Executive Women of the Palm Beaches (EWPB) is excited to announce the honorees of the Women In Leadership Awards. Selected from a record number of 36 nominees, these women will be honored at the 34th annual Women In Leadership Award (WILA) event, scheduled for May 11, 2017.
The honorees represent the public, private, volunteer, and nonprofit sectors, as examples of the strength and character of female leadership in Palm Beach County.
The honorees are as follows:
Public Sector: Jean A. Wihbey, Ph.D. of Palm Beach Gardens
Jean A. Wihbey is the Provost for Palm Beach State College’s Lake Worth campus. As the campus’ chief executive officer, she is responsible for providing leadership and inspiration to a campus of more than 9,000 students and 225 employees. Dr. Wihbey ensures the quality and relevance of the campus’ academic programs, oversees campus operational activities, and leads through encouraging ideas and strong relationships. She is actively involved in the PGA Corridor Association Board of Directors as President, the North Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, serving as a Trustee, Treasurer on the Board of Directors’ Executive Committee and on the Women in Business Steering Council.
Private Sector: Nellie L. King, P.A. of Jupiter
A noted criminal defense lawyer, King is a leader who has held local, state, and national roles and who is a mentor to young female lawyers. After serving as President of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL), King oversaw significant work with President Barack Obama’s Clemency Project. The clemency initiative focused on minimum-mandatory sentencing policies, which resulted in the incarceration of thousands of Americans for non-violent drug offenses, many of whom were serving life sentences. One of only four women elected President of FACDL, she is also a Past President of the Palm Beach Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. King currently serves on the Board of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Boys Town South Florida, and the Criminal Justice Commission.
Volunteer Sector: Sharon Gill of Lake Worth
When Sharon Gill left Jamaica for the U.S. at the age of 21, she had $56 in her pocket. Decades later, she is the COO of the Gill Law Firm and Founder and CEO of Oasis Compassion Agency, which helps the underprivileged with a food pantry, clothing store, housing, skills development, and job placement. Since its inception in 2003, Oasis has assisted more than 10,000 individuals in Palm Beach County become self-sufficient, motivated, empowered and successful members of the community. In addition to being the founder and CEO of Oasis, Gill serves on the boards of the Women’s Chamber Foundation, EmpowHer of the Palm Beaches, Umom, and Palm Beach Atlantic Alumni.
Nonprofit Sector: Linda De Piano, Ph.D. of Palm Beach Gardens
Linda De Piano, CEO of the Jerome Golden Center for Behavioral Health in West Palm Beach, has been a champion for mental health in Palm Beach County for more than 34 years. Dr. DePiano oversees 385 professionals who provide a full range of services, including a 44-bed psychiatric hospital, mobile crisis team, outpatient services, housing, and addiction and co-occurring programs (treatment for people who have substance use disorders, as well as mental health disorders). In addition to her responsibilities at the center, she also a leading advocate of addressing mental health and related issues throughout our community.
The highly distinguished Women In Leadership Awards are presented by EWPB, in recognition of local women who have sustained outstanding accomplishments and displayed generosity of spirit, commitment to integrity and diversity, and genuine connectedness with others in the community. The event will be held at the Cohen Pavilion at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 11th. Keynote speaker will be Capt. Mark Kelly, Commander of Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Final Mission (2011), Space and Aviation Contributor for NBC News/MSNBC and husband to former U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Proceeds benefit the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation.
Natalie M. Alvarez, Michelle N. DeLong, Amy Morse will serve as co-chairs for the event. Tickets are $130 for EWPB members; $150 for friends and guests; and $80 for students. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. To learn more or to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.ewpb.org/wila.
