Chamber Honors Local Business Women with Third Annual Women of Excellence Awards
The Business Women’s Round Table (BWRT) of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce today announced the recipients of its third annual Women of Excellence Awards.
Sarah Morton, Regional Executive Director for Workforce Development at Virginia Career Works - Piedmont Region, will receive the BWRT Woman of Excellence Award. The award recognizes an extraordinary woman with a proven track record of achievements, community involvement, and professional growth.
Min Lee, Chief Operating Officer for UVA Medical Center, will receive the Distinguished Mentor Award. This award recognizes a woman with a powerful commitment to assisting others in their personal and/or professional development.
Kimberly Sheffield, Director of Community Engagement for the Jefferson School Foundation, will receive the Emerging Professional Award. This award recognizes an up-and-coming professional woman who makes an impact and shows exceptional talent as a future business leader.
Morton, Lee and Sheffield will receive their awards at the Women of Excellence Awards Luncheon on March 20, 2025. The luncheon will take place at Hillsdale Conference Center from 12:30pm to 2:30pm.
Click here to reserve seats for the awards luncheon.
Chamber Board member Allison Linney, Owner and President of Allison Partners, LLC, will present a keynote address.
Sarah Morton is a farmer first and a nonprofit executive second. A dynamic and visionary executive leader with over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, workforce development, education, food resiliency, sustainable agriculture, and community engagement. As a passionate advocate for social equity, food security, and community empowerment, Sarah has dedicated her career to fostering collaboration across sectors and leading initiatives that create measurable impacts in marginalized communities. With a track record of securing funding for community programs, she is committed to advancing the well-being of underserved populations while advocating for policy reforms that promote economic and social equity.
As Executive Director for the Regional Workforce Board, Sarah has built and sustained partnerships between government, nonprofits, and educational institutions to drive transformational changes in communities. She has been instrumental in increasing access to sustainable agricultural practices, improving food security, and expanding workforce development opportunities for thousands of individuals. As a recognized leader in women's agrarian advocacy, Sarah has leveraged her expertise in workforce development, agriculture, education, social justice, economic growth, and policy reform to empower vulnerable communities.
Sarah’s key achievements include:
- National Southeast Recipient of the American Farmland Trust (AFT) Women for the Land Initiative, focusing on sustainable livestock production systems, farmland conservation, and food equity.
- Secured funding for community programs that address education, agriculture, and workforce development.
- Led initiatives that increased local food access by 30%, improving food security and health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
- Championed Career Technical Education (CTE) opportunities by 60%, benefiting more than 50,000 individuals across multiple states.
- Actively advocates for women in agriculture and community leadership through national speaking engagements and policy forums, including at the Women in Agribusiness Summit and American Farmland Trust events.
Sarah is deeply committed to public service, community empowerment, workforce development, food sovereignty, economic mobility, environmental stewardship, regenerative agriculture, and educational rigor. With a focus on creating sustainable, inclusive communities, she aims to contribute to ongoing efforts to drive positive social change across Virginia and beyond.
Min Lee Bio
Min Y. Lee serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of UVA Health Medical Center, where she manages daily operations and provides executive oversight for a wide range of services, including perioperative services, imaging, pharmacy, laboratory, environmental services, food and nutrition, facilities, transporters, and patient experience. Additionally, she partners with the University to lead parking and transportation, security, and emergency management initiatives. With responsibility for overseeing $1 billion in operating expenses, she leads a dedicated team of over 2,800 professionals.
Before joining UVA Health, Min held the position of Vice President of Operations at Reading Hospital, part of Tower Health System in Pennsylvania, where she oversaw operations for the McGlinn Cancer Institute, imaging and laboratory services, pharmacy, emergency management, security, clinical engineering, construction management, and central transport.
Earlier in her career, she was Vice President of Operations at Emory Healthcare, managing the strategic direction and operations for various departments at Emory University Hospital Midtown, a 550-bed academic medical center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Min holds an MBA/MHA from Georgia State University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia, where she was recognized as a 40 Under 40 recipient in 2022. She is Lean Certified and actively participates in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Above all, she takes pride in her role as umma (mom in Korean) to her 2 year old son, Liam. In her free time, Min enjoys exploring the great outdoors, reading, playing tennis, and cherishing moments with her family doing nothing and everything.
Kimberly Sheffield Bio
Kimberly Sheffield is a visionary leader and dedicated advocate with a deep passion for community engagement and empowerment. Born and raised in Orange County, Virginia, she has built a career centered around uplifting underserved communities and connecting people with essential resources.
Spending over a decade in the insurance industry, Sheffield specialized in life and health insurance, focusing on low-income families and educating Black and Brown communities on the importance of financial security and asset protection. Her commitment to service extends far beyond her professional work, as she continuously seeks opportunities to bridge gaps and foster meaningful connections.
Sheffield is the Founder of Kenly’s Mission Outreach Ministry, an organization dedicated to serving those in need. She is the newly elected Commissioner of the Madison County Youth Cheer (MCYC) Program, where she oversees a program designed to uplift and empower youth cheerleaders. As a member of the Jefferson School Foundation Task Force, she plays an active role in preserving and strengthening the foundation’s impact.
Currently, Sheffield serves as the Director of Community Engagement for the Jefferson School Foundation, where she works to bring people, organizations, and resources together for the greater good. She is also affiliated with several other organizations and nonprofits, including The Coalition and SQBA.
Kim is passionate about ensuring that the next generation of kids becomes future leaders, equipping them with the right tools, guidance, and opportunities to succeed. Her work is underscored by her heart to serve the community and lead as a servant leader, making a lasting impact on those she reaches.