Grinstead Named Sedalia SBW’s 2023 Woman of the Year

Joyce Grinstead was named the Sedalia Business Women's Organization's Woman of the Year for 2023 at a public relations dinner held Thursday night at the Shrine Building, 1375 Elm Hills Blvd.

SBW Past President Robin Balke and WOTY 2022 made the announcement after listing all of Grinstead's accomplishments.

Grinstead has been a member for over 10 years, and served on the SBW board since 2020. Grinstead designed and printed the organization's monthly dinner meeting programs for the past eight years. In addition, she is a member of the BRHC Auxiliary, serving on the board and volunteering in the gift shop.

Grinstead also is a member of the Central Missouri Coin Club, Sedville Crazy Quilters, Mozarkite Society, the Daughters of Isabell, the Central Missouri Long Arm (Sewing Club) and St. Patrick Church.

“I don't have anything prepared,” Grinstead said when she reached the podium after accepting her award. “This is a big shock. Secrets are well-kept around here. Anyway, I thank you

The Pettis County Sheriff's Office was named the SBW's 2023 Employer of the Year.

The PCSO has 87 employees, 26 of whom are female. Four of the females are in management positions. Eight PCSO employees attended Thursday night's awards dinner.

Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders, in office since 2020, accepted the award from Carolyn Green, a PCSO employee and former SBW Woman of the Year (2015).

“This has really been an honor to be a part of this organization … and to be honored and selected by an organization such as SBW is just amazing,” Anders said in his acceptance speech. “We've made some improvements and advancements over the past two-and-a-half years, where we've had a 33 percent increase in the number of employees that we have. And about 40 percent of that has been in the area of Corrections, where we have placed women in that role, and they've done a phenomenal job with the CIT element of jail operations, and they have an ability to talk people down much easier ... they have been a tremendous asset for everybody at the jail and in the county.”

“I really appreciate everybody that works there and to know that we have literally a list of people that are wanting to come to work at that agency, I think only speaks to the power and the respect from those that work inside this agency. It's not the management, it's those people that work every day together with one another, and it's tremendous,” Anders concluded.

Then, SBW President Julie Slocum presented Denise Woolery, Smith-Cotton Junior High social manager, with leggings and a monetary donation from the club as a service project.

“This donation will help students at our school stay in school,” Woolery said upon accepting the gift. “Lots of times, when kids needed to change their clothes, or worn inappropriate clothing to school, they would have to call, go home and leave. And our goal at the Sedalia School District is 'keep kids in their seats' so this helps our students be able to change their clothes and take care of what they need, and then stay in school. And it keeps parents working, so there's no disruption in the student's school day or the parents' work day. So this is a really good donation for me, because I go through a lot of things at school. So I just appreciate you all very much.”

The SBW's Christmas banquet and mystery auction is scheduled for Dec. 1 at 6 p.m., at Best Western State Fair Motor Inn. The SBW's next monthly dinner meeting will have a holiday party theme Dec. 7 at the Shrine Club starting at 6:30 p.m.