February 11, 2026 • 7 mins
Palm Beach Atlantic University Executive VP of Advancements Laura Bishop joins us to share details about their Women of Distinction program and the upcoming luncheon on Feb. 17 at The Breakers Palm Beach Resort.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, Joel Malcoln for wj ando dot com and we
are talking about Women of Distinction with Palmbach Atlantic University.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
This is a program that the school does and we have.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
The executive vice President of Advancements at PBAU with us,
Lori Bishop, thank you for joining me.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Good morning, Thanks for having me. It's a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
So let's get some information on the Women of Distinction
program because I know you have an event coming up.
I want to talk about that, but first set the
table here, let us know what it's all about. How
long have you been doing this program at Pombach Atlantic.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Thank you so much. We're excited about it. This is
our thirty fourth annual Women of Distinction and what we
do is we honor women who are community leaders who
value faith, family and service and they work hard to
preserve these ideas ideas for generations to come. We also
raise scholarships for hardworking Palm Beach Atlantic University students. Since
(00:58):
nineteen ninety, seventy three students have received a Women of
Distinction scholarship. But this year alone, we have raised enough
money already to fund one hundred scholarships here at Palm
Beach at Land University. So We're really grateful for the
community's support. This year, we're honoring Hillary Gary Ross and
(01:21):
Sarah McCann on February seventeenth.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Could you tell us a little bit about the two recipients.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, i'd be happy to Sarah McCann. She's a PPA
board member and a Palm Beach resident. She's the CEO
and creative director of Hive Collection. It's an amazing collection
of brands here in West Palm Beach, devoted to luxury
products and high quality services. She's got Hive Cafe, high
for Women, high for men, high for kids, beautiful and
(01:54):
tier design services, and just a lovely woman. She also
serves on the Norton Board and has just been really
great asset to our community. Hilary Gary Ross is the
author of two really fun coffee table books, New York
New York and Palm Beach People. They were both created
(02:15):
in collaboration with this really amazing Scottish American photographer Harry Benson.
And she's a social editor for Quest and Q magazines.
And she's been really involved in Palm Beach Preservation Foundation
and has just been a super asset to our incredible community.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
What is New York New York about I mean, what
is it?
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Essentially picture books with you know, here's this and then
they kind of like a blurb and I mean, how
does it read?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, a really amazing coffee book. It's one of these
kinds of books that when you look through it, you
feel like you've had this great trip to New York.
So she does a super job with her creativity.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
That's cool. I like to go to New York time
and again. And I'm wondering if I did this book,
if there's some pizza in it somewhere.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, this winter, the best way to visit New York.
I think it's through this coffee book.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah, well that's true. That's true.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Yeah, I wouldn't go now, that's for sure. But yeah,
that was I guess the city. I saw something on
the news a couple of weeks ago. It was fourteen
inches under snow. I believe something like that.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
It's just like.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Wow, Yeah, I mean I think that we all know
that we have an incredible community to live in, but
this winter has certainly showed that. And how nice has
it been to have a little fire pits and turn
the heat on a little.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Bit too nice? That is nice? All right? So let's
talk about the event.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Now, you have the Women of Distinction Luncheon, and that
is when these when these two ladies are going to
get their Women of Distinction honors. Tell me about the luncheon.
I know it's coming up. Well, we're talking now on
February tenth, Tuesday, so it's a week from today, on
Tuesday the seventeenth. Yeah, so paint the picture coming up quickly.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
So I also want to add too that we're giving
in the Humanitarian Award out as well, and this year's
Humanitarian Award is going to Michelle Rigby asad. Really interestingly,
she's a PBA alumna and she received as a student
the Woman of Distinction Award and now she's coming as
a Mumanitarian Award winner. She served in the.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
CIA for over a decade.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
She was an intelligence officer, and we're really just excited,
especially as we're celebrating the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of
our country, to celebrate her commitment to international diplomacy, her leadership,
and just putting her life on the line to protect
our country. So the event, as you said, is Tuesday,
Abruary seventeenth. It starts at eleven am at the gorgeous
(04:51):
Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. There's a reception. Michelle Assad
is donating her amazing book and By Biography, and she's
going to be signing it for ladies and gentlemen during
that reception. Lunch then will be at noon. We're going
to be honoring Hillary, Sarah and Michelle. We also have
(05:14):
our previous recipient stance we can honor them. We've got
a great group of former recipients. Our first Lady, Malania
Trump has been a recipient, Lily Pulitzer, Barbara Nichols. So
we've just had a great group of previous women that
we also love to celebrate and it's going to be
(05:35):
a wonderful time to meet new friends and to see
old friends. We are selling out very very quickly, so
if listeners are interested in joying and joining us, I
would suggest they go right away to tba's website. It's
PBA dot ed u and you'll see information about how
to get tickets to this great event that will be inspiring.
(06:00):
We have our full concert choir. They'll be singing incredible
patriotic music. The meal, of course, will be fantastic from
the Breakers, and there's going to be some surprises throughout
the afternoon that I think that our guests will enjoy
very much.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Are we expecting the first lady to attend by any chance.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I can either confirm nor deny that.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Okay, all right, okay, all right, So yeah, we'll put
a link right up to get them directly to where
they can find more details and purchase tickets as well.
So we'll get that on where people are listening to
this interview on our website.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Anything to add for we wrap up.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yeah, we're just very grateful to for us ROA Capital.
There are underwriters and Amanda and Chuck Schumacher. They funded
fifty Schumacher scholars this year. So it's just incredible seeing
the community come together to make a difference for hard
working students who want to get a great, solid education
here in our beautiful community.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Women of Distinction Lunch in February seventeenth at the Breakers,
Palm Beach and Palm Beach Atlantic University's Lori Bishop, thank
you for joining me.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Thank you, it's been a pleasure to have you and
we love your show. Thanks so much.
Hey, Joel Malcoln for wj ando dot com and we
are talking about Women of Distinction with Palmbach Atlantic University.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
This is a program that the school does and we have.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
The executive vice President of Advancements at PBAU with us,
Lori Bishop, thank you for joining me.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Good morning, Thanks for having me. It's a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
So let's get some information on the Women of Distinction
program because I know you have an event coming up.
I want to talk about that, but first set the
table here, let us know what it's all about. How
long have you been doing this program at Pombach Atlantic.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Thank you so much. We're excited about it. This is
our thirty fourth annual Women of Distinction and what we
do is we honor women who are community leaders who
value faith, family and service and they work hard to
preserve these ideas ideas for generations to come. We also
raise scholarships for hardworking Palm Beach Atlantic University students. Since
(00:58):
nineteen ninety, seventy three students have received a Women of
Distinction scholarship. But this year alone, we have raised enough
money already to fund one hundred scholarships here at Palm
Beach at Land University. So We're really grateful for the
community's support. This year, we're honoring Hillary Gary Ross and
(01:21):
Sarah McCann on February seventeenth.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Could you tell us a little bit about the two recipients.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, i'd be happy to Sarah McCann. She's a PPA
board member and a Palm Beach resident. She's the CEO
and creative director of Hive Collection. It's an amazing collection
of brands here in West Palm Beach, devoted to luxury
products and high quality services. She's got Hive Cafe, high
for Women, high for men, high for kids, beautiful and
(01:54):
tier design services, and just a lovely woman. She also
serves on the Norton Board and has just been really
great asset to our community. Hilary Gary Ross is the
author of two really fun coffee table books, New York
New York and Palm Beach People. They were both created
(02:15):
in collaboration with this really amazing Scottish American photographer Harry Benson.
And she's a social editor for Quest and Q magazines.
And she's been really involved in Palm Beach Preservation Foundation
and has just been a super asset to our incredible community.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
What is New York New York about I mean, what
is it?
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Essentially picture books with you know, here's this and then
they kind of like a blurb and I mean, how
does it read?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, a really amazing coffee book. It's one of these
kinds of books that when you look through it, you
feel like you've had this great trip to New York.
So she does a super job with her creativity.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
That's cool. I like to go to New York time
and again. And I'm wondering if I did this book,
if there's some pizza in it somewhere.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, this winter, the best way to visit New York.
I think it's through this coffee book.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah, well that's true. That's true.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Yeah, I wouldn't go now, that's for sure. But yeah,
that was I guess the city. I saw something on
the news a couple of weeks ago. It was fourteen
inches under snow. I believe something like that.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
It's just like.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Wow, Yeah, I mean I think that we all know
that we have an incredible community to live in, but
this winter has certainly showed that. And how nice has
it been to have a little fire pits and turn
the heat on a little.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Bit too nice? That is nice? All right? So let's
talk about the event.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Now, you have the Women of Distinction Luncheon, and that
is when these when these two ladies are going to
get their Women of Distinction honors. Tell me about the luncheon.
I know it's coming up. Well, we're talking now on
February tenth, Tuesday, so it's a week from today, on
Tuesday the seventeenth. Yeah, so paint the picture coming up quickly.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
So I also want to add too that we're giving
in the Humanitarian Award out as well, and this year's
Humanitarian Award is going to Michelle Rigby asad. Really interestingly,
she's a PBA alumna and she received as a student
the Woman of Distinction Award and now she's coming as
a Mumanitarian Award winner. She served in the.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
CIA for over a decade.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
She was an intelligence officer, and we're really just excited,
especially as we're celebrating the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of
our country, to celebrate her commitment to international diplomacy, her leadership,
and just putting her life on the line to protect
our country. So the event, as you said, is Tuesday,
Abruary seventeenth. It starts at eleven am at the gorgeous
(04:51):
Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. There's a reception. Michelle Assad
is donating her amazing book and By Biography, and she's
going to be signing it for ladies and gentlemen during
that reception. Lunch then will be at noon. We're going
to be honoring Hillary, Sarah and Michelle. We also have
(05:14):
our previous recipient stance we can honor them. We've got
a great group of former recipients. Our first Lady, Malania
Trump has been a recipient, Lily Pulitzer, Barbara Nichols. So
we've just had a great group of previous women that
we also love to celebrate and it's going to be
(05:35):
a wonderful time to meet new friends and to see
old friends. We are selling out very very quickly, so
if listeners are interested in joying and joining us, I
would suggest they go right away to tba's website. It's
PBA dot ed u and you'll see information about how
to get tickets to this great event that will be inspiring.
(06:00):
We have our full concert choir. They'll be singing incredible
patriotic music. The meal, of course, will be fantastic from
the Breakers, and there's going to be some surprises throughout
the afternoon that I think that our guests will enjoy
very much.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Are we expecting the first lady to attend by any chance.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I can either confirm nor deny that.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Okay, all right, okay, all right, So yeah, we'll put
a link right up to get them directly to where
they can find more details and purchase tickets as well.
So we'll get that on where people are listening to
this interview on our website.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Anything to add for we wrap up.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yeah, we're just very grateful to for us ROA Capital.
There are underwriters and Amanda and Chuck Schumacher. They funded
fifty Schumacher scholars this year. So it's just incredible seeing
the community come together to make a difference for hard
working students who want to get a great, solid education
here in our beautiful community.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Women of Distinction Lunch in February seventeenth at the Breakers,
Palm Beach and Palm Beach Atlantic University's Lori Bishop, thank
you for joining me.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Thank you, it's been a pleasure to have you and
we love your show. Thanks so much.
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