In ancient Greek religion and culture, Athena, daughter of Zeus, reigns as the patron goddess of heroic endeavors, personifying strength, courage, wisdom and enlightenment. She also rises as a warrior but one believed to fight only for just causes and never without a noble purpose.

Given those stellar traits, is it any wonder then that Athena has long been revered by the masses?

Such reverence endures today most visibly and most poignantly in an international awards program dedicated to contemporary women who embody the spirit and demeanor of the Greek goddess.

The ATHENA program presents annual honors to a woman for professional excellence, community service and active assistance to women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.

Since the program’s inception in 1982, more than 8,000 exemplary leaders in more than 500 communities have received the prestigious award in the United States and many other nations.

The Mahoning Valley rises as a hot spot on that global ATHENA map as its program ranks among the longest-running in the world. The Vindicator edition of the Tribune Chronicle, in cooperation with the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, is proud to have been a sponsor of the program for more than three decades.

At the Waypoint 4180 banquet hall in Canfield on Thursday night, the Mahoning Valley ATHENA Awards program celebrated its 32nd year by bestowing its top 2025 honor to Darlene Jones, chief executive officer of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Northeast Ohio District Council. We congratulate the active community service leader as a perfect fit for this singular honor.

Most recently, the Howland resident orchestrated an unbelievably stunning turnaround for St. Vincent de Paul that had been teetering on the brink of closing its Northeast Ohio operations in 2018 because of lack of resources and infrastructure.

How stunning was it? Consider under Jones’ leadership:

● The charity’s budget has grown to nearly $2 million and staff increased from two people to 19.

● The number of meals served each year exploded, from 30,000 to 118,000, as did the number of people served, from 800 each year to 9,466 last year.

● The society’s annual thrift store sales increased from $68,000 per year to $623,000, and services expanded into Portage and Ashtabula counties.

In addition to those significant achievements, Jones also added much-needed programs for housing and utility assistance, and added a pet food pantry and programs for the homeless. She started a Ready2Work program to provide skills and support for those rejoining the workforce. And she is credited for mentoring other women and promoting volunteerism in the community.

Like many of her predecessors as ATHENA honorees, Jones stands out as a trailblazer in her field. She now joins the ranks of other notable Mahoning Valley women who have shared the ATHENA honor.

That list includes a virtual who’s who of powerhouse women in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Among them are Dr. Nicolette Powe, a respected health professor at Youngstown State University; Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick; Diane Sauer, owner of Warren’s Diane Sauer Chevrolet; and Kathy Cook, former president of St. Joseph Warren Hospital.

Also deserving of warm pats on the back are the more than 1,000 nominees for the Mahoning Valley ATHENA Award over the years.

This year those nominees were Amanda Archer, Youngstown market director, JPMorgan Chase; Paula Baco, director, Trumbull Career & Technical Center; Denise Glinatsis Bayer, vice president / senior trust officer, Premier (now WesBanco) Bank; Andrea Mahone Blackmon, CEO, Just in Time Employment Agency and Andrea Mahone Foundation; Mallory Capretta, pediatric nurse practitioner, Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley; Sarah Chill, education program director, Ursuline Sisters Mission; Melissa Crown, chief operating officer, Guidelight Financial Group; Alexandra DeVengencie-Bush, human resource and risk management director, Trumbull County Board of Commissioners; Rachael Dobson, director, Rich Center for Autism; Dionne Dowdy-Lacey, executive director, United Returning Citizens; Teri Ely, executive director, Veterans’ Outreach; Jennifer Frank, former professor of fashion merchandising, YSU; Heather Fronk, president, Clothed In Strength; Charlotte Gardiner, president, Mercy Health St. Joseph Warren Hospital; Deborah Grinstein, community development, new business trust officer, Farmers Trust Co.; Kristen Kotheimer, licensed independent social worker; supervising social worker; school and family solutions coordinator, PCM PsyCare; Tifinie LaComb, vice president, regional banking relationship, Huntington Bank; Traci Miller, owner and president, Color 3 Embroidery; Ashley Morrow, human resources / payroll / grants / safety, Livi Steel Inc.; Morgan O’Brien, director of operations, Cornerstone Caregiving; LeeAnn Oros, founder / owner / professional makeup artist, Permanent Beauty by LeeAnn; Karlene Pappada, welcome center manager / CNA instructor / case manager supervisor, Flying High Inc.; Pamela Ramsey, clinical director, Community Corrections Association Inc.; Nicole Ranttila, owner / licensed clinical psychologist, Nicole Ranttila Inc. Psychological Services; Heather Sahli, general manager, Mahoning Valley Scrappers; Beth Scheller, president and CEO, YMCA of Youngstown; Stephanie Shapiro, managing partner / owner, Sherman Creative; Trinette Simon, director of inclusion and equity, Cohen & Co.; Patricia Summers, founder, president and CEO, Youngstown Blue Coats; Dr. Vasilia Vamvakis, family physician, Mercy Health; Vicki Vicars, vice president of operations, Thrive Mahoning Valley; and Dr. Vanessa Jones Washington, CEO, New Beginnings Residential Treatment Center.

Congratulations to each and every one of these outstanding women and role models for whom we are fortunate to have strengthen our community.