Deb Copeland. Nina Denton Pasinetti. Kay Goodwin. Star Hogan. Four outstanding women with different backgrounds and varying experiences. Each with a unique story to tell, and each determined to achieve her life goals – no matter what obstacles stand in her way.
On Thursday, February 18 from noon until 1:30 pm at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Charleston, this year’s honorees will present their inspirational stories at the 14th Annual YWCA Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon. Tickets are $75 (65% tax deductible) and can be purchased online at ywcacharleston.org or by calling (304) 414-3113.
Honorees are nominated each year and chosen by the YWCA Board of Directors based on their personal and professional achievements, as well as their contributions to community. This award often honors women who have achieved great success in traditionally male-dominated fields.
“We are thrilled to be honoring Deb, Nina, Kay and Star this year,” stated YWCA Board President Sue Sergi – herself a former honoree. “These women are truly outstanding role models to young women in our community and are an inspiration to all.”
Following the event, the honorees will participate in the YWCA’s “Breakfast with Champions” – a yearly event that brings together 20 fifth-grade girls (many of whom may be categorized as “at-risk” and all of whom have been identified as potential leaders) to enjoy breakfast with the honorees and YWCA representatives. The honorees will discuss the challenges and difficulties that could have – but did not – prevent them from achieving their goals.
Honoree bios:
DEB COPELAND leads a life with multiple starring roles, including educator, entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, life coach, community activist, religious group leader, survivor, wife and mother. She served as President and CEO of Smart Temporary Services and started Work Smart Business Consultants – a training and development firm that readily became a leading supplier of consultant services to hospitals and major corporations across many industries. As a speaker, seminar leader, and author of the best-selling book, Attitude Therapy, her compelling messages continue to draw audiences throughout the country. Deb has now officially “retired” to a lifetime of service – raising money for both local and worldwide charities.
NINA DENTON PASINETTI has been passionate about the arts since early in life. A former Miss West Virginia, taught math at George Washington High School, where she also managed, choreographed and directed musicals and plays and later opened Ballet and Musical Theatre Dance Arts Inc. During the 1980s, she originated the Appalachian Youth Jazz-Ballet and served as president of Dance West Virginia. She began choreographing for the Charleston Light Opera Guild 38 years ago and became their artistic director 26 years ago – choreographing 136 musicals and directing 96 of them to date. Nina is extremely proud of her many successful students that have continued professionally in theatre, film, television and dance, including actress Jennifer Garner.
KAY GOODWIN is a lifetime forerunner in arts and education. Secretary Goodwin was reappointed Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Education and the Arts in 2005 by Governor Manchin and currently serves on the WV Higher Education Policy Commission, the WV Humanities Council, and the Professional Staff Development Advisory Council. Named a Distinguished West Virginian, WVU’s Outstanding Alumna, and recipient of the WVU President’s Distinguished Service Award, she was inducted into the WVU College of Human Resources and Education Hall of Fame in 2008. Secretary Goodwin has taught at both WVU and WVSU and has received five honorary doctoral degrees.
5th Annual BrickStreet Empowerment Award Winner STAR HOGAN has dreamt big her whole life. Even while growing up in a Charleston housing project, she aspired to be the first in her family to graduate college, have a professional career, raise a family, and live happily ever after. However, after being diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease and suspending her college education to undergo chemotherapy, Star became completely dependent on her significant other for daily support. For the next 13 years, she withstood a relationship that was physically, emotionally, psychologically and financially abusive. In 2004, she filed a domestic violence petition against him and met a legal advocate from the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program. Star finally found the courage to leave her abuser once and for all and returned to school and obtained both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Today she works as a benefits administrator at a large financial institution, lives at home with her two children, and teaches the YWCA Resolve Program’s “Keys to Financial Freedom” financial literacy course, which empowers domestic violence survivors to engage in financial planning and accomplish their personal goals.
Special thanks to our lead sponsors: BrickStreet Insurance (Empowerment Award); Catherine Halloran, The Charleston Group at Graystone Consulting, and The Elliott Family Foundation (Benefactor); Highland Hospital (Diamond); CAMC, Betty Schoenbaum, and Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC (Platinum).
For more information, to contact the honorees, or to obtain headshots, call YWCA Marketing Director Laura Jordan at (304) 340-3557 or email ljordan@ywcacharleston.org.
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