Twenty-five Local Women Named 2012 Athena Award Nominees - March 28, 2012

An impressive group of 25 professional women from the area are finalists for the 2012 Athena Award, and one will be named the recipient at the 20th-anniversary Athena Award Dinner May 24 at Mr. Anthony’s, 7440 South Ave., Boardman.

The dinner, one of the five largest Athena Award events in the U.S., is sponsored by the 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 — presented by Huntington Bank — is Annika Sorenstam, regarded as the greatest female golfer of our generation and likely the best of all time. During her 15-year Hall of Fame career, Annika rewrote the LPGA and Ladies European Tour record books, won countless awards and changed the way women’s golf was played, viewed and covered. She amassed 89 worldwide professional victories, including 72 LPGA wins, 10 of which are major championships.

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 (CFMV), will be announced. The scholarship fund, a component fund of the CFMV, furthers the goals of the Athena mission and promotes 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.

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 and may be made by contacting Jennifer Mascardine at 330.744.2131, ext. 12; by email or by accessing the Chamber's events calendar.

2012 Athena Award Nominees

Karen Abrams
Senior Vice President, Trust Advisor
PNC Bank, NA

Suzanne Barbati
President and Executive Director
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.
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, 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, CRPC®
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 & Principal
Paige & Byrnes Insurance

Lana VanAuker
Activity Therapist
Trumbull Memorial Hospital

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