FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - YWCA USA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - YWCA USA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - YWCA USA
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<strong>FOR</strong> <strong>IMMEDIATE</strong> <strong>RELEASE</strong> CONTACT: Charlene<br />
President & CEO<br />
October 31, 2012 (513) 361-2120<br />
The <strong>YWCA</strong> Celebrates 2012 Rising Stars<br />
Award Presented to 57 Local Professional Women<br />
Cincinnati, OH — The <strong>YWCA</strong> of Greater Cincinnati is pleased to announce the selection of the 2012 class of <strong>YWCA</strong><br />
Rising Stars. The <strong>YWCA</strong> Academy of Career Women of Achievement created the Rising Star program in 2002 as a way<br />
to mentor and support younger women (age 25 - 40) in pursuit of excellence in their careers. The Academy consists of<br />
women who have received the <strong>YWCA</strong> Career Women of Achievement Award. Nominated by <strong>YWCA</strong> Academy and <strong>YWCA</strong><br />
Board members, <strong>YWCA</strong> Rising Stars receive more than just the recognition from the award itself, but are then invited to<br />
participate in exclusive educational, networking and social events sponsored by the <strong>YWCA</strong>. Now in its eleventh year, this<br />
well-established and highly respected honor has been bestowed on nearly 500 women in Greater Cincinnati. Aligned with<br />
its mission to “Eliminate Racism and Empower Women,” the <strong>YWCA</strong> continues to develop women as the future leaders of<br />
the Greater Cincinnati region.<br />
This year, fifty-seven women join the community of <strong>YWCA</strong> Rising Stars. Following are the young professional<br />
women selected for this year’s honor (including the community in which they reside):<br />
Tara Adams, Trust Advisor, Wealth Management, PNC Bank (Hebron, KY)<br />
Dina Bailey, Director of Exhibitions & Collections, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (Pleasant<br />
Ridge)<br />
Lauren Bosse, Director of Development, Mercy Health Foundation (Glendale, OH)<br />
Melanie Boyle, Environmental Sustainability Specialist, Cintas Corp. (Morrow, OH)<br />
Donna Carrelli, Divisional AVP, Marketing Services, Annuity Group, Great American Financial Resources<br />
(Anderson Township)<br />
Nalini Chawla, R & D Principle Scientist, Procter & Gamble (Mason, OH)<br />
Melissa Currence, Interactive Media Project Manager, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (Hyde Park)<br />
Julie Danielson, Vice President, Credit Granting, Macy's Credit and Customer Services<br />
Karen Franz, Senior, Ernst & Young (Crescent Springs, KY)
Jamia Gamble, Legal Compliance Manager, Foxx and Company (Amberley)<br />
Jennifer Greber, Senior Brand & Strategy Marketing Manager, The Kroger Co. (Fort Mitchell, KY)<br />
Juwana Hall, Director, Batterers Intervention & Prevention, <strong>YWCA</strong> of Greater Cincinnati (Colerain)<br />
Jennifer Hansert, Manager, Strategic Resources & Public Policy, United Way of Greater Cincinnati (Colerain)<br />
Erin Hedges, Speech Language Pathologist, Cincinnati Public Schools (Anderson Township)<br />
Carla Howard, Assistant VP, Senior Commercial Relations Manager, Vantiv (Clifton)<br />
Lindsey Huttenbauer, Marketing Director, Saks Fifth Avenue (Hyde Park)<br />
Staci Jenkins, Associate, Labor & Employment, Thompson Hine LLP (Amelia, OH)<br />
Ebone John, Group Finance Manager, NAMDO, Procter & Gamble (Kenwood)<br />
Ginger Johnson, Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Cincinnati Ballet (Downtown Cincinnati)<br />
Kathleen Kennedy, Admissions & Marketing Director, Brookwood Retirement Community (Kenwood)<br />
Erin Kidwell, Senior Treasury Analyst, Sun Chemical (Downtown Cincinnati)<br />
Lauren Kirk, Manager, Real Estate, Macy's, Inc. (Loveland, OH)<br />
Anne Lame, Senior Analyst, Lenox Wealth Management (Mt Lookout)<br />
Heidi Lattire, Cost Accountant, Messer Construction Company (Price Hill)<br />
Denise Litter, MBE Portfolio Manager, Cincinnati <strong>USA</strong> Regional Chamber (Wyoming)<br />
Corrie Madden, Employee Coordinator Workforce Development, <strong>YWCA</strong> of Greater Cincinnati (Kennedy Heights)<br />
Jamila Maddox, Founder & Chief Chiropractor, Healing Arts, LLC<br />
Su-Yon McConville, Section Head-Global Packaging Development, Procter & Gamble (Mason, OH)<br />
Maribel McGonagle, Volunteer Resources Specialist, American Red Cross (Columbia Tusculum)<br />
Shannah Morris, Managing Associate, Frost Brown Todd, LLC (Monroe/Liberty Township, Ohio)<br />
Laura Muse, Director, Life Product Management, Ohio National Financial Services, Inc. (Kenwood)<br />
Tara Noland, Director, Development, Comprehensive Community Child Care (Clifton Heights)<br />
Emily Overton, Section Head, Hair Care Research & Development, Procter & Gamble<br />
Meeka Owens, Organizational Development Consultant, Mary Kay, Inc (North Avondale)<br />
Amy Pennekamp, Attorney, William E. Hesch Law Firm, LLC (Evendale)<br />
Chavon Phillips, Director, Human Resources, Foxx and Company (West Chester, OH)<br />
Rachel Reider, Project Manager, Crossroads Community Church (Pleasant Ridge)<br />
Kari Ritzi, Manager, Benefits Marketing & Communications, Macy's, Inc. (Burlington, KY)<br />
Lauren Ross, Residential Mortgage Loss Mitigation Disposition Manager, U.S. Bank (Glendale)
Megan Schmutte, Senior Volunteer Coordinator, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (Dayton, KY)<br />
Elizabeth Simmons, Attorney, Dinsmore & Shohl (Hyde Park)<br />
Leisan Smith, Director of the LGBTQ Center, University of Cincinnati (Golf Manor)<br />
Katie Stout, Controller, Best Upon Request Corporate Inc. (West Chester, OH)<br />
Katie Syroney, Director of Marketing, Cincinnati Opera (Pleasant Ridge)<br />
Julia Tarvin, Attorney, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister (Newport, KY)<br />
Ellen Tischler, Director, P&G North American Oral Care, Procter & Gamble (Columbia Tusculum)<br />
Andrea Turner, AVP - Professional Practices Group - Manager, Fifth Third Bank (Golf Manor)<br />
Lisa Vannis, Audit Senior Manager, Deloitte & Touche <strong>USA</strong> LLP (Miami Township)<br />
Elizabeth Vessell, Program Services Manager, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio (Lebanon, OH)<br />
Sarah Weiss, Executive Director, Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education (Amberley Village)<br />
Ligaya West, Production Manager, Accenture (Roselawn)<br />
Amy Westheimer, Director of Sales, Cincinnati Commercial Contracting (Mariemont)<br />
Erica White, Tax Specialist, PNC Bank (Brookwood)<br />
Jamese Willis, Finance Coordinator, Total Homecare Solutions (Pleasant Ridge)<br />
Tiffani Wills, Manager of Customer Success, iSqFt (West Chester)<br />
Camille Woods, Tremor Marketing Specialist (Word of Mouth), Procter & Gamble (Clifton)<br />
Julie Zix, Project Administrator, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (Highland Heights, KY)<br />
Nomination criteria include having the qualities of an outstanding performer and demonstrating a potential to<br />
attain marked achievement in her chosen career. Specifically, Rising Stars were identified as younger professional<br />
women with proven leadership qualities who would benefit from interaction with Academy members and other Rising<br />
Stars.<br />
National studies have shown that this is the first generation of young women professionals that have a substantial<br />
base of existing, high-level career women as potential mentors. By giving the Rising Stars the opportunity to interact and<br />
network with career women of diverse backgrounds, this program provides these younger leaders with the opportunity to<br />
address topics that will enhance their ability to further their career success. On October 18, the new class of Rising Stars<br />
attended a roundtable discussion event at the Queen City Club, featuring five topics of discussion that are relevant to<br />
younger women climbing the ladder of success. Each topic was facilitated by two members of the Academy of Career<br />
Women of Achievement. Sally Bush, Director of Analytics for Macy's Credit and Customer Service, and Diane Jordon<br />
Grizzard, Author, Speaker, and President/CEO of Thembi Speaks, LLC, co-chair an Advisory Committee that oversees
the <strong>YWCA</strong> Rising Star program. Sally serves on the <strong>YWCA</strong> Racial Justice Committee, was a 2009 <strong>YWCA</strong> Rising Star,<br />
and a 2010 <strong>YWCA</strong> Rising Star Leadership Program participant. Diane is a 2010 Career Woman of Achievement and<br />
serves on the <strong>YWCA</strong> Mamie Earl Sells Scholarship Fund Committee.<br />
After the roundtable event, the Rising Stars attended the Academy’s Fall Induction Dinner where the 2012 <strong>YWCA</strong><br />
Career Women of Achievement were inducted into the Academy. One 2012 <strong>YWCA</strong> Rising Star, Meeka Owens, was<br />
asked to report to the Academy on the topics discussed at the Rising Star Roundtable event. The Rising Stars, Academy<br />
and Board Members then heard an inspiring speech from the keynote and esteemed guest for the <strong>YWCA</strong> Fall Academy<br />
Induction Dinner, Gloria Lau, CEO of <strong>YWCA</strong> <strong>USA</strong>.<br />
The most recent inductees to the Academy of Career Women of Achievement are:<br />
Linda W. Clement-Holmes, Chief Diversity Officer & Senior Vice President Global Business Services, Procter<br />
& Gamble<br />
Pamela Coleman-Brailsford, Senior Director, Supplier Diversity & Sustainability, Cintas Corporation<br />
Kimber L. Fender, Executive Director, Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County<br />
Cheryl L. Hoying, PhD, RN, Senior Vice President, Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical<br />
Center<br />
Jill P. Meyer, Member-In-Charge, Cincinnati Office, Frost Brown Todd, LLC<br />
Peg Moertl, Senior Vice President, Community Development Banking, PNC Bank<br />
Maria P. Ortega, Managing Director, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated<br />
Kathleen Broderick Selker, President & CEO, Northlich
(Photo Caption: 2012 <strong>YWCA</strong> Rising Star Meeka Owens, Former <strong>YWCA</strong> Board Chair Kathy Beechem, <strong>YWCA</strong> President &<br />
CEO Charlene Ventura, <strong>YWCA</strong> Academy Co-Chair Nora Zorich, Co-Chair of the 2013 <strong>YWCA</strong> Salute to Career Women of<br />
Achievement Luncheon Linda Clement Holmes, <strong>YWCA</strong> Academy Co-Chair Tillie-Hidalgo-Lima, <strong>YWCA</strong> <strong>USA</strong> CEO Gloria<br />
Lau, Co-Chair of the 2013 <strong>YWCA</strong> Salute to Career Women of Achievement Luncheon Susan Branscome, and <strong>YWCA</strong><br />
Rising Star Co-Chair Diane Jordon Grizzard)<br />
The <strong>YWCA</strong> is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for<br />
all.<br />
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