M. H. West & Co., Inc.’s Chair and CEO, Marilyn H. West and Meaghan West attended Junior Achievement of Central Virginia, Inc.‘s 2011 Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame dinner at the Jefferson Hotel. This year’s inductees included Jon King and Laverne King of Exclusive Staffing; C. Kenneth Wright, founder of Rent-A-Car and Thomas G. Snead, Jr., Retired President of Wellpoint, Inc., Southeastern Region.

Junior Achievement programs are designed to inspire students from a young age to set goals while giving them the tools and knowledge needed to make their dreams a reality. From our youngest participants in kindergarten to high school seniors, JA provides practical economics, career planning, skill building, and a value for lifelong learning, leadership, and thoughtful economic choices.

Marilyn remarked that it was nice to see so many community and business leaders supporting a good cause and that she was proud that M. H. West & Co., Inc. helped sponsor such a quality organization.

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…)