It was a privilege to be present for Springfield Business Journal's recognition this week of Women of Influence, sponsored by Security Bank, which has hallmarked appreciating women and their achievements. Six were honored for their various accomplishments – one for leading Parkinson's patients to dance, another who moved from politics to health care in a pandemic, a downtown advocate, a helper of homeless people, a volunteer extraordinaire, and one with the motto, "If it is to be, it is up to me." All said in various ways they don't do what they do for recognition, but it's nice. Each brought her support group and acknowledged a bedrock of spouses and friends. In the room was a cloud of proud witnesses, including many past WOI honorees, applauding this year's group of women strong and fierce. –Fletcher Farrar, editor and CEO