2005 - International Business Woman of the Year - Winners and Finalists

MIAMI – November 14, 2005 – The Miami Chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade (WIT-Miami) held its fifth annual INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS last Wednesday at the Omni Colonnade in Coral Gables to recognize outstanding women in the Miami community for the role they play in enhancing international trade and business in South Florida through their professional, and/or community activities. The winners and finalists in each of three categories were:

LARGE COMPANY (over 200 employees):
Winner: Maureen Kempston Darkes, President Latin America,
              Africa and Middle East Region, General Motors Corporation
Finalist: Suzanne Garber, Managing Director, FedEx Express
Finalist: Deborah L. Natansohn, President and COO, Seabourn Cruise Line
 

SMALL TO MEDIUM COMPANY (200 employees or less):
Winner: Evelyn D’An, President, D’An Financial Services
Finalist: Patricia M. Alvarez, President, Intermarket Corp.
Finalist: Cynthia R. Cohen, President, Strategic Mindshare
 

SERVICE PROVIDER (any size):
Winner: Donna J. Hrinak, Senior Counselor for Trade & Government Affairs,
              Squire Sanders & Dempsey (incorporating Steel Hector & Davis)
Finalist: Nancy Cely-Icaza, Trade Commissioner of Ecuador in Miami, CORPEI Miami
Finalist: Rosie Gordon-Wallace, Founder & Curator, Diaspora Vibe Gallery

Ileana Bravo of Ileana Bravo Productions, Inc. was Mistress of Ceremonies and Lettie Bien, President and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce was the Keynote Speaker. Ms. Bien spoke of the major challenges in the privatization of state-owned enterprises and provided examples from her own experiences in Iraq. Ms. Bien, an Army Reserve Colonel and civil affairs specialist, recently returned from a one-year deployment where she served as Senior Advisor/Senior Consultant to the Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Minerals in Baghdad.

Proceeds from this annual event go to fund scholarships awarded to women studying international business at a South Florida university.