05/20/2026
Awwww someone sent this to me from The Gazette! It was such an honor and I can’t wait for the next event! Just remember.. It’s all about Him Friends!!!
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(Staff photo by Sharda James)Attendees gather during the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce’s annual Women in Business event on Wednesday at The Primary Commons in Nash, Texas. The event brought together local professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders for panel discussions, networking and recognition of women making an impact in the Texarkana area.
NASH, Texas — The Texarkana Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Women in Business event, bringing together local professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders for a day focused on leadership, growth and shared experience.
The event at The Primary Commons featured two panel discussions highlighting women leaders from a variety of industries. Panelists spoke about their career paths, challenges they faced, and lessons learned while building businesses and leading organizations.
The first panel focused on entrepreneurship and innovation, with speakers discussing how they sustained their ventures and offering advice to other women wanting to start a business.
Cassidy Lavender, owner of Lavender Thorne, said she was honored and thankful to have been chosen to be part of the Women in Business event.
“It’s all about putting Jesus first,” Lavender said. “The passion that I have for women and people, I want to see them well from the top of their heads to the bottom of their feet, so I hope people leave this event feeling seen and heard.”
The second panel centered on kindness and giving back to the community. Participants spoke about the importance of adaptability, mentorship and community support in navigating the evolving business and balancing their personal and professional lives.
Attendees had the opportunity to engage with panelists and network with fellow professionals throughout the event.
“One of the things I took away from the event is that everyone is in a different season of life, focus on your race,” Amber Adams said. “Sometimes you may not look like you’re winning, you may feel behind, but keep on keeping on and focus on running your race.”
The program also included recognition of outstanding women in the community. The Woman of the Year award was presented to Susan Robbins with Robbins Toyota.
A Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented to Mary Priscilla “Prissy” Hickerson in recognition of her long-standing contributions to the Texarkana business community.
Chamber CEO and president Robin Hickerson said the Women in Business event is all about the women and encouraging each other in the community.
“Sometimes you just need to pause and celebrate the group of ladies who embody what it means to be a part of Texarkana USA,” Hickerson said. “Our mission for today is for the women to walk out of here with new tools in their toolboxes and to feel empowered to go out and lift their families up, the community, and most importantly themselves.”
