Rochester Chamber announces finalists for ATHENA Awards

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Finalists for the three categories of the 2024 ATHENA Awards have been announced by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its Women’s Council affiliate.

The ATHENA program is designed to honor and empower Greater Rochester’s female leaders in business. Recipients will be announced on Feb. 1 at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

There are 14 finalists for the ATHENA International Award, which is given to the professional female leader “who has demonstrated significant achievements in business, community service, and the professional advancement of women.”

The finalists:

Julie Chapus, founder/director, Miss Julie’s School of Beauty

Lisa Harris, senior vice president, chief medical officer, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

Christina Lee, global education coordinator/Board of Education vice president, Monroe Community College/Brighton Central School District

Lynn Malooly, executive director, Water for South Sudan

Kim McCluski, board chair, Golisano Children’s Hospital

Denishea Ortiz, executive director, strategic marketing, Rochester Institute of Technology

Tiffany Owens, executive vice president of programs, Urban League of Rochester

Angelica Perez-Delgado, president & CEO, Ibero-American Action League

Gerianne Puskas, vice president of development & communications, Lollypop Farm

Cassandra Rich, special counsel/Real Estate Group, Barclay Damon LLP

Julie Sadwick, director of admissions & equity, diversity and inclusion special projects, Simon Business School at University of Rochester

Stephanie Schaeffer, vice president, chief legal & ethics officer, and corporate secretary, Paychex

Stephanie Seiffert, partner, Nixon Peabody LLP

Stephanie Von Bacho, senior director, learning & development, University of Rochester Medical Center

Finalists for the ATHENA International Young Professional Award, which recognizes “emerging female leaders in the 30- to 45-year-old range who demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession and serve as a role model for young women both personally and professionally:”

Elissa Burke, chief program officer, Starbridge

Collene Burns, vice president of global talent, ITX

Lindsay Connelly, owner/CEO, Linden Digital Marketing

Nicolette Gaesser, project manager, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

Agathi Georgiou-Graham, owner, Arbor Venues

Brie Harrison, finance director & capital projects manager, Monroe County Library System & Rochester Public Library

Jazzmyn Ivery-Robinson, assistant director of community & belonging, RIT

Kristin Merrick, partner, Faraci Lange LLP

Tyana Rene Velazquez-Smith, assistant vice president for education, The Strong National Museum of Play

Nicole VanGorder, chief operating officer, Rivent Partners

Finalists for the ATHENA International Organizational Award, which honors a woman-owned or woman-led business or organization “that creates a culture encouraging women employees to achieve their full leadership potential and supports leadership development opportunities for women and girls in the community:”

AAC Contracting, LLC

JK Executive Strategies, LLC

Littler Mendelson P.C.

Van Bortel Auto Group

YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County

Visit the chamber website for more information.

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