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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