Women of Influence honors local women for their contributions to the community in and around Springfield. The 2017 awardees are:
- Dr. Susan J. Koch, chancellor of University of Illinois Springfield
- Molly Berendt, executive director of Compass for Kids
- Margaret "Boony" Luparell, owner of A Storage Box
- Rasha Said, CEO and founder of Sensible Innovations
- Dr. Tracey Smith, assistant professor and director of several programs at SIU School of Medicine
- Mary Therese "MT" Vann, owner of Prairie Property Solutions (honored posthumously)