On Friday, May 29th, 50 of Charlotte’s local gems donned their finest and joined together to celebrate each other at the Hilton Charlotte Center City for The Mecklenburg Times’ 50 Most Influential Women Awards. Not only do the women honored at this event exemplify what it means to be a valuable member of the Charlotte community, both professionally and personally, but the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) was also well-represented among them. JLC Community Advisory Board member Diane Bailey of Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson was awarded Woman of the Year and other honoree s included our President-Elect Shannon Vandiver, Past President Toni Freeman, JLC Sustainer Vi Lyles, friends of The League, and women from past and present JLC Community Partners including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Belk, Carolinas Healthcare System, and more. Proceeds from the event benefitted the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, a past JLC Community Partner.
Some other names that will be familiar to League women are:
- Ann Clark, Superintendent, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools- a League supporter who championed the JLC Cornerstone Project at Reid Park Academy.
- Toni Freeman, Chief Operating Officer, The Mint Museum: Toni is not only a Sustainer and Past President of the Junior League of Charlotte, but is also the immediate past AJLI President. Known for her innovative leadership, she also has served on many local charity boards.
- Robin Emmons, Founder and Executive Director, Sow Much Good- helped the JLC bring community awareness to food deserts at an Advocacy and Public Awareness (APA) Annual Public Officials’ Breakfast
- Jill Dineen, Executive Director, Classroom Central- in her prior post with Mecklenburg County, collaborated with the JLC to coordinate Children’s Mental Health Awareness Days.
- Elizabeth McKee, Executive Director, Leadership Charlotte: Elizabeth leads this program, within which JLC members have been heavily involved.
- JLC Present and Former Community Advisory Board members, Sue Gorman and Morgan Fogarty.
Although their backgrounds and contributions are diverse, all of the women honored share a multi-faceted excellence in all that they do. The 2015 class of the 50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte also share their enthusiasm for bettering not only themselves but their community and those with whom they share it. They have consistently said “yes” to leadership roles in their careers and the community. All 50 of these women, whether official League members or not, exemplify what a JLC woman should strive for- diversified leadership experience.
The Junior League of Charlotte offers our heartfelt congratulations to all of this year’s honorees!
