Aug. 9 brought the 19th celebration of Women of Influence honorees. It’s a Business Record event that celebrates nine Central Iowa women who’ve made a mark for their successes in their professional and civic work, their commitment to the community through volunteering and leadership, as well as their roles as parents, spouses and friends. There were a few remarks from sponsors and honorees that stood out to me.  

From Tiffany O’Donnell, chief executive officer of Iowa Women Lead Change: “May we use our collective power for good.”

From Dr. Brent Koch, Koch Plastic Surgery: “You’ll never be false if you’re true to yourself.”

From Dina Nathanson, senior vice president of human resources for Meredith Corp., who noted that a third of the senior local leaders in the publishing company are female. “We take our commitment to women very seriously.”

From honoree Lana Jones-Gould: “Be firm in your goals; be flexible in your approach.”