[StBernard] Business and Professional Women Name Showalter and McDugall 2011 Man and Woman of the Year

[Westley Annis]

Business and Professional Women Name Showalter and McDugall 2011 Man and
Woman of the Year

Robert E. Showalter and Elizabeth Bond McDugall, will be honored by the St.
Bernard Business and Professional Women as its 51st Man and Woman of the
Year on Wednesday, October 19 during National Business Women's Week. An
evening gala, which includes dinner by Patton's Catering, will be held at
the Sigur Civic Center in Chalmette. 'It's also the golden anniversary of
the BPW Club," says President Bethanne Trahan. Both honorees were selected
by secret ballot by the BPW members.

Since 1928 National Business Women's Week, a nationwide event, has honored
the contributions of working women.  The awards banquet is one of several
local events.  Other activities include the club's 50th birthday party at
its 6 p.m. meeting on Monday, October 17 at Sebastopol Plantation when the
2010 Model Working Women will be recognized. Members will join the community
on October 15 at Torres Park for the St. Bernard Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Awareness Walk, following the BPW memorial service for deceased
members at Liberty Bell Plaza at 7:30 a.m.  For information about these
events contact Trahan at 504-982-0242.

The Man and Woman of the Year Gala begins with a cash bar at 6:30 p.m. at
the Fred Sigur Civic Center, 8245 West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette.  The
banquet will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the program will follow the dinner. 

Tickets may be purchased from Stitches, Ink (504-309-2754)
(stitchesink908 at gmail.com) at 908 West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette,
Louisiana Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. For Will-Call ticket purchases and sponsorship information
contact Deborah Keller at 504-473-3470. The cost is $55 per person. Seating
is limited and no tickets will be sold at the door. 

Showalter, is a lifelong resident of St. Bernard Parish, currently residing
in Meraux with his wife Susie Sentilles Showalter.  He is the father of two
children, Brad and Melissa, and has one grandchild, Olivia Jurisich.   He
was graduated from the University of New Orleans in 1977 with a B.S. degree
in accounting.  

He is the Chief Financial Officer of Boasso America Corporation, where he
has worked for the past 22 years.  His accounting career has spanned over 34
years. Showalter is the Chief Financial Officer of Boasso America
Corporation, where he has worked for the past 22 years.  	

Throughout his career, he has been active in numerous civic, business,
cultural, community and faith-based activities where his leadership and
volunteerism has improved the quality of life in St. Bernard Parish.  His
expertise in accounting has assisted many non-profit organizations in
fundraising for worthy causes.

McDougall is director of the St. Bernard Parish Tourism Department. A native
of Arabi, she is married to Wayne McDougall and the mother of Ashley and
Christopher. A graduate of Andrew Jackson High School, her studies continued
at Nicholls St. University, Delgado Community College, and the University of
New Orleans.  Prior to her career with St. Bernard Parish Government, she
worked in the fields of insurance and real estate, as well as office of the
parish clerk of court.  

Prior to her position in parish government, she was a volunteer activist for
promoting tourism, culture, and the arts in St. Bernard Parish. McDougall
also participates in many community activities that bring pride and joy to
the citizens of St. Bernard Parish.