Bend Chamber Women of the Year Awards

(Photo above: (L-R) Hannah Birchem, Madelynn Bowers, Sue Hollern, Moe Carrick, Sarah Pool & Kim Meeder)

On March 9 more than 350 attendees gathered at the Tower Theatre to celebrate and honor women from throughout Central Oregon at the Bend Chamber’s second annual Women of the Year Awards.

An impressive panel of 10 judges selected the following recipients for the Women of the Year Awards:

• Lifetime Achievement Award – Sue Hollern – Winners have shown long-term active engagement in our community and have made significant positive economic impacts locally. This award allows us to recognize true pillars in our community.

• Woman of the Year Award – Moe Carrick – This award recognizes women who have excelled in their career, field or passion and/or have made a significant achievement in a traditionally male-dominated arena in the past 12 -24 months.

• Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Sarah Pool – Through timely innovation, strategic thinking and smart execution, the recipients of the Entrepreneur Award have launched and built one or more successful companies with a track record of growth, profitability, industry leadership and breaking new ground.

• Community Hero Award – Kim Meeder – This award acknowledges women who are making outstanding contributions to their community. Community Heroes demonstrate how people with passion and determination can use their lives to make a difference in the community.

• Young Hero Award (Age 14-17) – Madelynn Bowers

• Young Hero Award (Age 18-21) – Hannah Birchem

Through these awards, the Chamber celebrates the power of local young womens’ efforts that spark change and improve the world through passion and determination.

The Bend Chamber received 51 nominees in total for the six awards categories. Nominations were open to both Bend Chamber members and non-members.

The purpose of the Women of the Year Awards is to recognize exceptional women of all ages, of diverse cultures, roles and accomplishments, who have demonstrated commitments to the betterment of our local community and beyond.