Latest news with #RemarkableWomenContest
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 Eyewitness News Remarkable Women Winner — Iris Buczkowski
During Women's History Month, Eyewitness News celebrated Remarkable Women in the Mohawk Valley! This week, we reveal the winner of the 2025 contest! This year's winner of Eyewitness News' Remarkable Women Contest is Iris Buczkowski! Read both of Iris' nomination entries — from her husband and her friend — below: Iris has been a transformative figure in wealth management for over two decades. Her career is marked not only by professional success but also by a profound commitment to serving others, particularly individuals and families with special needs. Four years ago, Iris took a bold step by founding her own firm, where she has dedicated herself to providing personalized financial solutions. Her passion for empowering clients, especially those navigating the complexities of special needs financial planning, has distinguished her as a leader in her field. Iris's approach to wealth management is rooted in empathy and a genuine desire to make a difference. She understands that financial planning is more than managing assets—it is about crafting a secure and sustainable future tailored to individual needs. Her firm is a sanctuary for clients seeking guidance, particularly those who face unique challenges, such as planning for loved ones with autism or other disabilities. By offering specialized support, Iris ensures that her clients can achieve peace of mind and financial stability. Beyond her professional endeavors, Iris is deeply involved in her community. She is an active member of several nonprofit boards, dedicating her time and expertise to causes she is passionate about. Her advocacy for autism awareness and support is particularly inspiring. Iris's commitment goes beyond fundraising or public speaking; she works tirelessly to foster understanding and inclusion for individuals on the autism spectrum. Her efforts have touched countless lives, creating ripples of change in her community and beyond. Iris's dedication to her community extends to her own neighborhood, where she consistently finds ways to give back. Whether organizing local initiatives or lending a helping hand, she embodies the spirit of community service. Her ability to balance her professional responsibilities with her personal commitment to family and community is a testament to her remarkable character and time management skills. As a pioneer among women in financial management, Iris serves as a role model and mentor to aspiring female professionals. Her journey in a traditionally male-dominated field showcases her resilience, innovation, and unwavering dedication to excellence. She actively champions the advancement of women in the industry, offering guidance and encouragement to those following in her footsteps. Iris's leadership has paved the way for greater representation and inclusivity in financial management. Iris's story is one of purpose, passion, and perseverance. She has not only built a successful career but also used her platform to uplift others and create meaningful change. Whether through her groundbreaking work in wealth management, her tireless community service, or her role as a trailblazer for women in her industry, Iris exemplifies the power of using one's talents to make a lasting impact. In every aspect of her life, Iris shines as a leader, advocate, and compassionate professional. Her journey is an inspiration to all who strive to combine success with service, and her legacy will undoubtedly continue to influence the lives of many for years to come.' Iris' best friend Iris always rises above adversity and over the past several years she has taken that to a whole new level. After losing her job unexpectedly 5 years ago, through no fault of her own, Iris has built a highly successful financial planning firm and services clients of all sizes as she truly believes that everyone deserves a financial plan. Six months after she launched her business the world shut down from Covid and instead of letting the challenge of meeting prospects and clients be an issue that could've prevented her company growth, she became innovative and offered a safe space to meet with those who relied on her expertise while many of her competitors refused to see people. She is an incredible mother to three children (one of which is autistic), an entrepreneur, a wife, a mentor, a disability advocate, and a friend to so many people. Iris is a very humble person and would never admit to the impact that she has made in the community. She gives selflessly to several non-for-profits organizations not only with her time and talent, but her money as well. She has incorporated service as part of her core values throughout her entire career by holding seats on several local boards, she has sat on parent committees as part of autism research projects through the Golisano Center for Special Needs in Syracuse, and she volunteers at almost every event when she is asked by her professional colleagues, friends, and school our children attend. She has made philanthropy part of her legacy with planned gifts to the Upstate Foundation, The Community Foundation of Oneida & Herkimer Counties, and SUNY Poly, where she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees. By the way – she earned those degree while working full time and having two babies in the mix at home! She has also donated significant funds to the Utica Children's Museum and has a sensory illuminated wall named in honor of her company for its contribution. Iris always says that 'you cannot get ahead in life if you don't give back' and she lives this every day. Iris has an infectious personality and people want to be a part of the projects she becomes involved with. She is the first person to offer help and the last one to leave at anything she gets involved in. Her friends, family, professional colleagues, and staff all look up to her and refer business to her because she is excellent at her profession. I am proud that Iris is my wife, and she instills all these values to our children. I wish I could accomplish all that she has because Iris is, quite simply, a remarkable woman.' Iris' husband Iris also sat down with Eyewitness News' Kayla Bruce in an interview, and you can check it out in the player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Remarkable Women Winner donates to Hope House
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — As part of winning WTWO/WAWV's Remarkable Women Contest, Rachel Leslie gets to donate $1,000 to a charity of her choice. During our 6 p.m. newscast, WTWO/WAWV's Tim Sanders and Dana Winklepleck presented Leslie with flowers and a $1,000 check. Leslie has decided to donate the money to the Hope House. The Hope House cares for families in need, specifically when their children have been taken away from them and they are in foster care. The Hope House provides them with a safe space to visit with their children, according to Leslie. Every year, WTWO holds a Remarkable Women contest. Viewers are asked to nominate a remarkable woman they know. After receiving dozens of nominations, a panel of judges chose Rachel Leslie as the 2025 winner. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
