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The inaugural Barrow County Businesswoman of the Year, Gwen Hill of Hill’s Ace Hardware and Lumber Center, received an autographed Georgia football from Akins Ford.
She received congratulations from Pam Hanson, who works at Hill’s, the business Gwen and Bob Hill have grown through the years. Son Alex Hill, who also attended the luncheon, now runs the family business. She shared how making connections with people is an important part of the efforts to help others in the community who are less fortunate.
Gwen Hill was honored at the Nov. 11 Women in Business Luncheon held at The Georgia Club. Chamber of Commerce President Tommy Jennings made the announcement and Tina Brooks of Georgia Power pinned a corsage on the special honoree. Hill will also be receiving a pin specially crafted for the new recognition for Businesswoman of the Year.
Hill referred to the Bible verse that has been her inspiration: Ecclesiastes 9:10 – "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."
She said she jumped in with both feet whether it was at school or church where she supported children Alex and Audrey in their endeavors.
Hill said she was multi-tasking before the word caught on. As a small business owner and operator, she said she came to value the opportunity to reach out to others, especially those less fortunate.
Sara Pope, Summer Woodard and Stephanie Sorrells, other Women of the Year nominees who were presented with corsages, were applauded by the large luncheon crowd.
Other Women of the Year nominees who were unable to attend the luncheon were Dorothy (Dot) Jones of Larry’s Furniture, Florence Schwartz, who is retired from Peskin’s Department Store and Barrow County Department of Family & Children Services; and Auburn Mayor Linda Blechinger.
Guest speaker for the luncheon, Ronda Rich, joined event sponsor Barrow Regional Medical Center CEO Blake Watts and other hospital staffers and physicians at their table.
Introduced by Christine Willis, author and syndicated newspaper columnist Ronda Rich entertained with stories about Barbara Dooley and NASCAR and through her humor tied in life lessons about women supporting each other and "Blazing the Trail," which she has done throughout her career.
Watts shared some interesting statistics including that 83 percent of the employees at the hospital are women and that 70 percent of management is female. Twenty-five percent of the active medical staff are women.
He also noted some new services that will soon be available for women, the primary healthcare decisionmakers for the family. Digital mammography and densitometry testing are among the offerings.
A Women’s Pavilion is on the horizon for the first quarter of next year, Watts said.
He issued an invitation to Sunday’s open house at the renovated ER from 2-5 p.m.
Joining Barrow Regional Medical Center and Georgia Power as sponsors were table sponsors The Peoples Bank, Rhodia and Republic Services and table decoration sponsor Divine Weddings & Events.
