A community table where leadership takes a seat

On a Thursday in early fall, the Barrington area will press pause on its busy calendar to celebrate the people who keep so much of local life moving forward. The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Biz Net will host its 8th Annual Outstanding Women Leaders (OWL) Awards Luncheon on Thursday, September 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Biltmore Country Club, 160 Biltmore Dr. in North Barrington. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased online, according to the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s program recognizes four honorees whose work spans professional excellence, nonprofit leadership, mentorship and education, and community impact — a compact roster that reflects the many ways women power civic life, as listed by Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce and Chicago Tribune.

“Our communities are better and stronger because of the vision, dedication, and service of these Outstanding Women Leaders,” BACC President/CEO Suzanne Corr said in the release. “OWL women serve as role models. They are breaking barriers and setting the bar high for their accomplishments professionally and to the community. They have meaningful stories to share that we can all learn from.”

Honorees and how they lead

The 2025 OWL honorees are:

  • Dr. Agnieszka “Aggie” Iwaszczyszyn, Owner of Hart Dental — OWL Recipient for Professional Excellence
  • Ellaine Sambo-Reyther, Managing Director of BMO Wealth Management — OWL Recipient for Community Impact
  • Kimberly Saunders, Executive Director of the Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG) — OWL Recipient for Nonprofit Leadership
  • Jennifer Lucas, Leader of Go Green Barrington — OWL Recipient for Mentorship and Education

According to the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, the OWL Awards were created by the Women’s Biz Net Council to recognize women for inspiring work across four categories: Community Impact (giving back and making a difference in the Barrington area); Mentorship and Education (mentoring and improving the lives of others through education); Nonprofit Leadership (providing important resources to the community and advancing vital causes); and Professional Excellence (excelling in their profession and setting the standard in their field).

Why this matters here

Barrington’s civic fabric is shaped by demographics that support strong turnout and sustained engagement. The village is an affluent suburb with a population of 10,401, a median age of 43.1, and a median household income of $150,714, with 48% of households earning over $150,000; its homeownership rate is 77.6%, according to Keep ChicagolandMoving. That kind of stability and capacity often translates into robust support for events that pair recognition with relationship-building.

Sponsorship underscores that point. This year’s luncheon is supported by Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington Bank & Trust Co., N.A., BMO Wealth Management, and Northern Trust, according to the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce.

The broader case for recognizing women leaders

Data and on-the-ground examples point to the outsized influence of women-led efforts in community life. Women-led organizations commonly drive gains in economic empowerment, health and well-being, environmental stewardship, and social cohesion, according to FasterCapital. That community value is matched by a business case: women in leadership contribute to inclusive growth, resilience, and innovation, strengthening organizational performance across sectors, as noted by Advance the Seed.

Those trends help explain why the OWL Awards resonate: spotlighting leaders at a local luncheon can catalyze volunteers, partnerships, and resources that sustain impact beyond the awards stage.

A program with roots — and momentum

This is the eighth class of OWL recipients, according to the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce. Last year’s honorees included:

  • Leslie Ferris Yerger, CEO and Founder of My Density Matters — Nonprofit Leadership
  • Linda Gump, Owner of Jovie Nannies & Sitters and College Tutors — Professional Excellence
  • Traci Sanders Campbell, Owner of The BIBO Foundation/BeSpire TV, LLC — Community Impact
  • Mary Brennan, Founder of Barrington Dance Ensemble/Academy — Mentorship and Education

That continuity speaks to a year-over-year commitment to recognition as a tool for community building.

The network behind the luncheon

The Women’s Biz Net is a network of professionals focused on empowering each other, with monthly meetings and programs that bring relevant topics, networking opportunities, and a forum for building relationships. Those gatherings aim “to gather professionals to inspire, enrich, empower and benefit from the unique talents of extraordinary people,” according to the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce. For information on OWL Program Sponsorship opportunities, the Chamber lists (847) 381-2525 and communications@barringtonchamber.com as contacts.

Learning from peers, measuring what matters

Regionally and beyond, women’s leadership gatherings often double as engines for networking and philanthropy. Events like the annual Leadership Luncheon organized by the Washington Area Women’s Foundation bring together nonprofits, donors, and community members to raise funds and elevate women’s achievements, according to Wikipedia. Comparative lessons include leveraging cross-sector partnerships, designing donor cultivation tracks, and creating storytelling moments for honorees — all tactics that can deepen impact for programs like OWL.

Recommendations in the briefing suggest codifying a few simple metrics for the OWL luncheon: track attendance and ticket revenue; monitor sponsor renewals and visibility; measure media reach; note post-event increases in volunteers or donations tied to honorees; and watch for a bump in participation in Women’s Biz Net programs in the months that follow. These ideas draw on evidence about the economic contributions of women in leadership from Advance the Seed and the community capacity reflected in Barrington’s demographics from Keep ChicagolandMoving.

If you go

  • Date and time: Thursday, September 25, 2025, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
  • Location: Biltmore Country Club, 160 Biltmore Dr., North Barrington
  • Tickets: $45; purchase online via the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce

As Barrington gathers for lunch, the stakes are quietly significant. The honorees’ stories, the sponsors’ support, and the community’s presence point to a simple equation that has long powered local progress: when a village elevates its leaders, it often elevates itself.