EASLEY — The Easley Business and Professional Women’s Club celebrated its 50th anniversary Thursday night with its annual banquet, crowning the Career Woman of the Year and the Woman of Accomplishment.

Easley City Councilperson Kim Valentin was name the Woman of Accomplishment.

Valentin is the owner of Valentin Occasions, a full service florist and garden accent retail store located on Powdersville Road.

She previously owned Simply Unique in dowtown Easley from 2001 to 2007.

She served as president of the Easley Downtown Business Association in 2006 and 2007.

Valentin was elected to Easley City Council in 2005, and ran unopposed for re-election in 2009. She is currently the mayor pro tem.

Vicki Fletcher was named Career Woman of the Year.

Fletcher is the executive director of the Pendleton District Historical, Recreational and Tourism Commission.

Fletcher grew up an “army brat” with roots in Germany, Kentucky, Georgia and dozens of army posts Army posts across the globe. When her late husband musteded out of the Navy in 1977, they decided to chose Oconee County as the place to raise their children.

Fletcher edged out several nominees for her award.

The runner-up was Cortni Nations. Nations is the expansion director for Safe Kids Upstate, a program of the Children’s Hospital of the Greenville Hospital System. She is the former director of Prevent Child Abuse Pickens County.

Other finalist for the award include:

• Sheila Beasley, a teacher at East End Elementary School who has recently been named Teacher of the Year for the Pickens County School District.

• Darlene Cole, Senior Vice President and Human Resource Director for CommunitySouth Bank.

• Former Easley High School principal Betty Garrison,

• Pam Jeter, chairperson of MARY’s House.

The kenote speaker for the banquet was Shana Goff, Mrs. South Carolina International.

Goff sang, “I Believe I Can Fly” before sharing a few words of inspiration.

Goff encouraged those in attendance to constantly display perseverance and determination.

“Faith will help you cross the finish line,” Goff said.

Goff told of how her personal determination has helped her achieve goals in her life.

“When someone tells me I can’t, I just tell myself that I can,” she said.

Goff said faith is the key to making it through tough times.

“Sometimes you may have all the tools to run the rane, but sometimes you need a little something extra to get you through,” Goff said.