Woman of the Year
Each year, the Zonta Club of the Joliet Area recognizes one of their members for making a significant contribution in the advancement and operation of the Club. Sometimes the efforts are very visible and other times the good work takes place behind the scenes. Joliet Area Zontians thoughtfully nominate one of their own who has utilized creativity, time and effort to help make a positive difference. This can be through active participation in support of meetings, service projects, publications/websites, fundraising, communications, recruitment; or other significant activities such as representing our Club at district and national meetings.
2025 Honoree
On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, the Zonta Club of the Joliet Area named Terri Taylor as ZCJA's Woman of the Year.
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Terri is the owner of Persona Grata, in Shorewood. Terri was sponsored by Cheryl McCarthy and has been a member since 2016. Persona Grata is a cozy boutique salon, and Terri’s personal stamp is evident not only in the décor, but in the ambience of the shop.
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Terri was instrumental in organizing a project close to her heart: collecting costume jewelry and setting up displays with gift bags in local schools and other organizations to provide an opportunity for students and clients to give a unique gift to honor the mothers, aunts, and grandmothers in their lives. While club members donate the jewelry, Terri makes it special for the kids with her own artistic touches. She has co-chaired the club’s successful fundraising committee in the past and continues to be a creative part of club fundraisers. Her work with Zonta isn’t limited to fundraising; when she served on the Service & Advocacy Committee, she was instrumental in gathering numerous blankets for the club’s participation in a Project Linus event.
Pictured left to right, Honoree Terry Taylor, President Bonnie Winfrey, Woman of the Year Committee spokesperson Johanna Kerwin
Woman of the Year Past Honorees
2004 Kathy Giegerich
2005 Beth Ann May
2006 Mary Baudino
2007 Pat Perrier
2008 Dinah Archambeault
2009 Yolanda Reyes
2010 Bonnie Horne
2011 Rita Weiss
2012 Beth Colvin
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2013 Mary Lancaster
2014 Peggy Field
2015 Cathy Lowery
2016 Helen Hester Ross
2017 Kristine Schlismann
2018 Catherine Adamowski
2019 Pam Hunte
2020 Donna Zanzola
2021 Terri King
1995 Pam Davis Gorcowski
1996 Helen Sarsfield
1997 Emita Ostrem
1998 Ta Wilson
1999 Jan Larsen
2000 Lora McGuire
2001 Bonnie McElroy
2002 Dianne Harmon
2003 Karen Lega
1986 Helen Harshbarger
1987 Dorothy Cryder
1988 Carmela Castagna
1989 Dianna Gliwa
1990 Wanda Onstad
1991 Charlotte Baker
1992 Mohra Gavankar
1993 Jane DeWitt
1994 Judith Freund Vavrus
2022 Karen Pastell
2023 Lisa Pappas
2024 Katy Leclair