E-mail Story 
Email Headlines 
Subscriptions ROCKFORD
Cover Story
Furst 'overwhelmed' by RW of the Year honor
By None
ROCKFORD WOMAN
Feb 04, 2008 @ 06:59 PM
Darlene Furst, CEO of FurstStaffing, was named Rockford Woman magazine’s first Rockford Woman of the Year during a reception Thursday at the Rockford Art Museum.
About 100 people attended the invitation-only event, which honored the 25 nominees.
The solicitation process began a year ago when the magazine launched. Rockford Woman’s advisory board chose five finalists, who were profiled in the January/February issue: Furst, church volunteer Nellie Ciembronowicz, foster-care advocate Lillie Hamberlin, pediatrician Angela Rodriguez and Judge Kathryn E. Zenoff.
The winner was decided after more than 3,500 votes were cast at rockfordwoman.com.
Furst was “overwhelmed” at being chosen and congratulated all the finalists. Since moving to Rockford 40 years ago, she said, she’s been amazed at the volunteerism in this community.
“I see quite a number of resumes,” she said. “If the person is from outside of the community, they list one or two activities. If they’re from Rockford, they have three or four or even five.
“Everyone should be congratulated for that.”
Furst, who lives in Loves Park, started what has become FurstStaffing and FSG & Associates with husband Tom in 1971. FurstStaffing now has six branches and 53 employees.
This award is not her first honor. In 2005, the Rockford Chamber of Commerce named her Woman Business Owner of the year. In 2006, Tom and Darlene received Crusader Clinic’s Spirit of Caring award.
Her community involvement has stretched farther: Rockford Rotary Club, the MILL Foundation, Wesley Willows, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, Northern Illinois Hospice Association, Rockford Symphony Orchestra Auxiliary and Rock Valley College Foundation.
“Darlene has contributed to the success of so many, her employees, her clients, her family members, her organizations and even people who have not met her,” Rockford Woman editor Jennie Pollock said. “I have been pleased to feature such outstanding nominees.”
What’s next:
The March/April issue of Rockford Woman profiling Darlene Furst comes out Feb. 22. You can also go to rockfordwoman.com.
You can nominate someone for the next award. Women are judged based on who best exemplifies the mission of the magazine. They should:
Foster community conversations among women in the Rock River Valley.
Share the earned wisdom of women in their own words.
Delight in the things that make women who and what we are.
Celebrate women who teach us to strive and achieve beyond our limitations and challenges.
Reflect the diversity and values of the women among us.
Help women manage their lives efficiently.
On occasion, have a rip-roaring good time.
Send to jpollock@rockfordwoman.com or Rockford Woman of the Year, Editor Jennie Pollock, 99 E. State St., Rockford, IL 61104.
Include the nominator’s name and contact information; the nominee’s name, contact information and biography; and an explanation of how the nominee exemplifies the mission of the magazine.
Other nominees:
Debra Adkins
Nellie Ciembronowicz (finalist)
Karla Clark
Diane Didier
Janyce Fadden
Kristine Schaefer-Frank
Carolyn Graham
Lillie Hamberlin (finalist)
Nancy Kalchbrenner
Becky Cook Kendall
Rebecca Kopf
Lynn Washburn-Livingston
Michele Massoth
Fran Morrissey
Linda Oshita
Angela Rodriguez (finalist)
Rose Mary Sandahl
Deborah Sink
Kris Smith
Ruth Snyder
Sue Stephens
Jaimie Turner
Julia Scott-Valdez
Kathryn E. Zenoff (finalist)
