About 175 people attended the second annual Leader’s Celebrating Women event on March 28 at Oak Valley Golf Course and Resort in Pevely.
Katelyn Mary Skaggs, the Leader’s digital marketing manager, said the highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural Women of Impact Awards. The winners were Kim Byerly of Imperial, Jackie Greer of Hillsboro, Janet Monsen of Pevely and Debbie Staufenbiel of Arnold.
After dinner, Leader Publications Publisher Peggy Scott invited each of the award winners to introduce themselves and talk about what they are passionate about.
“The speeches were quite amazing,” Skaggs said, adding that some brought guests to tears. “The four women were truly deserving. (The selection committee) couldn’t have picked better women to be the first Women of Impact winners.”
Monsen’s granddaughter Lisa Winkleman of De Soto spoke for her grandmother.
The Leader asked community members to nominate women for the award and received 55 nominations for 30 area women.
This year, the Leader invited four local women to serve as the award selection committee, and they chose the winners.
“This year’s four award winners will become the selection committee for next year’s Women of Impact Awards,” Skaggs said. “We want it to be a community award. We want the community to pick the winners.”
Nominations already have opened for the 2026 Women of Impact Awards, and Skaggs encourages readers to nominate a woman from Jefferson County, Eureka or Wildwood who has made an impact in her community – someone who makes a difference but doesn’t always get recognized.
“We wanted people to have the rest of the year to think about it,” she said. “We will keep the nominating form open at myleaderpaper.com/celebratingwomen through early January.”
Skaggs said Celebrating Women will return next year in March.
“We are still working on a date, but the theme will be Boots and Bling,” she said. “Think Western, jewels, cowboy boots, whether it’s with jeans or a gown.”
The theme for this year’s event was Hollywood glam.
The celebration included dinner, dessert, an open bar and two games, in which four tickets to Silver Dollar City were given away. Attendees also had the chance to have their photos taken as they walked the red carpet at the entrance to the event.
This year’s attendees were asked to bring in feminine hygiene products and donations for the Aunt Rose Project, a nonprofit organization founded by Renee Gerlach of Hillsboro.
“We collected a mountain of feminine hygiene products,” she said. “Some even brought in cases from Sam’s Club. I am thrilled by the community’s generosity.”
In addition, a total of $1,000 was raised for the organization, Skaggs said.
Skaggs said the evening is one of her favorite Leader events because it celebrates how awesome the women in our community are.
“I was blown away by all the women who came out and celebrated with us and made the event so fun,” she said.
The title sponsor of the event was the Twin City Area Optimist Club. Other sponsors were Precision Dental Care; Comfort Cabinetry; Nothing Bundt Cakes; Axiom Design and Engraving; NJ Infinity Links; Mary Kay Cosmetics with Phyllis Neff; Cosaglow Candle Co.; and Women Dems.
Check out the Red Carpet photos here:
