From left: 2013 Legacy Honoree Bev Smith with 2012 Legacy Honoree Jean Bryant. (Photo J.L. Martello)
On June 20, the New Pittsburgh Courier continued its six year tradition of honoring the region’s most esteemed African-American women at the 2013 50 Women of Excellence Luncheon.
“There’s a saying in the bible that a prophet is never honored in his own land,” said Bev Smith, the Courier’s 2013 Legacy Award recipient. “But the New Pittsburgh Courier continually makes that untrue.”
At the luncheon, Smith was recognized for her more than 30-year career in broadcasting and her lifelong commitment to improving conditions for African-Americans, but she isn’t slowing down anytime soon. True to form, Smith used the occasion to speak out on the issues facing African-American women and to highlight her upcoming convention bringing 1000 women to Pittsburgh.
“If you look at what’s happening around the world, women are fighting the same battles they fought before,” Smith said. “Here in the United States women are stereotyped on TV shows and paid less in the workplace.”
The other honorees mirrored Smith in their comments about the challenges facing women and African-American women in particular. As testament to many of their roles as mentors, they said it was important to help young African-American women overcome the obstacles in their way.
“I’m just so proud to be amongst so many powerful women. Black women especially have never had the opportunities we have today,” said honoree Marla Bradford, senior employment recruiter for Duquesne University. “So it’s nice to see that we have arrived, we’re still arriving and it’s very important for us to reach back to our young women.”
The theme of helping youth was a common thread through many of the honorees’ resumes. Whether in their full time job, or as part of their volunteer efforts, each is playing a role in cultivating tomorrow’s leaders.
“It was a very unexpected surprise, but a pleasant one,” said honoree Robyn Francis, a senior scientist with Bayer MaterialScience, LLC. “Bayer is very committed to the community in Pittsburgh and particularly encouraging youth to pursue careers in science.”
“I just believe in helping others. I was raised that way,” said honoree Anita Walker, assistant principal Allegheny K-8. “I was surprised and honored that someone was actually recognizing the work I do.”
Friends Francis and Walker were quick to compliment each other, but even those honorees who had never met one another expressed admiration for the other honorees at the luncheon.
“I’m very humbled by this recognition,” said honoree Ebony Pugh, public information officer for the Pittsburgh Public School District. “It’s wonderful to be recognized in such a great group of women, so many of whom I look up to so I’m just grateful.”
“It’s a wonderful feeling,” said honoree Robyn Greer, a personal trainer, nutrition coach and hair salon owner of the Trevor James Experience. “I’ve worked really hard along with all of the other women here. So it paid off.”
Others were complimentary of the Courier event and the newspaper’s role as a champion for the African-American community. They also hoped their recognition would increase awareness about the causes they advocate for.
“It’s always a wonderful event. I’m just honored to be here,” said honoree Charlotte Brown, associate professor of psychiatry and health and community systems for University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “I’m hoping my recognition has to do with the work I’ve done in the African-American community trying to raise awareness about mental health issues and reducing stigma.”
“It’s really a great honor to be recognized by the New Pittsburgh Courier, one of the newspapers that has done so much for Black people, along with the NAACP,” said honoree Connie Parker, president of the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch.
The luncheon, held at the Omni William Penn, was sponsored by UPMC, Highmark, Duquesne University, Dollar Bank, All Purpose Cleaning Services, the NAACP Pittsburgh Unit, The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania and Real Times Media. Robert Hill served as celebrity host for the event.
2013 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE HONOREES
CAROL L. ADAMS – Senior Systems Analyst/Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Coordinator – ALCOSAN
MARLA D. BRADFORD – Senior Employment Recruiter – Duquesne University
CHARLOTTE BROWN, PH.D. – Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Health and Community Systems – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
VICTORIA E. BRYANT – Nurse Practitioner – Pittsburgh Board of Education
FRANCINE CAMERON – President & CEO – Cameron Professional Services Group, LLC
MESSENGER ANNETTE CARSWELL – Founder and Senior Director – Mac Ministries
RENEE SMITH CLARK, Ph.D. – Dean of Student Development – CCAC, South Campus
TRACY L. CLARK – Paralegal – H.J. Heinz Company; and CFO – Full of Grace
DR. LUTITIA A. CLIPPER – Manager, Natural Gas Vehicles Business Development – Peoples Natural Gas Co.
MARY L. COFFEY – CEO – All Purpose Cleaning Service, Inc.
PAMELA COLLIER – President & Founder – Lord Marketing Group
ESA MATIUS DAVIS, MD, MPH – Assistant Professor of Medicine – University of Pittsburgh
STEPHANIE DURRETT – President – SD Transit, Inc.
MONICA EARLY – Customer Service Manager and Office Manager – Z Brand Group
KIM EL – Artistic Associate – Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company
ROBYN E. FRANCIS – Senior Scientist – Bayer MaterialScience LLC
OLGA T. GEORGE – Assignment Desk Editor – KDKA-TV
RONITA S. GILES – Assistant to the President – Robert Morris University
ROBYN GREER – Hair Salon Owner/Personal Trainer/Nutrition Coach – The Trevor James Experience
TERINA JETT HICKS – Entrepreneur Diva/CEO – Declaring Dominion, LLC; Talent Pittsburgh
IMOGENE MILES HINES – Professor – CCAC
RUTH J. HOWZE – Administrator of Alternative Housing and Reintegration – Allegheny County Jail
SHANICKA L. KENNEDY, Esq. – Chief Deputy Director – Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender
DR. MONICA D. LAMAR – Principal – Pittsburgh Dilworth Pre-K-5
DESIREE S. LEE – Project Manager – The Game Changers Project; and, Arts Partnership Associate – Gateway to the Arts
KILOLO LUCKETT – Director of Development – The Andy Warhol Museum
A. KELLY MCCORMICK – Director, Corporate Human Resources – Giant Eagle, Inc.
MONIQUE MCINTOSH, M.Ed – Senior Director of Programs – YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh
DONNA MICHEAUX, Ph.D. – Assistant Executive Director – Allegheny Intermediate Unit
CYNTHIA MOORE – Education and Community Engagement Director – Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
TRACEY NASH – Senior Accountant – Highmark, Inc.
CAROL AWKARD NEYLAND – Vice President, Community Development – Dollar Bank
CONSTANCE PARKER – President – NAACP Pittsburgh Unit
STAYCEE R. PEARL – Co-Founding Director – Pearl Arts Studios
EBONY PUGH – Public Information Officer – Pittsburgh Public Schools
MINETTE SEATE – Senior Producer – WQED Multimedia
BEV SMITH – 2013 LEGACY HONOREE
DEBRA VALENTINE-GRAY – Director of Regional Advancement – Indiana University of Pennsylvania
ALLEGRA WAKEFIELD – Guild President – Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
ANITA B. WALKER – Assistant Principal – Allegheny K-8 School
CAROL A. WASHINGTON – Executive Director – The NorthShore Community Alliance
DR. CHRISTINE B. WHITE-TAYLOR – Performance/Quality Improvement Coordinator – Every Child, Inc.
GAIL WHITEHEAD – Student Support Coordinator – Greater Pittsburgh Literary Council
TAMARA L. WHITING – National Sales Director – VisitPittsburgh
LISA A. WILDS – Sr. Residential Mortgage Loan Officer – First Niagara Bank
ARLETTA SCOTT WILLIAMS – Executive Director – ALCOSAN
DETECTIVE CHRISTINE WILLIAMS – Detective – City of Pittsburgh Police
DENISE L. WILLIAMS – Executive Director – Mt. Ararat Community Activity Center
DR. ERROLINE WILLIAMS– Director, Professional Development and Corporate Outreach – Duquesne University’s School of Leadership and Professional Advancement
GAYLE M. YOUNG – Executive Director – United Way of Lawrence County
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