"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.

This week: The women who brunched...were there any men on the guest list?

Move over “ladies who lunch” and make room for the “ladies who brunched.” A group of “women who move the Valley” – moved gracefully about at last week’s private banquet at the Ritz -Carlton Phoenix.

The stylish group of women gathered to champion the leadership of the 10 ladies featured in Arizona Foothills Magazine’s “Women who Move 2010” issue and meet community leader Maryanne Weiss who was named National Bank of Arizona’s “Woman of the Year” by the bank’s Women’s Financial Group. National Bank of Arizona sponsored the gourmet brunch of about 150 women.

NBAZ’s Executive Vice President, Specialty Banking and Marketing Deborah Bateman, shared the philosophy behind its Women’s Financial Group and the creation of the Woman of the Year Award. (Deborah is pictured above adorned in a pair of sophisticated eyeglasses –now a stylish fashion statement among women in the corporate world.) The award recognizes a business leader for her contributions, connections and positive influences our community.

“At National Bank of Arizona, a large part of our corporate culture is our philosophy of providing a platform for women in our community to achieve personal and financial success,” she explained. The Group offers women a local, one-stop resource for financial planning, business services, networking and peer-to-peer mentoring while leveraging connections and creating collaborations.

The Women’s Financial Group is comprised of highly experienced and approachable bankers who have a real knowledge of the financial challenges women face and strategies to help them succeed. In addition, the Women’s Financial Group has chartered a council of Arizona businesswomen to provide clients the invaluable opportunity to connect with other professionals and business owners.

“Maryanne exemplifies these attributes and her dedication and commitment to the community is truly inspiring,” said Deborah as she presented Maryanne with the inaugural award. (Maryanne is pictured above speaking to the group- donning a pair of eyeglasses which make a leadership fashion statement.)

Maryanne is commissioner of Arizona’s Department of Education and Arizona State University, Chairman of Greater Phoenix SCORE, where she is the first woman ever appointed to the position, and is President of Gustare Ltd., a management consulting group.

“I am thrilled and honored by this award given to me by the Women’s Financial Group,” said the honouree. “The great passion of my life is the community work that I do for Greater Phoenix SCORE and the Arizona Department of Education and receiving this award is like icing on my cake.”

Arizona Foothills Magazine’s “Women who Move the Valley” (click here to read about the honorees) were also introduced at the brunch at which Valley resident, Ali Vincent spoke about empowerment. Ali was featured on season 5 of NBC – TV’s hit show “The Biggest Loser.” The once internationally ranked synchronized swimmer had tipped the scales at 234 pounds. The 5’ 5” Ali lost 112 pounds and became the first female Biggest Loser.

Guest list notes: In the sea of women at the brunch I did see 3 male guests (not counting the male model for the Westcor informal fashion show) Arizona Foothills Publisher Michael Dee was one of them – on hand to congratulate all the women honorees.

Fashion notes: Westcor’s Marketing Manager Kate Birchler highlighted the women modeling fashions from several of Westcor’s stores. She let us in on an upcoming spring trend- and revealed that smaller handbags would be replacing the big handbag trend. Many of the women clutched their big bags with sighs of disappointment. But remember...that’s why they call it a fashion trend.

Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .