The 18th Annual Women in Business Unsung Hero Luncheon on February 9 was a completely sold out event, with nearly 250 in attendance at the DoubleTree by Hilton Denver-Aurora.

This year, the event recognized 20 dynamic women for their contributions to their business environment and the community, with Nancy Freed, City of Aurora Deputy City Manager, named the 2018 Women in Business Unsung Hero.

Finalists:

Marissa Banker, Colorado Technical University (not pictured)Jan Jenkins, PhD, Aurora Mental Health Center
Stephanie Sanchez, Mile High United Way
Nancy Freed, City of Aurora
Major Kinder Blacke, Air National Guard 140th Wing
Jamie LaDuke, City of Aurora

Nominees:
Theresa Bailey, UCHealth
Jennifer Dunn, FirstBank
Cathleen Ehrenfeucht, UCHealth
Kim Koch, Arapahoe County Government, CO
Vicki Mackie, Sites and Insights
Sarah McGregor, Aurora Symphony Orchestra
Chartashia Miller, NAACP Aurora Branch
Oma Mohamed, Aurora Chamber Volunteer
Aurora Ogg, Congressman Mike Coffman
Deb Peek, Sites and Insights
Chris Reefe, Adams County Government, CO
Megan Vizina, Colfax Community Network
Karen Willett, Air Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC)
Kim Wisneski, Pickens Technical College

Not pictured: Sarah McGregor, Aurora Symphony Orchestra and Karen Willett, Air Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC)

Photos by Teri Mingilton, Elemintal Photography

Congratulations to these outstanding women who deserve to be recognized for their contributions to the community.

Diane Simard, Vice President/Board Member of Bye Aerospace and a cancer survivor advocate, gave an inspirational and moving speech. She told her story of self-love, emphasizing that beauty does not come from hair and makeup, but from within. She made guests laugh then brought them to tears by describing the situation that truly changed her life: Cancer.

She shared a quote by Maya Angelou, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

The Unsung Hero Luncheon was generously sponsored by Bye Aerospace, Westerra Credit Union, FirstBank, and Colorado Technical University. Table sponsors included The Aurora Association of University Women, Aurora Mental Health Center, City of Aurora, Citywide Banks, Community Banks of Colorado, Community College of Aurora, Metro Energy, Mile High United Way, NAACP Aurora Branch, Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation, Visit Aurora, and Wells Fargo Bank.