The women selected for the award come from various sectors of business, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Selections were made based on the person's position, community involvement and leadership role in helping to develop personal and professional growth for women.

"I always felt that no matter where I was, being part of a community was an important part of my job," said Tallman, whose involvement includes sitting on the board of directors for the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, the new lodging association, beautification committee and banner design group.

Her work in such organizations include the creation of a Los Gatos brochure, a project she worked on during her first year on the Chamber board in 1997. She would later go on to help develop a coupon book for the Chamber.

"She's just extremely generous," said Ronee Nassi, executive director for the Chamber. "Everybody calls her to see what the Toll House can provide."

Both Tallman and the Toll House received a business commendation from the town of Los Gatos recently for their work and sponsorship of town events.

Known for her longevity in the field of hospitality management, Tallman's first career was actually in education. After teaching sixth-grade science for five years, Tallman relocated from New York to the Virgin Islands in 1965, where she operated a restaurant with her husband.

"That was my introduction to the hospitality industry, and that was when I fell in love with it," said Tallman, who entered into a male-dominated profession during a time when women were viewed as too emotional for the job.

"You really had to prove yourself, and you were competing against men," she said.

But she broke down barriers when she earned the title as one restaurant's first-ever food and beverage director and oversaw a staff of more than 200 employees.

"Consequently this opened up doors for other women," she said, adding that she promoted some female employees and encouraged them to seek professional development.

"I never felt myself that I couldn't achieve what I wanted to do," she said.

After several more moves—to San Francisco, San Diego and the Los Angeles area, where she worked as general manager for Holiday Inn—Tallman found herself at the Toll House in 1997.

As she drove down Santa Cruz Avenue upon her first trip into town, "there was this feeling that this is where I should be," Tallman said.

"She came to us very experienced," said Toll House managing partner Wayne Levenfeld.

Under Tallman's direction as general manager the past six years, the hotel saw the expansion of a third floor to one side of the building.

"She definitely builds a team. She brings people into the team," Levenfeld said. He described her as more the type to build consensus than to pursue her own agenda. "That doesn't mean she's afraid to advance her ideas, but she likes to get people on board," he said.

Under Tallman's guide, the hotel also expanded its "early bird" meal program and introduced its "First Tuesday of the Month" program, where the hotel features drinks from local wineries and works by local artists.

Since the "First Tuesday" program began a little more than a year ago, wineries are now contacting the hotel, and the Toll House has booked the wineries through next February, Tallman said.

"It's been absolutely overwhelming. When you start something, you never know what will happen," Tallman said.

Though she didn't know how her suggestion of a "First Tuesday" program would pan out, Tallman never allowed herself to be inhibited by fear.

"If you have an idea, give it a try. The worst thing is not trying," she said.