What Rockford women are doing
What Rockford women need to know

Cover story

Meet the 5 finalists for Rockford Woman of the Year


This year’s finalists for Rockford Woman of the Year are a Rotary Club member who has developed projects in Rockford and Nigeria, the founder of Rosie’s Birthday Club, a volunteer who believes in living life to the fullest, the executive director for The Carpenter’s Place, and a deputy state’s attorney for Winnebago County. These five outstanding “Rockford Women” were chosen by the magazine’s advisory board from 42 nominees. Only one will be selected Rockford Woman of the Year 2011.

We dish on people’s faves


The amount we spend at local restaurants may or may not be bigger than the sum of all our waistlines.

It takes a special mother


Parenting takes patience, but parenting a child with special needs takes so much more.

Kay Larrick is the 2011 Rockford Woman of the Year


Kay Larrick wants to be a professional matchmaker when she grows up.

Victoria Ann Benson


How would you fill out your social networking “status update”: I hate the darkness of winter.

Proudest achievement: Bringing UPS to Rockford and working with high school students to give birth to mentoring organizations — and learning so much from them in the process.

Best job and why:
Almost all of my jobs did not exist before I had them. The part I have loved best about all my jobs was the opportunity to create them.

Sonja 'Sunny' Beach


How would you fill out your social networking “status update”: Don’t wait for the perfect moment ... take the moment and make it perfect.

Proudest achievement:
I chaired “Winter Warm-Up,” a women’s convention held by the Midwest Baptist Conference in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Schaumburg, for 10 years. I served on the committee for 18 years. The attendance for the three-day conference ranged from 850 to 900 women annually.

Kay Larrick


How you would fill out your social networking “status update”: Kay is busy preparing for an upcoming fundraiser for Carpenter’s Place, her granddaughter’s first birthday and planning holiday parties.

Marilyn Hite Ross


Social status update: Getting up at 5 a.m., three-mile walk-run, meeting at 8. The rest of my day depends on what is occurring in the community.

Elise Cadigan


How would you fill out your social networking “status update”: I love the holidays (Christmas is not just for kids!) and the anticipation of special time with family and friends. Plus, Christmas greetings from my Muslim friends in Nigeria make the world feel more at peace.



CLOSE X

Reply!