Women’s Resource Center (WRC), a domestic violence intervention and prevention services nonprofit organization with offices in Newport and Warren, recently honored their Newport County “Wild Women” honorees for 2017 at the Atlantic Resort in Middletown. Pam Hyland, CEO, Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, a Warwick resident, was recognized for being an inspiring role model who is active and involved in business, civic and community organizations throughout Rhode Island. Lori DiPersio, executive director of the Women’s Resource Center, said in a statement, “Our honorees have a powerful influence on the people around them on a professional and personal level.”

This year’s distinguished Wild Women Luncheon emcee was an honoree from 2016’s class of Wild Women, Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese. She is a professor and former chair of the National Security Affairs Department at the Naval War College in Newport. As a woman working in a non-traditional field, Dr. Freese is committed to supporting women’s issues and blogs about challenges faced in the workplace. All proceeds from the Wild Women Luncheon benefit the Women’s Resource Center of Newport and Bristol Counties, a member of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence.