M. H. West & Co., Inc. CEO, Marilyn West was at The Omni Richmond Hotel to celebrate the Enterprising Women of Excellence Awards. The annual event is hosted by the Richmond chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, which Marilyn has been a member of for almost 20 years. Marilyn attended as a special guest of the events lead sponsor Wells Fargo/Wachovia, she enjoyed the keynote speaker, Marci Shimoff , author of Happy for No Reason, Chicken Soup for the Women’s Soul and contributor to The Secret. Marilyn, herself a past award winner, congratulates all the award winners and nominees.

Award Winners Included:

•Gail Johnson, owner of Rainbow Station Inc., won the NAWBO Entrepreneur award.

Her Henrico County-based company operates and franchises nationally accredited campus-based preschools with an infirmary where parents can leave their sick children when they go to work and where parents of chronically ill children can find child care.

“As a pediatric nurse, Gail saw an unfilled need for day-care services for children with special needs and medical challenges, whether the need was for a day or for a lifetime,” according to the chapter statement about the awards.

“She had a great idea but faced the major hurdle, the legal prohibition against providing day-care services for ill children. But the battle was won.” (more…)

M. H. West & Co., Inc. associates Meaghan West and Erica Cage saw months of planning and work payoff in a night of high stakes fun at the Bull and Bear Club. Both Meaghan and Erica are members of the National Kidney Foundation‘s Young Professional Council which organized the event while their employer, M. H. West & Co., Inc was a primary sponsor. Attendees were treated to a night of casino-style gaming, a silent auction, complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and desserts as well as dance music. All proceeds from the black-tie optional event will be used to support medical research, patient and community services, professional education, and organ donation awareness in Virginia.

Meaghan remarked that it was a fun and gratifying evening for a great cause.

The Women Who Mean Business Summit is a day long event occurring on Jan. 28th, 2011 at The Greater Richmond Convention Center. The summit is presented by the Metropolitan Business League and this year’s featured speaker will be Suze Orman. There will also be many notable local speakers at the event. The Women Who Mean Business Summit offers:

• Professional Advice from dozens of top authors, Business Women and Successful Entrepreneurs
• Networking Opportunities with like-minded Business Women
• One-on-one Coaching Sessions
• Interactive Workshops for Entrepreneurs and Professionals

M. H. West & Co., Inc.’s CEO, Marilyn H. West will be a panelist for A Conversation with the Most Successful Entrepreneurs in Virginia. Later in the day Marilyn will welcome Dr. Christine Browning who will be the presenter for Stopping a Serial Killer: Women and Heart Disease. M. H. West & Co., Inc., a sponsor of the Women Who Mean Business Summit,  will also have a booth set up where people can learn more about the company and meet some key personnel.

M. H. West & Co., Inc. representatives Marilyn West (CEO), Ned Conway and Meaghan West were in attendance for the 2011 First Freedom Awards Gala hosted by the First Freedom Center. Marilyn was honored to give the closing remarks for the black-tie event. This year’s award recipients were:

2011 INTERNATIONAL RECIPIENT – ASMA JAHANGIR
Asma Jahangir served as the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief from August 2004 – July 2010.  The Rapporteur is a senior authority appointed by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to investigate the status of religious freedom worldwide.  Jahangir is an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and has been twice elected as Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.  She is also a Director of the AGHS Legal Aid Cell, which provides free legal assistance to the needy, and was instrumental in the formation of the Punjab Women Lawyers Association in 1980 and the Women Action Forum in 1985. (more…)

The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities held their 48th Annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner at the Richmond Marriott on November 1st. M. H.  West & Co., Inc.’s CEO, Marilyn West is proud to serve on the Dinner Executive Committee for The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities and has been supporting the organization for years. Marilyn attended the dinner along with fellow associates Joe Armstrong, Meaghan West and Erica Cage.

The Humanitarian Awards are presented to individuals and organizations that demonstrate a commitment to the promotion of respect and understanding among people of diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. Among those honored included: Tommy Baer, Maureen Massey, Ranjit K. Sen and Laverne B. Spurlock. John W. Kinney received the Jeffrey B. Spence Award for Interfaith Understanding. Elk Hill which provides a healthy environment for young people and their families to feel safe and make positive changes, received the Distinguished Merit Citation.

WEST’s Joe Armstrong enjoyed the dinner and found it noteworthy that Congressman Bobby Scott took the time to attend the awards ceremony on the eve of election day. Thus showing the importance of the event.

Senior Connections held the 7th Annual Empty Plate Luncheon at the Science Museum of Virginia on October 13, 2010. The event honors those who have given outstanding service to the senior community of the greater Richmond metro area throughout the year. WEST associates Marilyn West, Justin House, Meaghan West, Erica Cage, Joe Armstrong, Ned Conway and Radcliffe Chambers attended the luncheon. Notable award winners included:

• Dr. Richard W. Lindsay, M.D. – Eva Teig Hardy Service Award for Exceptional Corporate Support
• James “Buddy” Kelly, Jr. – MaryEllen Cox Memorial Award for Advocacy
• Charles Barker, Sr. – Richard Hogan Memorial Award for Service to Seniors
• William R. Nelson, M.D. – E. Harris Spindle Award for Service To Seniors

After the award presentations, keynote speaker Hugh Gouldthorpe, Jr. gave an inspiring and humorous speech on the importance of staying humble and being passionate about your work. Marilyn West, Chair of the Senior Connections Advisory Council closed out the event by first noting the Mr. Gouldthorpe is a hard act to follow and then letting everybody know that she looked forward to seeing them next year.