Robyn Davis holding flowers and the Boss of the Year award.
The Centralia Business and Professional Woman’s Club has named its Woman and Boss of the Year.
The Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church and Chaplain at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital Joannie Naraghi was named Woman of the Year. The owner of the Centralia School of Cosmetology Robyn Davis was named Boss of the Year.
In her nomination for the award, Naraghi was cited for her “Yes I can” attitude no matter the task. They noted the countless hours of community service to food pantries, running errands for the elderly, as well as providing school supplies and meals to those in need. Her work as Chaplin at the hospital was also lauded as she often provides counseling to patients in their final hour she didn’t know before entering their room and becoming quick friends. Naraghi grew up in deep Southern Illinois before moving to Centralia.
“I am very proud that Centralia has embraced me,” Naraghi said, “and that I’ve gotten to be a part of this community in many different realms, from working at the Sentinel all the way to now working at the hospital and being the pastor at First Presbyterian Church.”
And as is always the case, the award was a surprise.
“I didn’t know that I was here for any other reason, but I saw people from work coming in and sneaking in over there, so I thought, ‘what are they doing here?’ I was suspicious, but not up until that point.”
In the nomination for Boss of Year, Davis was noted for treating her employees as family and encouraging and providing advisement daily. Former students at the Southern Illinois School of Cosmetology called her a great mentor who continued to advise and mentor after their graduation.
“I was very honored and surprised, very honored,” Davis said. “I’m just so proud of my girls that have gone on to do something with their career. They just make me proud when I see them out working.”
Davis has owned the cosmetology school for 19 years and co-owns Flatlanders with her husband and two other family members. Davis thought she was going to a meeting when asked to be Heritage Woods on Wednesday.
Centralia High School Band Director Stephanie Aarons Dennison was also presented with her award for being the Illinois Jaycees Young Person of the Year. The award was announced earlier, but it was not actually presented until the program coordinated by the BPW and Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce at Heritage Woods of Centralia Wednesday night.
Stephanie Aarons Dennison with the Jaycees Young Person of the Year award.
Past Woman of the Year Winners.
