YOUNGSTOWN – The Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber has announced the 28 women who will be recognized for the 2020 Athena Award program, which recognizes women who strive toward the highest levels of professional and civic achievement.

The event – co-sponsored for the 26th time this year by The Vindicator – has honored nearly 1,000 women in the last 27 years and is recognized as one of the largest such events in the U.S.

The keynote speaker for this year is Dr. Amy Acton, director of health for the Ohio Department of Health. Acton, a Youngstown native and licensed physician in preventive medicine with a master’s degree in public health from Northeastern Ohio University, has garnered wide popularity across Ohio for her demeanor and leadership during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The event is May 14 at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield. It opens with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 6:15 p.m. Cost of the dinner is $75 per person. The 2020 Athena recipient will be announced during the dinner.

Registration will open in April, pending orders governing COVID-19 at that time. If the event is unable to move forward in May, the Chamber will reschedule later this year.

In addition, the recipient of the $1,500 Athena Scholarship and two $1,250 scholarships will be announced.

The 2020 nominees are:

Danielle Adams, associate content manager, FactSet Research Systems Inc.

Nicole Alexander, magistrate, Mahoning County Common Pleas Court

Michelle Alleman, director, McKinley Memorial Library

Carla Baldwin, judge, Youngstown Municipal Court

Mara Banfield, director, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center; Valley STEM Superintendent, Valley STEM + ME2 Academy

Erin Bishop, health commissioner, Youngstown City Health District

Ruth Bowdish, director of training and development, On Demand

Shelly Bradley, customer care center director, AT&T

Jacqueline Burley, executive director, Protestant Family Service

Heather Craver, director of mental health, Cadence Care Network

Valerie Cubon-Bell, associate professor, Kent State University at Trumbull

Sara Daugherty, director of operations and economic impact, BRITE Energy Innovators

Theresa Dellick, judge, Mahoning County Juvenile Court

Renee DiSalvo, judge, Youngstown Municipal Court

Angela Duskey, partner, HD Davis CPAs

Cynthia Marie Fernback, principal, Boardman High School

Tricia Ferry, executive vice president, operations, VEC

Julie Green, director, Trumbull County Planning Commission

Leigh Ann Greene, director, Youngstown Local Office on Minority Health, Youngstown City Health District

Vicki Haywood Doe, president / CEO, Haywood Doe Consulting Co., LLC / Vicki Doe Fitness

Stacy Howlett, president / CEO, Howlett Logistics

Brianna Komara Pridon, co-owner / president, Komara Jewelers

Karen Larwin, associate professor, Youngstown State University; owner, REM Consulting

Shirley McIntosh, IT field tech, Laboratory Corporation of America; mayor, West Farmington

Dr. Meredythe McNally, gastroenterologist, Salem Regional Medical Center; owner, EmpowHERment

Lisa Resnick, Realtor, Burgan Real Estate

LaTisha Weaver Bennett, CEO, La La Love Healthcare

Julia Wike, executive director, The Basement Outreach Ministries

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