Business Women take in, dispense warm wishes at 8th PBN event

THE 2015 BUSINESS WOMEN AWARDS program celebrated its honorees Friday at the eighth luncheon celebration at the Providence Marriott Downtown, Connie Lavery O'Connor, senior vice president and chief customer officer for IGT (formerly GTECH) and pictured on the cover, was recognized for Career Achievement.
THE 2015 BUSINESS WOMEN AWARDS program celebrated its honorees Friday at the eighth luncheon celebration at the Providence Marriott Downtown, Connie Lavery O'Connor, senior vice president and chief customer officer for IGT (formerly GTECH) and pictured on the cover, was recognized for Career Achievement.

PROVIDENCE – Hope Global CEO Cheryl Merchant captured the essence of PBN’s Business Women Awards program when during her acceptance speech for being named Outstanding Mentor, she noted the impressive achievements of the 25 other honorees and then challenged all in attendance to take up the cause of mentoring the next generation of leaders, something she has made an extracurricular passion.
Merchant spoke of the satisfaction she gets when a young woman calls her from another continent to talk about a business challenge or from her car to ask her advice as to whether to accept a job offer, questions asked by women who do not work for her but for whom she makes time to help guide, as she herself was guided early in her career. She offered for public consumption that her mentor sent her to a class to improve her spelling and not long after to a fashion consultant to help her dress the part as her career in the automotive industry gained momentum. A good mentor she said, is both supportive and honest.
The eighth Business Women Awards event was held at the Providence Marriott Downtown, which attracted a sold-out crowd of 320 to give witness to the honorees, which included the 12 women profiled in monthly features that concentrate on entrepreneurship as well as the 12 women, one early in her career, the other an “industry leader,” in six industry categories. In addition to Merchant’s recognition as Outstanding Mentor, Connie Laverty O’Connor, senior vice president and chief customer officer for lottery giant IGT, was recognized for Career Achievement. O’Connor, who could not attend the event, emphasized the role of diversity and communication in helping individuals and organizations succeed.
The winners of PBN’s Business Women Awards program are profiled in a special section included in the June 1-7 issue of the newspaper. Partner sponsors for the program included CVS Health Corp., LGC&D and USI Insurance Services. Media sponsor was AM790 and Cumulus Media.

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  1. Having met Cheryl some years ago only briefly, in my efforts to get to know her better, have always found her to be sincere, professional and kind. It is no surprise to me that she continues to be one of the more public business leader in RI. For certain, she fills the role of mentor for so many. Best wishes, Cheryl to continued success.