Women of Achievement

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

This year, we’ll celebrate 9 of our area’s most powerful and inspirational leaders on June 4th at Severence Music Center.

Women of Achievement 2025 Awards Ceremony

Tickets for this year’s Women of Achievement Awards Ceremony are on sale!

Join us for an evening of mix & mingle, hors d'oeuvres, and programming on June 4, 2025 at 5:00 pm at Severance Music Center to honor:

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
Deb 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, Executive Director, Martha Holden Jennings Foundation

Become a Woman of Achievement Sponsor

Be a part of this signature event by becoming a Woman of Achievement sponsor! Click below to learn more about various sponsorship opportunities or contact Interim Director of Development, Kimberly St. John-Stevenson for further details.

Women of Achievement Class of 2025

In June 2025, nine outstanding leaders 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 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.

Trina Bediako

Chief Executive Officer,
New Horizons Baking Company

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley

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

Kelly Lamirand

Cleveland Market President,
Key Bank

Deb Lindway

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

Michelle Hereford

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

Claire Rosacco

Vice President, Government Relations & Community Outreach,
Cuyahoga Community College

Shontel Brown

Congresswoman, 11th Congressional District, United States House of Representatives

Renee Willis, PhD

Executive Director,
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation

Jazmin Long

President & Chief Executive Officer,
Birthing Beautiful Communities

Women of Achievement Academy

  • 2024 AWARD RECIPIENTS

    India Birdsong Terry
    Dr. Laura Bloomberg
    Jenice Contreras
    Vickie Eaton Johnson
    Lillian Kuri
    Jeneen Marziani
    A'Shira Nelson
    Dr. Airica Steed
    Bonita G. Teeuwen

    2023 AWARD RECIPIENTS

    Margaret Bernstein
    Dr. Jacklyn Chisholm
    Heidi Gartland
    Angela Mago
    Marcia Moreno
    Tracy Oliver
    Aseelah Shareef

    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