Women of Achievement

Each year the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award is presented to a select group of Northeast Ohio women who have achieved extraordinary accomplishments through career success, community service, leadership, mentoring, and dedication to YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. Boasting over 250 honorees, the Women of Achievement Academy is comprised of the most accomplished and esteemed leaders in Northeast Ohio.

Women of Achievement Class of 2025

In June 2025, nine outstanding women will be celebrated for their work in and for the community. This group of honorees represent organizations across Northeast Ohio that are committed to the betterment and progress of women and girls in our community. Save the date to celebrate these women at YWCA’s Woman of Achievement Award Celebration on June 4, 2025 at Severance Music Center in University Circle.

Women of Achievement Class of 2025

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley - Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Malta & President Emeritus of the Middle East Policy Council

Trina Bediako - Chief Executive Officer, New Horizons Baking Company

Shontel Brown - Congresswoman, 11th Congressional District, United States House of Representatives

Michelle Hereford - System Chief Nurse Executive, Ethel Morikis Endowed Chair in Nursing Leadership, University Hospitals

Kelly Lamirand - Cleveland Market President, Key Bank

Deborah Lindway - Executive Vice President, Bank Security Officer & Technology Executive for Mergers and Acquisitions, PNC Bank

Jazmin Long - President & Chief Executive Officer, Birthing Beautiful Communities

Claire Rosacco - Vice President, Government Relations & Community Outreach, Cuyahoga Community College

Renee Willis, PhD - Executive Director, Martha Holden Jennings Foundation

Women of Achievement Awards Ceremony 2024

The 2024 Women of Achievement Awards ceremony was an incredibly inspiring night filled with heartfelt speeches, moving moments, and empowering messages that raised

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 2024
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WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 2024
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2024 ACHIEVE MAGAZINE

Women of Achievement Academy

2022 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Miranda Creel
Robyn N. Gordon
Pastor Courtney Clayton Jenkins
Ann V. Klotz
Sandra Madison
Sondra Miller
Rosanne Potter
Renee Richard
2021 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Carrie Carpenter
Gladisa Guadalupe
Kathryn M. Hall
Ariane Kirkpatrick
Susanna Krey
Marsha A. Mockabee
Vanessa Whiting
Lorna Wisham
2020 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Heather E. Burton, PhD.
Suzanne Day
Mary Kim Elkins
Constance Hill-Johnson
Stamy Paul
Patricia A. Shlonsky
2010 AWARD RECIPIENTS
April M. Boise
Tara Broderick
Catherine M. Kilbane
Janice G. Murphy
Geralyn M. Presti
2011 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Linda Bluso
Pamela B. Davis
Carol Latham
Ramona Robinson
Eileen Saffran
2012 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Lifetime Achievement Award
Barbara J. Danforth
Nan Cohen
Diane M. Downing
Lisa A. Rose
Debra A. Simmons
Sharon Sobol Jordan
2013 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Kim Bixenstine
Constance Harper
Lisa J. Oliver
Clara T. Rankin
Lauren Rich Fine
2014 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Lifetime Achievement Award
Judge Jean Murrell Capers
Kristen Baird Adams
Jennifer Bell
Sheryl King Benford
Jodi Berg
Beth Wain Brandon
Denise San Antonio Zeman
2015 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Julie Boland
Linda Bradley, M.D.
Katrina (Trina) Evans
Sally Wertheim
Sonali Bustamante Wilson
2016 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Micki Byrnes
Kathryn “Kit” Jensen
Kym Sellers
Robyn Minter Smyers
Maryrose Sylvester
Nancy Tinsley
Sue Tyler
2017 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Lifetime Achievement Award
Carole F. Hoover
Emily Drake
Anita Gray
Kerin Lyn Kaminski
Patricia Motta
Teresa Metcalf Beasley
Evalyn Gates Ph.D
Ann Zoller
2018 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Lifetime Achievement Award
Congresswoman Marcia Fudge
Beth Mooney
Sandra Pianalto
Mary Verdi-Fletcher
2019 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Deb Donley
Heidi Friedman
Lee Ann Howard
Marilyn Mobley
Tari Rivera
Enid Rosenberg
2009 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Women of Achievement
Virginia Albanese
Judith Feniger
Gena C. Lovett
Maria J. Pujana, M.D.
Marcia J. Wexberg
2008 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Linda M. Kane
Natalie A. Leek-Nelson
Stephanie McHenry
Beth E. Mooney
Rita N. Singh
2007 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Linda Abraham-Silver
Caprice Bragg
Tracey Lind
Denise Reading
Wendy Shiba
2006 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Jeanne Hauer
Deborah Z. Read
Diana Stano
Bang-Huei Yu
2005 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Elizabeth K. Balraj
Martha F. Brooks
Sari Feldman
Patricia Kennedy-Scott
Cynthia V. Schulz
2004 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Patricia A. Blackmon
Kathleen B. Burke
Olga Gonzalez-Sanabria
Joy A. Jordan
Helen R. Marter
Sandra Pianalto
2003 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Lillian W. Burke
Adele Malley
Ellen S. Mavec
Marilyn McGrath
Cynthia Moore-Hardy
Karen Sweeney
Rosalind Thompson
2002 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Farah M. Walters
Women of Achievement
Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis
Marcia L. Fudge
Janette M. Louard
Nancy McCann
Janet L. Miller
Lauren Wolf
2001 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Inajo D. Chappell
Nancy Cronin
Heather R. Ettinger
Phyllis Seltzer
2000 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Daisy Alford-Smith
Katherine Brandt
Jennie S. Hwang
1999 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Goldie K. Alvis
Jo Ann Charleston
E.P. Degenfelder
Susan L. Eagan
Mareyjoyce Green
Laura K. Hong
Lolita M. McDavid
Madeline A. Sivak
Wilma Smith
Mary Verdi-Fletcher
JoAnn White
1998 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Carol DiLillo-Kenney
Rocky Hwasta
Dolores K. Minter
Edwina H. Moss
Myrtle I. Muntz
Jean Salmon-Campbell
Mary Lou V. Stricklin
Ruby L. Terry
Claire A. Van Ummersen
Farah M. Walters
1997 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Margot Copeland
Nancy S. Dye|
Alyson Y. Ownes
Onelida Santiago
Patricia M. Sweet
Pauline H. Tarver
Mylion D. Waite
Margaret W. Wong
1996 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Ione M. Biggs
Mary G. Bounds
Carolyn Buhl
Cheryl Goggans
Joan Lamson
Yvonne Pointer
Virginia G. Saha Roberta Steinbacher
Jerry Sue Thorton
1995 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Jacqueline F. Woods
Women of Achievement
Mary H. Ashbrook
Carol A. Cartwright
Sister Maureen Doyle O.S.U.
Doris A. Evans
Jean B. Gaede
Adrienne Lash-Jones
Rubie J. McCullough
Chris Trepal
Lesley B. Wells
1994 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Artha W. Lubaugh
Gail Long
1993 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Zelma Watson George
Women of Achievement
Jane L. Campbell
Marguerite I. Harkness
Magnolia Jackson
Frances P. Taft
1992 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Barbara Galloway
Catharine M. Lewis
Marla Loehr
Donna K. Rego
Carol Rivchun
1991 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Mary Bill
Mary Boyle
Janet Bullard
Margaret L. Murphy
Billie K. Rawot
Karen W. Spero
Rose Wong
1990 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Alexandria J. Boone
Helen Brown
Janice G. Douglas
Sally Gries
Sally K. Griswold
Florence Hangach
Mary Rose Oakar
1989 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Betsy Alexander
Wilma Bergfeld
Monica Crespo
Donna L. Cummings
Denise M. Fugo
Dorothy Fuldheim
Kathryn Karipides
Janice Nelson-Neville
Mary M. Smith
Lynn Wolfram
Stella Zannoni
1988 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Victoria Cargill
Peggy Z. Fisher
Gloria Pace King
Anne McManamon
Patricia Mead
Lizabeth A. Moody
Barbara S. Robinson
Linda Rocker
Jana Van Vliet
Farah M. Walters
1987 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Betty Eschuk
Carol Frankel
Bernadine Healy
Sandra Johnson
Denise Knecht
Miriam G. Lugo
Patricia W. Nobili
Eunice Podis
1986 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Lynne B. Alfred
Martha Cathcart
Ann Dunning
V. Latrelle Hogg
Martha Joseph
Edith Paetow
Mary M. Reinhard
Beryl E. Rothschild
June Vereeke-Hutt
1985 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Grace C. Brown
1982 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Marjorie Hall-Ellis
1981 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Barbara Brown-Daniels
Mary Fabish
Marie Wing
Peggy Yohner
1980 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Jeanette G. Brown
Carole F. Hoover
Eleanor B. Schwartz
1979 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Dorothy Chlad
Joan Campbell
Ranelle Gamble
J. Helen Slough
Pauline Smith
Joyce Whitley
1978 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Alicia Alvarado
Betty Del Duca
Mary C. Guzman
Joan Kriikku
Sarah Marcus
Lois McGuire
Mary A. Mendelson
1977 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Rena Blumberg
June Kirk
Jean Krizman
Joan P. Lambros
Beverly Pyle