Auntie Anne Pretzels Founder Is Athena Award Speaker
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Auntie Anne Beiler, who founded the company that grew into Auntie Anne’s Inc., is the keynote speaker at this year’s Athena Award dinner May 23. With more than 1,000 outlets worldwide, Auntie Anne's is the world’s largest mall-based pretzel franchise.
The dinner will be held at 6:15 p.m. at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman.
The 21st annual event, one of the top-five Athena events in the United States, is presented by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and The Vindicator. It will culminate with the announcement of the 2013 winner of the Athena Award winner from among the 29 professional women nominated.
The Athena Award recognizes area business and professional women who have demonstrated excellence in their chosen careers, provided leadership in the community and mentored or contributed to the growth of other professional women.
Beiler, presented by sponsor The Muransky Companies, will speak about her life as one of small number of women who have founded national companies and one of an even smaller number who have owned a company that franchises internationally.
She began twisting pretzels in 1987 to support her husband Jonas’ vision to open a free counseling service in their community. What began as a single farmer’s market stand grew into the international company.
Beiler was named one of America’s 500 women entrepreneurs by Working Women and Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. magazine.
During the dinner, recipients of three Athena scholarships will be announced. A $1,500 Athena Scholarship will be provided through a partnership with the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley. In addition, two scholarships new this year, each for $1,250, will be provided through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Athena Award nominees are:
Rachel A. Barber, accounts-receivable manager/corporate secretary, VEC Inc.
Sandi Bates, president, Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors.
Cara A. Berg-Carramusa, director of therapy services/physical therapist, Park Vista of Youngstown.
Kelly Bianco, principal, HBK Valuation Group LLC.
Sarah Brown-Clark, Youngstown municipal clerk of courts.
Rosemary Bulmer, clinical nurse assistant manager, cardio-vascular-thoracic, Northside Medical Center.
Rosetta Carter, elder, executive director & lead organizer, Action Inc.
Linda Case, PPS coordinator/clinical supervisor, Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital.
Lisa Colia, regional controller, De-Cal Inc.
Barbara L. Ewing, chief operating officer, Youngstown Business Incubator.
Dale Foerster, vice president, Starr Manufacturing Inc.
Kimberly Foster, senior vice president-regional retail manager, First Place Bank.
Dawn Friedkin, chief operating officer, Classic Optical Laboratories Inc.
Janelle Fumerola, managing principal, lead adviser, JFS Wealth Advisors.
Winifred Hosking, administrator/owner, Leeda Northeast Inc.
Angela Kerns, chief nursing officer, The Surgical Hospital at Southwoods.
Kelly Kiraly, office manager, Bury Financial Group
Nancy Landgraff, professor and chairwoman, Department of Physical Therapy, Youngstown State University.
Brenda L. Mack, president, Ohio Black Republicans Association.
Laura Meeks, president, Eastern Gateway Community College.
Jill L. Murphy, vice president, government banking, Huntington National Bank.
Merry Nemeth, controller, RailWorks Track Services Inc.
Mariann Pacak, director of heart and vascular services, Humility of Mary Health Partners
Diana L. Palmer, CPA, owner & CEO, Diana Palmer, CPA Inc. & Family Financial Planning LLC.
Jodi Riedel, supervisor of special needs, Trumbull Career and Technical Center.
Beth Scheller, vice president of strategic advancement, YMCA of Youngstown
Lorilyn Shandor, gift planning/campaign director, OPRS Foundation/Park Vista.
Lori Sylvester, vice president of clinical services, Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
Barbara K. Yates, division director of behavioral health outpatient services, Compass Family and Community Services.
The dinner opens with a cocktail reception (cash bar) at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $60 per person. Reservations are required by May 15 by calling Jennifer Mascardine at 330 744 2131 ext. 12. Walk-ins will not be admitted.
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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