Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Announces Honorees for 2016 Women in Leadership Awards

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tcku5odep8bub8n/AADNv5OGVv3t8vmnWLgoiZ0pa?dl=0

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL – (March 21, 2016) –Executive Women of the Palm Beaches (EWPB) will honor four local women making a difference in Palm Beach County at its annual Women in Leadership Award (WILA) event. Representing the nonprofit, public, volunteer and private sectors, each award honoree is a testament to the strength and character of local female leadership.

At the 33rd annual WILA event, EWPB will recognize Wendy Sartory-Link with its 2016 Private Sector Award, Dr. Laurie George with its 2016 Non-Profit Sector Award, Verdenia C. Baker with its 2016 Public Sector Award and Yvonne Boice with its 2016 Volunteer Sector Award.

The WILA event will be held May 5, 2016, at the Cohen Pavilion at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and will welcome Susan Packard, co-founder of Scripps Networks Interactive and former COO of HGTV, as keynote speaker. Natalie M. Alvarez is serving as chair for the third consecutive year, and Barbara Schmidt has been named the event’s honorary chair. A practitioner of mindfulness and meditation for more than 30 years, Schmidt is the author of the internationally bestselling book, The Practice: Simple Tools for Managing Stress, Finding Inner Peace, and Uncovering Happiness.

Sartory-Link, George, Baker and Boice were selected from among 34 nominees for this year’s awards.

As the Managing Partner and a founding partner of Ackerman, Link & Sartory, Sartory-Link concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial real estate and asset-based financing, and general corporate matters. Founded in 1996, the firm will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. She knows the importance of strong leadership and dedication to the community, and has served as chair of Florida Healthy Kids Corporation, a member of the Board of Palm Beach State College, a member of the Board of Governors for the State University System, and as the Chair of the Economic Council. Sartory-Link encourages her associate attorneys (currently four of the five are women) to be involved in both professional and community activities by supporting their active involvement and mentoring their leadership development. Her firm received The Gender Friendly Recognition Award presented by The Florida Bar and a Work/Life Achievement Award presented by The Economic Council, Business Development Board, Children’s Services Council and Human Resource Association of Palm Beach County.

George is not only engrained in the community because of her role as President and CEO of the United Way of Palm Beach County, and her 15 years working for the organization, but also for her volunteering for special projects. She has participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, served soup for Palm Beach County Food Bank’s Empty Bowls, gleaned the fields with CROS Ministries and packed thousands of meals with Big Heart Brigade and Feed the Hungry. She also brings her three children to volunteer whenever possible to teach them the importance of giving back. George currently serves on several committee and boards, including Executive Women of the Palm Beaches, Career Source of Palm Beach County, Leadership Palm Beach County, Blue Ridge Institute for Community Service and United Way of Florida. George is widely recognized as a local leader in Palm Beach County and is highly regarded and influential because of her genuine passion and enthusiasm for making sure that it is a place where residents and businesses can thrive.

Baker is passionate about ensuring fiscal responsibility, executing prudent administrative policies and procedures to improve county programs and increase business development. As County Administrator, she oversees county program evaluations, policy analysis and performance measures for county departments, as well as supervise management studies of various county operations. She has been successful in keeping a pulse on the needs of the residents and opportunities for positive growth in Palm Beach County. Baker’s dedication reaches beyond her 28-year career working for Palm Beach County.
Her motto is, “I am my brother’s keeper,” and she is an active volunteer, touching the lives of many and addressing critical issues in the community with organizations whose goals are to empower others. As a member and mentor for the Women of Tomorrow Youth Program; EmPowHer of the Palm Beaches; the West Palm Beach Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and Executive Women of the Palm Beaches, Baker helps to advance the mission of supporting generations of women leaders.

Boice, a businesswoman and philanthropist, owns and operates two businesses in Boca Raton; The Shoppes at Village Pointe, a shopping center, and Fugazy International Travel. In recent years, Boice has been selected to represent The United States at high-profile women’s international business conferences. In June 2007, Paula Dobriansky, the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, appointed Boice to attend at the Global Summit of Women in Berlin, and in June 2008 for the Global Summit of Women in Hanoi. In 2009, Boice traveled to Santa Cruz, Bolivia to address women and encourage them to take political action. Boice has also been honored with many prestigious awards such as the Association of Fundraising Professionals Palm Beach Chapter 2009 Outstanding Philanthropist Award, the President’s Call to Service Award for over 4,000 hours of community volunteer service, the 2008 Boca Raton Award from Lynn University, the 2008 Bridge Builder Award from LEAH – The League for Educational Awareness of the Holocaust, the 2007 Soroptimist International Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2007 Amazing American Woman Award for leadership from the Women’s Majority Network in Washington, D.C., the Founders Award from the Palm Beach International Film Festival and the Northwood University Outstanding Business Leader Award in 2010.

The highly distinguished Women in Leadership Awards are presented annually by Executive Women of the Palm Beaches in recognition of local women who have sustained outstanding accomplishments and displayed generosity of spirit, commitment to integrity and diversity, and genuine connectedness with others in the community. Proceeds will benefit the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation.

The nominees in each sector are as follows:

Amy Brand Nonprofit
Annie Davis Private
Beth Kigel Nonprofit
Carey Haughwout Public
Connie Siskowski Nonprofit
DeAnna Warren Nonprofit
Deborah Fox Katz Volunteer
Dorothy Jacks Public
Jane Teague Nonprofit
Joan C. Oliva Public
Judy Leibovit Private
Kate Arrizza Nonprofit
Keri Morrison Nonprofit
Kimberly Gramm Public
Kimberly McCarten Nonprofit
Laurie George Nonprofit
Linda Coffin Volunteer
Lisa A. Schneider Private
Loverly Sheridan Private
Marsha Fishbane Volunteer
Mary Jean Houlahan Private
Melissa Nash Private
Nicole Henry Volunteer
Penny Murphy Private
Sally Ross Soter Volunteer
Sari Vatske Nonprofit
Shanon Materio Private
Tinu Pena Volunteer
Tracy L. Gerber Private
Verdenia C. Baker Public
Wendy Sartory-Link Private
Yolette Bonnet Nonprofit
Yvonne Boice Volunteer

Proceeds from the annual Women in Leadership Awards support Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation and its work to make a positive difference in the Palm Beach County community through the promotion of women’s issues by providing financial aid and scholarships to women from Palm Beach County and maintains the vision to enhance and influence the educational advancement of women.

Since its inception, Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation has awarded more than $600,000 for scholarships and community projects. In addition to college scholarships awarded annually to outstanding women pursuing their advanced education, EWPBF has provided financial support to the Palm Beach Community College Early Learning Center, the Domestic Abuse program, the Girls State program of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Girls II Women mentoring program. Sponsors for the event include FPL, PNC Bank, Sabadell Bank & Trust, Jupiter Medical Center Foundation, and Mark Cook. Ticket prices: EWPB Members- $130; Guests – $150; Students – $80. For tickets or to inquire about available sponsorships, please contact Jessica Clasby at (561) 868-7070 or [email protected].