A Community of Champions

Boulder BPW’s 2011 Celebration of Women Event
March 17, 2011 - 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
A Spice of Life Event Center

"Champions have the courage to keep turning the pages because they know a better chapter lies ahead." ~ Paula White

The 2011 Celebration of Women Event is an opportunity for Boulder BPW to recognize those who serve our community by supporting and inspiring others to promote BPW’s mission politically, professionally and personally. Each year we choose an organization to support and the 2011 Celebration of Women Event is a fundraiser that will benefit Boulder Family Self-Sufficiency.

The honorees chosen by this year’s committee encourage participation, equity, and economic self-sufficiency for working women at various levels within our community. We are honored to announce this year’s award recipients who truly are champions for women in Boulder County.

Award Winners!

(and our President, Megan Shellman)

Woman of the Year – Janet Eden-Harris, Chief Marketing Officer and Sr. Vice President of Strategy, Market Force Information

In her dual roles as chief marketing officer and senior vice president of strategy, Janet Eden-Harris is responsible for marketing, product and corporate strategy at Market Force Information. Janet joined Market Force from J.D. Power and Associates, where she was vice president of its Web Intelligence unit. Before that, she was CEO of Umbria, a Boulder-based information services company that was acquired by J.D. Power in 2008. Prior to Umbria, Janet held the positions of executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Information Resources Inc. (IRI), overseeing global marketing operations, product management and strategy. She previously spent a decade directing marketing initiatives at i2 Technologies, a leading provider of supply chain management solutions for multiple industries including CPG and retail. Prior to i2, she was chief marketing officer for Aspect Development, which was acquired by i2 to become one of the largest mergers in software history. Prior to Aspect, Janet headed marketing for CADIS, a start-up company that provided parts management solutions and early business applications, which was acquired by Aspect Development. Before CADIS, she was co-founder of Eden-Harris, Associates, a marketing consulting agency, and held a variety of senior management positions in the high-tech and agency sector working for clients such as Carte Blanche Credit Card, Barclays Bank, and PSA Airlines. Janet holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and marketing from the University of Oregon.

Man of the Year – Larry Nelson, Co-Founder, w3w3®Media Network

Larry Nelson and his wife and business partner have lived in and owned businesses in five foreign countries. They started a dozen companies…some were extremely successful while others were learning experiences. Their business ventures ranged from: retail stores to high-tech; from warehouses to direct mail; from manufacturing to human resource consulting and training. Larry started out in the media as a publisher of a hardcopy and audio newsletter. Over the years, He has conducted business seminars in 15 countries. The training business is what led him to the radio show business. First it was live terrestrial radio and then to the Internet.

As a co-founder of w3w3®Media Network which includes Internet Talk Radio (launched over 12 years ago), Blog and Pod-Cast directory and can be found at www.w3w3.com. His all business radio show website consists of articles, recorded and archived audio and video interviews, business photos and a business calendar of events. A literal who’s who of business and high-tech leaders is archived on the w3w3.com website. Everything on the website is at no cost to visitors as it is sponsorship driven. His weekly electronic newsletter is also free. The w3w3.com mission is to make the average person’s experience on the World Wide Web enjoyable, profitable and safe and is focused on Colorado. Larry is also an author of a newly released book, “Mastering Change in the Midst of Chaos” and can be found at http://www.masteringchange.net/

Organization of the Year - Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN), Anne Tapp, Executive Director

Originally named Boulder County Safehouse, Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN) began providing services in 1979 in a shelter facility that could house only 12 residents. In 2008 SPAN relocated to a new facility increasing SPAN’s sheltering capacity by 60% and we now provide safe, confidential shelter to more than 400 women and children each year. A staff of 31 offers comprehensive, culturally-relevant services for victims of interpersonal violence and promotes nonviolence and social justice through violence prevention education, specialized community training and technical assistance programs, and anti-violence/anti-oppression coalition building with individuals, agencies, and institutions. The name Boulder County Safehouse was changed in 2004 to reflect the organization’s integrated approach to ending interpersonal violence through a human rights and social justice framework.

Anne Tapphas served as Executive Director at Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN) since 1997. Prior to holding this position, she was the SPAN Shelter Program Director for six years and has an accomplished history of working in the nonviolence movement as an advocate, organizer, trainer, leader and administrator over the past 25 years. Anne sits on numerous local and statewide boards and task forces addressing domestic violence and related issues. Anne has a BA in psychology and theology and received a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard University in 1986. She has received numerous awards for her work and community contributions, including the prestigious “Women Who Light Up The Community” award from the Business Women’s Leadership Group of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce in 2003. www.safehousealliance.org

Member of the Year – Jeannie Hamilton, Broker/Owner, Hamilton Properties

Jeannie moved to Boulder in 1968 and joined BPW in April 1995.  She immediately became actively involved in BPW serving as VP of Membership for several years in addition to volunteering on various committees and special events.BPW attracted Jeannie because she’s always believed educating and supporting women has been the foundation to changing the world.

Jeannie’s community involvement has included: Boulder Rotary Club multiple Paul Harris Fellow and incoming 2011-12 director, Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District Auxiliary, Boy Scouts, Boulder Chamber of Commerce, Boulder Valley Public School, Land Use Coalition, University Women’s Club and current director of the Boulder Area Realtor Association. A licensed Realtor® since 1998, Jeannie specializes in residential and residential investment properties.  Following a 10-year association with the ERA franchise, Jeannie opened her own brokerage, Hamilton Properties in 2008.

Jeannie’s a graduate of Boston’s Katharine Gibbs School and earned a BA in Anthropology from the University of Colorado.  She lives in Boulder Heights with Bob, her husband of 42 years.  They have two sons and three grandchildren.  Jeannie likes travel, reading, volunteering and family activities.

New Member of the Year - Guarino, Owner/Founder, A Second Office, LLC

Michele Guarinois the Owner and Founder of A Second Office, LLC, a full-service Business Management and Executive Support Team, providing top-notch support services to busy entrepreneurs and executives. Michele brings 28 years of experience supporting top-level executives in the corporate, legal, real estate, natural foods, financial, leadership, and software start-up markets.

She has held such positions as Paralegal, Executive Assistant to C-Level and other top level executives, Office Manager, Facilities Manager, and Supervisor.  Her responsibilities encompass: Executive Assistance, Office Management, Operating Systems and Procedures, Project Management and Administration, Licensing Agreements and Compliance Processes, Contract Initiation and Management, Right-Hand Support for Mergers and Acquisitions, IPO Process, Employee Supervision and Training, HR Administration, Liaison with Board Members and C-Level Executives, Maintaining Corporate Records, and other related areas too numerous and diverse to list here.  Michele also enjoys her work as a Photojournalist.

Michele is a Certified Paralegal, QuickBooks Pro Advisor, a Member of the Board at the Boulder Business and Professional Women organization, a member of the EWomen Network and a member of the Colorado Virtual Assistant. www.ASecondOffice.com

We’ll see you on March 17th to celebrate the accomplishments of these champions who are improving our community for women.

Past 5 years recipients include:

2010 - Lori Canova, CEO of the "I Have a Dream"® Foundation of Boulder County (Woman of the Year); Gordon Gray, Career Services Program Manager, YWCA of Boulder County (Man of the Year); There With Care, co-founded by Paula DuPre’ Pesman (Organization of the Year); Connie Takamine (Member or the Year); Kristin Richeimer (New Member if the Year).

2009 - Angelique Espinoza, Council Member, City of Boulder & Owner/Partner, Free Range Geeks (Woman of the Year); Boulder Youth Body Alliance & Founder Carmen Cool (Business of the Year); Tobi Hunt, Owner, Purse Power & Relationship Manager, Key Bank (Member of the Year); Joanne Peterson, Owner New World Office (New Member of the Year)

2008 - Mariagnes “Aya” Medrud, Retired Educator/Volunteer (Woman of the Year); Carolyn Romero, Manager of Financial Reporting & Analysis, Woodward Governor Company (Member of the Year); Colleen Canon, Owner/CEO, Women’s Quest (Business of the Year)

2007 - Janet Beardsley, Executive Director, YWCA (Woman of the Year); Cindy Brown and Betsey Martens, Co-Directors, Boulder Housing Partners (Program of the Year)

2006 - Linda Shoemaker, Brett Family Foundation Co-Founder (Woman of the Year); Boulder Arts & Crafts Co-Op (Business); Rick Sterling, co-founder, Sterling-Rice Group (Man of the Year)

2005 - Betsy Dollar, former Board Chair of Project Self-Sufficiency (Woman of the Year) ; Janine M. Anniballe, Ph.D, Moving to End Sexual Assault (Woman of the Year) ; Rollie Heath, Northstone Strategy Group (Man of the Year); Mary Ellen Vernon, Fresh Produce Sportswear, (Business); Rex Manz, MESA, (Man of the Year), Special Merit); Kathy Kelly, Personnel Profiles (Business, Special Merit)