Award: Barbara Duran of Greener Still/Send Out Cards, Jodi Portice of Hampton Manor, Tracey Solomon of Re/Max Masters, Jennifer Tucker of SEMCA Michigan Works!, and Gina Wilson Steward of the Telegram Newspaper.
• Entrepreneur Award: Tammie Bachran of A Serendipity Cakery, Jessica Bazner of Kevin James Menswear, Ketura Brandes of 9 Round Woodhaven, Jen Brown of Key Concerns, and LaToya Fowlkes of Aflac.
• Unsung Heroine Award: Tammie Bachran of A Serendipity Cakery, Terey DeLisle of Services to Enhance Potential, Gina Guarisco of Jesus Ink Printing and Community Publishing, Beth Imes of Profile Magazine, Lisa Rutledge of The Information Center, and Barbara Smith of the Woodhaven-Brownstown Rotary Club.
• Distinguished Young Woman Award nominees are Alyssa Angellotti of Expert Heating & Cooling, Makayla Green of Green’s Family Cleaning, Silvia Rainer of Paychex, and Kelly Stec of the city of Wyandotte.
Community sponsorship, including recognition on pre-event and event day marketing, is available to support this ceremony and to honor the women who lead Downriver’s business community.
Sponsorship registration is available at www.SWCRC.com or by calling 734-284-6000.