The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas (WFA) announced the four women who will be honored at the Power of the Purse event in September, including a businesswoman from Pine Bluff.
Honorees include:
SISSY JONES — The Woman of the Year in Philanthropy is Sissy Jones, founder of Sissy’s Log Cabin.
“Jones built a successful career as a female-owned business leader and has used her position to make countless generous contributions to various nonprofits throughout her 50 years in business,” according to the news release.
AMY FECHER — The First Lady’s Woman in Public Service award goes to Amy Fecher, the cabinet secretary for the Arkansas Department of Transformation and Shared Services. She was appointed to lead the recent reorganization of the state government.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
MARNIE OLDNER — The Woman of the Year in Business is Marnie Oldner, the chief executive officer of Stone Bank.
“She helped the company acquire more than $400 million in its second year of operation. Oldner also led Stone Bank to complete its first business acquisition with the purchase of DeWitt Bank and Trust,” according to the release.
KARAMA NEAL — Karama Neal will be receiving the Brownie Ledbetter Civic Engagement Award, “a non-annual award that the WFA only gives to women who distinguish themselves by embodying the qualities of notable community leader Brownie Ledbetter,” according to the release.
Neal is president of Southern Bancorp Community Partners (SBCP), a nonprofit loan fund and financial development organization promoting economic mobility in rural Arkansas and Mississippi through development lending, public policy advocacy, and asset-building programs.
POWER OF THE PURSE
The Power of the Purse will be held Wednesday, Sept. 30, in the Statehouse Convention Center’s Wally Allen Ballroom.
“We are honored to celebrate more incredible women this year,” said Anna Beth Gorman, executive director of the foundation. “Each one of these women are empowering voices in our community. We hope that by honoring them, their exemplary professional careers continue to shine bright for younger generations of women to see.”
Publisher of Soirée Magazine Mandy Richardson and Mitch Bettis, president, CEO and publisher at Arkansas Business Publishing Group, will be co-chairing the 2020 Power of the Purse.
The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas’ (WFA) mission is to promote and foster programs, activities, and opportunities that expand and strengthen the roles of women and girls in Arkansas. It is the only statewide foundation that focuses solely on improving their academic, economic and social well-being, according to the release.
Details: WomensFoundationArkansas.org.