Women in Business Networking, a program of the Better Business Bureau of Dayton and Miami Valley, does it for them through its 25 Women To Watch gala set this year for Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Mandalay Banquet Center, 2700 E. River Road, Moraine.
"Women tend not to pat themselves on the back. We need to be the ones to raise women up and support them," said Melissa Cutcher, BBB's chief business officer and the director of WiBN as the program is widely known. "We are really able to showcase what women are doing in our region, what they are accomplishing."
It its 10th year, the honor has gone to 250 women since its inception.
See complete list of winners below.
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The 25 women named in 2018 range from Baby Boomers to Millennials in a variety of professions — manufacturing to education to healthcare.
>> Daytonian of the Week: Alexis Larsen
Dayton Art Institute External Affairs Director Alexis Larsen, a former Dayton Daily News employee and a food and dining writer since 2012, is among the honorees.
Each woman was nominated for the award and selected by WiBN during an evaluation process.
>>Best of Dayton 2018: Complete list of winners
“We are looking at their involvement in the community,” Cutcher said of the selection process. “What are they doing to make a difference in their marketplace or industry? How are they making an impact.”
Cutcher said the event acknowledges work that honorees have done and fits with WiBN's mission.
The organization puts on more than 100 events each year to help women build relationships.
“Our focus is helping women get from where they are to where they want to be, whether that is professionally or personally,” she said.
WANT TO GO?
What: WiBN's 10th annual 25 Women to Watch Gala
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23
Where: Mandalay Banquet Center, 2700 E River Road, Moraine.
Cost: Tickets are $90
More Information: Visit WIBN.org.
THE 2018 TOP 25 WOMEN TO WATCH ARE:
Credit: Sarah Babcock
Credit: Sarah Babcock
Larsen is the Dayton Art Institute’s external affairs director. She helps guide the museum’s public relations, marketing, guest services, membership initiatives and a list if special events that includes Oktoberfest and Art Ball.
She has been a food and dining writer for the Dayton Daily News since 2012.
Woeste is the Director of Strategic Projects for the Downtown Dayton Partnership, where she has been actively involved in planning and fundraising efforts for downtown projects, events and initiatives for over 15 years.
Credit: Picasa
Credit: Picasa
A former Dunbar Early College High School principal, Phillips-Everett received her Ph.D. last August in Leadership, Curriculum, and Culture from Miami University. She is now a truancy officer for Dayton Public Schools.
>> PHOTOS: WiBN’s 2018 top 25 Women to Watch in Dayton
Van Lear and her sister Lisa launched Lear Bridals in New York in 1984.
She returned to Dayton 20 years later to raise her children with her extended family close at hand.
She continues to create custom designs ror a limited number of retailers and maintains a custom couture salon in Miamisburg.
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An entrepreneur and interior designer, Smiley founded and is CEO of Super Party Network and is previous owner of VS Designs, Inc.
Super Party Network brings direct sales professionals together and aims to reinvigorate the home party Industry.
The Wright State graduate has been executive director of Hannah’s Treasure Chest since 2012.
The organization provides new and gently used clothing and other items to children throughout Butler, Greene, Montgomery and Warren counties.
McEwen spent seven years in the music editorial department and three years as the manager of the customer service department for the Lorenz Corporation, one of the nation’s largest publishers of church and school music.
She is currently plant manager of the Lorenz Printing Company.
Credit: Sarah Babcock
Credit: Sarah Babcock
Erbaugh is the president of the Dayton Region Manufacturers Association, a 420-member company trade association serving manufacturers in west-central Ohio. DRMA has been one of the leading regional manufacturing trade associations in the nation since 1934.
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Bramlage joined Five Rivers Health Centers in October 2017, as the organization’s first marketing and communications manager. The Troy native worked at Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley for nearly 8 years and has been a Dayton Rotarian for more than a decade.
Credit: www.flashphotographystudios.com
Credit: www.flashphotographystudios.com
Lopez is a certified professional life coach and the owner of The Life Tailor.
The Beavercreek resident helped reorganize and restructure the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Family Resource Center when it faced closure.
Morrissey is currently Agape for Youth’s manager of the Reunification Service Program. She works to reunify children who have been placed in home settings with their families.
Morrissey has worked for private foster care agencies since 1991.
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TRACY SIBBING
Sibbing is the vice president of community impact at United Way of the Greater Dayton Area. She is responsible for all aspects of community impact work at United Way and manages the Volunteer Connection program. She represents the agency in community collaborations and various committees designed to strengthen the greater Dayton.
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Stylist Roberds is the founder of Dezigns by Tonya in Enon in 1989.
With the support of clients, Roberds and her salon have helped raised tens of thousands of dollars for Hospice of Dayton, Adopt-A-Family, Enon 5k, Cure-Search and Special Wish.
Buckwalter is assistant dean of Wright State University’s College of Liberal Arts
She fund raises, oversees scholarship activity, collaborates on internships, manages the professional mentoring program, spearheads communications, and leads study abroad programs. Buckwalter organizes major college events such as ARTSGALA.
Credit: Sarah Babcock
Credit: Sarah Babcock
Langefels is senior director of communications and marketing for the American Heart Association, covering the Miami Valley and Lexington, Ky. divisions.
Langefels joined the American Heart Association in 2006. She previously worked for Hospice of Dayton, The Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, the Dayton Metro Library and The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. She is a weekly contributor of articles for the Dayton Daily News.
Kate Vriner is a Certified Business Broker for Sunbelt Business Brokers of Southwest Ohio. The Wright State grad works with clients to facilitate the buying and/or selling of a business.
Credit: Sarah Babcock
Credit: Sarah Babcock
AMY STOZIER
Stozier is the co-owner and general manager of Goldfish Swim School- Dayton.
The former Dublin Pub social media manager and event planner recently joined forces with Safe Kids of Greater Dayton as a water safety expert and works to educate children and their families on the importance of water safety.
Credit: Joshua A. Bickel
Credit: Joshua A. Bickel
LORI KERSHNER
Kershner is the president of LMK Advocacy. Prior to that, she worked in various areas of government including the Ohio House of Representatives and the Office of the Secretary of State. Early in her career, Lori worked on a variety of political campaigns locally and statewide.
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LISA BALSTER
Balster is Hospice of Dayton’s director of care, patient and family support services.
She has worked in end-of-life care for 30 years and recently completed a study on compassion fatigue.
AMELIA PLUNKETT
Plunkett has moved up the ranks from intern to sales development manager since joining LexisNexis in 2014.
She oversees a team of sales development representatives.
COURTNEY MOORE
Moore is the chief executive officer for Modern Ally, a commercial cleaning firm headquartered in Dayton.
She specializes in client relationship management and marketing strategies.
Credit: Barbara Perenic
Credit: Barbara Perenic
TINA KOUMOUTSOS
Koumoutsos is the executive director of Neighborhood Housing Partnership of Greater Springfield, a nonprofit community development and chartered NeighborWorks America agency.
She oversees a holistic delivery of programs and services to support homeownership and strong neighborhoods.
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DARYBEL ORTIZ
Ortiz is an engineer for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. She has served the United States Department of Defense since November 2008.
Credit: Sarah Babcock
Credit: Sarah Babcock
DR. JEANNINE SHEPPARD
Sheppard is medical director at Eastway and has worked there more than 15 years.
She attended the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency through Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Wright State.
EMILY VON STUCKARD-SMOLINSKI
Stuckrad-Smolinski is executive director of The Plaza Theatre in Miamisburg and the production stage manager at the Dayton Art Institute. She also serves on the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District’s board of directors.
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