Akron, Ohio, October 20, 2024 – The annual ATHENA Akron Leadership Awards event will be held Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at the DoubleTree Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, located at 3180 West Market Street in Akron.
The ATHENA Leadership Award celebrates exemplary leadership and is reflective of a quote by Plato: “What is honored in a country will be cultivated there.” Over 8,000 recipients have been honored with the ATHENA Leadership Award since the program’s inception in 1982. The ATHENA Leadership Award’s rich history, international scope and focus on mentorship distinguish it as one of the most prestigious leadership awards one can receive.
ATHENA Akron is pleased to announce the 2024 recipient honorees and finalist honorees:
ATHENA Leadership Award Recipient Honorees:
- Mary O’Connor | Architect
- Judge Kani H. Hightower | Summit County Domestic Relations Court
ATHENA Leadership Award Finalist Honorees: - Bev Shaffer | Food & Drink Reporter for The Repository | Gannett | USA Today Network; published author of
eight cookbooks - Jennifer Malcom | Founder, Chief Visionary Officer of Jennasis & Associates
- Cassie Pegg-Kirby | Director, Women’s Center Division of Student Life at Kent State University
ATHENA Young Professional Award Recipient Honoree: - Lashawrida Fellows | Deputy Director, Human Resources for the Summit County Executive’s Office
ATHENA Young Professional Award Finalist Honorees: - Dhara Patel Fitch | Rates Analyst at FirstEnergy
- Jo Peters | CEO of The Elite Movement: Extraordinary Ladies into Transformational Experiences
ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award Honoree: - Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center (Formerly known as the Battered Women’s Shelter & Rape Crisis Center)
ATHENA Akron Leadership TRIBUTE Award Honoree:
- Melissa G. Dunham | Partner at Bober Markey Fedorovich
o This is the first award of its kind given by ATHENA Akron. Sadly, Melissa passed away in August.- Melissa’s mother Bonnie will be accepting the award on her behalf.
The evening’s emcee is Alicia Robinson, Founder and Executive Director of Limitless Ambition and the 2020 Young Professional Leadership Award Recipient.
The Keynote Speaker for the event is Ramona Hood, Seasoned C-Suite Executive and former president and CEO of FedEx Custom Critical.
ATHENA Akron has presented more than 80 awards to local female leaders since 2003.
Corporate and individual sponsorship opportunities for the ATHENA Leadership Awards event are available and range from $250 to $5,000. For sponsorships, tickets or additional information about the evening of inspiration, please email administrator@athenaakron.org or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-athena-leadership-awards-program-tickets-
1020232341397.
About ATHENA Akron ATHENA Akron, Inc., a nonprofit organization, was established in January 2015 as an independent 501(c)(3) to provide leadership support, development and education for women leaders in the Akron area. It is the first licensed affiliate of ATHENA International. The mission of ATHENA Akron is to connect established women leaders, provide access to established women leaders and offer leadership development.
Visit the organization’s website at www.ATHENAAkron.org.
