Coffee Break: SBJ to honor Influential Women in Business Oct. 16

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On Oct. 16, Springfield Business Journal will hold its third annual Influential Women in Business luncheon, honoring 20 local women who are making a difference in the business community. |ret||ret||tab|

Of all our special events, Women in Business is especially dear to my heart. |ret||ret||tab|

About four years ago, when I first brought up the idea of doing coverage specifically focused on women, many people had reservations, including our publisher and president, Dianne Elizabeth. Why single out businesswomen for special coverage and recognition? she asked. The Business Journal is for everyone, men and women.|ret||ret||tab|

My feeling was and still is that the accomplishments of men, the leadership of men and the business acumen of men are well-publicized and well-known in the community. Not so the like achievements of women. |ret||ret||tab|

In referring to the economy of Springfield and southwest Missouri, people often talk about the region as a "well-kept secret" and refer to many of our businesses as "quiet success stories." It is my observation that those phrases too aptly describe the accomplishments of area businesswomen. |ret||ret||tab|

There is a need in this community, and indeed, throughout our nation, to acknowledge the role of women in business. Yet part of the problem is that the keepers of those "best kept secrets," the silent authors of those "quiet success stories" the women themselves are often reticent to talk about their own achievements.|ret||ret||tab|

Something we discovered early in our Women in Business experience was that getting women to brag on themselves is like pulling teeth. |ret||ret||tab|

But happily, that fact, like the face of business itself, is changing. This year's call for nominations resulted in a record 55 candidates for this year's honor. |ret||ret||tab|

As a result, our judges all past Women in Business honorees themselves have their work cut out for them. Many thanks to judges Kris Evans, Loa Freeman, Paula Glossip, Janell K. Manley and Jane McElvaine for taking on this formidable task. |ret||ret||tab|

We will announce the 2002 class of Influential Women in Business in next week's On the Street column. |ret||ret||tab|

Meanwhile, for more information about the Influential Women in Business luncheon, or to make your reservations, please call Debra Fickbohm at 417-831-3238, or e-mail her at dfickbohm@sbj.net.|ret||ret||tab|

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