[June 10, 2011] Barnette is SWVCTC Woman of Year Tweet Jun 10, 2011 (The Logan Banner - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Bestselling author, performer, and motivational speaker, Nicole Johnson will be the featured speaker at the first annual Women's Leadership Institute set for June 10-11 at the Chief Logan Conference Center. The women's networking forum is being hosted by Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College and features a host of leadership developing workshops. Registration has already reached the maximum of 150 participants but a waiting list has been created. Nicole Johnson is one of the most sought-after creative communicators in America today. Her unique ability to blend humor with compassion as she captures the inner-most feelings of women facing life's daily struggles, has enabled her to create a unique sense of community for women of all ages. Playing to sold-out crowds of approximately three million women as part of the nations's largest women's conference, Nicole Johnson's "Fresh Brewed Life" message is giving "Hope for the Daily Grind" to thoughtful women who are motivated but often find themselves overextended. Other conference highlights include Dreama Denver, wife of legendary television personality Bob Denver, best known to millions of fans as lovable Gilligan in the classic sitcom GILLIGAN'S ISLAND. Also speaking will be Dr. Marie Gnage, president of West Virginia University at Parkersburg. For a complete list of presenters and workshops, visit www.women.southernwv.edu. "Southern's first annual Women's Leadership Institute promises to be an experience women will be talking about for years to come," said Joanne Jaeger Tomblin, Southern's President and the First Lady of West Virginia. Southern will honor a woman of outstanding character and integrity who has demonstrated dedication, leadership and commitment to the advancement, promotion and development of the cultural, educational, social, economic or political welfare of our region. The highlight of Friday evening will be the presentation of the 2011 Women of the Year award. Local businesswoman Diane Barnette has been selected to receive this prestigious honor. Barnette is a Logan County resident and entrepreneur who is dedicated to community service and the betterment of our area. A graduate of Logan High School and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College with an Associate's Degree in Business Administration, Barnette has been a professional business woman since 1987. Her keen sense of business and entrepreneurial spirit has led her and her husband Ronald to own and operate three successful businesses in Logan County: Mining Repair Specialists; Fountain Place Cinema 8; and her newest business, Gatti's Pizza. Cumulatively, she has more than 80 employees within her businesses. The first annual Women's Leadership Institute is a partnership between leaders representing business, social services, K-12, higher education and the community who are working together to provide a forum where all women, regardless of age, color, ethnicity, and/or socio-economic status are empowered to use their unique abilities and talents to serve as leaders for the betterment of society. To see more of The Logan Banner, go to http://www.loganbanner.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Logan Banner, W.Va. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]