One woman raises awareness about breast cancer. Another provides much-needed childcare and tutoring. A third connects, celebrates and mentors women. For more than 40 years a fourth woman has taught dance locally.
What they have in common is that they are winners of the 2024 Owl Awards presented by the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Biz Net (WBN). The foursome, Leslie Ferris Yerger, Linda Gump, Traci Sanders Campbell and Mary Brennan, received grateful accolades recently at Biltmore Country Club.
“Our communities are better and stronger as a result of the contributions of these Outstanding Women Leaders,” said BACC President/CEO Suzanne Corr. “OWL women serve as role models. They are breaking barriers and setting the bar high for their accomplishments professionally.”
Leslie Ferris Yerger launched My Density Matters after receiving a Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. This set her on a mission to educate women that mammograms often miss detecting cancer in women with dense breast tissue (which about half of all women have with 71% of breast cancer occurring in women with dense tissue).
Leslie first raised funds to purchase Molecular Breast Imaging units, including one that’s now at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital. She also founded a not-for-profit, My Density Matters, to help women understand their own personalized risk. Now she seeks legislative change to require insurance companies to cover additional screening for women with dense breasts.
Linda Gump founded Jovie Nannies and Sitters, serving the northwest and west suburbs. Before launching Jovie Nannies, she was a senior administrator for large healthcare organizations.
Linda is known for her highly organized, results-oriented leadership, coaching, mentoring, communication, relationship building and problem-solving skills. Her ability to achieve consensus on the creation and execution of a strategic vision for her business has defined her reputation as leader in her industry.
Traci Sanders Campbell is the owner of BeSpire TV, a streaming service that specializes in programming geared to a diverse audience. She created BIBO Weekly TV and B Zone radio where women share, learn and grow together. She is a speaker, coach and founder of the C.H.A.M.P. Community Project, a nonprofit program that helps at-risk teens and single parents.
Traci is also the founder of the BIBO (Beauty In/Beauty Out) Awards, a multi-city platform to celebrate minority women-owned businesses honored for the mentorship work they are doing with minority students and entrepreneurs.
In 1984 Mary Brennan founded Barrington Dance Academy, providing quality dance education that over the years has taught hundreds of young artists and students. The focus has always been to provide professional instruction in a supportive atmosphere so that students build confidence, strength and learn the art of dance. Mary has served as a teacher and mentor to countless students over the years, fostering their creativity and passion for dance, and giving them performance opportunities to showcase their hard work and dedication. In 1989 Mary founded the Barrington Dance Ensemble (BDE), a 501c(3) non-profit organization, celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.
For information on the OWL Awards call the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce at (847) 381-2525.