Linda Valdez Thompson
Honored as 2015 Mentor of the Year
Linda Valdez Thompson – DFW International Airport – 2015 Mentor of the Year, with her nominator, Debra Sanford
If you didn’t attend the Mentor Recognition Luncheon, you missed an exciting program with a slate of powerfully accomplished women. Their acceptance speeches made you go, “Ah!” They were very appreciative yet humbled that their nominators would take the time to honor them in such a special way.
Other winners were:
- Dina Sosa – Mentor of the Year – University Enrollment Management
- Jana C. Perez – Mentor of the Year – University Visual Arts
- Judy Hoberman – Mentor of the Year – Corporate Training
- Kathy Seei – Mentor of the Year – Community Visionary
- Linda Flippin – Mentor of the Year – Individual Outreach
- Lisa Patterson – Mentor of the Year – Corporate Staffing
- Michelle Lemming – Mentor of the Year – Health Foundation
They are powerful women with great influence in their respective business sectors. They pursue their passion while naturally mentoring others. They spoke of the strong role models in their lives and how they wouldn’t have been able to achieve at the level they have without someone else believing in them. They feel mentoring is something they don’t even think about because it is who they are because of their mentors.
WOW! Our keynote speaker, Nina Vaca, Chairman and CEO of The Pinnacle Group spoke passionately about the many mentors she has had during her career. It is because of mentors and advisors who believed in her and gave her an opportunity that she has been able to propel her career into a multi-million dollar business.
WOVI had a very successful Mentor Recognition Luncheon and we ask you to save the date for October 2016, when we’ll have the chance to honor women as they “Catch! That! Dream!”
Nominations for 2016
Recognize those wonderful mentors in our lives and those we observe over the year! Women that selflessly strive to help others grow and blossom into who they want to be. Do you know women like this? If so, nominate them for the WOVI Mentor of the Year Award for 2016.
Nominations are accepted year-round. Take the time and honor a woman you think deserves to be recognized for her mentor achievements.
Nominations are submitted each year for an outstanding woman inside your organization or in the community who through development or management of a mentoring program or through formal or informal mentoring:
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Clearly encourages and motivates women to excel in your workplace.
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Provides special value to the workforce and/or company, and/or
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Impacts measurable growth in others that affects your company’s bottom line or the community measurably.
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Demonstrates leadership resulting in enhancement of community life, bringing about positive changes, and adding value to the community, and inspiring qualities as a role model.
Every year WOVI recognizes women outside of our organization who make a difference in the lives of other women through mentoring.
The Mentor Recognition Luncheon is an excellent opportunity to connect with others, meet and honor outstanding women mentors, encourage and promote women mentors in organization, corporation and in the community. All nominees and their nominators are recognized.
2015 Mentor Recognition Luncheon
Was held Friday, October 16, 2015
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
The Hilton Garden Inn
1001 W. President George Bush Hwy
Richardson, TX 75080
Keynote Speaker
Nina Vaca
Nina Vaca
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Technical Resources, a Dallas-based IT staffing company that provides IT Staff Augmentation Services, Professional Staffing, and Payroll services for Fortune 500 companies. Ms. Vaca serves as the Chairman of Provade, Inc. She is a Director at Cinemark Holdings, Kohl’s Corporation and Comerica, Inc. and is a founding member of the Startup America Partnership. She is a former Chairman of the Board of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Vaca also serves as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) by the White House and works alongside the Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to inspire entrepreneurship worldwide.
Recognition
In addition to the Keynote Presentation, WOVI will honor women in the community who are known for, and have excelled at, mentoring. Hearing what the nominators have written about the honorees is amazing and heart-warming. Then hearing what the honorees have to say about being nominated and receiving the award will fill you with pride, appreciation, and delight.
Mentor Recognition Recipients:
Each year during the Mentor Recognition Luncheon, Women in corporate, community, education, and nonprofit sectors have been honored!
- Jackie Girard – Mentor of the Year
- Carol Wooden – Mentor of the Year – Corporate – Aerospace
- Graciela Katzer – Mentor of the Year – Nonprofit – Cultural Diversity
- Pat Hall – Mentor of the Year – Corporate – Oncor
- Joanna St. Angelo – Mentor of the Year – Nonprofit – Advocacy for the Arts
- Kelly Harris – Mentor of the Year – Nonprofit – Advocacy for the Homeless
- Sally Squibb – Mentor of the Year – Education – Secondary Debate Coach
- Susan kae Grant – Mentor of the Year – Education – University Fine Arts Photography
- Sandra Spencer, Ph.D. – Mentor of the Year – Education – University Women’s Gender Studies
- Natalie Evans – Mentor of the Year – Nonprofit – Advocacy for Families in Crisis
Jackie Girard (right) & Jeri Sutton – Nominator Hockaday
- Maria Smith-Brackenridge – Mentor of the Year
- Andrea Brenn – Medical Mentor of the Year
- Dorothy Jones – Non-Profit Mentor of the Year
- Vicki Meek – Arts and Cultural Mentor of the Year
- Jana Barner – Mentor of the Year
- Dianne Samoff – Women Advocacy Mentor of the Year
- Dr. Marilyn Kaplan – Mentor of the Year
- LuAnn Daniel – Women Advocacy Mentor of the Year
- Joyce Dary – Public Service Mentor of the Year
- Carolyn West – Nonprofit Mentor of the Year
- Mary Koi – Member Mentor of the Year
- Kat O’Toole – Mentor of the Year
- Daleen Maxwell – Business Mentor of the Year
- Lin O’Neill – Career Mentor of the Year
- Jan Van Blarcum – Entrepreneur Mentor of the Year
- Laura Burford – Member Mentor of the Year
- Bette Buschow – Mentor of the Year
- Jarlyn Fox – Corporate Mentor of the Year
- Rosa Arroya – Nonprofit Mentor of the Year
- Dr. Marsha Gathron – Posthumous Award
- Kim Andrews – Member Mentor of the Year
- Liz Patel – Member Mentor of the Year
Board member Janet Wilemon presenting 2009 Mentor of the Year Award to Bette Buschow, Executive Director, Resolana, Dallas, TX
- Dr. Jeannine Hatt – Mentor of the Year
- Deb Boring – Consulting Mentor of the Year
- Janet Wilemon – Member Mentor of the Year
- Frances Pelley – Mentor of the Year
- Dr. Julia Shahid – Education Mentor of the Year
- Marilyn Bice – Mentor of the Year
- Ann Mason – Corporate Mentor of the Year
- Paula Jandura – Community Mentor of the Year
- Martha T. Blaine – Nonprofit Mentor of the Year
- Phyllis Collins – Mentor of the Year
- Janie Johnson – Community Mentor of the Year
- Nancy Bateman – Mentor of the Year
- Lisa Doyle – Corporate Mentor of the Year
- Jessica Narvaez – Mentor of the Year
- Doris Griffith – Community Mentor of the Year
