FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Release
Media Contact: Mallory Benz, 704 337-2452
benzm@queens.edu
Marylaurel Wilks Named 2007 Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year
Wilks among five finalists for prestigious award
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Marylaurel Wilks |
A native of Jackson, Mich., Wilks joined the events department of Charlotte Motor Speedway (Lowe’s Motor Speedway) in 1993. She was later promoted to corporate counsel, and worked with the managing principals to form Speedway Motor Sports, Inc., which today houses Charlotte (or Lowe’s) and Atlanta Motor Speedways. After Speedway Motor Sports, Inc. became public in 1995, Wilks added investor relations and corporate secretary to her many responsibilities. In 1997, she was promoted to general counsel and vice president of communications and later to senior vice president of administration of Lowe’s Motor Speedway, overseeing the facilities’ Speedway Club, ticketing, logistics, finance and legal operations. Today, she serves as executive vice president of management and administration.
Wilks earned her bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pa. She graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1993 where she co-founded the Sports & Entertainment Law Association. She is an active community member, serving as a member of the N.C. State Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association, the Mecklenburg and Cabarrus County Bar Associations, The May 20th Society and the National Investor Relations Institute.
Wilks has been recognized in the past for her many outstanding accomplishments and business acumen. She was recognized by the Charlotte Business Journal with the 1998 Women in Business Achievement Award and as a “40 Under 40” individual to watch in 2000. In addition, she was named as a “Legal Elite” in 2004 by Business North Carolina magazine.
The Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year Award, established in 1986, honors the achievements of exceptional businesswomen in the for-profit sector, based on their contributions to the business, civic and cultural communities in the Charlotte region. The award is presented annually at a luncheon held at Queens University of Charlotte. Queens has sponsored the award since its inception; Wachovia joined as a co-sponsor in 1992.
Finalists for the 2007 Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year award finalists were: Barbara Anderson, AMS Specialty Steel; Terri DeBoo, All American Roofing; Melissa McGuire, Sherpa, LLC; Anne Vulcano, CB Richard Ellis; and Marylaurel Wilks, Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Queens University of Charlotte is a private, co-ed, Presbyterian-affiliated comprehensive university, with a commitment to both liberal arts and professional studies. Located in the heart of historic Charlotte, Queens serves approximately 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students through its College of Arts and Sciences, the McColl School of Business, The Pauline Lewis Hayworth College and the Presbyterian School of Nursing.
Wachovia Corporation (NYSE:WB) is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services companies, with assets of $782.9 billion and market capitalization of $75.3 billion at December 31, 2007. Wachovia provides a broad range of retail banking and brokerage, asset and wealth management, and corporate and investment banking products and services to customers through 3,400 retail financial centers in 21 states from Connecticut to Florida and west to Texas and California, and nationwide retail brokerage, mortgage lending and auto finance businesses. Globally, clients are served in selected corporate and institutional sectors and through more than 40 international offices. Our retail brokerage operations under the Wachovia Securities brand name manage more than $1.2 trillion in client assets through 17,900 registered representatives in 1,500 offices nationwide. Online banking is available at wachovia.com; online brokerage products and services at wachoviasec.com; and investment products and services evergreeninvestments.com.
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