“I get to do what I love every day,” said Leslie Thomas Domingues.

The Professional Women of St. Tammany named Domingues the 2009 Woman of the Year Thursday night. She owns the Northlake Academy of Music and has developed many programs over the last 12 years, including some for special needs children.

Her music appreciation program, offers “live music,” percussion, sign language, movement and more. Her program grew from a small class to satellite locations with 19 employees. An estimated 5,000 children have attended her programs.

Shown receiving her award from Karen Hymel as 2009 St. Tammany Woman of the Year by the Professional Women of St. Tammany is Leslie Thomas Domingues, owner of Northlake Academy of Music. (Staff Photo by Debbie Glover)

She donates scholarships to those with special needs and those with financial hardships. Recently, she has secured a music room for the Beacon Prep Academy as well as grant writing for the special school.

She is currently working on creating a non-profit event called Friends of Music that will raise money to distribute to local music programs.

She is also generous with her time and talent, creating and donating art to numerous local charities, including the Junior League, Our Lady of the Lake, St. Paul’s School, St. Scholastica Academy, and the American Heart Association.

Other nominees this year included Donna Beakley, market coordinator for the Mandeville Trailhead Cultural Center; Trilby Lenfant, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Mandeville; Beth Mitchell, program coordinator of STARC; Lori Pausina, branch manager of Whitney Bank; Gayle Sloan, Superintendent, St. Tammany Parish School Board; Nancy Thompson, executive director of Safe Harbor, Inc. and Phoebe Whealdon, Realtor, Coldwell Banker TEC Realtors.

Money raised at the annual banquet goes to support the scholarship fund that assists women in furthering or completing their education. Recognizing the success of local women, this Woman of the Year award is based on professional achievements and a commitment of service to our community. The nominees and winner are selected based on contribution of time and talent to civic, community, religious or professional organizations; demonstrating career objectives over and above her job description, and significant contributions in her field.