NAWBO Southern Nevada Announces Grant Finalists, Keynote Speaker

Local businesswomen will be honored during the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Southern Nevada chapter’s 2021 Women of Distinction Awards this month.

And for four of them, the award they receive also will come with a grant aimed at helping to propel their organization forward.

The following grant finalists have been announced:

Community Angel Grant — Janise Wiggins, executive director of Solutions of Change; Amy-Marie Merrell, executive director of The Cupcake Girls; and Julia Lazareck, founder of Prison Families Alliance

Minority Woman-Owned Business Grant — Felicia Parker, founder of Any Occasion Baskets; TaChelle Lawson, president of FIG Strategy & Consulting; and Victoria Martinez, owner/teacher at Sunset Montessori Community

Woman of Distinction Grant — Gail Swift, president of Plans to Prosper Coaching; Kirsten Larsen, real estate salesperson at Key Realty LLC; and Christine Maddela, managing partner of Storyville RD

The Accelerate Grant — Arlene Rivera, founder of The Arlene Inspires Organization; Marcie Hirschi, life coach/weight coach at The Marcie Partie; and JoAnn Higa, life coach for J Higa Coaching

Grant winners will be announced during the Women of Distinction Awards from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Paris Las Vegas Versailles Ballroom, 3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Punam Mathur, executive director of the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation and speaker/trainer/writer, will give the keynote speech. Mathur has held senior executive positions in the gaming industry for more than 25 years and is heavily involved in local agencies through volunteer and service roles. In response to the needs that arose due to COVID-19, she also co-founded Delivering with Dignity, an emergency management solution in which meals made by independently-owned restaurants are delivered to the most vulnerable members of the community.

She has been appointed to statewide leadership positions by the past four Nevada governors and received numerous awards from entities such as local chambers of commerce, Junior League, the National Association of Women Business Owners and more. She is an advocate for children and public education, working closely with the Clark County School District, Nevada Department of Education, Communities in Schools, and organizations to improve the effectiveness of the child welfare and foster care systems.

The event, emceed by Emmy Award-winning journalist Patranya Bhoolsuwan of Patranya Media LLC, also will recognize women in 13 categories: Rising Star, Glass Ceiling, Entrepreneur of the Year, Arts/Entertainment/Media, Business/Retail/Manufacturing, Corporate/Government Services, Education, Gaming/Hospitality/Convention Services, Medical/Healthcare Services, Philanthropy/Community Service, and Professional Services and Real Estate/Construction.

MORE ABOUT NAWBO SOUTHERN NEVADA

The National Association of Women Business Owners Southern Nevada works to connect women to the resources, people, information and organizations that can help them achieve their personal, business and political goals. Members are given opportunities to build relationships with other female entrepreneurs; attend e-learning webinars, public policy calls, leadership development trainings and more; and get greater visibility in their local market. Member businesses range in size from sole proprietorship to those with hundreds of employees and represent a variety of industries.

For more information, visit nawbosnv.org.

MORE ABOUT WODA

NAWBO Southern Nevada has hosted the Women of Distinction Awards since 1998 to celebrate the accomplishments of business women in the community. The program highlights women whose excellence and dedication sets them apart in their fields and inspires success.

This year’s event is sponsored by Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts and Nevada State College, among other businesses.

For more information about being a vendor, sponsorship or attending the event, visit https://nawbosnv.org/woda-2021.