The Thunder Bay Business Women's Network handed out its annual awards recently. A nurse-turned-businesswoman and a Lakehead University student-turned-bank manager were this year's recipients.

Eve Gillingham, the manager of Intensive Home Support Services Ltd., received a business award while Cheri Thomasson, a branch manager at TD Bank Financial Group, walked away with a networking award.

Thomasson is a 1991 graduate of Lakehead University who works about 60 hours a week, then volunteers her time to Shelter House, the United Way, the Canadian Cancer Society and the March of Dimes.

Gillingham, a former director of nursing, saw an opportunity to create her own home support company when sweeping health changes in 1995 led to ill patients leaving the hospital early.