Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel CEO presented Woman of Impact Award
26 May 2023(PRESS RELEASE) -- Laura Penney, CEO, Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel, was honored with the "Woman of Impact Award" at the Onward and Upward Women's Conference, hosted by The North Idaho Alliance, a woman-based leadership organization, on 24 May at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.
The award recognizes Penney, also a keynote speaker at the event, for important traits that include an optimistic attitude, persistence, a strong and powerful voice, passion, purpose, self-confidence and authenticity, as well as her significant contributions to the community throughout her illustrious career. The 15th annual Onward & Upward Conference attracted a sold-out audience of 225 women who took part in the full-day lineup of panels and speakers who are considered visionary leaders and forecasters.
"I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Penney. “I share this award with all of the women in my community – especially those who I work with every day at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel – who help create positive change and inspire others to break barriers and overcome obstacles.”
Added Marilee Wallace, CEO, The North Idaho Alliance, "Laura truly emulates all the qualities of the ‘Women of Impact’ award criteria, which are not only reflected in her position as a leading businesswoman and CEO in our region, but as an individual woman. Laura has a quiet grace that leads and inspires everyone she comes in contact with.”
The Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and Penney, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University and an MBA from the University of Idaho, has been with the resort since Day 1, beginning her career in gaming as an economic development planner and later as a planning director.
She was named CEO in 2019 and under her leadership, Penney safely guided it to be the first casino in the country to reopen after the pandemic hit, setting the standard for health and safety measures for fellow casino operators nationwide.