Port Jefferson, NY – Calling her a “philanthropic and business dynamo”, the 5 Times Beacon Record Newspapers on Long Island, including the Port Times, named Colleen West Woman of the Year 2009 in its December 24, 2009 edition.
Colleen was awarded the honor by the newspaper as the result of her business and philanthropic efforts. The paper outlines the journey of this 28 year-old woman who returned to school to become a court reporter. Finishing the 3-year coursework in half the time, Colleen then established Enright Court Reporting, Inc. in 1991. That company has grown to a staff of more than thirty court reporters and is recognized as one of the most reliable, accurate, and professional agencies serving the Metro New York, Long Island, and White Plains areas. “A tremendous role model for young women going through struggles in their lives, Colleen demonstrates that you can get it done despite the challenges you face” said Suffolk County Executive, and West’s husband, Steve Levy. In the article, she was described by her General Counsel, Anne Marie Caradonna, as a “truly genuine person” and a “terrific employer” whose warmth and compassion extend to her management style and define her as an ideal employer, respected and admired for her hands-on approach and consideration of each “whole” person, their life and family, in her employ. Colleen has also owned a franchise for transcription services since 1998 and, under her leadership, the franchise transitioned to an alliance program, which now consists of 50 independently owned transcription companies throughout the nation. She is the sole owner of Enright Sten-Tel Transcription Services, Inc., a web-based company providing transcription services to a broad range of professions, including hospitals and large medical practices, and is ranked among the top 3 out of the 50 Sten-Tel transcription companies nationwide.
She is currently the chair of the board of directors for UCP of Suffolk, after having volunteered countless hours of her time to the organization over the prior five years. She dedicates and devotes her time to UCP, raising awareness about disabilities and the challenges faced by UCP’s participants. UCP Suffolk President and CEO Stephen Friedman commented that “she is the radiant face and the articulate, compassionate voice of UCP Suffolk…she has been the most steadfast friend to UCP Suffolk, and the strongest advocate, not just for the individuals we serve, but for creating Life Without Limits for all people with disabilities.”
Other accomplishments leading to the honor included her service on the board of directors of the Bob Venero Children’s Foundation, her support of the Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities at Stony Brook University, and 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition. She has been featured on Cablevision’s “Women of the New Century”, was honored in 2008 by the National Association of Women Business Owners, and was named one of Long Island’s Top 50 Most Influential Women by the Long Island Business News in 2008. In 2007, she was selected as an honoree during National Women’s History Month by the Town of Islip because of her extensive philanthropic efforts and outstanding achievements.
