Nelle Carter Woman of the Year finalists announced

The nominations are in for the 2015 Nelle Carter Woman of the Year award.

Given annually by the Orillia Business Women’s Association, the award recognizes an individual who achieves excellence in the workplace and improves the lives of others through volunteering, or contributes to society in her own way.

This year’s nominees are: Luisa Cirimele, owner of Awakenings Wellness Centre, Raffaella Tassone, owner of TNT Fine Lingerie and Linda Goodall, office manager/volunteer coordinator for Connexus Community Church Barrie/Orillia.

In addition to running her own clinic, Luisa Cirimele volunteers with many organizations, including Hospice Orillia, the Simcoe County AIDS Association and ‘Show Your Support Orillia’.

A single mother of three, she won the chamber of commerce entrepreneur initiative award in 2014.

Raffaella Tassone has struggled through chronic fatigue syndrome and other ailments while running her lingerie business, which relocated to West Ridge from downtown Orillia due to flooding.

Tassone initiated her ‘Let’s Make a Kid Smile’ toy drive in 2009, contributing donated items to local women’s shelters and the Children’s Aid Society.

A mother of three school-age children, Linda Goodall has demonstrated a compassion for the hungry, homeless and hurting while working to build and maintain community partnerships.

She co-chairs the ‘Coldest Night of the Year’ event and community forums on child trafficking.

Goodall also led a student trip to Guatemala in 2014.

Nominees for the Lisa Brooking Young Woman of the Year are: Maggie Little, Hui Yu Zhang and Soren Meeuwisse.

The winners will be announced during a May 13 gala event at the Best Western Mariposa Inn and Conference Centre.

Tickets to the gala are $45 and are available at Orillia First Aid Safety and Training, MPP Garfield Dunlop’s office, Tiffin’s Creative Centre, Pretty Woman Fitness, or by calling 325-6292.