At this year’s Empowering Women in Industry Tuscaloosa Conference, the spotlight shone brightly on a remarkable group of women whose leadership reflects the heart of the SHARP Awards.
SHARP stands for Strong, Helpful, Authentic, Resilient, and Purposeful. These are not just admirable traits. They are daily disciplines. They are choices made in boardrooms, classrooms, construction sites, studios, and community meetings. This year’s recipients embody these qualities in ways that ripple far beyond their titles.
Neena Palmer: Strong Vision, Purposeful Growth
I first met Neena Palmer at Soroptimist, and her commitment to community was immediately evident. Today, she is expanding the Best Version Media brand across North Alabama, overseeing client relationships, connecting local businesses, and helping grow industry through multi-platform branding solutions.
Neena’s strength lies in her ability to see possibility where others may only see competition. She is deeply helpful, building networks that amplify local entrepreneurs and create collaborative momentum. Her leadership is authentic and grounded in relationships, not transactions.
Through resilience and purpose, Neena continues to elevate voices across North Alabama, proving that strategic growth and heartfelt connection can coexist beautifully.
Sarah Pennington: Authentic Confidence Through the Lens
“Through my lens, I aim to help you rediscover yourself and create powerful visual reminders of the incredible woman you have always been.”
Sarah Pennington’s work extends beyond photography. It is an act of restoration. She creates spaces where women feel safe, seen, and celebrated. That authenticity transforms the experience from a simple photoshoot into a defining moment.
Sarah’s strength shows in her courage to help women confront self-doubt. She is helpful in the most meaningful way, providing tangible reminders of confidence through imagery. Her resilience is reflected in her commitment to continue uplifting women in a culture that often pressures them to shrink.
Her purpose is clear: to remind every woman who steps in front of her camera that she already carries greatness within her.
Renee Skelton: Resilient Leadership That Shapes Generations
As a retired educator with years of classroom and administrative experience, Renee Skelton understands influence at its deepest level. Education requires strength. It demands patience. It calls for resilience daily.
Renee has poured into students, mentored educators, and led through seasons of change and challenge. Her helpful nature is woven into her legacy, offering guidance and wisdom long after school bells stopped ringing.
She is authentic in her leadership and purposeful in her commitment to lifelong learning and mentorship. The impact of her career continues to echo through the generations she helped shape.
Shannel Aikens: Purposeful Relationships, Authentic Impact
For Shannel Aikens, business is not simply about closing deals. It is about growing together, one relationship at a time.
Shannel exemplifies strength through consistency and resilience through trust building. She shows up in ways that are both authentic and helpful, ensuring that partnerships are rooted in mutual success rather than short-term gain.
Her purposeful approach to business reminds us that sustainable growth is fueled by connection. She does not just build a client list. She builds community.
Brittany Buck: Strong Leadership in Construction’s Next Chapter
Brittany Buck is an assistant superintendent with R.C. Mathews Contractor in Nashville, Tennessee. She is President of her local National Association of Women in Construction chapter, the largest in the country, and serves on the board of Crew Collaborative, working to recruit construction’s next generation.
Brittany’s strength is evident in her leadership within a traditionally male-dominated industry. She is helpful and generous in sharing her journey, offering young people a roadmap to fulfilling and prosperous careers in construction. Through her platform @builderwithabow and her presence on LinkedIn, podcasts, and conference stages, she models authenticity.
Her resilience has positioned her not only as a builder of structures, but as a builder of opportunity. Everything she does is rooted in purpose, expanding who sees themselves in hard hats and leadership roles.
A Reflection of What SHARP Truly Means
The SHARP Awards are not about perfection. They are about presence. They recognize women who stand strong when challenges arise, who help others rise, who lead authentically, who remain resilient through adversity, and who stay anchored in purpose.
At the Empowering Women in Industry Tuscaloosa Conference, these women were celebrated not just for what they have achieved, but for how they have achieved it.
They remind us that leadership is not defined by position alone. It is defined by character. And this year’s SHARP recipients embody Strong, Helpful, Authentic, Resilient, and Purposeful in every sense of the word.
