Fifteen Onslow County women will be recognized on Saturday, International Women’s Day, at the first annual Queen’s Ball Gala hosted by the Colorful Voices of Sisterhood talk show.
The Colorful Voices of Sisterhood is a local television program focused on amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, according to Raquel Painter, co-host and president of the United Way of Onslow County.
The show addresses a wide range of societal issues from a multicultural standpoint, aiming to provide a platform for underrepresented perspectives, Painter said.
Alongside Painter, the show is hosted by Agnes Higley-Herman, Diana King Barnes and Fetihya Remedan Ahmed.
This year, Painter said the Colorful Voices of Sisterhood came up with a way to celebrate 15 local women for their dedication to serving the Onslow County community.
The inaugural Queen’s Ball Gala will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, which is also International Women’s Day, at the Hilton Garden Inn, at 1016 Jacksonville Parkway.
Painter said nominees were chosen based on their community involvement and impact.
The Colorful Voices of Sisterhood co-hosts then selected from those nominees the 15 women who will be honored with awards in the categories of Community, Business, Leadership, Healthcare and Esteemed.
The following local women will accept awards at Saturday’s Queens Ball Gala.
Community Awards
Educator Priscilla Dingle will receive the Distinguished Educator and Community Leadership Award.
Dingle has been a college professor for more than 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Florida A&M University. Dingle is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership and Administration at Walden University. She’s also an active member of the Jacksonville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Tracy Jackson, director of Jacksonville Neighborhood Improvement Services, will receive the Outstanding Public Service Award.
Jackson has more than 23 years of experience working for local government administering Department of Housing and Urban Development grant programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Barton College and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from Ashford University.
Jackson is a member of the National Community Development Association, vice president of the N.C. Community Development Association, and a member of the Southeastern N.C. Boys & Girls Club executive board.
Yolanda Mayo, retired sergeant major, and Marine Corps Community Services deputy operations officer, will receive the Outstanding Community Support Award.
Mayo served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1986 to 2016, with a lengthy, impressive list of accomplishments. Most recently, she received the Outstanding Combat Female Veteran of N.C. award. Mayo is very active in the Onslow County community, currently serving on the Jacksonville Onslow Homelessness Task Force and sitting as chair of the Jacksonville Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee.
Mickey Smith, retired gunnery sergeant, will receive the Outstanding Community Leader Award.
Smith enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1990 and currently serves as a pastor with her husband at New Beginnings Christian Center in Jacksonville.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University, as well as a Master of Arts in Christian Counseling from Justice Fellowship College. Smith is actively pursuing her Doctor of Divinity in Biblical Studies from Liberty. Smith is also the owner of A Lady’s Touch, which focuses on total wellness for women.
Kimberly Williams, Jacksonville chief human resources officer, will receive the Advocate for Unsung Heroes Award.
Williams has more than 30 years of experience in human resources and is the founder and CEO of North Carolina for Military Employment. Twice, she’s been presented the Seven Seals Award for meritorious leadership and initiative, and in 2022, received the Defense Community Champion award from the Association of Defense Communities.
Business AwardsLoisa Francois, membership director of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of North Carolina, will receive the Emerging Business Award.
Francois is the founder of authentic Filipino food brand, Pinay Lutong Bahay, and the visionary behind Pinay Native Goods, a collection that reflects traditional Filipino culture.
Rose Lutz, with World Finance Group, will receive the Outstanding Businesswomen Award.
Meredith Williams, owner of small business, Need It Now, will receive the Innovative Businesswomen of the Year Award.
Williams is membership chair and past president of the Jacksonville Rotary Club, an officer on the Jacksonville Rotary Foundation, and sits on the boards of the Jacksonville Onslow Sports Commission and Jacksonville Onslow Chamber of Commerce. She is also a real estate broker.
Leadership AwardsLashea Cavers, retired gunnery sergeant, Jacksonville Onslow Chamber of Commerce membership manager, will receive the Excellence in Leadership Award.
Cavers served 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, is a business consultant and liaison for the chamber of commerce’s Business Diversity Council, and is an adviser to local businesses through Coastal Carolina Community College’s Small Business Center.
Cavers is also the owner of Synergy Innovative Solutions and The Prep Kitch’n, president of the Rotary Club of Richlands, and a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Cavers holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Campbell University and a master’s in industrial and organizational psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Currently, she’s pursuing a doctorate degree.
April Clark, Rotary District 7730 advisory chair for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, will receive the Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award.
Clark holds a Master of Arts from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and has participated in a number of international rotary service projects around the world. She is the president of the N.C. Coastal Federation Board of Directors and a sitting member of the Onslow Memorial Hospital Foundation Board. Clark is also a registered yoga instructor.
Valentina Wilson, Emmy-nominated news anchor for WCTI 12, will receive the Excellence in Journalism Award.
Wilson owns Daisy Lane in New Bern, started the Miss Juneteenth ENC Pageant, and founded the Teen Fashion Academy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Louisiana State University and has received many awards for her journalistic work.
Healthcare Awards
Penney Burlingame Deal, president and chief executive officer of Onslow Memorial Hospital, will receive the Healthcare Hero Award.
Burlingame Deal previously served as chief operating officer and senior vice president of Nursing and Clinical Services, with more than 25 years total in the industry.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the Medical College of Virginia, a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a doctorate in healthcare administration from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Takenya Labriado, Onslow Memorial Hospital manager of Performance Review and Accreditation, will receive the Excellence in Healthcare Profession Award.
Labriado received a Registered Nurse license and studied at Sanford Brown College. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Leadership from National Louis University, and has a master’s in business administration from the University of Phoenix. She is currently pursuing a doctorate from the University of Phoenix.
Labriado has 27 years of experience in the field, including 20 years as a director of nursing. She’s an at-large executive committee member for the Onslow NAACP, is a member of the N.C. Association of Healthcare Quality and a member of the Southern Atlantic Healthcare Alliance.
She’s also a board member with Williams Outreach and a member of the Onslow County Community Health Assessment Team.
Esteemed AwardsAshley Lomboy, Corning Optical Fiber and Cable global information security manager, will receive the STEM Trailblazer for Indigenous Youth Award.
Lomboy holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from St. Martins University and a Certificate in Project Management from the University of Washington.
She’s the leader of the Corning Native American Council, serves on the Rockwell Museum of New York Board of Trustees, the Duke University Superfund Community Engagement Committee, the UNC at Wilmington Cyber Security Advisory Board, and the UNCW Indigenous Inclusion Advisory Board.
Lomboy is a graduate of the UNC Native Leadership Institute and the founder of the Waccamaw Siouan STEM Studio.
Dawn Rochelle, CEO of One Place, will receive the Community Advocate Award.
Rochelle has more than 37 years of experience, is the owner of Dawn Rochelle LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker, a John Maxwell Certified Leader, and an active Rotarian, even serving as a global ambassador of the Rotary International Girls Empowerment Presidential Initiative in 2020-21.
