ITWomen President and Founder Victoria Usherenko will be recognized March 11 as one of six "Women of Impact" by Women’s History Coalition of Miami-Dade County, Inc. 

Coalition President Rhoda Shirley announced the following women named as  2010 Women of Impact:

Georgina A. Angones
Dorothy Chaney
Patricia Clarke
Linda Collins Hertz
Daniella Levine
Victoria Usherenko

These distinguished women will be honored with the prestigious “Julia” award at a dinner event
Thursday March 11, 2010 at 6:30 pm University of Miami BankUnited Center, Hurricane 100 Room
Mistress of Ceremonies: Christina Loren, News Team WFOR/CBS4

Biographies of 2010 Women of Impact

Georgina A. Angones, born in Havana, Cuba, is nearly a lifetime resident of Miami-Dade County. Her extensive record of voluntarism, philanthropy, and striving for community unity is a model for all. This Woman of Impact has worked all of her life to promote women’s leadership, as an upfront leader and a behind the scenes warrior!  As the Assistant Dean for Alumni and Development at the University of Miami School of Law, she strives to insure gender equality in promotions, board membership, and community relations.  She volunteers and chairs many community organizations and boards including The Florida Bar Foundation, Miami Children’s Hospital, the Miami-Dade Public Library Foundation, the Miami Coalition  of Christians and Jews and the District Court Selection Panel for the Southern District.  The President of the ABA also appointed her to the Presidential Council on Diversity. For her contributions, she was awarded the 2008 Arthur Helton Humanitarian Award from the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, the 2005 “Women Who Make a Difference” Award for Leadership and the 2002 Women’s Fund of Miami Community Leadership Award. The Miami-Dade Public Library Foundation also presented the Champions Award to Georgina and her husband of 38 years, Frank.
Nominated by: The University of Miami School of Law

Dorothy Chaney, a Licensed Baptist Minister, co-founded the Women Ministers and Pastors of South Florida as a way for women clergy to support each other and develop their work in the faith community. Combining her calling as a Minister with her commitment to reproductive justice, Dorothy began performing volunteer work with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. For the past 13 years, Dorothy has been a trainer for other clergy who counsel women in their congregation with unplanned pregnancies.  Dorothy’s commitment to reproductive justice began in her teens when her cousin almost died from an illegal abortion. Dorothy made a promise to her God that if her cousin lived, she would work from that point on to insure that no other women would have to risk her life with an illegal abortion. This dedicated woman of God serves on numerous boards and organizations including the Women’s Emergency Network, Past President of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Business Development at FIU, the National Baptist Youth Advisory Council and the Women’s Herstory Committee.
Nominated by: Julia Dawson and Brittany Clay

Patricia H. Clarke was a woman executive in the field of moving and storage long before most women did such things in this country. Pat Clarke began volunteering through the PTA and St. Augustine’s Catholic Church.  She has leadership through the St. Augustine’s Council of Catholic Women, having served as President five times over the past 40 years. She serves on the Board of the Miami Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women and is Past-President of the South Dade Council. Pat is very involved in other activities including serving as President of the University of Miami Women’s Guild and the Patrons of the Museum of Science. In 1988 she was awarded the Outstanding Volunteer for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and in 1998 received the Spectrum Award for Volunteerism from the American Red Cross.  Pat is a founding member of the Coral Gables Community Foundation and Pinecrest Garden Club. She is a passionate member of the Coral Gables Music Club, which her mother-in-law founded, and the Dranoff Foundation. She remains a sustaining member of the Villagers, Gilded Lilies, the Coral Gables Women’s Club and just completed a 2-year term as President of the UM Friends of Theatre.
Nominated by:  Sallye Jude

Linda Collins Hertz has made significant contributions to women in the legal profession. Graduating from the University of Miami Law School in 1973 with a J.D. cum laude, Ms. Hertz was one of 14 women in her graduation class. Her 20+ year practice, including 18 years as Appellate Division Chief at the U. S. Attorney’s Office, brought to bear her talents, compassion, ethics, and mentoring that was to leave its mark, not only on the legal profession, but also scores of young women who looked to her for counsel.  In fact, her influence and achievements were so great, that U.S. Senator Sam Nunn inserted into the Congressional Record notice of her retirement from the government.  She received the University of Miami’s Law Alumni Achievement Award in 2008. Her fascination with local history evolved into leadership areas as she created the first Orange Blossom Initiative, which raised funds to place 28 historical markers around the City of Miami. After joining the Villagers, Inc., she accepted leadership roles and is President-elect. She is a member of the Julia Tuttle Statue Oversight Committee, on the Board of the Women’s History Coalition, a volunteer for Foster Care Review, and a member of the Board of Dade Heritage Trust.
Nominated by:  Ellen J. Uguccioni , City of Miami Historic Preservation Department

Daniella Levine JD, MSW is the President/CEO and founder of the Human Services Coalition (HSC), an organization dedicated to building a community and economy that works for all.  Daniella is a visionary who has worked to improve the health of the Miami-Dade Community through coalition building, capacity building, and innovation. She is widely known for her effective advocacy and collaborative leadership style and is involved in numerous coalitions and initiatives to improve health care, wages, investments in distressed neighborhoods, affordable housing and civic engagement. She believes the key to creating long-lasting change to improve conditions for women and children is empowering women to advocate on their own behalf.  Thusly,  she started the Prosperity Campaign, the Parent Leadership Training Institute and the Neighborhood Leadership program. From these programs, thousands of people have been trained in advocacy and have visited their legislators to advocate for change. Now she is launching Catalyst Miami, the new business model that will support organizations to be more efficient and demonstrate lasting impact. For 27 years, Daniella has worked tirelessly to help the underdog in Miami-Dade.  
Nominated by:    Susan Randall

Victoria Usherenko has been an active and successful businesswoman in Miami-Dade County for the past 16 years. As a volunteer, Victoria has given her time to a cause close to her heart---that of the advancement and advocacy of aspiring and professional women in the field of engineering and technology. She is passionate about minimizing the gender gap in this industry while illustrating to female students the potential the future holds in this field.  To achieve this, Victoria was involved in a national organization for science and technology. She then spun off a new group called ITWomen.  The organization’s purpose is to act as a catalyst between the private and public sectors to address gender inequality, to heighten awareness and to influence workforce and educational initiatives.
Through this organization, Victoria is advocating for, motivating and encouraging women of all ages to fulfill their true potential with such focus areas as Role Model Mentors, Scholarship Funds, Internships, and Career Advancement “tool kits.” Under her leadership, ITWomen has seen over 5000 girls, awarded 34 scholarships and launched three IT Girls High School Club Chapters.
Nominated by: Sherry Thompson Giordano, ITWomen

Background: The Women’s History Coalition of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Inc. is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The purpose is to promote women’s history, especially during Women’s History Month each  March, and to highlight the contributions of women in Miami-Dade County. The organization is especially proud, as the City of Miami was one of the only major American cities founded by a woman, Julia Tuttle. One of the signature projects of the Coalition is the Annual Women of Impact Awards. These awards recognize six significant women in Miami-Dade County who have contributed greatly to the betterment of this community, with specific emphasis on contributions to support women. The women are nominated for these awards through a selection committee and recognized at an event during Women’s History Month.  The award is a unique representation of “Julia” in honor of one of the founders of Miami.

Julia DeForest Tuttle, (January 22, 1849– September 14, 1898) was an entrepreneur and businesswoman who owned land upon which the city of Miami, Florida, was built. For this reason, she is called the Mother of Miami.  Julia Tuttle and Mary Brickell were among founders of the City of Miami. Julia Tuttle is buried in Miami City Cemetery, which is on land once owned by Mary Brickell.