Event info
When: Aug. 9, 2012 - THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT

Time: 4:30 to 7 p.m. Presentation of honors at 5:15 p.m.

Where: Downtown Des Moines Marriott, 7th & Grand, Des Moines

Past Winners
Meet the 2011 Winners
Meet the 2010 Winners 
Complete history of winners

Congratulations to all our wonderful Women of Influence. In the following pages, you’ll find a story on each of these inspirational women and, on our website, their advice via video to young business women. I know that many of you will be at our sold-out Aug. 9 Woman of Influence event to honor the class in person and hear from the honorees themselves about how they became such influential women. So congratulations again to the 2012 honorees, and I look forward to meeting each of you at the event.

– Chris Conetzkey, Editor of the Business Record


Meet the 2012 Class:


Women Business Owner of the Year:

Teresa Van Vleet-Danos 
President and Owner, Rowat Cut Stone & Marble Co.
Read article and view video




Women of Influence Winners:


Carmela Brown
Legislative Advocate/Lobbyist
Read article and view video




Terry Hernandez
Executive Director, Chrysalis
Read article and view video




Laura Hollingsworth
President and Publisher, The Des Moines Register
Read article and view video




Rosemary Parson 
Vice President of Operations, EquiTrust Insurance Services
Read article and view video




Janet E. Phipps Burkhead
Attorney, Dickinson Law Firm
Read article and view video




Nichola K. Schissel
Retired, Former Vice President at Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines
Read article and view video




Christie Vilsack
Democratic Congressional Candidate, Iowa
Read article and view video




*Full profiles of all the honorees will be published in the Aug. 3 edition of the Business Record.


Woman Business Owner of the Year sponsored by:


Fashions featured at this event presented by:


Sponsored by:




About Women of Influence
The Women of Influence awards celebrate the work of women who have made a difference. They’ve devoted their lives to doing things most wouldn’t. They’ve spent countless hours on various boards. They’ve blazed a trail either personally or professionally for other women to follow. They’re continually seeking ways to improve the Central Iowa, never satisfied with mere one-time contributions. They’re role models with impeccable ethics.

When being considered for recognition candidates will be judged on the following criteria:
• Success in their chosen field
• Lasting impact on the community
• Involvement with civic and/or non-profit organizations
• Role model for other women through not only their achievements but also their high ethical standards.