(PRWEB) November 19, 2014 -- Laurie joined six other Distinguished Women at the Gala Award Dinner held in Palm Beach, Florida. The honorees are among some of the brightest and most accomplished women in America and represent the values that Northwood espouses to its students: commitment to free enterprise, partnership of arts and business, and management in a global society.
Each woman received the Northwood Distinguished Women Medal originally designed by the late sculptor, Giulio Tamassy. They serve as role models and mentors for the students.
“This award has been given to women for the past 45 years,” Laurie told the gala dinner guests,” and I want to remind us all that 45 years ago women were not allowed to attend many of our major universities, women were not CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies, and remarkably, women were not on their boards.”
Laurie commended the school by saying, “At Northwood University there was a group of men, the board of directors, who decided to recognize women leaders by creating this award. Today all universities are open to women. Today women are CEO’s of major companies, on boards, serve on the Supreme Court and the list goes on. All of this makes America a stronger and a more resilient nation.”
Laurie serves as CEO and founder of the Cunnington Foundation and is a Partner in Cunnington & Cunnington, an independent professional advisory firm specializing in midsize energy projects.
Her awards include Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Top Women Owned Business and Woman of the Month by Women Of.Com. She has been on the cover of the Oil & Gas Financial Journal and Detroit Business. Laurie is a member of the Wall Street Journal Female Leaders Network and serves as a Judge for the E & Y Winning Women’s Program.
Laurie’s philanthropic work includes programs supporting education, mentoring, micro-finance and relief work in the US as well as developing countries, notably Rwanda, Mozambique, Sudan, Uganda and Jordan.
She holds board positions at Harvard University, J.F. Kennedy School of Government, Women’s Leadership Board, Oakland Family Services, Beaumont Hospital Foundation, Women of Tomorrow Advisory Board, and UN Women. She is a Trustee of Beaumont Health Systems. She is a member of the Clinton Global Foundation and a member of Committee of 200 (C-200). In addition, she is a former board member of Opportunity International and the executive committee of JAM, an African relief organization.
For information contact: Nancy Thompson uptownpro(at)hotmail(dot)com 248-496-4965.
Nancy Thompson, UptownPR, +1 248-496-4965, [email protected]
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