Meet the Honorees

The 2026 Women of Excellence honorees represent an extraordinary collective of leaders, innovators, and change makers across business, education, healthcare, public service, nonprofit leadership, arts, entrepreneurship, and beyond. Selected from hundreds of nominations, these 51 inductees, alongside our distinguished special award recipients, embody the spirit of M-FORCE and demonstrate what it means to lead with purpose, move with momentum, and create lasting impact. Each honoree stands as a testament to vision, resilience, and excellence in action.

Dr. Fareeda Shabazz Anderson

Principal, Walter Payton College Prep

Tracy Brown

Chief Partnerships Officer, Chicago Public Media Dr

Timnetra Burruss

Founder & Principal, The Evolution Collective LLC

Bishop Shirley Coleman

Founder, Wholistic Alliance Corporation

Cecilia Cuff

Co-Owner/Managing Principal, Bronzeville Winery

Doris Davenport

PR Account Executive, Broadway In Chicago

Lamekia Davis 

Founder & CEO, Heyy Girl Foundation

Dr. Crystal I. Davis

Sr. Program Manager, Walker-Miller Energy Services

Myrna Farmer

Executive Director, Board Relations, World Business Chicago

Dr. Allison H. Foster

Physician, University of Chicago

Honorable Ieshia E. Gray 

Circuit Judge, Cook County Circuit Court

Vivian Harper

Workforce Initiatives Manager, CVS Health

J’Arnay Harris

Principal Consultant, Lifestyle Legacy Strategies

Dr. Briana Hicks

DI Clinical Pharmacist, OptumRX

Sherneron Hilliard

Senior VP of Programs and White, Family Focus

Dr. Alfreda Holloway

Director of Epidemiology, Cook County Health

Guyna G Johnson, Esq.

Managing Director, S&P Global

Honorable Justice Sharon Oden Johnson

Illinois Appellate Court Judge, First District

Kirstin Lilli Jones

Vice President, Marketing & Engagement, First Women's Bank

Essence Keys

Co-Founder, Expedient Tax Service

Amber N. Kirk-Harvey

Chief Deputy of Ops/Child Prgms, CASA of Cook County

Valencia Koker

Executive Director, Senior Vice President, City Year

Captain Natasha Lawson

DII Southern Commander, Illinois State Police

Dr. Desiree Leach

Co-Founder, Color of Medicine

Kendria Harris Lee

Artist & Author, K-Love The Poet

Dr. Annise M. Lewis

Deputy Chief of Teaching & Learning, Chicago Public Schools

Shavonne Mayfield

CEO, CESAM Construction

Priscilla McCants

Owner, Priscilla McCants Insurance Agency

Dr. Kimberly L. Miller-Griffin

President, Bronzeville Governing Commission

Kudzai B. Mutasa

Senior Marketing Consultant, Kudzai B. Mutasa Consulting

Dr. CaTanya A. Norwood

Senior Director, Cook County Health

Dr. Tonya Payton-Campbell

Chief Executive Officer, ONYX360 NFP Corporation

Allison Perkins-Caldwell

CEO, Allison Inspires

Dr. Tamara Hoff Pope

Chief Strategy Officer, Chicago Scholars

Yvette R Pittman

Sr. Gov. & Comm. Relations Rep, Peoples Gas

Monique Spence Roberson

Founder & Owner, The Roberson Resource Group

Chartay T. Robinson

Associate State Director, AARP-N. Illinois

Nicole R. Robinson

Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

Shantenae Robinson

Head of U.S. Strategic Partnerships, AON

Monica Scott

VP of Community Engagement, Bally’s Chicago Casino

Brianna Sharpe

First Lady, Fellowship Chicago

Kemi Solade

Managing Director, BMO Bank

Jacquelyn Price Ward

President, Chicago Teachers Pension and Retirement Fund

Tiffany Burrell

Co-Owner, The Soulfood Lounge

Tyra M. Whitney

News Producer, ABC 7 Chicago

Dr. Tania A White

Chief HR & Leadership Strategist, Canary HR Consulting

Tonya Love Trice

Executive Director, South Shore Chamber of Commerce

Dionne A. Tate

Director - 311 City Services, City of Chicago

Dr. Gwendolyn Oglesby-Odom

Enterprise VP of Community Engagement, Advocate Health

Brittany N. Wilson

NA Social Impact Manager, PepsiCo

Allyssa N. Wilson

Special Projects Manager, UJAMAA Construction Inc.

Special Honorees

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