An after-work celebration filled with music, food and prizes was held at the Comfort Inn & Suites conference center for the hundreds of working women from all around the state.
WCFX-FM has held CFX Salute to Working Women for the 29 years to honor the women of the work force. The event was presented this year by Graff.
“We came up with this event 29 years ago to honor the women who work in the Central Michigan area,” Co-Founder and Morning DJ Kent Bergstrom said, “We wanted to give them a night to relax and have some free fun.”
The theme of this year was “Through the Decades,” which encouraged the attendees to dress up in costumes representing women from the 50’s all the way to the 90’s.
The title of the CFX Working woman of the year went to Dr. Madison Chapman, a psychologist at Eagle Village. Eagle Village specializes in working with troubled or abused children, as well as struggling families.
Nominees for the title this year included Former Mt. Pleasant Mayor and City Commissioner Cynthia Kilmer, Central Michigan University Supervisor Billie Jo Davis, 40-year Nurse Tilwa Schrot and Clothing Inc. Founder Kaye Peasley. Kilmer said she was grateful to see so many women at the event, saying that they are “the backbone of the work place.”
“I was pretty surprised to see that I won,” Chapman said, “I’m just really happy to serve the community, honestly.”
With the title of 2018 CFX Working Woman of the Year, she won a year’s worth of services from Level 7 Salon, Flowers from Elliot’s Greenhouse and a memento from JNR Engraving. She said she’s planning to treat herself a little bit.
Some of the prizes given to the attendees included two smart TVs, gift certificates from local businesses and gift baskets. Several of the events sponsors had booths around the conference center where they gave out smaller prizes.
“I won a lava lamp,” attendee Andrea Gautier said, “I don’t know where to put it yet, but I think next to my crystals would be a good idea.”
For some of the working women, it was their first year at the event. Others have been coming to it for years.
Jeanine Delong and Deedra Foster both have been coming since 2013.
“We love the food, the prizes and the atmosphere,” Foster said, “it shows how women in the work force are very helpful.”
Delong brought her coworker Karen Billinger to the event for the first time.
“I didn’t even know about it until today,” said Billinger.
She also said that it was a fun event and more than likely will come back next year.
“It’s our biggest year yet,” Afternoon CFX DJ Angie Evans said, “We put a lot of planning into this event to make it that way.”
With the 30th Salute being the next, some have high hopes for what will happen then.
“They’re going to have to do a lot for the 30th anniversary to top this year,” Attendee Martha Zuehlke said.