Businesswomen of the year honored at annual ceremony

LYNN – Gail Huff, the keynote speaker at the 10th annual North of Boston Businesswomen of the Year Lydia E. Pinkham Award ceremony Monday, spoke of the challenges she encountered as a woman interested in the field of journalism.The wife of state Sen. Scott Brown and longtime Boston television reporter explained that as a young girl her father told her that news reporting wasn’t a job for a female.Then throughout her career those words echoed through her head as she left jobs – whether it was due to family, being homesick or distance from her home – from bosses.Huff advised the nominees and women everywhere to pursue their dreams, like she did, regardless of what other people believe.The event was held at Spinelli’s Function Facility in Lynnfield and honored businesswomen of the year in the civic/nonprofit, small business and large business categories. Also, three North Shore Community College students were awarded $1,000 scholarships.The winner of the 10th Annual North of Boston Businesswomen of the Year Lydia E. Pinkham Award in the civic/nonprofit category was Kate Donahue of Salem, manager for CAB Health and Recovery. Donahue is also the assistant program director for Ryan House and Transitional Support Services.”I would like to thank my co-workers, friends and family and would not be here without them,” said Donahue after she accepted the award. “I am honored and humbled to be here and thank everyone for this award.”Donahue and her husband Tim have been married for nine years and have a son, Aiden, 6, and a daughter, Lila, 2.Amy Drinan of Lynn, owner of Jack and Jill Hair Salon, was named the small business category winner. She is also an independent advisor for Lia Sophia.Drinan extended her thanks to her family and friends and said, “I am honored to be a nominee and part of this organization.”Drinan is the mother and stepmother of two boys, Tyler, 7, and Anthony, 18, and has been married to her husband Michael for 11 years.The winner of the large business category was Wendi Goldsmith of Manchester, founder and CEO of the Salem-based consulting firm Bioengineering Group. Goldsmith also serves on the National Women’s Business Council and was recently ranked among the 2010 “Fast 50” list of the fastest-growing women-owned firms by the Woman President’s Association.”I see very talented women and people supporting them here and I am very proud to be a part of this organization.”Goldsmith has two daughters, Sylvie and Alexie.Each winner was presented in honor of Lydia E. Pinkham who was born and raised in Lynn and worked as a schoolteacher and entrepreneur, selling her homemade herbal remedy known as Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound.The ceremony also honored three individuals with the 2010 North of Boston Women of the Year Scholarship, a $1,000 scholarship toward North Shore Community College. Katie Barker of Lynn received The Daily Item scholarship, Jessica Natti of Gloucester received the R&L Associates, Inc. scholarship and Christina Siebertz of Ipswich received the Atlantic Referral Exchange Lynn BNI Chapter scholarship.Owner, president and CEO of R&L Associates, Inc., Fran Dichner, emceed the event. Other guests included Mike Bonfanti, mayor of Peabody; Dr. Wayne Burton, president of North Shore Community College; and Maria Deacon, manager and area executive of GE in Lynn.