Women's Colloquium honors a new Woman of the Year

Out of seven nominees at this year’s Business and Professional Women’s Colloquium, the one that walked away as Woman of the Year recognized basically everyone but herself for the honor.

Judie Foster-Lupkin, the executive director of the Winona Occupational Rehabilitation Center, was nominated by the organization’s Jane Grupa. In her nomination form, Grupa highlighted Foster-Lupkin’s natural leadership, passion for setting and achieving goals, ability to inspire and motivate others, and quick transformation of the Occupational Rehabilitation Center, or ORC, as reasons for the executive director to receive Woman of the Year.

But despite all of her accomplishments and admirable business traits, Foster-Lupkin credited her coworkers with getting the ORC to where it’s at today. She also mentioned the hundreds of disabled adults the ORC serves and the dozens of community organizations that work with the center, all the while remaining modest about her own contributions.

“Good people make you look good,” she said with a laugh.

As the Business and Professional Woman of the Year, Foster-Lupkin received $100 and a one-night stay at the Country Inn & Suites at the Mall of America from Express Employment Professionals, as well as an engraved clock desk set from Wanshura Jewelers.

“I’m very appreciative of the honor,” Foster-Lupkin said. “We’ve made a lot of changes at the ORC and it’s nice to be recognized for that.”

Somebody else familiar with changes was the colloquium’s featured speaker, positive thinking expert Lori Bestler. Bestler was on hand to share her story of change with those in attendance, and started out by discussing the tough times she’s encountered in her past.

Between struggling with eating disorders and losing her job, Bestler also went through a divorce and the downfall of a business. She saw her share of bad days, she said, but was able to turn them around and develop a new outlook on life.

“Every day is a new beginning,” she said. “It’s a chance for a fresh start.”

While getting the audience involved in her presentation, Bestler taught about the essential “mind mastery” keys that can help people take control of their lives, turn negatives to positives and find solutions for their problems in order to see the success they envision for themselves. She encouraged women to make the healthy changes they want to make but stay true to themselves nonetheless.

“It’s about embracing and knowing who you are and loving that person,” Bestler said, displaying her own positivity and acceptance of herself.

“I am going to live a life of no regrets.”

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