Pioneering Women Luncheon
Honoring the women who move Southeast Texas forward.
Each year, Pioneering Women honors seven women in the community for the work they have done to be inclusive, proactive, and impactful. As the primary fundraiser for the organization's efforts, all funds raised benefit Pioneering Women programs.
Annual Luncheon
2024 Honorees
Past Honorees
2004
Rachel Hebert
Alice Jefferson
Winona Frank
Evelyn Lord
Vi McGinnis
Geraldine Beckett
Tamerla Chavis
2007
Sheri Arnold
Yolanda Avery
Dora Nisby
Michelle McCalope
JoAnn Block
Connie Berry
Juanita Falcon
Verna Rutherford
2005
Amanda Fontenot
Maria Barrios de Estrello
Sister Celeste Trahan
Pat Avery
Nancy Beaulieu
Phoung Hue Tat
Alma Garza-Cruz
Gethrell Wright
Jolene Ortego
Barbara Lynn
Jennifer Nguyen
Alice Ramsey
2008
Christina Delgadillo
Theresa Beauchamp
Dorrie Adolph
Maceala Garza
Cindy Fertitta
Linda Domino
Becky Ames
Deloris Prince
Martha Kapparis
Sheila Umphrey
Zena Stephens
2006
Paula Bothe
Sabrina Vrooman
Scarlet Garsea
Willie Shaw
Paula O'Neal
Tracie Payne
Barbara Mulroy
Tammy Powell
2009
Anne Huff
Virginia Bean
Ivory Harrison
Nell McCallum
Kathleen Jackson
Tisha Armstead
Sallye Keith
2010
Charlene Babineaux
Eleanor Mitchell
Jane McBride
Barbara Daniels
Cheryl Black-Fitzpatrick
Cindy Bloodsworth
2013
Karen Bourdier
Mary Kay Durio
Marilynne Keedy-Wall
Jackie Simien
Penny Sullivan
Gay Scott
2011
Lynda Kay Makin
Hargie Jacobs-Savoy
Marilyn Adams
Carolyn Linda Foutz
Norma Zarzosa
2014
Ruby Holloway
Shelly Vitanza
Uliana Trylowsky
JoAnn Comeaux
Connie Szuch
2012
Betty Greenberg
June Brailsford
Barbara Phillips
Ella Flores
Marcia Stevens
Marty Craig
Linda Spears
Rebecca Ford
2015
Estrelda Sonnier
Vicki Derese
Carol Fernandez
Mary Simon
Mary Ann Reid
2016
Janet Floyd
LouAnna Thomas
Ines Alvidres
Elaine Shellenberger
Raquel West
Kristie Young
Gail Cawley Showalter
2019
Robin McCombs Troy
Renee B. Nembhard
Shannon Allen
Gloria Moreno
Brooke Morrow
Virginia Jordan
2017
Camille Briggs
Allison Getz
Japera Levine
Faye Woodsmall
Jane Hebert
Dee Richard
Ingrid West Holmes
2020
Gwen Lacy
Felicia Young
Kara Hawthorne
Lubna Elahi
Jane Ann Kemplay
Denise Wallace Spooner
Gabriela Carugno
2018
Aggie In
Verlie Nobles
Ava Graves
Norma Sampson
Robin Mouton
2021
Sade Chick
Belinda George
Susan Gonzalez
Debbie Bando
Stephanie Davis
Gabriela Properzi
Kim Phelan
2022
Velina Johnson
Tea Do
Melanie Comeaux
Charlee Hanna-Rule
Mary Young
Charisma Popillion
2023
Vanessa Iglesias
Delores Fulton
Jacqueline Hernandez
Doreen Badeaux
Judith Smith
Debbie Bridgeman
Anna Nobles-Papa
2024
Michele Malonson
Janci Kimball
Tania Castelan
Maegan Collins
Fabiana Baum
GiGi Mazzola
Judy Bettis