YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber is accepting nominations for the 2022 ATHENA Award Program, which celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding professional women in the Mahoning Valley.

The event, again co-sponsored by The Vindicator, has honored more than 1,000 women over the past 28 years and has stayed true to its mission every step of the way.

Nominations are due to the regional chamber by March 4. Criteria and forms are available on the regional chamber’s website — regionalchamber.com — by going to Initiatives / Programs and scrolling to the ATHENA Award program.

A committee will review the nominations and determine the 2022 ATHENA Award recipient, who will be announced at a dinner May 19 at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield. The dinner will include a VIP reception for the sponsors, nominees and nominators followed by a public reception, dinner, recognition of all nominees and the announcement of this year’s recipient.

Last year’s recipient was Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick. Other former recipients include Tammy King, former associate dean of the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services at Youngstown State University; Patricia Sweeney, former Mahoning County health commissioner; Kathy Cook, president of St. Joseph Warren Hospital; and Genie Aubel, president of St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital.

“It’s truly hard to believe that we are gearing up for our 29th year celebrating and honoring so many amazing women in our Valley through the ATHENA Award program,” said Kim Calvert, president of marketing and member services for the regional chamber. “Each year we are fortunate to have the opportunity to meet and learn about a diverse and wonderful group of women who work tirelessly and selflessly to make strides and affect change for those who live and work in our community. We cannot wait to meet our 2022 nominees.”

The keynote speaker this year is Dr. Curren Katz, senior director for Data Science & Digital Health for Janssen Research & Development at Johnson & Johnson.

In that role, Katz, a native of Hubbard, is responsible for the digital health strategy across therapeutic areas, the portfolio of data science solutions for neuroscience research and development and partnerships to support innovative uses of artificial intelligence and machine learning in pharmaceutical development.

In 2021, Katz was recognized by IBM, one of the world’s leading innovators in artificial intelligence, as one of the top 40 women in the world as part of the company’s prestigious Women Leaders in AI program.

Her team at Pittsburgh-based Highmark Health alongside IBM’s Data Science Elite team developed technology to predict those who were at future risk of sepsis, a condition that happens when the body, as it fights infection, turns on itself and starts to damage its own tissues.

For more information on the program, contact Kim Calvert, regional chamber president of marketing & member services, at 330-733-2131, Ext. 1235.

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