Women of Influence awards honor three leaders at Pikes Peak Library District

Colorado Springs, Colo. (November 2, 2010) – Two employees and one board member at Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) were among 30 local women chosen for Colorado Springs Business Journal’s 2010 Women of Influence awards, given at the Doubletree Hotel on Thursday, October 28.

PPLD Executive Director Paula Miller, Community Engagement Officer Dee Vazquez, and Trustee Jill Gaebler were all selected as Women of Influence, an annual award that honors women in the Colorado Springs community who have numerable professional accomplishments and consistently give back to the community.

Miller was honored for her more than three decades of service to public libraries, including the last four years as executive director of PPLD. Miller’s many civic commitments were highlighted, including her serving as co-chairwoman for the Colorado Springs Diversity Forum, chairwoman for the Poet Laureate Project, and co-chair for the Quality of Life Indicators Education Vision Council.

Vazquez was honored for her work using community issues “to connect people with information they might not otherwise have gotten – to change people’s opinion” as the head of public relations for Pikes Peak Library District. She was also honored for her dedication to the community, including her work for the Colorado Springs Diversity Forum, the Board of Education’s Special Education Advisory Committee, and the Greenberg Center for Learning and Tolerance.

Gaebler was honored for her success in founding the Colorado Springs Charter Academy in 2004, her work as vice president of PPLD’s Board of Trustees, as well as her work as development director for Greccio Housing, a nonprofit that provides affordable housing for low- to moderate-income families.

Congratulations to all three of these influential women. The Library is lucky to have them in its service!