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2019 By d-mars.com News Provider
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ouston is home to some extraordinary women, and many of them were in attendance at the Seventh Annual Top 30 Influential Women Awards, hosted by d-mars.com. The two-day event included a VIP Reception, in which the honorees and icons were able to meet and mingle at The Houstonian Hotel. The second night was an evening of elegance as the honorees and icons were recognized at the Top 30 Influential Women Awards Gala, also at The Houstonian Hotel. This year’s award gala continued the tradition of the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee Community Achievement Award by honoring its 2019 recipient, Mayor of Missouri City Yolanda Ford, for her outstanding achievement and community impact. There were also 10 Icons and 37 Honorees being recognized at this year’s event. “For 20 years, d-mars.com has continued its mission to inspire,
inform and educate the community, and this year’s group of honorees truly embodies that same mission,” President Mr. D-MARS said. “Their goal to inspire others is evident in their extensive and impressive resumes. By recognizing these women and their achievements, we are able to show young women in this city and across the world that being successful is possible for anyone.” The gala included its annual special tribute song to all the women being honored, chosen by Mr. Keith “D-MARS” Davis called “One Woman: A Song for UN Women.” From careers in medicine and journalism, to politics and finance, this diverse group of honorees is the epitome of empowerment. “Words cannot express how proud I am to live among these influential women in the great city of Houston.” COO Kimberly Floyd said. “They embody the spirit of community and serve as shining examples of what women can accomplish when they support each other. They took calculated risks, believed in their abilities and embraced change.”
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To be recognized among such a great and impressive group of women was indeed an honor. At this time in our history, with so many crises involving the rights and conditions of women around the world, I am indeed proud to be in a nation and a city and an organization that celebrates the achievement of women, as well as their power and their ability to empower others. Houston is a microcosm of what is possible in our macrocosm we call the world. Thank you D-Mars for leading the way." -- The Honorable Dr. Teta V. Banks
Brenda W. Bazan
The Honorable Lizzie Fletcher
Judy Foston-Stanford
Melanie Lawson
The Honorable Dr. Teta V. Banks
Myrtle L. Jones, CPA
Kim Padgett Joyce L. Jacquet
I am very honored and impressed by the women selected for this respected award. There are some outstanding women here in the city of Houston making a difference and I am blessed to be amongst this group. Behind every great leader is a great staff and you all made it possible for women of every color and industry to be celebrated and that is a reflection of how phenomenal the d-mars.com company is.” -- Joyce L. Jacquet
Lisa Trapani Shumate
2019
Vanessa E. Wyche
HON REES
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The Honorable Community
SHELIA JACKSON LEE Achievement Award
City of Missouri City, Mayor Yolanda Ford
2019
CO-CHAIRS Dr. Christina Robinson | Council Member Amanda Edwards | Judge Maria T. Jackson
Top 30 Influential Women of Houston, thank you for having the vision and executing on it to make our community so strong! What a powerful and beautiful thing it is when women support each other.” -- Council Member Amanda Edwards
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Leanne Dobard Alvarez
Tracey L. Anthony
Colleen D. Banks
Juliet Breeze, MD
Audrey Marie Cosby
Rachel Andress Davis, PharmD, RPh
Leona E. Filis
Michelle Garrison
Just wanted to say thank you one more time for the honor of this prestigious award and for taking such great care of us all throughout the process and on the evening of the gala. I am just so blessed that I got to meet you all personally and all I can say is that you are a wonderful team, an inspiring group of individuals who empower others and make the world a better place.” Tami Hunter
Kelly A. Irving
Shawntell L. McWilliams
Paula M. Mendoza
Sherrie Sams
Mya Smith-Edmonds
-- Olivera Jankovska
Jamila S. Mensah
Bridgette Smith-Lawson
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Olivera Jankovska
Chau Nguyen, LMSW
Carolyn Watson
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September 2019 | 5 EDUCATION
Michelle Bythewood
Dr. Melissa N. Gonzalez
Dr. Courtney Jacocks Chance
Jane E. Cheeks, IPMA-SCP
Connie L. Cochran
I'm always the last who wants to be honored. I'm the one usually helping toast others. I'm still taking in the moment and just how special the gala was for myself and my loved ones. It's even more gratifying to know there are supportive men like Mr. Davis elevating Houston's best and brightest women. I am most appreciative of his vision. Now as an official member of the Class of 2019 I am happy to serve as an advocate for the prestigious group.” Mia Gradney
-- Mia Gradney
Addie Heyliger
Dr. Grenita F. Lathan
Angela Lee
LaMonica Love
Christine Mack
Eureka Patton
Eileen Perillo
Marilyn A. Rose
Gabriella Rowe
HONOREES
Dr. Tamara L. Williams
Jennifer St. Julian Wooden
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Dr. Janet Wormack
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VIP RECEPTION Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication
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Empowering Women Through Positive Influence Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication