Every year since 1989 the Professional Business Women of New Mexico has reached out into Albuquerque, Raton and Santa Fe communities seeking candidates to be nominated for their Business Woman of the Year Award (BWOY). Each year there is special annual recognition program for PBWNM.org , with exception to 2020 due to the COVID-19 lock-down.
All events for PBWNM and its chapters have been cancelled in person due to the pandemic in 2020. If you have questions, email us.
How does PBWNM.org find their candidates each year?
PBWNM.org encourages the community to recommend a woman business associate, a female acquaintance, a woman family member or even themselves. There are powerful local women who have submitted over the years. This is a well-publicized process event and all candidates will receive special recognition even for simply submitting their nomination form.
PBWNM.org has set no limit to how many years you can submit your nomination. If you think you are interested in becoming a nominee or have someone in mind, complete the form and email it to the Chapter President before the announced deadlines. Details will be up-dated on the website once all the details are in place.
How does the BWOY selection process work?
PBWNM.org is open to expanding its local women leadership with new connections from many networks. Candidates for BWOY are not required to be members of PBWNM.org. Here is what the judges’ selection process considers: individual’s career achievements; efforts on behalf of issues such as pay equity and equal rights; assistance to others in the advancement of their own careers; guidance to youth and young professionals; and other organization/association affiliations.
Each year, with exception to 2020 due to COVID pandemic, in October Santa Fe Professional Business Women (SFPBW) have their reception which begins at 5:30 pm. It is followed with a banquet at 6:30 pm.
Join this powerful group of local leaders and meet the candidates, including the winner(s), at this special event. Photographs will be taken the entire evening, offering social proof by capturing the excitement for this exceptional event.
Who are the past Award recipients? Here is the list going back to the beginning:
1989 Barbara Houliston, Cooperative Services, Inc. (Retired)
1990 Betty Eagan, Rancho Encantado, deceased
1991 Patricia Murray, First National Bank of Santa Fe
1992 Annabelle Montoya, Alzheimer’s Association New Mexico
1993 Joan Nordstrum, Needle’s Eye (Retired)
1994 Jody Hooper, State of New Mexico
1995 Kathy L. Jahner, Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce
1996 Josie Probst, Santa Fe Neighborhood Housing Services
1997 Marcie Davis, Davis Innovations
1998 Pamela Roy, Farm to Table New Mexico
1999 Asenath Kepler, Los Alamos National Bank
2000 Marie Longserre, Santa Fe Business Incubator
2001 Maria Benitez, Institute for Spanish Arts
Billie Blair, Santa Fe Community Foundation
Rita Martinez-Purson, Santa Fe Community College
Beverly Lennen, Santa Fe Police Department (Retired)
2002 Dr. Linda Hanson, College of Santa Fe
Winona Nava, Guadalupe Credit Union
Beverly Spears, F.A.I.A., Spears Architects
2003 Anne Stewart, Girls Inc. of Santa Fe
2004 Patricia Madrid, NM Attorney General
Andrea Fischer Maril, Big Brothers Big Sisters
2005 Barbara Goldman, Interfaith Community Homeless Shelter
Dolores E. Roybal, Con Alma Health Foundation
2006 Angie Baca, President, First Community Bank
2007 Tammy Blea, New Mexico Bank & Trust
Mary Chavez, New Mexico Bank & Trust
Master Sargeant Brenda Mallary, NM National Guard
Karen Sanchez Samora, United Way of Santa Fe County
2008 Robyn Benson, DOM, Santa Fe Soul Health & Healing Center
Valerie Espinoza, NM Public Regulation Commission
Bobbie Gutierrez, Superintendent, Santa Fe Public Schools
Ana Marie Gallegos y Reinhardt, Warehouse 21
2009 Anne Sperling, President/CEO of Vanguard Resources, Inc.
2010 Ellen Marshall, Marshall Rose & Associates
Sharon Woods, Woods Design Builders
2011 Destiny Allison, Destiny Allison Fine Art Studio, Eldorado
2012 Annette Vigil Hayden, CPA, Barraclough & Associates
2013 Lynn Sanchez, Human Trafficking Victim Services
2014 Jennifer Rios, Restaurant Martin
2015 Zella Cox, NM General Services Department
Marsie Silvestro, Esperanza Shelter for Battered Families
2016 Maria Jose Rodriguez Cadiz, Solace Crisis Treatment Center
Debbie Ann Vigil, MD
2017 Bea Castellano Lockhart, attorney, and
Lt. Michelle Williams, Santa Fe Police Department
2018 Lisa Vakharia, Brookdale Senior Living
2019 – Kim Brown, Girls Inc. of Santa Fe
Positions of winners may reflect employer at time of award.
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For more information about PBWNM.org events contact your Chapter President.