The Palms West Community Foundation presented its 2012 Women of the Year Stiletto Awards in four different categories at a luncheon April 12 at Breakers West Country Club.
The winners were Joanne Stanley with Republic Services in the Corporate category, Wendy Soderman of the Ideal School and Dream Middle School in Non-Profit/Education, Dorothy Bradshaw with the South Florida Water Management District in Government and Hope Barron of Barron & Kogan CPAs in Entrepreneur. The four were selected from a total of 12 finalists.
“There are so many strong women who either live or work here in central Palm Beach County,” said Maureen Gross, director of the foundation. “The purpose of the Stiletto Awards is to recognize these women for their leadership. All these nominees have undertaken various charitable endeavors that helped strengthen and enrich the quality of life by helping to advance the educational, cultural and economic interests of the community.”
Stanley, who is business unit municipal marketing director for Republic Services, started with the company in 2006. Outside of her job, every weekend she cooks and delivers food for the homeless. In Palm Beach County, she helps her sister Diana Stanley, who is manager of the Lord’s Place.
Soderman founded Ideal as a preschool 19 years ago to allow her special needs son Korey to attend school with his twin brother, Kyle. She established a learning environment based on the Multiple Intelligence philosophy of Harvard Professor Howard Gardner. The school flourished and expanded, becoming a full elementary school and more recently adding a middle school, founded on the belief that children should be provided a challenging education where emotional and cognitive intelligence are of equal importance. The school is known for its many community service projects.
Bradshaw has spent more than three decades focusing on children and health issues. She has been a member of the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches for more than 25 years, including service on the board of directors and as president, and has served the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County since the 1980s as president, event chair and a member of the board of directors and advisory board, where she serves currently. She has also helped raise money for Junior Achievement, the American Cancer Society and more.
Barron is managing partner of her certified public accountant firm. When it is not tax season, Barron dives into community projects. She has volunteered for the Boys & Girls Club of Wellington for more than 10 years, including on its board of directors and gala committees. She has also been active with the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society, for which she chaired the 2008 Diamond Derby Gala at Breakers West.
Other Stiletto Award nominees were Whitney Buchanan of the Binks Forest Golf Club in Corporate; Pamela Henderson of the Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center in Non-Profit/Education; Indian Trail Improvement District President Michelle Damone in Government; and Karen Alleyne-Means of HERLIFE Magazine, Dr. Monique Barbour of Clear Vue Eye Center, attorney Hilda M. Porro, Martha Reyes of Havana Restaurant and Pam Trioli of First Impressions Creative Services in Entrepreneur.
