The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas announced honorees and co-chairs for the Power of the Purse luncheon set for Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. The annual event recognizes the accomplishments of women in Arkansas, celebrates the work of the organization and raises money to continue making progress toward economic security for women and girls across the state.
“It is our privilege to announce this year’s Power of the Purse honorees and co-chairs,” said Anna Beth Gorman, CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas (WFA). “For the past quarter century, the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas has championed inspiring women who are shaping our state, and we can’t wait to spotlight even more business leaders, philanthropists and public servants whose dedication creates boundless opportunities for all women and girls in Arkansas.”
This year’s honorees are:
- Woman of the Year in Public Service – Dr. Nirvana Manning, professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine
- Woman of the Year in Business – Lenore Trammell, chief administrative officer, chief compliance officer and general counsel, Big River Steel
- Woman of the Year in Philanthropy – Cathy Tuggle, CAM, NALP, owner and principal broker, Apartment Hunters and Arkansas Suites
Event co-chairs are:
- Shamim Okolloh – vice president, community outreach officer, Encore Bank
- Marnie Oldner – director, Stone Bank
UAMS’ Dr. Nirvana Manning will be honored as the Woman of the Year in Public Service. She is an advocate for women’s health and has implemented numerous projects designed to improve health outcomes for women and girls across the state. Recording the highest maternal mortality rate in the country, Manning has played a vital role in bringing national attention to the issue. She is currently participating in several grants aimed at improving postpartum maternal outcomes in populations that experience health disparities as well as providing prenatal care in rural areas with less access to providers. She is one of only 10 providers in Arkansas to become a Certified Menopause Practitioner and is also a member of the Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee.
Lenore Trammell, who fills an executive leadership role in one of the state’s leading STEM industries, will be honored as the Woman of the Year in Business. She holds many titles at Big River Steel in Osceola, including general counsel, chief administrative officer and chief compliance officer. She also serves as the executive sponsor for Big River Steel’s employee resource group, NextGen, and is the president of the Greater Memphis Chapter of the International Association of Women and a member of the Great River Economic Development Board.
Cathy Tuggle, principal broker and owner of Tuggle Services, Inc. DBA Apartment Hunters and Arkansas Suites, will be crowned Woman of the Year in Philanthropy. In addition to her professional work, Tuggle is known for her service to Arkansas’s nonprofit community. Described as the “first to roll up her sleeves,” she sits on the UA Little Rock Real Estate Advisory Board, the Arvest Bank Board of Directors, Fifty for the Future and is a member of Rotary Club 99 and the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, where she was chair of the Board in 2018. She is a past chair of the AR Kids Read Board and has served for the past eight years. She is also the current chair of the UA Little Rock Advisory Board.
Co-chairs of this year’s event are Shamim Okolloh, vice president, community outreach officer at Encore Bank, and Marnie Oldner, director, Stone Bank. Together, Okolloh and Oldner have decades of experience in the banking industry and are committed to continuing to create space and opportunities for other women in banking.
Okolloh recently authored a book called “Ella the Banker” with her 10-year-old son, Liam Sprinkle. Inspired by Okolloh’s daughter, Ella, who wants to become a banker, the book seeks to inspire young girls, especially girls of color, to consider a banking career.
Oldner recently retired as CEO of Stone Bank, spending four decades in the industry and helping to grow Stone Bank’s assets from $65 million to more than $750 million. She remains a member of the Board of Directors for the bank. The WFA named Oldner Woman of the Year in Business in 2020.
“Arkansas Children’s is proud to continue our partnership with the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas as presenting sponsor of Power of the Purse,” said Gena Wingfield, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Arkansas Children’s. “Our organizations share the goals of creating a healthier state for children, encouraging women in STEM and supporting families in Arkansas. This year’s Power of the Purse event will amplify our work together, and we look forward to supporting WFA in their efforts.”
For more information about Power of the Purse, this year’s honorees and co-chairs, and to purchase tickets to the luncheon, visit womensfoundationarkansas.org/power-of-the-purse.
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