FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nov. 18, 2008
For more information contact:

Pamela Downing, Vice-Chair
Wyoming Council for Women’s Issues
Phone: 307.286.3299  
Email: pamela_downing@yahoo.com

Upton woman to receive award for outstanding business practices

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Council for Women’s Issues (WCWI) will honor an Upton businesswoman for her efforts to institute programs and policies that broaden, strengthen and support that area’s workforce.

The WCWI will present the 2008 Summit Award to Carmen Diehl of Upton at the Wyoming Business Alliance Fall Forum Nov. 20-21 in Casper. 

The award recognizes businesses that have successfully instituted family friendly workplace practices that diversify the workforce with under represented populations; institute programs and policies that reduce wage disparity between men, women and regional or national averages; and work to minimize the stresses of balancing the demands of work and family obligations to increase employee productivity.

Diehl, who owns three grocery stores in Upton, Moorcroft and Pine Haven, will be recognized for the concern she shows employees.  Diehl provides flexible scheduling to help employees meet the demands of family, and provides health insurance and access to Health Reimbursement Accounts, which allow an employer to reimburse medical expenses paid by participating employees.

Diehl is also the only woman on the Board of Directors of Affiliated Foods Midwest, the grocery supplier to all three stores. 

“When we read Carmen's nomination, we were touched by the fact that, even though she has a limited workforce, she has created a working environment that shows her concern for her employees' needs outside of the business,” said Pamela Downing, vice-chair of the WCWI.

The Summit Award is given once a year by the WCWI.  Any business in Wyoming may be nominated and a recipient is chosen by the WCWI.  For more information about the award please visit www.wyomingworkforce.org/wcwi/ 
The WCWI works to improve the quality and equality of life for Wyoming women.  It is a 13-member, governor-appointed council with representation from each of the nine judicial districts, four at large members, and one ex-officio member from the Wyoming Business Council.  For more information please visit www.wyomingwomenscouncil.org

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