2012 Woman of the Year named at IBR event

Karen Vauk, president and CEO of The Idaho Foodbank, gets a congratulatory hug from her son, J.T., as Heidi Thompson introduces her as IBR Woman of the Year 2012. Thompson, president and co-founder of Scentsy, was IBR's first Woman of the Year in 2011. Photo by Brad Talbutt

More than 550 people gathered on the evening of Feb. 21 for Idaho Business Review‘s Women of the Year event. The gathering, featuring an “if-the-shoe-fits” theme, broke last year’s attendance record by more than 20 percent.

For the second year, IBR snagged an idea from the Oscars when one of the 50 honorees was revealed as the Woman of the Year for 2012 in an Academy Award-like moment. After the honorees were named and awards handed out, Heidi Thompson, Woman of the Year for 2011, took the stage and introduced her replacement: Karen L. Vauk, president and CEO of The Idaho Foodbank.

“To say I’m surprised is an understatement,” said Vauk when she went up on stage to receive her award. “Considering the women who have been nominated for this award, there are so many great things that have been accomplished by the people in this room, I didn’t think I could compare.”

Vauk was chosen by a committee of past honorees who used a numeric rating system. In all four categories – professional accomplishment, leadership, community involvement and commitment to goals – Vauk scored highest.

Vauk’s two children, son, J.T., 20 and daughter Emily, 18, along with other family members, friends and coworkers were there to share the celebration.

The event featured a silent art auction to benefit the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. Nine local artists created shoe art, from bronze to beads, in the spririt of the evening’s theme. Participating artists were: Sue Latta, Irene Deely, Wil Kirkman, Molly Vineyard, Bob Neal, Suz Brazeau Red Hawk, Reham A. Aarti, Kristi Echols-Preston and Zion Warne. Warne also created the one-of-a-kind, glass, lotus-leaf awards for the event. Renowned violinist Caroline Goulding, 19, enchanted the crowd with a solo performance and other musical notes included a harp and trumpet fanfare, all thanks to the Boise Philharmonic.

The big takeaway for the night: 50 Women of the Year – and each with her own story to tell. Read them all in the full-color, glossy pullout magazine in the Feb. 24 IBR.

“Every one of these 50 women of the year exemplifies what it takes to be a leader,” said IBR Vice President and Publisher Sean Evans. “Year after year we are amazed by the caliber of all of these women who are deeply involved in their communities and are accomplished professionals who follow through on long-term goals.”

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