Annual ATHENA Leadership Awards Program

November 2023

The prestigious ATHENA International Leadership Awards recognize exemplary leaders for their professional achievement, community involvement, and for actively assisting women in reaching their full leadership potential.

Event

ATHENA Akron presents its Leadership Awards celebration to an estimated audience of 300. A leading community event, the ATHENA Leadership Awards features a dinner and awards program honoring our community’s exceptional women leaders.

The spirit of the ATHENA Leadership Awards Program is captured in a quotation from Plato, “What is honored in a country will be cultivated there.” By honoring exceptional leaders, others will be encouraged to excel.

Award History

As part of ATHENA International, founded in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan, ATHENA Akron joins hundreds of organizations in eight countries worldwide – Canada, China, Russia and the United Kingdom – who have honored more than 7,000 exceptional leaders. These women have demonstrated excellence in their business or profession; provided valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community; and who have actively assisted women in achieving their full leadership potential.

Since ATHENA Akron, Inc. was established in 2015, it has become a thriving member-based, independent non-profit organization that fiercely supports its mission to connect (and provide access to) established women leaders, and offer leadership development through rich monthly programming.

2022

Angela
Neal-Barnett, PhD

Professor of Psychological Sciences
Kent State University;
Founder and Director
PRADAA

2021

Greta Johnson

Assistant Chief of Staff/
Director of Communications
Summit County Executive
Ilene Shapiro’s Office

2020

Jolene A. Lane

Former Vice President for Inclusion & Equity
Chief Diversity Officer
Title IX Coordinator
The University of Akron

2020

Donna Skoda

Health Commissioner
Summit County Public Health

2019

Traci Buckner

Executive Director
Akron Children’s Museum

2019

Grace Wakulchik

President & CEO
Akron Children’s Hospital

2018

Sherry Neubert

Chief Information Officer
Vice President of Information Technology
Vice President of Global Project Management
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

2017

Judith E. Barnes

Attorney
Past Chair of ATHENA International

2017

Sylvia D. Trundle

ChiCaptain
Akron Police Department, Retired

2015

Terri Heckman

CEO of Battered Women’s Shelter &
Rape Crisis Center

2014

Laurie Zuckerman

Owner
Zuckerman Consulting Group, Inc

2013

Dianne Newman

Of Counsel
Getz and Rosen LLC

2012

Candace Campbell
Jackson

Senior Vice President & Chief of Staff
Syracuse University

2011

Judge Elinore
Marsh Stormer

Summit County Court of Common Pleas

2010

Daisy
Alford-Smith, PhD

Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio

2009

Jacqueline
Silas-Butler, Esq

Executive Director
Project Grad

2008

Ilene Shapiro

County Executive
Summit County

2007

Theresa Carter

President
Synthomer Foundation

2006

Dr. Cynthia Capers

Emeritus Dean & Professor
The University of Akron

2005

Debra Adams
Simmons

Vice President
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
National Geographic

2004

Carol Cartwright

Retired President
Bowling Green State University

2003

Norma Rist

President
Norma J. Rist CEO Consulting, Inc.

2022

Moriah Cheatham
Williams

Attorney
Lewis Brisbois

2021

Shaleeta Smith

Director
Family Health, Summit County Public Health

2020

Alicia Robinson

Founder, Limitless Ambition
Director of Partnerships and Community
Engagement
Summit Education Initiative

2019

Erin Victor

Sales & Marketing Representative
Ryan Homes

2018

Da’Shika Street

Studio Art Teacher
Street Craftery

2018

Shane Wynn

Owner,
Shane Wynn Studio

2017

Laura Wallerstein

Franchising and Commercial
Real Estate Attorney
McDonald Hopkins LLC

2015

Jennifer Hertzig

Principal
Brand and Client Experience Leader Food &
Ag National Accounting and
Advisory Firm, KCoe Isom

2014

Angela Bayes

Co-Owner
Haasz and Company

2013

Kristin Oswick

Sales Director
Carbon Black at Monolith Materials

2012

Betsy Bare
Hartschuh

Attorney
Witschey, Whitschey & Firestone, Co.

2011

Julia Hall

Director of Accounting, Cedarwood Development

2010

Danielle Kimmell

Principal
Assurance and Advisory Services
Apple Growth Partners