2020 ATHENA Awards Publication

34th Annual

ATHENA International Awards Thursday, January 23, 2020

support develop honor

celebrating leading women of rochester Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its Women’s Council affiliate are pleased to present the 34th Annual International ATHENA Award finalists, the finalists of Rochester’s ATHENA Young Professional Award, and the ATHENA Organizational Award finalists. The awards are designed to recognize outstanding leadership and organizations in the Greater Rochester region, as well as empower the next generation of women leaders. Each finalist represents the ATHENA leadership model at its best, and our community benefits greatly from their excellence, service, and vision.

In addition, we appreciate the tremendous generosity of our sponsors whose contributions allow us to present the ATHENA Awards program each year.

The women and organizations profiled in this special Rochester Chamber ATHENA International magazine represent nearly every sector of our business community including corporate, entrepreneurial, education, legal, health care, and not-for-profit organizations. The contributions of each finalist to her organization have produced exceptional results. Their work in our community as leaders and individuals who recognize and embrace the importance of assisting other women in their personal and professional development cannot be overstated.

The internationally recognized ATHENA Awards program was founded in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan by ATHENA International Founder Martha Mertz. The award was originally established to honor the achievements of exceptional women leaders.

More importantly, it was established to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and business lives. Since 1982, more than 7,000 top leaders in over 500 communities have received the prestigious ATHENA International Award in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, China, Greece, India, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. By honoring exceptional leaders, the ATHENA International Awards program seeks to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives.

The program was introduced to the Rochester community in 1987 by Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate, the Women’s Council. The ATHENA International Awards program is a tribute to all who participate, including our outstanding finalists and their nominators. As the only international awards program in Rochester dedicated solely to recognizing outstanding female leadership and organizations, we thank the community for its continued support and participation.

As you read and learn more about the ATHENA International Awards finalists, we know you will agree that they are outstanding examples of achievement and leadership.

Bob Duffy President and CEO Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce

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Stephanie Seiffert President Women’s Council

contents

8 Re c o g n i z i n g O u r AT H E N A International Award Sponsors 12 Q&A with Nocon & Associates 1 4 2 0 2 0 AT H E N A A w a r d F i n a l i s t s 2 4 2 0 2 0 AT H E N A Yo u n g Professional Award Finalists 3 2 2 0 2 0 AT H E N A O r g a n i z a t i o n a l Award Finalists

S p e c i a l t h a n k s t o Ro c h e s t e r C h a m b e r ’s publication printing partner: S e l b y M a r k e t i n g , L LC

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CO NN ECT TO SUC C ESS

• Grow your professional knowledge and network • Discover local, regional, and global opportunities • Create change through meaningful engagement and action • Access resources to keep you and your organization on the right track

gr eater roches ter cham b er of c ommerce 150 State Street, Suite 400, Rochester, NY 14614 (585) 244-1800

Bob Duffy President and CEO Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce

w e a r e a s tronger voice toget her l e a r n how at www.greaterroches t er c h am ber .c o m

“As a new business owner in the Rochester area, Rochester Chamber was very supportive of our company and our mission to help the community by helping to form connections as my company grew.

I have attended several member events and found customers, vendors, friends, and allies. Another benefit to Rochester Chamber is its constant commitment to our young professionals. I would recommend Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce membership to any company, big or small, because of the many benefits it offers and its commitment to help Rochester succeed.”

Michele Liddle Owner The Perfect Granola

Robert S. Sands Executive Chairman, Constellation Brands Chairman of the Board, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce

Our Mission The Women’s Council is your net that works. We are the most top of mind organization for successful professional women in Greater Rochester. Women’s Council members support and collaborate with other women, no matter what,irrespective of level, role, age–through each stage of their career. Women know the effects of Women’s Council on women’s careers and they feel the responsibility to pay it forward to the next generation of women leaders.

The Women’s Council is for every woman who dares to pursue the career she always wanted. We are: defining what it means to be a professional woman, building stronger women and more meaningful networks, and have an amazing group of women who are unafraid to be bold in their professions.

There are a lot of reasons to join us

$75

Membership with the Women’s Council, a Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce affiliate, lets you connect, share and learn from a wide variety of professional women in the Rochester community. Membership also offers you a chance to develop yourself professionally with programs and networking and educational opportunities.

per year

Your affordable membership fee will also provide financial support for our scholarship and mentoring programs for young women in our community.

$35

Be a woman of wisdom

per year

It’s easy to get involved. Just join one of our committees and share your talents, skills, experiences and resources with others. At the same time, you’ll help the Women’s Council help other women to be the best they can be.

For more information, visit www.rocwomenscouncil.org

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A Well-Deserved Honor Congratulations to our board member, Arline L. Bayó Santiago, for being a 2019 Athena Award finalist.

500 East Avenue  Rochester, NY  585.271.4100  www.racf.org

BRAVO, COMMUNITY LEADERS Congratulations to all the 2020 ATHENA Award® finalists, including: Julie Camardo, CEO and Owner of Zweigle’s Inc. — Young Professional Award finalist Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester, NY — Organizational Award finalist United Way of Greater Rochester — Organizational Award finalist

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Congratulations We are proud to recognize our colleagues Stephanie Caffera and Kim Harding and all of the inspiring 2020 ATHENA Award finalists. We celebrate your achievements, leadership, and the positive changes your contributions make in our community.

Stephanie Caffera, Partner 2020 ATHENA International Award finalist

Kimberly HardinG, Partner-Elect 2020 ATHENA Young Professional Award finalist

1300 Clinton Square | Rochester, NY nixonpeabody.com | @Nixonpeabodyllp 6

Brought to Rochester in 2000 by the Women’s Council, the Young Women of Distinction Award is presented to high school senior women who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to community service. The award embodies the Women’s Council’s belief that young women with promise today will become tomorrow’s leaders.

Out of 20 finalists, four award recipients are selected from each of the following demographic areas: ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT REGIONAL (Monroe and eight surrounding counties) MONROE COUNTY EAST MONROE COUNTY WEST Each of the four recipients receives a $2,500 scholarship. The remaining sixteen finalists are awarded a scholarship of a lesser amount. All finalists will receive gifts from our community sponsors along with recognition in local media.

For more information, contact Cassidy.Franklin@GreaterRochesterChamber.com or (585) 256-4665

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Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its Women’s Council affiliate are pleased to b r i n g t h e 3 4 t h A n n u a l AT H E N A I n t e r n a t i o n a l Awards program to our region. We gratefully a c k n o w l e d g e t h e g e n e r o s i t y o f t h e AT H E N A International Awards program sponsors.

Presenting Sponsor

Partners

ATHENA Organizational Award Sponsor

ATHENA Young Professional Award Sponsor

VIP & General Reception Sponsor

Premier Sponsor

Corporate Sponsors

Abrams Fensterman

ESL Federal Credit Union L3Harris Technologies, Communication Systems Nazareth College Roberts Wesleyan College The College at Brockport, SUNY

Supporting Sponsors ABVI & Goodwill of the Finger Lakes Eastman School of Music Goodbody & Associates, Merrill Lynch Huther Doyle Insero & Co. CPAs, LLP Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women

Paychex, Inc. St. John Fisher College The William & Sheila Konar Foundation Tompkins Bank of Castile Zweigle’s Inc.

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce gratefully acknowledges the generous support for this event from its partners and sponsors. To sponsor this event next year, contact Susan George at Susan.George@GreaterRochesterChamber.com or (585) 256-4612.

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a word from our major sponsors presenting sponsor The ATHENA Awards, hosted by the Women’s Council, a Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce affiliate, honors an exclusive group of women in business. The finalists are inspirational leaders in their organizations and our community. They are tireless advocates for the advancement of women, making an impact for future generations of women leaders worldwide. Simon Business School is proud to be part of the tradition of recognizing these influential women in our region.

Molly Mesko, Executive Director, Executive & Professional Programs Simon Business School, University of Rochester

young professional award sponsor Constellation Brands is proud to once again sponsor the ATHENA Awards.

This prestigious awards program recognizes the significant contributions that women make in business and in the Greater Rochester community. It is an opportunity to acknowledge not only the recipients’ accomplishments, but more importantly, their full potential and aspirations. We all know that when women succeed, our society benefits. Congratulations to this group of talented women and we thank you for all of the efforts and achievements that contribute to making the Greater Rochester community what it is today.

Tom Kane, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Constellation Brands

VIP & general reception sponsor Nixon Peabody is proud to sponsor the 2020 ATHENA Awards. This year’s finalists exemplify excellence. They are inspiring, empowering, and serve as role models to future generations. Thank you to the Women’s Council, a Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce affiliate, for shining a light on the women in our region and recognizing their outstanding achievements. With deep roots in Rochester, Nixon Peabody is grateful for the opportunity to honor and celebrate these leaders that make a difference in our community. Their energy, contributions, and innovative ideas have made Rochester the vibrant city it is today.

Jared Lusk, Rochester Office Managing Partner Nixon Peabody LLP

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101 ATHENA FOUNDING LIFETIME MEMBERS

Huther Doyle is honored to congratulate

Kelly Reed

Our President & CEO

on being selected as a finalist for the 2020 Athena Award!

You are always award winning to us!

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Nocon & Associates athena organizational award sponsor

Nocon & Associates Private Wealth Advisor Nannette Nocon took home the 2017 ATHENA International Award, recognizing an outstanding woman business leader. In a conversation with Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Sr. Director of Communications Dan Smith, Nocon took a look back upon the honor, talked about women in business, and shared how an “imaginary jar� helped her reach her career goals.

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Tell us about the career journey that led to where you are today.

Nannette I come from a family with five children. My mother was widowed at the age of 34. Her visa to immigrate to the U.S. from the Philippines was approved when my siblings and I were aged seven to 15. A year later, when I was in high school applying for college, I could not ask my mother to help me with the college application fees. I was only 15 and made money by babysitting at $1 an hour. I wrote to both Cornell and RIT about my situation. I relayed that I had no money to pay for the application fee.

Both schools sent me a letter that waived the fee. I went to Cornell because the financial aid package was better by $100. I was a nutrition major at Cornell and worked in the field for a couple of years before I

became a financial advisor. I thought that I would work as a financial advisor for a couple of years, gain business experience, and get my MBA. That was 35 years ago! It was a difficult journey since my natural market was limited. I would buy some leads to at least make a connection.

One of the people I called yelled at me for having bothered him, and that he did not request any information on financial planning. I felt defeated that day. Things were not going so well at work. Thankfully, my mother was not charging me rent to live at home.

I remember praying at the foot of my bed, asking God to show me a sign that financial planning is what I am meant to do with my work life. That afternoon, the person who yelled at

me called back and told me that his wife reminded him that he indeed made that request. We met and they were so good to me. They treated me so well and referred me to their friends, who referred me to their friends and so on. My business is built on referrals. Today, I rank in the top two percent among advisors in the business. In 1997, I was named the Dalbar Advisor of the Year, the first and only award of its kind in the business. I was in a national ad campaign that Ameriprise promoted.

It was a great feeling.

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How did your ATHENA experience of 2017 impact your perspective on women in business?

Nannette The ATHENA came at a time in my life when I allowed myself to enjoy the blessing of being recognized. Prior to that, I would be grateful for recognition but kept on doing what I was doing. The ATHENA has made me more deliberate about thinking of ways to do more to give back to the community that has been so supportive of my work. I grew up with three sisters, one brother, and a widowed mom, and went to all girls’ Catholic school from kindergarten to high school. I have been surrounded by women all my life. I don’t think of women separately because I believe that we are as capable as men when we don’t let our personal bias get in the way.

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What are some key factors that have led to your success in the business world?

Nannette Being clear about my mission of serving others through financial planning is number one. In my twenties I read the book Think and Grow Rich which talks about having a definite mission in life and I took that to heart. As it turns out, my dad had the same book! Although I was only ten years old when my father passed away, knowing that he would have advised me to read the book makes me very happy. It’s also important to focus on maintaining energy. Stay clear of people who knock down themselves and others.

Surround yourself with people who give you energy and also appreciate the energy you share. There’s a lot of research and attention that has been given to having an attitude of gratitude lately, but I’ve always felt that I would not be where I am without being grateful. Gratitude is nicely paired with recognition.

I have just been doing what was natural to me, but The ATHENA Award is a reminder that I need to be deliberate at helping other women when I can.

What challenges do women in business face today?

What are potential solutions?

Nannette I think that more often than we all like, we create the challenges to succeed because of lack of confidence. To live a balanced life, there’s only so much time available to work. It’s best if we focus our goals and time on high impact activities.

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What advice can you share with other women as they make their ascension from young girls to high school and college students to career climbers or business owners?

Nannette No matter where you are in life, always set the bar higher than your last personal best. There is nothing noble about comparing ourselves to others, comparing against our former self is the best way to advance. Pay attention to your energy and enthusiasm.

Don’t let life bog you down. When I was in my twenties, I met many people in their fifties who seemed so burned out. I promised myself that I would not allow that. I created this imaginary jar that I would store my extra energy so that I could open the jar when I needed a boost in my later years. I am happy to say that I have more enthusiasm about living a full life today that I did back in my twenties. My imaginary jar worked!

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What strategies do you employ to maintain a work-life balance? What do you enjoy doing outside of the office?

Nannette

One of my mentors advised early in my career that I should plan my avocation as much as my vocation. I make sure that I take time to replenish and renew my energy. On a day-to-day basis, I enjoy the arts. Art makes my heart and eyes smile. In Rochester, we have the luxury of having live theatre, film, music, and physical and visual arts at the highest levels. We have some fun venues to enjoy. It’s a luxury really that access to art at any age or economic level is excellent in our

area. I also plan at least a vacation to a new destination every year. Most recently, I have incorporated structured workouts, I do cardio and weights, Pilates and yoga on a weekly basis. I believe that the work-life balance is different for everyone. For me, that balance means that I have activities that give me energy so that I can focus on my work when I am working. It also means that I thoroughly enjoy the company of my family and friends.

When I feel guilty about not spending time

with family and friends, I pull back from work since that is my go-to. In life, I don’t want any regrets. I want to continue to be able to go to sleep every night knowing that I did the best I can to contribute what I can to make the world a better place. I am very goal oriented, so I have been working on my master life goals, putting in more specifics for every year of my life.

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2020 athena award finalists 14

marlene bessette

julie marsiglio

President and Chief Executive Officer Catholic Family Center

Director of Major Gifts United Way of Greater Rochester

stephanie caffera

colleen matteson

Partner Nixon Peabody LLP

Rochester Market President and Senior Vice President Bank of America

nancy catarisano Managing Partner Insero & Co. CPAs LLP

dr. donna brink fox Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs; Eisenhart Professor of Music Education, Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester

kelly gagan Vice President, Institutional Advancement Nazareth College

dr. a. gidget hopf

dr. arlette miller smith Associate Professor, English, and Director, African American Studies St. John Fisher College

dr. deana l. porterfield President Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary

sujatha ramanujan Managing Director Luminate, NextCorps, Inc.

Chief Executive Officer Goodwill of the Finger Lakes and The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired

kelly reed

dr. heidi macpherson

arline santiago

President The College at Brockport, State University of New York

Senior Vice President and General Counsel ESL Federal Credit Union

President and Chief Executive Officer Huther Doyle Memorial Institute, Inc.

sharon stiller Managing Partner of the Abrams Fensterman Rochester Office and Director of the Employment Law Practice Abrams Fensterman

marlene besette President and Chief Executive Officer Catholic Family Center Marlene Bessette leads an organization that annually serves 25,000 of the poor and most vulnerable individuals and families in Monroe County. She is responsible for the effective operation and fiscal viability of programs which cover areas as diverse as homeless shelters, refugee resettlement, employment preparation, mental health, chemical dependency counseling, services for older adults, and mentoring programs aligned with the Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative. Prior to joining CFC in January of 2013, Bessette worked for Xerox Corporation for 28 years.

While there, she held financial, operational, and strategy positions including Vice President, Strategy

for U.S. Technical Services; Vice President, General Markets Administrative Operations; and Vice President, Western Hemisphere Logistics and Supply Chain. Committed to the personal development and professional advancement of women, Bessette served in leadership positions for the Xerox Women’s Alliance and was recognized by that organization with the Positive Difference Award. Bessette holds degrees from the University of Rochester, Duke University, and St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry. She resides in Pittsford, where she and her husband Eric are very active in church ministry.

They are proud parents of two adult children, André and Danielle.

stephanie caffera Partner Nixon Peabody LLP

Stephanie Caffera focuses her practice on labor and employment law. For over two decades, Caffera has advised clients on effective ways to handle a range of employment issues, including workplace harassment, mental health issues, and workplace violence. Caffera is a counselor and teacher. She is passionate about creating positive workplace cultures, where each person is respected and valued. Caffera has many years of engagement in the Rochester community. Currently, she serves on the President’s Council of Cornell Women and is intimately involved with the William E. McKnight Scholarship Award managed by the Urban League and the Rochester

Area Community Foundation. She also is a member of the New York State (Labor and Employment Law Section) and Monroe County bar associations. Caffera recently completed nine years as a member and officer of the Board of Trustees of Geva Theatre Center, where she helped the organization engage in strategic planning and expanding community engagement. Caffera is a past board member of Leadership Rochester, the Threshold Center for Alternative Youth Services, and the Rochester Chamber Women’s Council. Caffera holds a B.A., magna cum laude, from Cornell University and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law.

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nancy catarisano Managing Partner Insero & Co. CPAs LLP

Nancy Catarisano is Managing Partner of Insero & Co., a fullservice public accounting firm providing audit, tax, and consulting services. Catarisano started her own CPA firm when she was 29 years old and merged her practice into what is now Insero & Co. Since assuming the Managing Partner role, she has doubled the size of the firm while instilling a culture that earned Insero top spots on various best and innovative workplaces lists, including eight appearances in Accounting Today’s Best Accounting Firms to Work For ranking. Catarisano was also recognized as a Managing Partner

Elite by Accounting Today earlier this year. She challenges everyone at Insero to employ a forwardthinking client service approach where thinking outside the box is not only encouraged, it is expected. Catarisano led the firm to embrace diversity and cultivate an environment where everyone from the newest staff to the most experienced partner has an equal voice in the future of the firm. Her vision for the “firm of the future” was quickly embraced by the entire team helping Insero launch new product offerings, a better service delivery model, and a superior work environment.

dr. donna brink fox Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs; Eisenhart Professor of Music Education Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester In addition to her administrative assignment as Senior Associate Dean, Dr. Donna Brink Fox has taught music education courses, supervised student teachers in the Rochester area, and advised doctoral dissertations.

When she arrived at Eastman, the administration asked Dr. Fox to design an early childhood music program for the Eastman Community Music School.

Her four-level curriculum, beginning with classes for parents and babies, has received international attention and was featured on the NBC Today show. Dr. Fox has written articles for music education publications and coauthored a three-volume curriculum for teaching music in early childhood

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classrooms, Classroom Music for Little Mozarts. The first volume received a Parents’ Choice Award.

Dr. Fox received Eastman’s Eisenhart Distinguished Teaching Award and her community honors include the Richard Snook Memorial Award from the Monroe County School Music Association; the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra; outstanding alumni awards from the School of Music and the College of Fine Arts at Ohio University; a Distinguished Alumni Award from The Ohio State University School of Music; and the University of Rochester’s Susan B. Anthony Lifetime Achievement Award.

k e l ly g a g a n

Vice President, Institutional Advancement Nazareth College A member of the Nazareth team for 19 years, Kelly Gagan has served as vice president since 2005. Her areas of oversight include marketing and communications, fundraising, government relations, and alumni relations. In close collaboration with the president and the Nazareth board, Gagan is responsible for fundraising activities, maintaining relations with alumni, parents, and friends, and for communications to internal and external audiences through publications, advertising, and media relations. Gagan is the administrative adviser for both the advancement as well as trusteeship committee responsible for nominating college trustees.

She previously worked as Senior

Associate Director of Major Gifts at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. While at The Center, Gagan was responsible for the major gifts program of the $150 million Campaign to Endow The Carter Center and traveled with President and Mrs. Carter for cultivation and solicitation calls.

Gagan serves as a board member for The Strong National Museum of Play. She is a past board member for the Bivona Child Advocacy Center as well as the Association of Fundraising Professionals Genesee Valley Chapter where she received their Outstanding Professional Fundraiser Award in 2010. Gagan is a graduate of LeMoyne College in Syracuse and lives in Pittsford.

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dr. a. gidget hopf Chief Executive Officer Goodwill of the Finger Lakes and The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Dr. A. Gidget Hopf has led Goodwill of the Finger Lakes and its affiliate ABVI for over 33 years, building the organization into a powerful social enterprise. Her entrepreneurial efforts have created jobs for thousands of people who are blind or have other barriers to independence. Hopf has served on numerous national, state, and local boards including ten years as Board Chair of Chances and Changes, a domestic violence program. She is recognized for her contributions in developing public policies that ensure equity and quality of life for people with disabilities and other challenges.

Hopf is also passionate about developing emerging leaders. She was named Not-for-Profit Executive of the Year by the Greater Rochester community in 2009. Hopf is married to John, her husband of 47 years; they have two daughters, Courtney, a professor at NYU in London where she lives with her husband Liam, and Maggie, who works for Memorial Sloan Kettering’s premier fundraising event, Cycle for Survival, raising funds for rare cancer research. She lives in NYC with her husband Danny and infant daughter, Avery Rose.

dr. heidi macpherson President The College at Brockport, State University of New York Dr. Heidi Macpherson is the seventh President of The College at Brockport and the first woman to hold this role. Macpherson has 25 years of experience in higher education as an English professor and administrator in both the United States and England, having previously held positions of Provost, Pro Vice Chancellor, and Dean. She has written or edited seven books, including a threevolume encyclopedia set. She is the chair of the Rochester Area Colleges Presidents Network. She has held a number of positions on national education bodies and volunteer

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boards in the UK, Wisconsin, and New York. Currently she serves on the boards of, the Rochester and Monroe County YWCA, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, the Willow Domestic Violence Center, the United Way of Greater Rochester, and Roc the Future Convenors Group. She is also an active member of Rotary International. She is married to Dr. Allan Macpherson. She enjoys walking her springer spaniel, Tilly, on the Brockport campus, and her most unusual talent is being able to ride a unicycle.

julie marsiglio Director of Major Gifts United Way of Greater Rochester

Julie Marsiglio is responsible for stewardship of more than 200 leadership donors and an annual fundraising portfolio of more than $5 million to support community initiatives with United Way. Julie builds relationships that enable organizations to fund goals and fulfill their mission. Prior to United Way of Greater Rochester, Julie worked in development for Hillside Children’s Foundation and three educational institutions including both of her alma maters, Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women, Wittenberg University, and Rochester Institute of Technology. Her early career was spent in development in Washington .

D.C before returning to Rochester.

Julie has a B.A. in Political Science from Wittenberg University. She and her husband Karl live in Brighton with their two daughters, Bennet and Poppy. As a family, they volunteer at Asbury Dining and Care Center. Julie is also involved in the community as a board member at the Friendly Home and with the White Haven Preservation Foundation. She served on the YWCA resource development committee for five years and is a longtime member and past president of the Junior League of Rochester.

Julie is a current participant in Leadership Rochester.

CONGRATULATIONS

Kelly Gagan Nazareth College applauds your inspiring example of excellence in leadership and service to our College and community.

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colleen matteson Rochester Market President and Senior Vice President Bank of America Colleen Matteson is responsible for deploying resources across the market to address social and economic concerns and build strong communities. She leads the local Bank of America foundation committee which has deployed more than $2.5 million since 2014 to local nonprofits focused on community development, workforce development, and basic needs. Matteson’s responsibilities also include leading a team of relationship managers focused on understanding each client’s unique needs to deliver strategic financial guidance and solutions. She also serves as a mentor for teammates across Bank of America as a member of the Women’s Exchange and LEAD employee networks

dedicated to promoting professional women’s development. Matteson takes great pride in extending her hand to help pull other women forward. Matteson participated in the Global Ambassador’s Mentor program, a Vital Voices, Bank of America partnership in London that recognizes women as a force for driving economic, political, and social change. The program connects established women executives with women at the tipping point in their professional, business, and leadership paths to accelerate women’s leadership and economic empowerment throughout the world. Matteson also serves as President of the Board of Directors for Dress for Success Rochester.

dr. arlette miller smith Associate Professor, English, and Director, African American Studies St. John Fisher College Dr. Arlette Miller Smith has devoted much of her 50-year career in higher education to researching and teaching the impact of external forces on the interior lives of African American women. Her scholarship centers on the intersectionality of the raced, gendered, classed, and artistic voices of AA women’s work in socio-political activism, such as the 19th century colored club women’s movement.

During the ten years Miller Smith served as a college administrator at St. John Fisher College, she created and managed the Office of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity Programs, conducted the College’s first Cultural Audit Project, and organized the first

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Climate Study. She co-developed the African American Studies minor and co-founded Agora, Upstate New York’s organization for diversity officers.

Miller Smith is the founder and artistic director of AKOMA, Rochester’s African American Women’s Gospel Choir.

Founded in 1995, AKOMA’s choral ministry is rooted in the African American sacred song and spoken word traditions. AKOMA has awarded scholarships to 132 college-bound AA female high school graduates. In June of 2020, the Sisters’ second scholarship will focus on the needs of recipients who are current college students. This scholarship will be named after Miller Smith.

Congratulations to Marlene Bessette and all Athena Award Finalists.

Thank you for inspiring young leaders everywhere.

2020 ATHENA Finalist

Congratulations Julie Marsiglio ’90 Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women Class of 1990

“In helping others, one truly finds herself.”

1437 Blossom Rd., Rochester, NY 14610 585-288-7120 • www.mercyhs.com

dr. deana l. porterfield President Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary Dr. Deana L. Porterfield is a visionary leader with a passion for faith-based higher education which promotes transformational learning and hope. An involved leader within the community, Dr. Porterfield serves on a number of boards including the Rochester Regional Advisory for Excellus Health Plan, Inc., Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and The Palmer Family of Companies.

She also holds membership in the Association of Free Methodist Educational Institutions, the East Coast Athletic Conference, and the Rochester Area Presidents, serving in multiple leadership capacities.

Porterfield has been recognized with the Rochester Prism 2018 Executive of the Year Award, the Rochester

Business Journal 2018 Women of Excellence Award, and the University of La Verne’s 125 Notable Leos for Life in 2017. President Porterfield earned a doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of La Verne in La Verne, CA. She also holds a master’s degree in organizational management and a bachelor’s degree in music from Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, CA. Prior to her presidential appointment, President Porterfield served at Azusa Pacific University for 26 years in various roles including Vice President for Enrollment Management, Chief of Staff, Senior Vice President for People and Organizational Development, and Executive Vice President of the online university.

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dr. sujatha ramanujan Managing Director Luminate, NextCorps, Inc. Sujatha Ramanujan is a serial entrepreneur and seasoned executive with 25 years of experience in Clinical Devices and in Consumer Electronics.

Ramanujan holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and has started, built, and grown three startup businesses. Ramanujan has held scientific, technical leadership, and executive positions in Chrysler Corporation, GE, Kodak, Carestream, and Intrinsiq Materials. She holds 28 issued U.S. patents. As a corporate investor for Kodak, then later working with regional investment councils, she provided guidance to startups and M&A strategies. Ramanujan is currently the Managing Director of the Luminate Accelerator, an

investment fund and educational program under NextCorps.

Luminate has the privilege of investing in and advancing 30 photonics companies and bringing them to the Rochester area. Of the 30 companies sponsored

by Luminate, approximately one third are minority and women-led businesses, a number she hopes to see improve. Ramanujan’s community service efforts are focused on providing recognition and professional advancement for women. She is a board member of the National Women’s Hall of Fame and served as induction chair. She is also actively involved in the Indian community and in educational programs in dance, science, and literacy.

k e l ly r e e d

President and Chief Executive Officer Huther Doyle Memorial Institute, Inc. Heart and soul. Simply put, that is what makes Kelly Reed such an extraordinary leader of Huther Doyle—an organization committed to helping individuals and families seeking recovery from substance use disorder. Upon graduating from college, Reed was hired as the Coordinator of the District Attorney’s Child Abuse Bureau, where she had served as an intern. She went on to become the Director of the Rape Crisis Service and President and CEO of the Society for the Protection and Care of Children. From there, Reed spent ten years as Commissioner of Human Services for Monroe County.

Now at Huther Doyle, she says she’s

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regularly inspired and renewed by the collective strength of the partnerships she sees built between clients and clinicians. “Authentic relationships promote recovery,” Reed observes. When asked her most important accomplishment, Reed quickly responds, “always knowing that I truly could have it all. From the time I was a little girl, I was taught I could have a successful career and an equally successful family. I’ve done my best to instill that in all young women. It is possible, it is probable. It is the way it should be.”

That mindset defines Kelly Reed.

Heart and soul.

arline santiago Senior Vice President and General Counsel ESL Federal Credit Union As ESL’s chief legal officer, Arline Santiago manages the organization’s legal, compliance, and regulatory affairs. She also serves on the ESL Governance, Senior Management, Crisis Management, Employee Benefit Plans, and Operations Committees and as corporate secretary. Prior to joining ESL, Santiago was a member of Kodak’s legal department, where she worked with its marketing, antitrust, and litigation group, and as a member of its corporate and regulatory affairs legal group.

Previously, Santiago was in private practice focusing on commercial litigation. Santiago holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Yale

University and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She is a member of the Monroe County, New York State, and American bar associations. Santiago is also active in the community as chair emeritus of the Foodlink board, also serving on its Executive, Compensation, and Governance Committees. She is also on the board of the Rochester Area Community Foundation, serving on its Governance Committee and serves as a member of PathStone Corporation’s Personnel Committee. Santiago is also a member of the Monroe County Bar Association’s Commission to Advance and Support Women in law.

sharon stiller

Managing Partner of the Abrams Fensterman Rochester Office and Director of the Employment Law Practice Abrams Fensterman Sharon Stiller runs the Rochester office and directs the Employment Law Practice for the Abrams Fensterman law firm. She advises businesses and executives about employment law, litigating cases in federal and state courts. A fellow of the prestigious College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, she has published two treatises on employment law, one of which is Volume 13A of the New York State Practice Series, numerous articles, and is frequently quoted on her legal analyses. Stiller also arbitrates and mediates employment cases with the American Arbitration Association. She chaired the Labor and Employment Law Section of

the New York State Bar Association.

Stiller has been recognized for her legal work and community service, receiving the Kate Stoneman award from Albany Law School, the Raymond J. Pauley Award from the Monroe County Bar Association, and the Rochester Women’s Network’s “W” Award. She has been named one of the top 25 Women Lawyers in Western New York, been designated a “Super Lawyer” since 2007, and selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America since 2013 in employment law. In 2020, Stiller was recognized as Lawyer of the Year for Employment Law by The Best Lawyers in America.

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2020 athena young professional award finalists 24

julie camardo

sarah knight

Chief Executive Officer and Owner Zweigle’s, Inc.

Founder and Director Roc Girl Gang

kesha carter

amanda mari

Chief Diversity Officer Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI)

Director, Strategic Relations Broadstone Real Estate, Inc.

lauren deutsch, esq.

amy martin

Executive Director Worker Justice Center of New York, Inc.

Vice President, Corporate Reputation and CSR, Constellation Brands

dr. mona gandhi

jennifer sahrle

Associate Professor Pharmacy Practice and Administration, Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College

Senior Director, Operations Trillium Health

diana solt

kimberly harding

Lead, Strategy Development L3Harris Technologies

Partner-Elect Nixon Peabody LLP

dr. alexis vogt

kristina johnston Vice President-Finance Lead, Digital Enablement Project, Constellation Brands

Endowed Chair and Associate Professor of Optics Monroe Community College

julie camardo Chief Executive Officer and Owner Zweigle’s, Inc. Julie Camardo serves as the fifth-generation owner and CEO of Zweigle’s. Camardo started in the office environment and then transitioned to sales while both her grandfather and mother were still at Zweigle’s. In 2005, Camardo was named vice president. She took over as president of Zweigle’s in 2009 after her mother passed away. In 2015, the Zweigle’s Board of Directors named her CEO. Under Camardo, Zweigle’s expanded two times and has grown in product diversification, sales and employees. The company is guided by four core values of quality, caring, accountability and integrity

each representative of one of the prior generations. Camardo is committed to the community where she lives. She sits on the boards of the MCC Foundation, ESL, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Holy Childhood, and Special Touch Bakery. She is a strong supporter of the Golisano Children’s Hospital, Susan B. Anthony House, United Way, and The Strong. She is also a current member of the Vistage organization. Camardo enjoys spending time with her family and friends outside of work. Her favorite hot dog is a white hot dog and her favorite sausage is the Zweigle’s Italian sausage.

kesha carter Chief Diversity Officer Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI) Kesha Carter is a Certified Diversity Professional and also holds a Six Sigma Green Belt from Villanova University and Professional Human Resources certification from the Human Resource Capital Institute. She earned her master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Keuka College. Carter has broken barriers as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer for Coordinated Care Services, Inc., a leading a multi-phased approach resulting in growth and new experiences for individual employees and member of Literacy Rochester

and the recruitment and selection committee chair for AALDP (African American Leadership Development) through United Way. Carter was a Democrat and Chronicle “Woman to Watch” in October 2016 and has facilitated diversity and inclusion workshops locally and nationally for groups of various sizes. Carter is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Words she lives by: There is no such thing as failure, only many different lessons in how NOT to do something.

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lauren deutsch, esq.

Executive Director Worker Justice Center of New York, Inc. Lauren Deutsch received her Bachelor of Arts from Smith College in 2001, and worked in migrant women’s health in San Diego, California, prior to law school. She graduated with her Juris Doctor from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2008, and began her legal career in New York City as a Postgraduate Domestic Violence Fellow, before joining the Domestic Violence unit at The Legal Aid Society of Rochester in 2010, and becoming the Executive Director of the Healthy Baby Network, a reproductive justice

organization, in 2014. At the Worker Justice Center of New York, a nonprofit legal services and advocacy organization, Deutsch works with undocumented and immigrant worker communities. Her research interests include bruising injuries in victims of color, effective social services access for traumatized clients, and the impact of poverty on health equity. Deutsch lives in Brighton with her husband and three sons and is active in the Jewish community.

dr. mona gandhi

Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice and Administration Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College In addition to her specialized training in medical information, Dr. Mona Gandhi also serves as a consultant for women’s health issues including medication use during lactation and infertility therapies.

Gandhi mentors doctoral candidates and post-doctoral trainees throughout the curriculum and within the pharmacy practice in Rochester. She mentors future pharmacist leaders as an advisor of the nationally recognized Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society.

Gandhi is a highly engaged member of the non-profit Rochester community for over a decade, which is evident in her involvement with United Way of Greater Rochester, Bivona Child Advocacy

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Center, Willow Domestic Violence Center, and Intervol. In addition, she serves on the advisory board for MotherToBaby, a service provided as part of the non-profit Organization of Teratology Information Specialists organization. Gandhi currently resides in Pittsford with her supportive husband, 10-year old daughter, and 6-year old son. As an involved community member, a healthcare professional, and a higherlevel educator, her experiences, perspective, and collaboration opportunities bring a fresh vision to the City of Rochester.

k i m b e r ly h a r d i n g Partner-Elect Nixon Peabody LLP

Kimberly Harding feels fortunate to follow the trails blazed by so many distinguished members of the legal community. Harding focuses her practice primarily on the defense of employers from discrimination and wage-and-hour claims, unfair labor practice charges, and other employment-related matters in the federal and state courts and before administrative agencies.

She also counsels employers regarding their labor-related legal obligations and through employeerelated challenges. Within the Nixon Peabody Rochester office, Harding chairs the Women’s Resource Group and is the deputy local litigation coordinator. In the community, Harding is the Vice Chair of the

Board of Trustees of the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House, and the chair of the museum’s Governance Committee. She also serves as the Director-At-Large, Programming for the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, Rochester affiliate, and is a current participant in Leadership Rochester.

Harding attended Syracuse University and the American University Washington College of Law, where she graduated summa cum laude and was a member of the Order of the Coif. Originally from Attica, New York, she is the proud daughter of Ted and Nancy Harding, who are also her greatest champions and role models.

THE EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Congratulates all 2020 ATHENA Awards Finalists INCLUDING OUR OWN

Donna Brink Fox

Senior Associate Dean of Academic Student Affairs, Eisenhart Professor of Music Education and Director of Eastman Community Music School Early Childhood Music Program

Congratulations, Julie Camardo!

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kristina johnston Vice President-Finance Lead, Digital Enablement Project Constellation Brands Kristina Johnston leads the Constellation Brands finance workstream on a large multi-year project, implementing a new software system company-wide and successfully completing the first of three launches. Johnston is a dynamic leader that has a continuous improvement focus.

She has brought teams together successfully standing up a shared service organization, implementing several technology solutions, and reduced time to complete key monthly tasks. Johnston continues to climb the corporate ladder at

sarah knight Founder and Director Roc Girl Gang

Sarah Knight founded Roc Girl Gang, an organization with the purpose to connect, encourage, and empower women in the Rochester community.

Through Roc Girl Gang’s online publication, Rochester’s women and their impactful work get the spotlight that they deserve. Knight also created the “Becoming Boss” quarterly event series. These panel events have had a sold-out attendance for the past four years. Roc Girl Gang Mixers were then created to further invest in the community. Through the help and donations of local restaurants and

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event spaces, all of the proceeds have gone to local charitable organizations such as Sojourner Home, House of Mercy, Dress for Success Rochester, and Mary’s Place. These mixers have raised thousands of dollars thanks to the Roc Girl Gang community. Knight grew up in Adams Center, a small town in northern New York, graduated from Houghton College in 2005 with a degree in Communication/Business and moved to Rochester that same year. Knight and her husband Russell have two sons, Kingsley and Gideon, and happily reside in Brighton.

Constellation as well as increase her presence in the community, currently serving as Treasurer of the Bivona Child Advocacy Center.

In addition to her work at Bivona, Johnston takes an active role in her community through coaching and assisting on her children’s recreation leagues. Johnston is wife to Owen, mother to Evelyn (8) and Orion (6), daughter, sister, and friend to many. Johnston received her MBA and undergraduate degrees at St. Bonaventure University and is a CPA.

amanda mari Director, Strategic Relations Broadstone Real Estate, Inc. Amanda Mari is responsible for cultivating and managing relationships with wealth managers and strategic partners as well as business development across Broadstone’s investment offerings. Mari joined Broadstone in July of 2015 from Carestream Health, where she was a Financial Planning and Analysis Manager for the Digital Medical Solutions business. Prior to Carestream and completing her MBA, Mari was an Investor Relations and Marketing Associate at Atlas Venture, an early stage venture capital firm headquartered in Boston, MA. Within the community, Mari serves on the Board of Directors, is Chair of

the Investment Committee, and is a member of the Nominating Committee for the YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County.

She is also a member of the Simon Alumni Board and a member of the founding Board for the Simon Women’s Alliance at the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, where she leads the Fundraising Committee supporting SWA’s mission to provide scholarships.

As a Leadership Fellow and with a full merit-based scholarship, Mari completed her MBA in Finance and Strategy from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. She received her BA from Stonehill College in Easton, MA.

amy martin

Vice President, Corporate Reputation and CSR Constellation Brands Amy Martin leads the development and execution of Constellation Brands’ integrated corporate branding, communications, and social responsibility programs, including the company’s environmental sustainability, community engagement, and philanthropic initiatives. Martin joined Constellation Brands in 2005 and has held a number of roles with increasing responsibility across the company’s marketing and corporate communications functions. She also serves as a board member for Dress for Success Rochester, an organization focused on

empowering women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools to help them thrive in work and in life.

Martin views corporate social responsibility as a business imperative and something about which she is committed and very passionate. In this capacity, she works with colleagues in Rochester and teammates across the country as well as international counterparts in Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy to find ways to make a bigger, more meaningful impact in their communities.

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jennifer sahrle Senior Director, Operations Trillium Health Jennifer Sahrle is an advocate for social justice, equality, and health care access. An administrator at Trillium Health with over 14 years of experience, she began her career as a Case Manager for individuals infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS and has grown with the agency. In addition to her professional responsibilities, Sahrle is an active community leader and home improvement aficionado. A longtime and prolific volunteer with social justice organizations and causes, Sahrle co-founded Bikes, Brew, BBQ, a non-profit dedicated to fundraising for Trillium Health and the AIDS Red Ribbon Ride. She also serves as a board member and

d i a n a s o lt Lead, Strategy Development L3Harris Technologies Driven by her passion for ingenuity and a love of technology, Diana Solt cares deeply about innovating for tomorrow as well as helping others find their voice and path in that shared future. Solt earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Rochester Institute of Technology and is an engineering technology doctoral student at Purdue University.

At L3Harris Technologies since 2010, she has excelled in various engineering roles and is now part of Strategy Development, a group responsible for managing the strategic business partnerships and innovation for a $3.8 billion segment of L3Harris. As a female in a male-

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dominated engineering field, Solt recognizes the importance of a champion – someone to emulate, who helps guide or mentor. She has strived to be that champion for others in her various roles outside of work including guiding others as an adjunct teacher at MCC, awarding scholarships through her role as Vice President on the Women’s Council of RIT, advocating for women in STEM via her position on RIT’s Dean’s Advisory Council, supporting others as Community Outreach Chair on L3Harris’ Employee Resource Group, and volunteering her time at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester.

treasurer at Delphi Rise. Sahrle resides in Rochester with her partner, mother, and several neurotic/ill-behaved (yet adorable) dogs and cats. She received a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo and a master’s degree from Nazareth College. Sahrle is a certified Project Management Professional with Project Management Institute and a Senior Certified Human Resources Professional with the Society for Human Resources Management.

In addition, Sahrle also completed coursework in Lean and Six Sigma methodology at a Black Belt level and has implemented these techniques in her daily work.

dr. alexis vogt

Endowed Chair and Associate Professor of Optics Monroe Community College

Dr. Alexis Vogt has secured over $5.7 million over four years for MCC’s Optical Systems Technology program. Prior to joining MCC, Vogt was the Applications and Business Development Manager at Melles Griot (IDEX) and previous to that, designed contact lenses and intraocular lenses for Bausch + Lomb. Vogt holds three patents and has authored hundreds of papers, presentations, and publications in the field, including the definitions of “light” and “polarization” for The World Book Encyclopedia. She dedicates time to youth outreach and has been involved with coordinating and presenting optics demonstrations to children and educators both within

the Rochester community and internationally. Vogt is recipient of the 2018 National Women’s Hall of Fame Keeper of the Flame Award and the 2017 New York Photonics Education Award. In addition, Vogt is a recipient of the Rochester Business Journal 2016 “Forty Under 40” award, the 2015 IDEX KEEP award for high performance, and the 2012 Bausch + Lomb CEO Award. Vogt serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Precision Optics Manufacturers Association, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, and New York Photonics. She is married with three young children.

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2020 athena organizational award finalists 32

• Butler / Till Media Services, Inc. • Helen & Gertrude • Robert F. Hyland & Sons, LLC • Ronald McDonald House of Charities of Rochester, NY • United Way of Greater Rochester

butler / till media services, inc.

In an advertising industry historically dominated by both male workers and leaders, Butler/ Till has bucked the trend for more than 20 years. Sue Butler and Tracy Till opened Butler/ Till in 1998 in Rochester, NY, with a goal to not only deliver great results to its clients, but to instill a corporate culture built to cultivate the advancement of women. Since 2004, Butler/Till has been a nationally certified WBENC and New York State certified women-owned business, but its ownership isn’t limited to its female founders. In a strategic decision to ensure all of its employees could share in the success of the company,

Sue and Tracey sold Butler/Till to its employees in 2014, officially making it a 100% employeeowned ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), giving every employee a greater share and stake in the agency’s collective success. Butler/Till is home to over 150 employees, of which 65% are female. It remains headquartered in Rochester and has added satellite offices in New York City and San Francisco. With a strong women leadership team as a significant driver of organizational growth and prosperity at Butler/Till, the company has experienced double-digit revenue increases in each of the past eight years.

Kimberly Jones Chief Executive Officer & President

helen & gertrude

Becca Post Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Helen & Gertrude (H&G) is an award-winning, certified Women Business Enterprise and Women-Owned Small Business.

The agency uses data and measurement to create meaningful digital content for brands. The story of H&G’s name goes back to its beginnings as a team of eight women. While most agencies are named after their founders, the employees felt they didn’t have one true founder, but rather the notions of data and creative guiding them. Therefore, the name comes from pioneers Helen Landsdowne Resor, the first female copywriter hired by an agency, and Gertrude Cox, known as the first lady of statistics. So no, H&G is not

named after their grandmothers.

This humble start set high expectations for females to rise up.

Nearly 85% of H&G’s leadership roles are female. Standing on strong pillars of empathy and transparency, the agency gives employees at all levels the opportunity to better themselves and the next generation of women. H&G thanks much of its success to these initiatives. A 56% increase in agency revenue in 2018 is contributed to client work embodying female empowerment, encouraging women to take control of their lives, and helping women to define beauty in their own terms.

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robert f. hyland & sons, llc Full-service general contractor Robert F. Hyland & Sons encourages women employees to achieve their full potential by supporting them in both professional development and networking events. Such professional development includes Dale Carnegie training, OSHA 30-hour courses, and National Association of Women in Construction monthly meetings.

Vice President Jennifer Hungate serves as vice president of the Rochester NAWIC chapter. She also serves on the Women’s Council’s Young Women of Distinction scholarship committee as well as doing volunteer work for the Women’s Foundation and Habitat

for Humanity. Hungate also speaks at local high schools and encourages young girls to consider construction and engineering as career opportunities. Robert F. Hyland & Sons understands that in order to have a solid career, employees must take care of their families. The company offers flexibility and understanding that family comes first even when it is not the most opportune time. In today’s world, the company knows it must be flexible and realize that it’s not always a nine-to-five job.

Robert F. Hyland & Sons believes that women leaders should be able to succeed without any barriers or glass ceilings.

Jennifer Hungate Vice President

ronald mcdonald house of charities of rochester, ny Kelly McCormick-Sullivan President and Chief Executive Officer

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The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester (RMHCR) brings ambitious women together and provides ongoing opportunities for these women to advance their careers. The organization’s “people” strategy emphasizes the priority to empower young professionals so that when they move on in their career, both at RMHCR and outside, they feel like RMHCR invested in their development. In addition to providing the encouragement and resources needed to take the jump to advance professionally, the organization has a culture of maintaining an environment that is considerate, flexible, and supportive of the personal needs of each

employee’s life. This allows female leaders to enjoy balance while in the office and develop a vision for a future career. For at least the past ten years, the organization has been female led. Since 2017, Kelly McCormick-Sullivan, a wellrespected leader from the region with years of experience in the nonprofit world, has served as CEO of RMHCR. Prior to Kelly’s leadership role, Carol DeMoulin served as CEO from 2010 to 2017. In addition to the organization being led daily by a woman leader, 50 percent of the organization’s board members are women while 50 percent of past board presidents have been women.

united way of greater rochester

Jaime Saunders President and Chief Executive Officer

United Way of Greater Rochester employs an eight-person, all-female leadership team with a range of diversity across ages, ethnicities, and tenure. This team, led by President and CEO Jaime Saunders, is responsible for raising, catalyzing, and distributing more than $30 million each year to help our community thrive. Each leadership team member manages and mentors a department in the organization, and all receive executive coaching to hone their career and leadership development. The United Way models this development so that it may extend the learnings and training opportunities to managers and staff members, especially the

young women who are eager to build their skills and advance their careers at United Way. In addition to the Rochester team, United Way of Greater Rochester provides support and executive oversight to five regional United Way partners, all also led by female executive directors. The overall team in the United Way of Greater Rochester office is 74% female. To attract and retain top female talent, United Way provides practical benefits, a generous time off package, and flexible scheduling that offers employees the ability to meet the demands of home and family life in a more inclusive way.

Congratulations to Dr. Arlette Miller-Smith, Dr. Mona Gandhi, and Nancy Catarisano ’83 for being ATHENA and ATHENA Young Professionals Award finalists!

From Dr. Gerard J. Rooney and the St. John Fisher College Community

2020 ATHENA Young Professional Award Finalist

Congratulations Julie Camardo ’93 Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women Class of 1993

“A great

leader thinks of others before themselves.”

1437 Blossom Rd., Rochester, NY 14610 585-288-7120 • www.mercyhs.com

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at h e n a awa r d r e c i p i e n t s since 1987 Rochester, NY Past ATHENA Award Recipients 2019 • Hilda Rosario-Escher

2003 • Ursula M. Burns

2018 • Sharon Napier

2002 • Sandra A. Parker

2017 • Nannette Nocon

2001 • Dr. Katherine Keough

2016 • Elaine Spaull

2000 • Sue S. Stewart

2015 • Amy Tait

1999 • Betsy Harrison

2014 • Dr. Lynne Maquat

1998 • Susan McLaughlin

2013 • Dr. Anne Kress

1997 • Linda S. Becker

2012 • Dr. Judith F. Baumhauer

1996 • Kathleen Whelehan

2011 • Kitty Van Bortel

1995 • Bernice Skirboll

2010 • Jennifer Leonard

1994 • Barbara M. Kelley

2009 • Holly Hilberg

1993 • Karen Noble Hanson

2008 • Dr. Ruth Lawrence

1992 • Katherine Hudson

2007 • Patricia Malgieri

1991 • Mary-Frances Winters

2006 • G. Jean, Howard

1990 • Louise Woerner

2005 • Carolyn A. Portanova

1989 • Chris Pulleyn

2004 • Dr. Elizabeth R. McAnarney

1988 • Rose Marie Beston 1987 (Inaugural Year) • Dr. Judith Schwan

Past ATHENA Young Professional Award Recipients

Past ATHENA Organizational Award Recipients

2019 • Shaquana Divers

2019 • HCR Home Care

2018 • Kim Allen

2018 (Inaugural Year) • Dixon Schwabl

2017 • Melisza Campos 2016 • Melanie Wolk 2015 (Inaugural Year) • Claudia Burcke

The William & Sheila Konar Foundation Salutes

2020 ATHENA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FINALISTS 36

support develop honor

S AV E T H E DAT E Thursday, January 21, 2021 For Sponsorship opportunities, contact: Susan.George@GreaterRochesterChamber.com 585.256.4612 To nominate a deserving candidate visit www.GreaterRochesterChamber.com (Nominations open in May, 2020)

www.greaterrochesterchamber.com

www.rocwomenscouncil.org

OUR GREAT LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS

MAKE AN IMPACT

The College at Brockport is proud of our president, Dr. Heidi Macpherson, for being recognized as a finalist for the 2020 Athena Award.

Congratulations to each of tonight’s finalists – you inspire us all.

Special congratulations to 2020 ATHENA Award® finalist and ESL Sr. VP, General Counsel, and Director, Legal Arline Santiago.

CONGRATULATIONS DIANA SOLT

2020 Finalist for the Prestigious ATHENA Young Professional Award L3HARRIS.COM

Diana’s commitment to ingenuity, creativity and excellence makes her an ideal role model at L3Harris.

We’re honored she is a member of our growing community of leaders, fostering an inclusive, engaging environment for L3Harris employees across the globe. Congratulations Diana for being an ATHENA Young Professional Award finalist!

Join our team!

ESL is a registered service mark of ESL Federal Credit Union.

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Visit L3Harris.com/Careers to explore our latest job opportunities.

athena awards selection committee Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its Women’s Council affiliate thank the independent panel of judges that determined the recipients of the ATHENA International, ATHENA Young Professional, and ATHENA Organizational Awards.

These community leaders from diverse backgrounds and industries volunteered their time to assess the ATHENA nominations and choose the finalists based upon professional achievement, community service, and the support and mentoring of women.

The internationally-recognized ATHENA Award Program was founded in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan

by ATHENA International Founder Martha Mertz.

The award was originally established to honor the achievements of exceptional women leaders. And more importantly, it was established to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and business lives.

Dan Diefendorf LiveTiles

Shaquana Divers Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield

Deborah Hughes The Susan B. Anthony House

Lauren Kelly Charter Communications

Jeff Knauss Digital Hyve

Lorisa LaRocca Woods Oviatt Gilman

Aaron Newman CloudCheckr

John Pitton Bank of America

Hilda Rosario Escher 2019 ATHENA Award Recipient

The ATHENA Award move recognizes women who: · Demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession.

· Provide valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community. · Actively assist women in realizing their full leadership potential.

Dawn Taubman Harris Corporation

Rochester Institute of Technology congratulates all the 2020 Athena Award Finalists for their leadership and contributions to the Greater Rochester community.

Rochester Institute of Technology rit.edu

Louise Woerner HCR Home Care

We are particularly pleased to congratulate the following members of the RIT family.

Kelly Ann Reed BS ’80 Athena Award Finalist Diana H. Solt MS ’80 Young Professional Award Finalist

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 2020

ATHENA AWARD FINALISTS

ATHENA, Young Professional, and Organizational honorees are making a lasting impact in the Rochester community.

We are honored to celebrate their success.

We proudly recognize Amanda Mari ‘09S (MBA) as an ATHENA Young Professional finalist.

A new level of clarity.

simon.rochester.edu