Jackie Perry Chosen a 2009 Woman of Influence

via Susan Brandenburg

In her capacity as Executive Director of Beaver Street Enterprise Center (Florida’s only core-city business incubator), Jacqulyn Perry has been recognized repeatedly for her contributions to the First Coast business community.

PHOTO: From left, David Sillick, Jackie Perry and Ana Recio-Harvey

Honored as a 2009 Woman of Influence on August 28 at the Jacksonville Business Journal’s Sixth Annual Women of Influence Awards Breakfast at the Marriott Southpoint, Perry is a past SBA honoree, having been chosen the North Florida District’s Minority Small Business Champion of 2009, MEDWeek’s 2006 Minority Enterprise Development Advocate of the Year, and having received the Inspiration Award from the Jacksonville Business Journal in 2007.

At the August 27th Awards Breakfast, Keynote Speaker Ana Recio-Harvey, Head of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership, talked of her own personal journey to business success and congratulated the Jacksonville Business Journal’s twenty 2009 Women of Influence for their accomplishments in both making a living and making a difference. The 2009 Women of Influence included Perry, Giselle Carson, Maria Coppola, Angela Corey, Susan Hughes, Barbara Jaffe, Allison Korman, Dr. Carolyn McClanahan, Teresa Meares, Candace Moody, Barbara Moore, Teresa Myers, Shannon Perry, Chantelle Quick, Ann Sabbag, Kerri Stewart, Cynthia Stover, Mary Tappouni, Carolyn Ward and Penny Zuber.

In her Keynote Speech, Ana Recio-Harvey cited statistics dramatically illustrating the influence women have wielded in the workplace during the past forty years, and also talked with warmth and humor about the inner-strength and determination of women - qualities that inspire loyalty, honesty and hard work.

“Jackie Perry personifies all of those leadership qualities and more. She is an inspiration to all of the tenants at Beaver Street Enterprise Center,” said Rose Conry of ER&S (Employment Resources & Solutions) who, with her business partner, Kelley Moore, nominated Perry for the honor. In accepting the award, Perry thanked the Jacksonville Business Journal, Conry and Moore, and emphasized her appreciation for the ongoing support of Beaver Street Enterprise Center by FreshMinistries, which founded the now booming business incubator in 2003. “Many thanks to my FreshMinistries and Beaver Street Families,” said Perry, “and to my son, John Perry, who always reminds me that Beaver Street Enterprise Center is Number One!”

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