Several years ago when this woman was growing up on her parents farm in the Ozarks, she never dreamed her life would take her where she is today. She had dreams of becoming a wife and mother. She grew up, got married and made her home in Willow Springs where she wanted to raise her family and make a difference in the Community. When her whole life changed in the blink of an eye she had some tough decisions to make. She chose to go to work instead of wallowing in self pity as most of us would have been tempted to do. She got to work in the business her husband had started. She may have had doubts about her ability to undertake such a big job, but if she did no one ever heard her complain. Norman Schwarzkopf once said that there was only one rule, "Do what's right." This woman runs her business with "an iron fist in a velvet glove". She can be as tough as nails when she needs to be and as soft as a cloud when she needs to be, however all her business decisions are based on sound business principals and good ethics. What qualities does she possess that have made her business a success: persistence, dedication, a willingness to embrace change, putting the customer first and all the other things we have heard over and over. What really sets her apart? GUTS! The guts to get the job done, the guts to do what other people don't want to do, the guts to hire good people and give them the tools and authority to do their jobs, the guts to make sure they are successful, the guts to be not the biggest, but the best, the guts to have a positive attitude,...... the guts to do what's right. She has been a wife, raised 3 daughters and is a grandmother of 4. Her love and support of the community for over 30 years is a result of working to make this place better for the children of the future. This year's recipient of the Woman of the Year award has built one of the strongest Real Estate Agencies in the area by hard work, good morals and ethics. She has been a member of the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce; Willow Springs Athletic Boosters Club; Acacadmic Boosters Club; active member at Church of God; Willow Springs Country Club; Willow Springs Muncipal Golf Course; Ozark Trail Board of Realtors; National Association of Realtors, Missouri Association of Realtors; and received numerous awards throughout her 30 years in her Real Estate Business. This year's 2003 Woman of the Year....Sherrel Baker! * the above was the speech Naomi Milner gave when she announced the Woman of the Year *