Our annual Women to Watch Awards celebrates the women making an impact on our community. The seven category winners are also announced at the event, which will be held on Sept. 5 at the Wilmington Convention Center.

 

Nominations are now closed for the 2025 Women to Watch Awards. See below for details on this year’s finalists!

 

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2025 Women to Watch Awards

Friday, September 5, 2025
5:30pm-10pm
Wilmington Convention Center

Click here to purchase your tickets today!

Click here to see images from the 2024 Women to Watch Awards!

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Women to Watch Awards categories:

Arts || Business || Education || Health || Nonprofit/Volunteer || Public Sector || Rising Stars (Under 30)
And introducing the inaugural WILMA Icon Award, recognizing a visionary woman with a lasting impact.

The rising star category is limited to women under 30. Nominee must turn 30 after September 5, 2025.

The public sector category recognizes women who work in the area’s public service sector – public safety agencies, local and state government, military, etc.

Individuals can nominate someone or apply themselves. The awards are open to those who live or work in New Hanover, Brunswick or Pender counties.

Meet the 2025 Finalists!

Icon Award Winner

Presented by

Judy Girard, Co-founder, Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW)

Arts

Charlotte “Charky” Armstrong, Volunteer Docent for Tours, Thalian Center for the Performing Arts
Cammeron Batanides, Artist/Owner, Art by Cammeron, LLC., President, Veterans Creative Arts Program (VCAP), Teaching Artist, DREAMS Center for Art Education
Carson Hobbs, Interim Director, Opera House Theatre & Small Business Owner, Performer, Teacher, Director, Choreographer
September Krueger, Director of Lifelong Learning, Cameron Art Museum
Lorraine Perry, Healing Arts Coordinator, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare

Business

Alison Baringer, Executive Director, North Carolina Azalea Festival
Lannin Braddock, COO, The Braddock Group
Laura Brogdon-Primavera, VP, Leadership Development, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Heather McWhorter, Director, UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Evonne Varady, Co-Founder/CEO, Clean Eatz

Education

Kaitlin Baden, Principal, Wilmington School of the Arts
Amanda Boomershine, Professor of Spanish and Linguistics, UNCW
Kelly Cahill, Community Nurse Educator, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
Cynthia Demetriou, Associate Provost for Student Engagement, Enrollment and Retention, UNCW
Jahleese Hadley, Director of College Access, Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington

Health

Heather Boykin, Director of Community-Based Palliative Medicine, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
Blair Deen, Senior Design and Construction Project Manager, Novant Health
Caroline Keeler, CEO, Inside Out Physical Therapy & Menopause Muse, Be the Change Menopause Coaching
Nicole Murray, Founder/Principal Therapist, Emerge Counseling Center
Rebecca Schwartz, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Primary Care Provider, Wilmington Health

Nonprofit

Carolyn Beatty, Director of Community Relations and Engagement, StepUp Wilmington
J’vanete Becton Skiba, Director, New Hanover County Resiliency Task Force
Suzanne Rogers, Director of Housing, Cape Fear Collective
Debbie Smith, President and Festival Chair, Wilmington Jewish Film Festival
Lee VanOrmer, President, Paws Place Dog Rescue

Public Sector

Marissa Blackburn, Schools in Parks Specialist, NC State Parks – Carolina Beach State Park
Kimberly Breeden, Senior Crime Scene Investigator & UAS Program Manager, Wilmington Police Department
Kim Hufham, President/CEO, Wilmington Beaches CVB
Melissa Long, Deputy Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners, New Hanover County
Nicole Smith, Strategic Plan & Performance Manager, City of Wilmington

Rising Star

Ashlyn Delabio, Grants & Communications Manager, Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern North Carolina
Alexis Delia, Investment Advisor, Tilia Fiduciary Partners
Samoane Ikard, Grants Coordinator – Foundation, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
Eden Mills, President, Pender Arts Council
Lily Triolo, Manager, Loud Music Company