Business Ledger to honor 20 Influential Women in Business

The Daily Herald Business Ledger and its sponsoring partners will honor 20 suburban women leaders at the 21st annual Influential Women in Business Awards recognition event on Nov. 2.

The awards will be presented at a reception beginning at 11 a.m. at Belvedere Banquets, 1170 W. Devon Ave. in Elk Grove Village.

The Influential Women in Business Awards are presented to outstanding women executives who excel in the business, civic and personal arenas. The honoree's business must be located in or have a major presence in the Business Ledger's primary editorial coverage area of suburban Chicago. Those considered for the awards were nominated by their peers and selected by a panel of Daily Herald Business Ledger executives.

This year's honorees are:

• Susan Beth, COO, NRD Capital Management LLC, Downers Grove

• Andrea Biwer, executive director, Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce, Des Plaines

• Terri Brax, co-founder and CEO, Women Tech Founders, Schaumburg

• Erin Brooks, executive director, Township High School District 214 Education Foundation, Arlington Heights

• Julie Chavez, senior vice president, community relations manager, Bank of America, Chicago

• Michelle Damico, founder and CEO, Michelle Damico Communications, Lincolnshire

• Linda S. Fine, co-chair of estate planning and estate settlement departments, Kelleher & Buckley, LLC, North Barrington

• Jennifer L. Friedland, member and managing partner, Momkus LLC, Lisle

• Lisa Gilbert, president, Schaumburg Business Association, Schaumburg

• Dr. Anuja Gupta, general partner, Aman Living LLC, Frankfort

• Noreen Heron, president, Heron Agency, Chicago

• Sue Kramer Harrawood, founder, Peace of Mind Virtual Assistance, Orland Park

• Jean LaVallie, founder and CEO, Women Entrepreneurs Secrets of Success

• Laura Newman, city administrator, Batavia

• Diane Nyhammer, vice president of educational affairs, Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove

• Danielle Ozer, executive vice president, brokerage services, Benefits Solutions Group of TandemHR, Westchester

• Adria Meehan Siewert, vice president, financial adviser, Wealth Enhancement Group, Itasca

• Jean Theis, executive vice president and COO, Andigo Credit Union, Schaumburg

• Amy M. Toepper, founder and CEO, AMT Law LLC and Legal in A Box Inc., Naperville

• Catherine Tojaga, president and owner, CT Mechanical, Addison

The keynote speaker will be Watchen Nyanue, vice president of marketing partnerships for the WNBA Chicago Sky. As an advocate for female leadership and empowerment, her journey has been filled with more than 12 years of executive experience, where she has excelled as a proven business strategy leader.

Cost to attend the reception is $55 per person. Corporate tables are also available at a discounted rate of $45 per person. Registrations are being accepted online at dhbusinessledger.com.

The awards are presented in partnership with the National Association of Women Business Owners — Chicago Area Chapter. This year's awards are sponsored by B. Gunther & Company Inc. and Focus Capital Advisors.

Honorees will be profiled in a special issue of the Business Ledger to be published on Dec. 17.