42 THE QUEENS COURIER • MAY 16, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com 11th Annual Top Women in Business Over 700 business leaders paid tribute to the leading women of the Queens business world at The Queens Courier’s 11th Annual Top Women in Business Awards and Networking event at Terrace on the Park. Many of the borough’s best and brightest businesswomen received recognition for a wide range of achievements. The evening’s celebration raised $4,000, with all proceeds going to the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning and the South Queens Boys and Girls Club. The Thursday, May 9 celebration opened with a business expo and cocktail hour. Guests mingled, networked and exchanged business information with leaders from different fields. CBS 2 weekend meteorologist and reporter Vanessa Murdock was honored as the Woman of the Year. She shared the journey to success that led her to become an Emmy-nominated meteorologist. “Girl power!” Murdock exclaimed to her fellow honorees. “It is an honor to be here. I am feeling very privileged tonight. I love the energy in the room. Honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at last year’s event, Claire Shulman, the first female borough president, was bestowed with the Woman of the Century Award. “When you work hard and try to do a good job, it’s always nice when somebody recognizes that effort,” said Shulman. “I think the time for women has arrived.” Showing her support for the businesswomen of Queens, Borough President Helen Marshall offered congratulatory words to the honorees and her predecessor, who broke ground for all women. This year, The Courier bestowed other honors including the Lifetime Achievement award to Ann Jawin, founder of the Center for the Women of New York; the Health Hero Award to Dr. Ann Marie Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Queens Health Network; the Humanitarian Award to Lois Christie, CEO of Christie and Co. Salon and Spa; and the Claire Shulman Community Service Award to Alexandra Rosa, chief of staff for BP Marshall. The Con Edison Big Heart awards went to Betty Braton, chair of Community Board 10, and Frances Scarantino, president and founder, nonprofit S.T.A.R.S., owner, Reach for the Stars! “It was wonderful to have so many influential women in business recognized and it’s a great honor to have been chosen as an honoree,” said honoree Palmina Teta-Whelan, CCM, MCIOBL senior project manager for the American Airlines real estate division. “This event really holds a lot of value to me personally and professionally.” Fellow honoree Marilyn Artis, founder and CEO of For the People Productions and founder and executive producer of the Golden Image Awards, said, “I am truly grateful and honored,” said Artis. “We are going to turn the economy around and one thing about women is we get the job done all the time. My grandma used to always say ‘whatever you do, do it right,’ and we do it right and that’s why we’re here.” This year’s honorees included: Susan Agin, Executive and Artistic Director, Queensborough Performing Arts Center; Marilyn Artis, founder and CEO of For the Peo
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