formerly
Grand Island Business & Professional Women's Club News
Previous BPW News
President - Regina Schunk - 308-7263
Co-Vice Presidents Sonja C. Miller and Dr. Sherry Bradford
Secretary - Mary Anne Shea
Treasurer - Claudia Lesinski
NYS Women Meeting - September 2014
By Mary Anne Shea, Public Relations ChairThe Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, Inc. will meet at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 1, in River Oaks Clubhouse, 201 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island. The program features information on domestic violence and it is free and open to the public.
Joseph Chudoba of Tonawanda, a member of the Erie County Sheriff's Department Domestic Violence Unit, is the liaison for domestic violence in Grand Island courts. He will discuss various elements of domestic violence locally as well as the recent legislation on domestic violence signed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in July. Chudoba has worked in the human services field for 15 years, the last six with the Domestic Violence Unit. He is a member of several local coalitions assisting victims with multiple issues of domestic violence. He speaks on various issues such as bullying, cyberbullying, teen dating violence, and elder abuse throughout Erie County. He also is a team leader in Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court assisting local veterans with legal issues. For information or dinner reservations, contact Chapter President Diane Dinsmore at 308 6230 or email: dinsdggr@aol.com.
NYS Women Installation Dinner & Award Presentation - June 2014
By Mary Anne Shea, Public Relations ChairPresident Diane Dinsmore has announced that the Grand Island Professional Women’s Chapter, New York State Women, Inc. will meet at 6:00 p.m., on Wednesday, June 18th at Elldins at River Oaks, 201 Whitehaven Rd. Recently-elected officers will be installed by Ramona Gallagher of the Buffalo Niagara Chapter NYSW, Inc. Besides Dinsmore, who is owner and president of Diversified Management Services Ltd., other officers are Vice President Dawn Bonora, a Mary Kay Independent Sales Representative; Secretary Sonja Miller, a professor of clinical laboratory technology at Erie Community College; and Treasurer Beverly Kinney, a sole proprietor with Carol Ann’s Hair Fashions in Tonawanda.
In addition to the installation ceremony, Dr. Sherry Bradford, president and founder of AccuTheranostics, Inc. of Buffalo, will announce the winner of the Eighth Annual Effective Leadership Award for Women in Business. Dr. Bradford is chief scientific officer and inventor of the cancer lab’s trademarks and patents. Dr. Bradford said the award honors a woman who excels in her chosen field, who devotes time and energy to her community in a meaningful way, and who serves as a role model for women. According to Dr. Bradford the Leadership Award originated from "my personal and professional experiences as a female, faced with unique challenges, as I formed and developed my business. The Leadership Award is an opportunity to recognize women for what they have accomplished." For additional information and dinner reservations, contact Chapter President Diane Dinsmore at 308-6230 or dinsdggr@aol.com.
McMahon Receives Leadership Award - June 2014
By Mary Anne Shea, Public Relations Chair
Grand Island’s Francine (Fran) McMahon doesn’t think she deserves awards. But, she’s getting one Wednesday night and the hundreds of Special Education students she’s helped over the years are applauding. She’ll receive the Eighth Annual Effective Leadership Award for Women in Business at the meeting of the Grand Island Professional Women’s Chapter, New York State Women, Inc., at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 18th in Elldins at River Oaks, 201 Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island.
Fran owns McMahon’s Family Restaurant, which opened in 2002, at 1849 Grand Island Blvd., Grand Island. She knew for 30 years that she wanted to open a restaurant, and she even knew where - the building she now owns. She picked it out long ago and told people “whenever it goes up for sale, I’m going to buy it.” She had a special reason for buying a restaurant. She has four children with “Fragile-X” a genetic disease with a range of ability from mild to severe. "It's really for the kids, so they could work in it throughout their lives," Fran explained. She’s benefited from her college degrees—an Associates Degree in Food Services Business Education from Erie Community College and a degree in Secondary Education with a Certificate in Special Education from State University College at Buffalo. Fran starts at the restaurant at 6:00 a.m., and at 6:30 a.m. they have a family business meeting. "We first dedicate the day and time to God," Fran said. Her children handle every aspect of running the restaurant from cooking and cleaning to grocery lists, ordering products, cash register, and maintenance, as well as meeting sales people.
Fran also volunteered with the Grand Island Schools Special Education Department. For the past eleven years, Grand Island High School has sent Special Education Students to McMahon’s for training in restaurant work. "They come by bus, and I train them according to ability," Fran said. "I give them a job to do; sometimes it's as simple as filling the sugars. Because you're disabled, you still have to be able to hold a job." "Our students are the happiest people that come to see us," Fran added. Fran's original project was to give her disabled children a way to earn a living; but, her passion to help others spread to the high school students to boost their confidence in the workplace. Fran's other activities generally relate to children. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce and a member of its KidBiz Committee. KidBiz gives children in the third through sixth grade the experience of running their own businesses.
Fran was one of the Founders of the Miracle League of Grand Island and WNY. Miracle League lets children with mental and physical disabilities experience the joy of playing baseball. Today, Miracle League teams play on a specially-designed turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other devices. And, Francine McMahon still doesn’t think she deserves awards! The Effective Leadership Award for Women in Business is sponsored by AccuTheranostics Inc.of Buffalo and will be presented to Fran by Dr. Sherry Bradford of Grand Island, who is company president, chief scientific officer and inventor of the cancer lab’s trademarks and patents. According to Dr. Bradford, the award honors a woman who excels in her chosen field, who devotes time and energy to her community in a meaningful way, and who serves as a role model for women everywhere.
Grand Island Professional Women's Meeting
Grand Island Professional Women’s Chapter, New York State Women, Inc., meeting is at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 28th at Elldens at River Oaks, Grand Island. President Diane Dinsmore said that educator Michael Welch will speak on how he beat cancer. Welch was associated with the Buffalo Public Schools for 38 years and is a teaching assistant at SUNY at Buffalo Medical School. His publications include “Cancer Defeated – How I Did It,” “How to Talk to Your Doctor,” and “Diet and How It Affects Your Health.” For information or dinner reservations, contact Diane Dinsmore at dinsdggr@aol.com or call 308 6230.Grand Island Professional Women's Meeting
Grand Island Professional Women’s Chapter, New York State Women, Inc., will present “Key4Women” at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 20th at River Oaks, Grand Island. Key Bank speakers will discuss “Key4Women,” a program geared to women business owners to support their evolving business needs. Speakers are Bernie Aja, area retail leader, and Madalyn Cosentino, Delaware-Tonawanda branch manager. Area businesswomen are invited. Michelle S. Caswell, small business relationship manager at the Key Bank Grand Island Office, said “Key4Women” can help you grow your business. “You need resources you can trust as well as a program that clearly represents your business needs. For reservations, contact Grand Island Chapter President Diane Dinsmore at 308-6230 or email: dinsdggr@aol.com.Grand Island Professional Women's Meeting
Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, Inc., will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, October 16, at River Oaks, Grand Island. For dinner reservations contact, President Diane Dinsmore at 308 6230 or dinsdggr@aol.com.Michele Iannello-Ward Receives Award - June 2013
Mary Anne Shea, Public Relations Chair... Michele Iannello-Ward will receive the seventh annual “Effective Leadership Award for Women in Business” at the meeting of the Grand Island Professional Women’s Chapter, New York State Women, Inc., at the River Oaks Clubhouse, Whitehaven Rd., at 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 26. The Award is sponsored by Accu Theranostics, Inc. of Buffalo and will be presented by Dr. Sherry Bradford of Grand Island, who is company president, chief scientific officer, and inventor of the cancer lab’s trademarks and patents. According to Bradford, the award honors a woman who excels in her chosen field, who devotes time and energy to her community in a meaningful way, and who serves as a role model for women everywhere.
Michele believes that one of her most important contributions when she represented the 10th District in the Erie County Legislature is that she was the first politician to support and work closely with the founder of the Clean Air Coalition. The Coalition supported the efforts to hold Tonawanda Coke accountable for breaking the air emissions regulations, emitting toxins at levels 75% higher than EPA standards. “After years of community support, Tonawanda Coke was recently found guilty of 15 felony counts,” she said.
Before entering public service, Michele worked as a Real Estate Paralegal. Many don’t know that she was also a small business owner/operator. The small business was a pizzeria on Niagara Falls Blvd., in Wheatfield. And, many didn’t realize that she developed her own pizza sauce and additionally developed dessert pizzas, long before they became popular. This private sector experience has given her “a vast knowledge of property values and the importance of the relationship between government and business.” When Michele met her husband, Dennis E. Ward, he was an attorney specializing in divorce and election law. He was also Amherst Town Chairman. He is now in his ninth year as Erie County Board of Elections Commissioner. “Dennis encouraged me to run for Trustee of the Kenmore Village Board,” Michele said. That was her first run for office before running for County Legislator in District 10, in 2005. Her District included the Village of Kenmore, the City of Tonawanda, a portion of the Town of Tonawanda and all of Grand Island. Jean Harper, a member of the Grand Island Democratic Committee, accompanied Michele as she went house to house on both her legislative campaigns, and will be at the Award Ceremony. “She has what it takes,” Harper said. “She’s a hard worker and dependable leader.”
Dr. Bradford’s laboratory, Accu Theranostics, Inc., which sponsors the leadership award, tests and identifies the best chemotherapy for a patient’s unique tumor. It identifies which drugs have the most or least potential for treating the cancer, increasing the success of the chemotherapy. The Leadership Award arose from Dr. Bradford’s personal and professional experiences as a female, faced with a unique set of challenges, as she formed and developed her business. “Gender discrimination, stereotyping, dual career-family pressures, and the lack of equal opportunities and pay, all play a role in challenging professional women.” Dr. Bradford said. “And the Leadership Award is an opportunity to recognize women for what they have accomplished.”
June Meeting - June 2013
The June meeting of the Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, Inc. will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 26th at River Oaks Clubhouse, Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island. It will include the installation of Officers for 2013-14: Diane Dinsmore, president; Dawn Bonora, vice president; Sonja Miller, secretary; and Beverly Kinney, treasurer. Dr. Sherry Bradford of Grand Island, president and founder of AccuTheranostics, will present the seventh annual "Effective Leadership Award for Women in Business." For information and dinner reservations, contact Diane Dinsmore at 773 9184, 308 6230 or dinsdggr@aol.com.May Meeting - May 2013
The May dinner meeting of the Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, Inc. will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 15th at River Oaks Clubhouse, Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island. Officers for 2013-14 include: Diane Dinsmore, president; Dawn Bonora, vice president; Sonja Miller, secretary; and Beverly Kinney, treasurer. A report of the April Region VIII meeting of New York State Women Inc. will be given. For information and reservations, contact Diane Dinsmore at 773 9184, 308 6230 or dinsdggr@aol.com.April Meeting - April 2013
Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women Inc., will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 17th, at River Oaks Clubhouse, Whitehaven Rd. Diane Dinsmore will report on the State Winter Board Meeting. Funding for the Chapter's Scholarship Program will be discussed. Nominations for 2013-14 Officers will be held. For information and dinner reservations, contact Diane Dinsmore at 773 9184, 308 6230, or dinsdggr@aol.com.
New York State Women - Nov. 2012
Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, Inc.The Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, Inc., will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 27, 2012 to tour the U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security facility on Grand Island. Dorothy Bitner has coordinated the program which will be held jointly with Town advisory boards. For information, contact Chapter President Diane Dinsmore at 773-9184, 308-6230 or email dinsdggr@aol.com.
Nathalie Winder Receives 2012 Professional Women's Scholarship - Aug. 2012
Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter President Diane Dinsmore presents a scholarship to Nathalie Winder as her mother, Theresa Winder, and Scholarship Committee Chairman Sonja Miller look on.
In addition to being the only female in the advanced technology courses at Grand Island High School, Nathalie Winder has demonstrated high academic achievement in advanced course work in math and science. Winder, of Hemlock Drive, Grand Island, won the 2012 annual scholarship awarded by the Grand Island Professional Women’s Chapter, New York State Women, Inc.
Sonja Miller, past president and chairman of the scholarship committee, said that Winder is a multitalented young lady with perseverance and leadership skills that provide an added dimension and perspective in the field of engineering design. Miller is professor of Clinical Laboratory Technology at Erie Community College.
“With the talent pool of qualified female engineers running low, I encourage young women who enjoy and have a talent for math and science to consider this dynamic and opportunity-filled career path,” Miller said.
Winder also received a matching funds scholarship from the Grand island Chapter of Dollars for Scholars, according Chapter Secretary Beverly Kinney.
On the first day of her freshman year, Winder walked into the technology classroom and felt somewhat out of place because she was one of only two girls in the class. “The biggest project that year was designing ‘hockey bots,’“ she said. “From the best paint job to the best mechanics, my partner and I created a hockey bot that went undefeated and won the school championship.” During her senior year, Winder was in the Advanced Technological Design Class where the biggest event was Tech Wars at Niagara County Community College.
“My two teammates and I built a wooden bridge to participate in the large-scale bridge building competition,” Winder said. “ We set both a school and Tech Wars record, holding a whopping 995 lbs. on our 5.5 lb bridge; and, we secured a first place win.”
“I have grown and matured since that first day of freshman year, and I have become completely comfortable around the guys,” Winder said. “It has given me self-confidence, and I have proven the stereotype that girls are bad at technology wrong, countless times.”
“In both group and individual projects, I have presented different ideas and thoughts, and ways to solve problems that boys just don’t think of,” she continued. “I have a different perspective than the rest of the class because I am a girl; and, therefore, I was able to come up with unique solutions to problems.” Winder said that this is because she considers both appearance and functionality when designing a project. She also considers how to present her ideas in a thoughtful way---organized, neat and precise.
Winder thinks it is very important to encourage young women to enter STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). Winder said that one of the things that really helped her was the high standards that her parents set for her, and that she later learned to set for herself. Her parents are Stephen and Theresa Winder.
According to Winder, being one of the few girls in a field can be intimidating, but after going through years of tech classes in high school, she has gotten used to the gender gap. “In today’s society, young women do seem somewhat reluctant to take an interest in engineering or technology,” she said. “If we can give them role models who are intelligent and motivated, they might set different goals for themselves. In addition, there needs to be programs that encourage younger girls to study engineering and technology.”
Winder said that Grand Island High School has a very impressive number and variety of tech classes, and the teachers are enthusiastic and interesting. This, too, helps motivate girls.
The 2011 GIHS Homecoming Queen has been involved in many diverse school activities. A varsity swimmer, she was captain of the Piranhas Swim Team and team manager for the Boys High School Swim Team. Winder was class vice president for all four years and a member of the National Honor Society. She was just named one of twelve students selected as Rotary-PTSA Students of the Year. Winder earned her second black belt in Karate in January 2009 and her senior black belt in August 2010. She said her proudest moment was when she earned her black belt. “I was only 13 years old and one of the youngest and smallest students in the school to test my rank.” She received the Rochester Institute of Technology Computing Medal and was nominated for and awarded a four-year partial scholarship to attend RIT. She will use this scholarship and the two Grand Island scholarships to attend RIT’s fall semester.
Effective Leadership Award Recipient - June 2012
Sheila Wright Benoit, an officer for many years with the Grand Island Professional Women’s Chapter, New York State Women, will receive the ”Annual Effective Leadership Award for Women in Business.” See Effective Leadership Award.
New York State Women - June 2012
Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, Inc.June Meeting
Grand Island Professional Women’s Chapter, New York State Women, Inc. will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, June 21 at Four Points by Sheraton, Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY. State President Susan Mager will install 2012-13 Officers. Dr. Sherry Bradford, president of Advanced Cancer TheranosTX, will present the Sixth Annual Effective Leadership Award for Women in Business. For additional information and dinner reservations, contact Chapter President Diane Dinsmore at 308 6230 or email: dinsdggr@aol.com
New York State Women - May 2012
Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, Inc.May Meeting
Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, Inc. will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 16 at Metro Town Center Realty, Inc. 1980 Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island. Officers for 2012-2013 will be elected. Dinner reservations by Monday, May 14 by contacting President Diane Dinsmore at 308-6230 or email: dinsdggr@aol.com.
New York State Women - December 2011
Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, Inc.December Meeting
The Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter New York State Women, Inc. will hold a Holiday Christmas Meeting Tuesday, December 6 at 6 p.m. in the Buffalo Launch Club on Grand Island. Members will bring gifts from the Neighbors Foundation Wish List. For information and reservations, contact President Diane Dinsmore at 773 9184 or email Dinsdggr@aol.com.
New York State Women - November 2011
Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York StateWomen, Inc.November Meeting
The Grand Island Professional Women’s Chapter, New York State Women’s November Dinner Meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, November 16 in iver Oaks Clubhouse Restaurant, 201 Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island. For information and reservations, contact President Diane Dinsmore at 773 9184, 308 6230 or email: dinsdggr@aol.com
New York State Women
Childhood Obesity Seminar - October2011
GRAND ISLAND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAPTER, NEW YORK STATE WOMEN, INC.
Childhood Obesity is the subject of the sixth annual Health Seminar sponsored by the Grand Island Professional Women’s Chapter, New York State Women, Inc. It will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, October 19 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1841 Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island. Tickets are $10 and include refreshments.
See Childhood Obesity for complete information.
New York State Women - 2011
The Grand Island Professional Women’s Chapter, New York State Women, Inc. annual Wine and Dine Membership Drive will be held on Wedneday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. in the Sandy Beach Yacht Club on Grand Island. Speaker is Erie County Deputy Sheriff Elizabeth Fildes who will discuss “Human Trafficking.” President Diane Dinsmore said the annual Wine and Dine will feature a buffet that includes croissant sandwiches, antipasto salad and desserts. Interested women should contact 773 1715 for information or reservations.
Kathleen Rustowicz, Recipient of Professional Women Scholarship - Aug. 2011
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Kathleen M. Rustowicz of Tracey Lane, Grand Island, won the 2011 Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women's annual scholarship. She will attend Canisius College. Miss Rustowicz also received a matching funds scholarship from the Grand Island Chapter of Dollars for Scholars. The daughter of Maura and Kevin Rustowicz, she is an award-winning Irish dancer and served for two years as editor of the Grand Island High School yearbook. Math is her college major, and she hopes to teach math in middle and high school.
April Chapter Meeting: Wednesday, April 20 - 2011
Grand Island Chapter, New York State Women, Inc. will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 20 in the Metro Town Center Office, 1980 Whitehaven Rd., at Baseline, Grand Island. For information or reservations, contact President Diane Dinsmore at 716-308 6230.
STATE WOMEN, INC. Meeting - March 2011
Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, Inc. will meet at 6 p.m.on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 in Metro Town Center Real Estate Office, 1980 Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island. Elizabeth McIntyre from the International Institute will speak on "Human Trafficking." For reservations, contact Diane Dinsmore, 308 6230 or Sonja Miller, 773 1715.
STATE WOMEN, INC. Christmas Party
Members of the Grand Island Professional Women Chapter of New York State Women, Inc. will hold their annual Christmas Party on December 1, 2010 at the Buffalo Launch Club starting at 6:00 pm. Donations for the Grand Island Neighbors Foundation will be collected at this time. Please contact Diane Dinsmore at 308-6230 or dinsdggr@aol.com to make your reservations. All are Welcome!
GRAND ISLAND CHAPTER OF NEW YORK STATE WOMEN, INC.
November Business Meeting
Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, New York State Women, Inc. will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, November 17 at The Riverstone Inn, 971 East River Road, Grand Island. For dinner reservations or information, contact President Diane Dinsmore at 308 6230 or email: dinsdggr@aol.com
GRAND ISLAND CHAPTER OF NEW YORK STATE WOMEN, INC.
Professional Women's Fifth Annual Health Seminar – Oct. 2010
Grand Island Professional Women's Chapter, NYS Women, Inc. will present its Fifth Annual Health Seminar at 6 p.m., Wednesday, October 20 in the Grand Island Knights of Columbus, 1841 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island. Chapter President Diane Dinsmore said that this year the Health Seminar will focus on "Organ and Tissue Donation" and "Transplants." Guest speaker is Esmeralda Sierra, who is Community Outreach Coordinator for Upstate New York Transplant Services,UNYTS. Tickets are $10. Pre-register with Diane Dinsmore at 308 6230 or email: dinsdggr@aol.com
GRAND ISLAND CHAPTER OF NEW YORK STATE WOMEN, INC.
Diane Dinsmore - Effective Leadership Award for Women in Business – JULY 2010
Diane Dinsmore, president of the Grand Island Chapter of New York State Women, Inc., received the annual Effective Leadership Award for Women in Business, presented each year by Advanced Cancer Theranostix. Dr. Sherry Bradford, president of ACT, said the award honors a woman who has provided outstanding contributions that support women in developing professional skills, as well as personal excellence and leadership. Ms. Dinsmore, co-founded LDC Construction Co. in 1973, also formed Diversified Management Services on Grand Island, which provides accounting, tax preparation and insurance consulting services.
NEW YORK STATE WOMEN, INC. STATE CONFERENCE ON GRAND ISLAND June 11-13 – JUNE 2010
New York State Women, Inc. District VIII is hosting the State Conference to be held June 11-13 at the Holiday Inn Grand Island Resort and Conference Center on Grand Island. District VIII Comprises Chapters in Allegheny, Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Orleans counties. District Director Ramona Gallagher of Buffalo said that two District VIII woman are running for State office—Susan Mager of Blasdell and Laurie Livingston of Jamestown. Susan Mager is a candidate for 1st Vice President. She has been an active member of Buffalo Niagara Chapter (formerly Buffalo Business and Professional Women) since 1984. She has been president of the Buffalo Chapter and was District VIII Director. She is business manager for the State magazine, NIKE. Laurie Livingston is a candidate for re-election for State treasurer. She has been a member of the Jamestown Chapter since 1999. She has served as Chapter President and District VIII Director. She is active in Chautauqua County organizations including Chautauqua Leadership Network, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County and the YWCA of Jamestown. State President Mary Ellen Morgan said that the Conference will present informative speakers and workshops. “The Conference should encourage women to become better professionally, personally, and politically,” Mrs. Morgan said.
