Acadiana Business

ABiz announces influential women award winners

by Leslie Turk

Acadiana's premier event honoring women of influence in our communities is Wednesday, Sept. 12, at River Oaks.

River Oaks on Kaliste Saloom Road will once again be the gathering spot to honor women of influence in Acadiana. This is the 15th year for the inspiring awards and luncheon that annually attracts more than 350 people.

This year's honorees are:
Rhonda Babin, regional manager, Airgas
Stephanie Mitchell Bernard, director, Diocese of Lafayette's Office of Black Catholics Ministries
Sandra Billeaudeau, assistant superintendent, Lafayette Parish Schools
Carolyn Doerle Schumacher, managing director/CEO, Doerle Food Services
Rebekah Huggins, attorney, Glenn Armentor Law Corp.
Mandi Mitchell, lobbyist, Mandi D. Mitchell LLC
Susan Theall, 15th Judicial District judge
Lorrie Toups, CFO, Lafayette Consolidated Government

The 2012 Trailblazer honorees are Maugie Pastor of T'Frere's Bed and Breakfast and Sherry Lebas, UL Lafayette's retired associate athletics director/senior woman administrator.

All of these women will be featured in the September issue of ABiz, which publishes Aug. 30. The annual issue is dedicated to the role women play in shaping our community's success. Each fall ABiz profiles up to 10 inspiring women from across the community - business, politics, education, non-profits - who are still active in their careers and recognized for their professionalism, entrepreneurship, civic involvement and community leadership. We also honor a small group of trailblazers who are retired or semi-retired and helped pave the way for succeeding generations of women.

The premier recognition for women of influence in Acadiana, the event is sponsored by IberiaBank and LHC Group. Supporting sponsors are Courtesy Automotive Group, Paul Michael Company, River Oaks and Paul's Jewelry. The luncheon will be held Wednesday, Sept. 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Tickets are $35 and $320 for a table of eight. Contact Robin Hebert at 769-8603 or [email protected] for more information or to purchase tickets.