Manager of the Year Audrey Hinchcliffe, founder and CEO of Manpower and Maintenance Services Limited, poses with her award, during the Jamaican Institute of Management Manager of the Year awards ceremony, held at the Knutsford Court hotel in New Kingston, on Friday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Founder and CEO of Manpower and Maintenance Services Ltd Audrey Hinchcliffe has been named 2008's Manager of Year.

The Jamaican Institute of Management (JIM), in association with The Gleaner Company Ltd, on Friday recognised Hinchcliffe and three other candidates, who had excelled in their administrative tasks, during a ceremony held at the Knutsford Court hotel in New Kingston.

The other candidates were Dr Audia Barnett, of the Scientific Research Council, Denham McIntyre, principal of Cornwall College in Montego Bay and Sandra Grace O'Meally, of corporate planning, monitoring and evaluation in the Cabinet Office at Jamaica House.

Shares her expertise

"Mrs Hinchcliffe, in spite of her busy schedule, has made time to share her expertise with other enterprises in positions such as chairman of the Hi-Lo Food Stores and director of GraceKennedy Limited," the JIM stated.

In responding to her award , Hinchcliffe said: "I would like to thank JIM and The Gleaner Company Limited for this recognition of those who are called managers. I would also like to say there are many others (managers) who are just as deserving (as me). The people we manage who think we are worthy of this award must see something in us that we don't see."

She added: "We ought to be proud and thankful of the workers we manage. I'm on a mission ... I work with a group of people no one wants to take and they make me the person I am today. The award I have received is for my workers."

The award was presented by Lady Hall, the wife of Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall.

Achievements

✓ Formerly served as the first woman president of the Jamaica Employers' Federation, where she spent two terms from July 2004 to July 2008, leading the federation from obscurity to a most respected voice of employers.

✓ Was the first chairman of the Medecus Health Insurance Company, up to the time it was sold by GraceKennedy to Guardian Life

✓ Was deputy chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund and chairman of its project committee.

✓ Also served as chairman of the Nursing Council of Jamaica for 11 years up to March 2005.