Seven Golden Crescent women who have been leaders in everything from advertising to politics received Lifetime Achievement awards at Business Today’s Top Women Champagne Reception at River Run Country Club in October.

More than 120 people attended the 11th annual event, which honors high achievers in any number of endeavors.

Thirteen top women winners were judged by an independent panel led by Diane Honeycutt, a member of the Class of 2005. She had already launched Team Honeycutt at Allen Tate Co. by then and went on to chair the Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce before winning a seat on the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners.

The names of the 13 Top Women winners were announced in the October edition of Business Today. The names of the Lifetime Achievement Award winners were announced at the event.

Pat Cain Cotham, a member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners,  is a powerful influence on both local business and the community. She has worked in leadership roles at major companies and as an employment advocate at the Center for Community Transitions, which helps inmates reenter the workforce.

Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye is the senior pastor at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. She has been the first female senior or lead pastor at every church appointment during a long career with the church.

Betty Honeycutt was a pioneer in the building industry in South Carolina. After her husband died in 1970, she put two children—one of them is Diane Honeycutt—through college with no student loans. In addition to helping run Team Honeycutt, she has served and supported such non-profits as CVAN and United Way,

Nannie Potts was the first female and first African-American mayor of Cornelius. A tireless church worker at Torrence Chapel AME Zion, she organized an after-school reading program at Cornelius Elementary.

Ella Mae Small is a long-time member of the Concord City Council, having won the seat held by her late husband Allen Small. She has been a member of the boards of the Logan Neighborhood Association, Logan Community Day Care and Logan Optimist Club and served on the committee to name U.S. 601 in memory of entrepreneur Warren C. Coleman.

Harriett Stafford is the second director of the Operation BreadBasket which was renamed in her honor after she became involved a quarter of a century ago. Her strong commitment and dedication to serve others coupled with her energy, introduction of volunteers and community partnerships have made an invaluable contribution to Cabarrus County.

Gail Williams, the advertising and marketing director at Cornelius Today and Business Today, became an Account Executive with WXIA-TV in Atlanta at the age of 25. She has worked in radio, cable TV and outdoor, as well as being a former president of the Advertising Club of Charlotte.