Sitemap31 women throughout the Valley who shine in their respective fields or volunteer work have been selected as nominees for the annual Athena Award.
The women will be recognized at a dinner and awards ceremony on May 14.
The event is hosted by the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber and The Vindicator.
The 2026 nominees are:
Amanda Banner, Vice President, Sr. Trust Advisor, Huntington National Bank
Amber Bodrick, Chief Operating Officer, QUICKmed Urgent Care
Lauren Butk, Marketing Director, ECMSI
Valarie Campbell, CFO, Covelli Enterprises
Beth Carmichael, Executive Director, Trumbull County Tourism Bureau
Tina Chance, Director of Resource Development, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley
Jamie Demain, Director of Volunteer and Visitor Service, Akron Children’s Hospital
Amanda Fluck, Marketing Director, Window World PennOhio
Gina Govojdean, Vice President, Sales and Supply, Howmet Aerospace
Elizabeth Hartwig, Vice President, Investments, Stifel
Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki, Co-Owner, Penguin City Brewing Company
Amy Less Shope, Managing Partner, Lehner Shope Wealth Group; Founder and Director, Dylan’s House
Luann Maynard, Senior Director of Development, Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley
Heather McCowin, DNP, Chief Nursing Officer, Mercy Health Youngstown, St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital
Melinda Miletta-Miller, CEO, Bolt Construction, Inc.
Alicia Miller, SVP, Segment Marketing Leader, WesBanco
Julie Needs, Executive Director, Sustainable Opportunities Development Center
Markisha Parker, Owner, Parker Family Urban Farms LLC; Executive Director, Farm & Family Alliance Inc.
Erin Phemester, Chief Experience Officer, The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County
Dorothy Powell, Owner/Baker, Ginger Bread Bakery
Megan Roberts, Chief Operating Officer, HD Growth Partners
Crystal Siembida Boggs, President, Siembida & Boggs Philanthropic Foundation; Event Manager, GCXC Racing
Tiffany Sokol, Housing Director, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation
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