TAYLOR — The Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber will host the 4th annual Women of Achievement Awards at 11 a.m. Oct. 16. This year will feature a virtual event to be broadcast live at facebook.com/SWCRC from the Heinz C. Prechter Educational and Performing Arts Center at the Wayne County Community College District Downriver Campus.
The audience will be virtual only, with no admission into the theater for the event.
This event will showcase women in business and community leadership in the Downriver region, and will honor the legacy and memory of former Trenton Mayor Kyle Stack with the first “Kyle F. Stack Leadership Award.”
The event will include a keynote address by Stephanie Prechter, daughter of the late automotive entrepreneur Heinz Prechter, and an awards ceremony complete with award recipient videos and recipient interviews. Trenton Trib and Island Beacon co-publisher Kathy Kane will serve as master of ceremonies.
In addition to the Stack Leadership Award, the SWCRC will recognize outstanding women in the region with the “Entrepreneur Award” and “Unsung Heroine Award,” along with another new addition to the event, the “Distinguished Young Woman Award.”
The 2020 award recipients have been announced, and include: Kyle F. Stack Leadership Award recipients Joann Gonyea, Trenton Parks and Recreation director, and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-12th District); Entrepreneur Award recipient Michelle Saward of The Saward Team of eXp Realty; Unsung Heroine Award recipient Carrie Tittle of Tittle Brothers Construction; and Distinguished Young Woman Award recipient Chelsea Fell of Advantage One Credit Union.
“This signature event has become one of our region’s most highly anticipated celebrations of the year,” SWCRC President and CEO Ronald Hinrichs said. “It is vital that we honor and celebrate Downriver’s outstanding women in business and community leadership, and recognize their strong leadership that has resulted in the growth and success of our community. This premier awards celebration provides that tremendous opportunity to the Downriver community.”
This year’s award nominees also included:
• Kyle F. Stack Leadership Award: Terey DeLisle of Services To Enhance Potential, Rose Angela Gronda of First Merchants Bank, Heather Grybel of the Trenton Trib, and Laura Huot of The Guidance Center.
• Entrepreneur Award: Tammie Bachran of A Serendipity Cakery in Riverview, Mary Culbertson of Alormar Industries in Wyandotte, Patricia Henderson of The Henderson Realty Team of eXp Realty, Ayana King of Maximum Communications, and Janelle Rose of Willow Tree in Wyandotte.
• Unsung Heroine Award: Karen DePriest of Christy’s Legacy of Hope, Barb Duran of Send Out Cards and Downriver West Kiwanis Club, Beth Imes of the Trenton Trib, Kris Jordan of The PAWS Clinic in Taylor, Kimberly O’Farrell of Grosse Ile Township, and Debbie Petri of Christnet Services in Taylor.
• Distinguished Young Woman Award: Alyssa Angellotti of Expert Heating & Cooling in Taylor, Melanie Hojnowski of Second Step Advertising in Wyandotte, and Stephanie McNees of the Southgate DDA.
Community sponsorship, including recognition on event marketing and at the event live broadcast is available to support the ceremony and to honor the women who lead Downriver’s business community. Sponsorship registration is open at www.SWCRC.com or by calling 734-284-6000.