Salt Lake luncheon with role models

Bankers, scientists, a university president, a former Afghan refugee.

The 2005 Women's Business Day luncheon, to be held at noon Tuesday at the Little America Hotel, will honor the achievements of "30 Women to Watch" in business and recognize four companies that provided workplace flexibility for employees.

The luncheon is an annual event but every bit as significant today as in years past, according to Nancy Mitchell, executive director of the Women's Business Center at the Salt Lake Chamber.

"This event is important to the business community because it gives us not only role models but inspiration to grow our businesses or increase our business efforts," Mitchell said. "It's important, because it's still a struggle out there for women. I have women coming into my office on a regular basis wanting to know how to be taken seriously in business.

"That's not to say that men have a problem with us, necessarily. Sometimes, we have problems of our own. It's a complex situation, that's true. And women still need recognition, inspiration. They need to know they have role models."

This year's honorees include Col. Sharon Dunbar, Commander, 75th Air Base Wing at Hill Air Force Base. Dunbar is the first and only woman to date to serve as installation commander at Hill. Dunbar is an Air Force Academy graduate who holds a master's degree in national security studies from the National War College and an MBA from California State University.

Neelab Kanishka, director of Worldstock.com, a division of Salt Lake-based Overstock.com, spent seven years as a refugee in Pakistan. Kanishka, who is not yet 30 years old, was born in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion. Today, she travels the world to buy wares from indigenous artisans, many of whom are women. Worldstock.com is now the leading employer of women in Afghanistan.

"Neelab Kanishka is just amazing," Mitchell said. "She came here seven years ago from Afghanistan, and here she is providing futures for women in Third World countries — women who are artisans and looking for markets for their goods. She's a real inspiration providing real opportunities to women and their families."

Jeri Cartwright, owner of Cartwright Communications, blazed a trail for Utah women in broadcast journalism and heads her own public relations firm.