The awards program, now in its 26th year, honors local women of distinction and is named after the Native American woman who helped Lewis and Clark on their expedition across the early wilderness to the Pacific Ocean.
Phillips is a Milwaukee civil rights leader and attorney. She was a trailblazer for African-American women in local politics, having been an alderman on the Milwaukee Common Council, a judge in Milwaukee County Juvenile Court, and as Wisconsin secretary of state; she was the first African-American elected to a state constitutional office.
Wilson, the former Milwaukee television journalist and anchor, founded After Breast Cancer Diagnosis here.
This year’s program benefited The Milwaukee Women’s Center. (See photos from the program on Page 43 of this issue of Small Business Times.)
More than 1,800 persons are expected to attend the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee’s Circle of Women event on April 17 at the Midwest Express Center, presented by American Family Insurance. The even is the single largest fundraiser for the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee.
“Women generally play the role of ‘giver,’ but they may not necessarily see themselves as philanthropists,” said Julia Taylor, YWCA president and CEO. “The women assembled in that room have the potential to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars over one lunch hour. That’s a tremendous and powerful collective voice which states loud and clear that women want to work together to empower other women.”
For the event, more than 200 table captains and co-captains will each fill a table of 10 with friends, relatives and colleagues. Instead of the traditional keynote address, the program will feature a series of testimonials from people whose lives have been impacted by the YWCA. At the conclusion of the program, each guest will be asked to make a pledge of at least $100 to the YWCA. With sponsor contributions and individual pledges, the event is expected to raise more than $200,000.
The Association for Women in Communication has honored UWM Chancellor Nancy Zimpher with its Leading Change Award, and has given The Women’s Fund its Leading Change Business distinction.
The honors came at the group’s April 11 annual awards banquet.
The Leading Change Award recognizes an individual who advances women in communications, encourages community involvement, and is committed to excellence. Zimpher, in her fourth year as chancellor, was honored as being a role model for girls and women, for her community leadership, for her work on The Milwaukee Idea, and for her role as a “tireless communicator.”
The Leading Change Business Distinction Award recognizes a business or organization that promotes the advancement of women. The Women’s Fund has a mission to expand an endowment to fund women’s and girl’s programs.
The Hmong American Women’s Association has appointed Christa Xiong as executive director. The group, based in Milwaukee, provides a variety of programs to support the Hmong community.
Xiong had earlier been director of planning and development at Hmong Educational Advancements. She holds a bachelor’s degree in management and ethics from Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minn., and has attended additional classes at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
Mary Dowell, director of corporate office human resources and diversity at Johnson Controls in Milwaukee, has been named one of 12 “Distinguished Black Women” nationwide by the Black Women in Sisterhood for Action.
According to BISA National President Verna Cook, Dowell was selected for the honor because of her talent and career accomplishments as well as her commitment to service and the advancement of women. Dowell is participating in BISA’s mentoring program for young black women and will be recognized at BISA’s Annual Gala Salute to Distinguished Black Women on April 13 in Washington, D.C. Dowell’s photo and biography are featured in the organization’s 2002 scholarship calendar.
Dowell was recently promoted to her current position as director of corporate office human resources and diversity and has been with Johnson Controls since 1996. A resident of Bayside, Dowell is active in many community and professional organizations, including Milwaukee Urban League, Ko Thi Dance Company, Inroads, Black Human Resources Association and Black Achievers. Dowell is the 1998 recipient of the Milwaukee Times newspaper’s Black Excellence Award.
Dowell is the second woman from Johnson Controls to be recognized by BISA. Equilla Wainwright, director of diversity for the Controls business at Johnson Controls, was named one of the Distinguished Black Women of 2OOl.
The winner of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Wisconsin’s Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year Award for 2002 is Susan Lipp, president of Full Compass Systems LTD in Middleton.
Lipp will be honored at a gala Women Triumphant Awards dinner at the Marriott Milwaukee West in Waukesha April 25.
Additional award winners to be honored at that time include the Small Business Administration’s Women in Business Advocate of the Year, Marian C. Walluk of Personnel Advisors, Inc., Madison, and the President’s Award winners from the NAWBO Wisconsin chapters.
The cost to attend the awards dinner is $45 for NAWBO members and $55 for non-members. Corporate tables of eight, with signage, are $450. For more information visit the NAWBO Wisconsin Web site at www.nawbowisconsin.org or call Chris Kann 262-681-7355.
April 12, 2002 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
