The Peru Gazette

During the month of May, the Champlain Valley Business and Professional Women’s Club will be hosting “A Celebration of Women in Business Event” This event has been created for the purpose of recognizing and honoring the achievements of working women in the Champlain Valley. As part of our celebration, the Champlain Valley Business & Professional Women’s Club is looking for your nominations for “Business Woman of the Year” and “Employer of the Year.” The North Country is filled with outstanding businesswomen of all ages who make tremendous contributions to their professional fields, as well as the community at large. In addition, this event is an excellent time to honor local employers for their recognition of the importance of women in the workplace and their promotion of quality work policies for women and families. The Champlain Valley BPW is asking for nominations from the community for these special annual recognitions. The Businesswoman/Employer of the Year Awards will be presented at the Women in Business event to be held on Tuesday, May 2nd at Uno Pizzeria & Grill on Route 3 in Plattsburgh.

Nominees for the Businesswoman of the Year Award should meet the following criteria: She must have been employed for a minimum of five years and must exhibit the highest degree of integrity in her daily life and be highly respected in her community. She should excel in her job as shown by contributions to advancements in her field and the community via the implementation of her job. She should exhibit creativity in the implementation of her job and have an active involvement in professional organization(s) in her field. The Businesswoman of the Year should be someone who serves as a model to all working women and who exemplifies the contributions which all women are capable of making to society.

The following criteria are suggested as qualifications of nominees for Employer of the Year: Provides outstanding opportunities for upward mobility and additional training for female employees, has established a job evaluation system that creates salary levels that provide equal pay for equal work, and allows for salaries based on comparable worth, provides opportunities for development of new female talent, exhibits sensitivity to the needs of female employees, provides support for dependent care, and has established liberal parental leave policies and/or flexible leave policies for employees.
Nominations should explain in 400 words or less the reason for the nomination based on one or more of the above criteria. Letters of recommendation from others are also welcome as part of the nomination package. Nominations for both awards are due no later than Tuesday, April 25th. Please e-mail nominations to Emily Owens, Champlain Valley BPW President-elect, at emilyowens05@gmail.com.

The Foundation of Business and Professional Women promotes equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information. BPW is the leading advocate for millions of workingwomen on work-life balance and workplace equity issues. BPW local organizations provide members with professional development programs, networking, participation in grassroots activism, and opportunities to support scholarships for disadvantaged women. For more information, visit www.champlainvalleybpw.org.