Yesterday, SRQ Magazine hosted the inaugural Hear Me Roar awards luncheon honoring the winners and finalists of the 2015 Women in Business Competition. Opening with champagne toasts and a pop-up boutique, the luncheon was a tremendous success - but more importantly, was a gathering for the incredible women throughout our region. Chief Marketing Officer of iMatchative, Pam van der Lee inspired luncheon guests with her moving personal journey to finding her passion across industry lines. Sharing her personal motivations in business, building character and committing to causes that make a difference, Pam's address resonated with the gathering of more than 200 guests. Legendary fashion designer Adrienne Vittadini received the very first SRQ "Women in Business" Trailblazer Award at the luncheon to a standing ovation. SRQ Magazine would like to congratulate the finalists and winners of the 2015 Women in Business Competition and newly inducted members of the Leadership Circle. The seven Women in Business judges selected the following winners: Mary Dougherty-Slapp, Gulf Coast Builders Exchange, Kameron Hodgens, The Glasser Schoenbaum Human Services Center, Christine Johnson, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, Jo Ann Koontz, Koontz & Associates and Denise Kowal, Avendia de Colores. The 2015 finalists were also announced: Elizabeth Melendez Fisher, Selah Freedom, Mary Forristall, Forristall Enterprises, Kim Hopper, Regions Bank, Tammy Kovar, Biological Tree Services, Stefanie Overturf, Overturf’s Floor & Fabric Care, Sandra Rios, The Resort at Longboat Key Club and Gabriele Vest of Grapevine Communications. For more information and a gallery of photos from Hear Me Roar, visit the SRQ Inside the Brand blog soon! Special thanks to our event sponsors: Sophie's at Saks Fifth Avenue, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee and The Resort at Longboat Key Club.