Women of Excellence honored by Chamber

Women of Excellence award recipients

Umama Alam, International Academy of Cincinnati principal

Deborah Brenneman, law partner at Thompson Hine LLP

Brenda Frazier, vice president-commercial lender, First Financial Bank in West Chester Twp.

Sarah Healey, Badin High School senior

Susan Hendel, independent real estate agent

Chris Xeil Lyons, Butler County Alcohol Drug Addiction Services

Darlene Mack, founder and CEO of HR Partners, International

Candice DeClark Peace, shareholder with Clark Schaefer Hackett

Dorothy Roth, leads Friends of the West Chester Library

Catherine Stoker, West Chester Twp. trustee

WEST CHESTER TWP. — Each of the women honored by the West Chester-Liberty Chamber Alliance has a story of success, keynote speaker Patti Alderson said.

Nearly 450 people attended the Women of Excellence dinner at the Marriott Cincinnati North hotel in Union Centre Friday to honor 10 award recipients.

Like the 69 women who earned the award in the past nine years, each, Alderson said, has overcome the fear of failure to make a difference.

She shared her story of overcoming fear to ultimately start up the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty.

“I think a Woman of Excellence is passionate about her mission to help others,” said Alderson, a 2007 award recipient. “I think that she stands above the crowd in her willingness to go the extra mile.”

Each woman was selected for having enhanced business, education, culture and philanthropy in the community.

“It has become a local event with a regional flavor,” Chamber President and CEO Joe Hinson said. “Its legacy continues to grow each year we do this,” he said.

The event started with five recipients and 150 guests in 2002.

Chamber Vice President Kathy Rambo said business people, community members and family and friends of recipients continue to attend the awards dinner each year to honor those who serve behind the scenes to make a difference.

“I know the community loves to support the things that we do, and this event seems to have kind of caught fire,” she said. “It’s just wonderful to say thanks for all they do in the community. All these ladies have heart, and they care.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5067 or lhilty@coxohio.com.