Six Receive Chamber Honors

By ALLAN DRURY, THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: October 18, 2002)

During her career as a social worker, Danna M. Wood-Webb felt the sadness of living in a society that she felt did not treat elderly people with the respect they deserved.

Wood-Webb, who held a number of positions in the Columbia University Graduate School of Social Work, thought getting a law degree would give her a chance to help the elderly population she admired.

She gained recognition for her efforts last night when the African American Chamber of Commerce of Westchester and Rockland Counties named her the Westchester County businessperson of the year.

Wood-Webb, who practices elder law in White Plains, was one of six business and political leaders lauded by the chamber for their community contributions. They received their honors at the chamber's sixth-annual awards and scholarship dinner held at Antun's of Westchester in Elmsford.

Wood-Webb was one of two recipients with a social work background. Symra D. Brandon, the Democratic minority leader on the Yonkers City Council, was honored as the Westchester elected official of the year.

Other recipients were: Rodney J. Reynolds, the publisher of American Legacy Magazine, named business leader of the year; Aaron Harris, an owner and operator for McDonald's, named Rockland County businessperson of the year; Debra White, a manager for the New York Power Authority, named corporate leader of the year; and Jacques O. D'i. Michel, executive director and chief executive officer of the Rockland County Sheriff's Department Crime Awareness Program, named Rockland official of the year.

Wood-Webb helps seniors with wills, trusts, health planning and other issues.

"I've been interested in seniors for quite a long time," she said. "We're all aging and some people were not really getting the kinds of services they needed. The elderly are kind of shunted aside. I think every person has a right to be respected and treated with dignity."

She said some of her clients seem afraid to ask questions because they'll look ignorant for not knowing the answers. She tries to put them at ease by telling them she's not doing her job if she can't explain matters to them well.

Brandon, who works as an assistant to Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, said she draws on her social work experience when she thinks of her work on the city council. She said she thinks of the entire city of Yonkers as her caseload.

A council member since 1992, she said she is particularly proud of her efforts to create business improvement districts.