Melanie Damian,  was awarded the 2012 Thelma Gibson Award of Excellence by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Miami Dade County.  The award is given to Women that exemplify excellence and leadership in the areas of business, community and service.

The award is named after Thelma Gibson, founder of Miami-Dade County’s first women’s chamber in 1984.  Gibson, a registered nurse, began her career as a staff nurse at Jackson Memorial Hospital in 1947. For more than 50 years, she has also been a trailblazer in education, mental and physical health, community and professional leadership, volunteerism and service to her church, community and family.  The Women’s Chamber of Commerce continues to be Miami Dade’s on Women’s Chamber and is dedicated to the promotion of women professionals and women owned businesses.