West Virginia University’s 26th annual Women of Color Luncheon will take place on Oct. 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of Diversity Week.
The keynote speaker for the Women of Color luncheon will be Diane Lewis, president and CEO of Action Facilities Management, Inc. Lewis has received many awards and accolades including the 2013 West Virginia Small Business Person of the Year, the 2013 Pro Patria Award, one of the 2013 Inspiring West Virginians, the West Virginia Minority Business Development Center’s Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Small Business Achievement Award from Department of Homeland Security.
In 2010, Lewis was named Minority Small Business Champion for West Virginia by the U.S. Small Business Administration. In 2009, she was appointed to the WVU Board of Governors by then-Gov. Joe Manchin and reappointed in 2013 by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. Lewis has served on the WVU Hospitals Board since 2011 and serves on the visiting committee for the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center in Morgantown.
In addition to her professional success, Lewis is a community advocate. She serves as vice-chair of the community non-profit Members of Diversity, is on the Board of the West Virginia Public Theatre and serves as treasurer of the Berean Baptist Church.
“Each year, the Council strives to find a keynote speaker who is a woman that represents strength, perseverance and success. We are delighted to host one of WVU’s respected BoG members, and also find it to be an added bonus that Ms. Lewis is a local business owner,” said Carrie Showalter, chair for the Women of Color Luncheon. “The luncheon is about celebrating women and our similarities, and we feel that Diane’s leadership is a fantastic model for women both on campus and in our community.
“This year is our 26th anniversary, and we are sure it will be one of the best luncheons to date. Diane Lewis is certain to inspire attendees with a powerful message that women have an important role in influencing West Virginia’s business climate.”
Tickets for the luncheon (order deadline Oct. 18) are $17 per individual. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.formstack.com/forms/?1590590-Chun8opH7O.
Diversity Week takes place from Oct. 20-25.
