Monday, April 02, 2012YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – One of 25 professional women from the Mahoning Valley will be selected as the recipient of the 2012 Athena Award at the 20th anniversary Athena Award Dinner May 24 at Mr. Anthony’s, 7440 South Ave., Boardman.
The dinner, one of the top five largest Athena Award events in the United States, is sponsored by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and The Vindicator/vindy.com. The Athena Award recognizes area business and professional women who have demonstrated excellence in their chosen career, provided leadership in the community and mentored or contributed to the growth of other professional women.
The keynote speaker for the event, presented by Huntington Bank, is Annika Sorenstam, regarded as the greatest female golfer of this generation and likely the best of all time. During her 15-year Hall of Fame career, Sorenstam amassed 89 worldwide professional victories, including 72 LPGA wins, 10 of which are major championships, won countless awards and changed the way women’s golf was played, viewed and covered.
Also during the dinner, the recipient of the $1,500 Athena Scholarship, created in 2007 through a partnership with the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, will be announced. The scholarship fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation, will further the goals of the Athena mission and promote education. The recipient of the Athena Scholarship has demonstrated initiative and excellence in her educational or work pursuits, a proven record of community involvement and service and commitment to, and experience in, mentoring others.
This year’s nominees are:
Karen Abrams, senior vice president and trust advisor, PNC Bank, NA;
Suzanne Barbati, president and executive drector, OH WOW! Roger and Gloria Jones Center for Science & Technology;
Julie Costas, director of marketing, VTI American Express Travel;
Mary DeGenaro, judge, 7th District Court of Appeals;
Charlotte Diss, senior director, American Heart Association;
Patricia Dougan, president, 7th Ward Citizens Coalition Inc., and Community Legal Aid Services;
Maureen Drummond, executive director, HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley;
Joann Esenwein, director, Center for Transportation Materials Engineering, Youngstown State University;
Amanda R. Frost, vice president and business relationship specialist, First Place Bank;
Elizabeth Goerig, principal, Maplewood Local School District;
Catherine Hubbs, contractor/former owner, Vacuform, Inc.;
Michele Lambert, manufacturing integration manager, General Motors;
Natalie Lariccia, financial advisor, The Jones Group/Merrill Lynch;
Sharon M. Letson, executive director, Youngstown CityScape;
Ingrid A. Lundquist, counselor/education specialist, Penn State University Talent Search Program, New Castle Area Schools;
Gina Marinelli, development officer, HMHP Foundation;
Suzanne M. Myers, commercial health care team leader -- senior vice president, Huntington National Bank;
Madeline Pagan, director of teleservices – media, InfoCision Management Corporation;
Debbie Parisi, president, Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors;
Lorie Rhine, chief nursing officer, Northside Medical Center;
Carol Rimedio-Righetti, commissioner, Mahoning County;
Dr. Marybeth Shaffer, Shaffer Dentistry;
Stephanie L. Shaw, executive director, Eastern Ohio P-16 Partnership in Education;
Shelley Taylor Odille, vice president and principal, Paige & Byrnes Insurance;
Lana VanAuker, activity therapist, Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
The event opens with a cocktail reception (cash bar) at 5:45 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 6:30 p.m.
Cost of the dinner is $50 per person. Invitations will be mailed in mid-April. Reservations are required by May 16 by contacting Jennifer Mascardine at 330-744-2131 ext. 12; by email at [email protected], or by accessing the events calendar on the Regional Chamber website.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.