Ontario County ATHENA Awards nominees announced. Here's who they are
- The eight women nominated for the Ontario County ATHENA Leadership Award work in the public and private sectors, in fields ranging from healthcare to banking to education and more.
- Three women are nominated for the Ontario County Young Professional Leadership Award.
- Tickets for the awards ceremony go on sale Oct. 5.
CANANDAIGUA — Eight women have been nominated for the ATHENA Leadership award and three others have been nominated for the ATHENA Young Professional Award for 2022.
First introduced in 1982, ATHENA Leadership Awards illuminate individuals across professional sectors who excel in their professions, give back to their communities and actively assist women in achieving their full leadership potential.
The individuals nominated this year exemplify the ATHENA Leadership Model, which features eight principles of enlightened leadership: live authentically, learn constantly, build relationships, foster collaboration, act courageously, advocate fiercely, give back and celebrate.
ATHENA Leadership Award nominees
-- Mary Beer, RN, MPH, public health director, Ontario County
-- Alyssa Belasco, executive director, New York Kitchen
-- Tracey Dello Stritto, executive director, Partnership for Ontario County
-- Diane Hayton, RN, director of nursing for long-term care, UR Medicine Thompson Health
-- Michelle Pedzich, SVP, chief human resource officer, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust
-- Pamela Rhodes, officer and pastor, The Salvation Army, Canandaigua
-- Kimberly Sandic, program manager, national sales operations, Marsh McLennan Agency
-- Suzanne B. Underhill, executive director, Light Hill - Canandaigua Comfort Care Home
ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award nominees
The professionals nominated in this category are 40 and younger.
-- Andrea Brown, assistant director of student life, Finger Lakes Community College
-- Tara Rago, vice president, branch manager, Lyons National Bank
-- Caroline Wenzel Chapman, director of communications and advisement, Canandaigua City School District
Honoring the ATHENA nominees
Nominees, their colleagues, friends and family, and community leaders will gather for this special event at Finger Lakes Community College on Friday, Nov. 18. The program begins with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and includes dinner, a large silent auction, and a media presentation featuring this year’s ATHENA Award nominees,.
Of course, the much-anticipated announcement of this year’s recipients will also take place during the dinner program.
Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at OntarioCountyATHENA.com.
More about the ATHENA program
The event is a partnership between the Ontario County Chamber of Commerce and Professional Women of the Finger Lakes. A portion of the proceeds fund college scholarships for local women.
The program is made possible with generous support from founding sponsors Randall Farnsworth Auto Group, Ontario County Chamber of Commerce and Professional Women of the Finger Lakes. Other major investors include Canandaigua National Bank & Trust, Constellation Brands, Five Star Bank, LeChase, Fuller Funeral Home, Inc., UR Medicine Thompson Health, Mengel Metzger Barr & Co. LLP, Canandaigua Insurance Agency, Morrell Builders, Chrisanntha Construction Cor., F.G. Rayburn Mason Contractors, Reliant Credit Union, Lyons National Bank, Wegmans, The Friend Team and Finger Lakes Community College.