Diann H. Smith (left) – Texas Health Resources
& Michelle Johnson – Nominator
WOW! What a slate of professional women who were nominated for WOVI’s 14th Annual Mentor of the Year Award! They each were winners in their own distinctive way. All had accomplished so much in their careers, and had a true passion for mentoring others. Many not only mentored women and men in their workplaces, but were heavily involved in programs in their communities at large. Mentoring was a badge of honor for many, and it came through not only in their acceptance speeches but their recommendations from their nominees.
Congratulations to the rest of the nominees acknowledged in their respective fields:
Joanne Baca Garcia – Mentor of the Year – Corporate Airport Industry
Keresa Richardson – Mentor of the Year – Corporate Franchise
Andrella Thomas – Mentor of the Year – Corporate Finance
Kelsel Thompson – Mentor of the Year – Education
If you were unable to attend our MRL this year, you missed a great keynote speaker. Gloria Campos’ presentation: “Woman to Woman: Beyond the Sisterhood,” resonated with so many women in the audience. Women across the room understood how she felt when talking about her career and how various mentors had helped during the career as a television news anchor. There were challenges but each one made her better and stronger and gave her the confidence to continue to push forward with passion for what she loved–covering the news for her audience.
Yes, WOVI had another very successful Mentor Recognition Luncheon and we are already looking forward to next year’s event in October 2017. We will honor women mentors once again as WOVI Celebrates 15 Years of Empowering Women to Mentor and Lead with Strength and Grace! Don’t miss this wonderful celebration.
The 2016 WOVI Mentor Recognition Luncheon was held Friday, October 14, 2016 (11:30 am – 1:30 pm)
Our 2016 Keynote Presentation by:
Gloria Campos
After a 40 year career in broadcast journalism, Gloria Campos retired as a TV news anchor for WFAA. She is one of the most recognizable news women in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. She is also known for her passion for mentoring and love of children and families. Gloria worked tirelessly producing WFAA’s weekly Wednesday’s Child. Wednesday’s Child report gave the DFW area a glimpse into a child’s life in foster care who wanted more than anything else to be adopted. The purpose behind WFAA and Child Protective Services partnership was to spotlight children in hopes that one day a child’s wish of a “forever family” would come true.
Gloria understands now more than ever that women are an important part of the nation’s economy. So important are they that the economy suffers when women do not get the support and assistance they need to be productive members of the workforce. Gloria knows because she was a career woman, wife and mother working in an industry dominated early on by men.