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Women of Influence

YWCA’s 2024 Women of Influence Announced

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The YWCA Dayton has announced the 2024 class of Women of Influence, who will be honored at their annual luncheon scheduled for March 14th at the convention center.  This will be the 26th year the YWCA has honored women who have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Five women will be added to the list of 180 women who have been honored in the past.

The 2024 Women of Influence are:

Barbara Bostick, consultant, You & Me Inc.
Belinda Kenley, vice president at Energy Optimizers USA
Nozipo Glenn, community advocate
Janice Culver, community volunteer and philanthropist
Sarah Hackenbracht, CEO of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association

Pat McDonald will be honored with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. McDonald retired in 2017 from her position as market president of KeyBank for the Dayton region, after working 30 years as a local and regional bank executive. She went on to serve as interim CEO at two local nonprofits — Dayton Society of Natural History and Dayton Performing Arts Alliance – before coming to YWCA Dayton to serve as interim president and CEO from January to May 2023. She was first honored as a Women of Influence honoree in 2007.

 

YWCA Dayton Announces 2022 Women of Influence Honorees

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YWCA Dayton will honor eight women during its 2022 Women of Influence awards luncheon on March 10, 2022, 11:30 a.m. to 1 pm, at the Dayton Convention Center. This year marks the 24th anniversary of the award; with an average attendance of 800, it is known as the largest nonprofit luncheon in Dayton. 2022 will be the first time Women of Influence has been held in person since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 1998, the YWCA Dayton WOI Awards have recognized and honored more than 170
influential women in the Dayton area, visionaries and thought leaders who have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering
women, eliminating racism, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Honorees in the Women of Influence Class of 2022 are:

• Karen DeMasi, Vice-President of Community Development – CityWide

DeMasi’s current role is vice-president of community development for CityWide, a nonprofit community and economic development organization in Dayton.“Karen has worked tirelessly to improve housing and development within the City of Dayton for more than 25 years,” writes her nominator. “Her thoughtful method of empowering the underrepresented in our community to face the challenge of rebuilding is the embodiment of helping to promote peace, striving for justice, and demonstrating dignity to all.”

• Renate Frydman, community advocate & educator

A dedicated educator, scholar, writer, and storyteller, Frydman channeled her influential words as an award-winning contributor to the Dayton Daily News for 30 years, focusing on stories of women’s empowerment and promoting justice, freedom, and dignity. After getting several inquiries from local teachers to share her story, Frydman helped train more than 100 educators in the Miami Valley in accurately teaching Holocaust history, going on to establish the Holocaust Education Committee.

• Jacqueline Gamblin, Founder & CEO – JYG Innovations

As founder and CEO of information technology company JYG Innovations, Jacqueline “Jackie” Gamblin has used her expertise to mentor other entrepreneurs while creating a team environment that supports a unique business model and serving as a passionate advocate for foster youth. “Through open dialogue, conversation, and giving, Jackie uses her influence to uplift those who need a boost,” writes her nominator. “Being a Black female in a predominantly white male industry, she has often encountered the unique position of being the ‘other’ in the room. In light of that experience, Jackie has become an expert in sitting back, observing the room, and understanding who needs to have a seat at the table and a voice.”

• Mary McDonald, Mayor – City of Trotwood

Mary McDonald is an entrepreneur who has served the Miami Valley for more than 38 years and has also worked with various cosmetic companies, such as Fashion Fair Cosmetics, Revlon, Flori Roberts, and many others. Her passion to serve people led her to work with cancer survivors in restorative imaging. “McDonald is passionate about Trotwood and has ignited the City of Trotwood with new energy and a “can-do” spirit,” writes her nominator. “Her tireless work has seen $50 million in new capital investment realized throughout the city, and her leadership and vision has positioned the city as a regional leader in home ownership and financial stability.”

• Gina McFarlane-El, CEO – Five Rivers Health Centers

Currently CEO of Five Rivers Health Centers, McFarlane-El’s career has been dedicated to improving the health outcomes of our community, particularly the underserved. Determined to provide access to affordable, high-quality, compassionate healthcare and meet people where they are, she initiated Five Rivers opening two school-based health centers in Montgomery County and led her team to be one of three practices participating in Ohio Medicaid’s Comprehensive Primary Care Program, receiving statewide recognition for its impact on improving quality of care while lowering costs.   She is a devoted champion for providing access to services that improve the health of families, including people experiencing financial, social, or cultural barriers, and she recognizes that racism is a barrier to good health

• Christine Olinsky, OSU Extension Educator – Family and Consumer Sciences (retired)

Olinsky provided leadership to shared administration services and fiscal management within the nine counties of the Miami Valley Extension Education and Research Area, ensuring equitable programming and organizing programs focused on healthy people, healthy finances, and healthy relationships. She paid close attention to family life education with a focus on stress management, work/life balance, parenting, and financial management. Now retired, Olinsky hasn’t slowed down. She currently serves as a Montgomery County Juvenile Court Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) or Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), devoting countless hours to help children in the foster care system, and continued to conduct childcare provider training in the Miami Valley through 4C for Children.

• Karen Dempsey Volke, communications & fundraising executive (retired)

As her nominator wrote, “Karen has the unique ability to see in other women, the potential and leadership qualities that they may not yet see in themselves.” Her career in communications and fundraising has allowed her to raise awareness, and millions of dollars, for numerous Dayton nonprofits that support women, children, and families, including United Rehabilitation Services, Dayton Children’s Hospital, the Kettering Medical Center Foundation (KMCF), Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Clothes That Work. Dempsey Volke founded the Ribbon of Hope Society and Luncheon at KMCF to provide funds for mammography services to uninsured and under-served women in our community.

Additionally, Rev. Vanessa Oliver Ward will be honored with the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award. Ward retired as co-pastor of Omega Baptist Church and founder/past chair of the Board of the Omega School of Excellence, and currently serves as president of the Omega Community Development Corporation. She was first honored as a Women of Influence honoree in 2006.  Rev. Ward has provided support in the development of a breast cancer survivors support group for African American women, and has served on Boards ranging from the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company to the Dayton Foundation Board Committee on Grants and Programs and OneFifteen, DECA, 2-Generation Advisory, Learn to Earn Dayton, and The Dayton Chapter of the Links, Inc. She also serves as a lecturer at United Theological Seminary and is a contributing writer in the book Journey to the Well, a student and leader workbook co-authored with Bishop Vashti McKenzie.

Honorees were selected from a pool of more than 60 nominations by YWCA leadership and the volunteer WOI Committee, led this year by Chair Diane Pleiman, president, Premier Health Physician Network, and Co-Chairs Lori and Chris Kershner. Lori is owner of LMK Advocacy and Chris is president and CEO of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. Says Shannon Isom, president and CEO of YWCA Dayton, “We stand in awe of these women. They are thought leaders, innovators, literal care givers. They make our community stronger by
sharing those gifts to break down barriers and help the most vulnerable among us thrive. That is the mission work YWCA Dayton has done for 151 years, and we are honored to lift up these women in pursuit of that vision.

The Women of Influence luncheon is YWCA Dayton’s largest fundraiser. Sponsorship opportunities, program advertising, and table and ticket purchase information is available at www.ywcadayton.org/woi22.

Nominate A Women Of Influence

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Since 1998, YWCA Dayton has set aside one special day to recognize and honor women in our community. They celebrate Dayton’s most influential women, all of whom have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Nominations are now open for the 2022 honoree class.

SELECTION CRITERIA

To be considered for the Women of Influence award, nominees must:

  • Demonstrate a commitment to, and use her influence to further, the YWCA mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all
  • Provide leadership in her profession and community
  • Give back to the community through her time, talent, and/or resources
  • Not currently serve on the YWCA Dayton Board of Directors
  • Not be employed by YWCA Dayton, including contract work

Nominations are kept on file and will be considered for the year submitted plus two (2) years.  that is still within the 2-year consideration period.

Online nominations for the 2022 honoree class are due by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2021.

 

YWYWCA Dayton’s Women of Influence Event On Hold

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YWCA Dayton has paused its largest fundraiser, its Women of Influence awards luncheon, which had originally been rescheduled from March 12 to June 3 due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

“Above all else: we want our community to be safe,” said Shannon Isom, president & CEO. “This event is special; it is Dayton’s largest luncheon, giving space to celebrate women and uplift the YWCA mission. It is truly an experience, and our honorees deserve that full experience. It is for these reasons that we have decided to pause the 2020 Women of Influence Awards Luncheon until it is clearly safe to hold the event, hopefully by Spring 2021.”

2020 Honorees include: Maribeth Graham, Retired Administrator, Iddings Foundation; Peggy Lehner, Ohio Senator; Marya Rutherford Long, Vice President – Community & Economic Development Manager, Fifth Third Bank; Jane Marx, Vice President/Controller, Culmen Real Estate Services; Julia Reichert, Academy-Award-Winning Independent Filmmaker; Becky Sorrell, Director, Preble County Job and Family Services; Jenell Ross, President, Bob Ross Auto Group – Lifetime Achievement.

All purchased sponsorships, tables, tickets, raffle tickets, and program ads will be honored when the event is held. There will not be a call for nominations for a 2021 class of Women of Influence.

This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the award, which is presented to women leaders who have made a lasting impact on the Miami Valley through their dedication to, and support of, the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. For the fourth straight year, the awards sold out; we were expecting a crowd of 880, making it the largest Women of Influence since 2010. 2020 also marks YWCA Dayton’s 150th anniversary.

 

YWCA’s 2020 Women of Influence Announced

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YWCA Dayton will honor seven women during its 2020 Women of Influence awards luncheon on March 12, 2020, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Dayton Convention Center. This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the award; with an average attendance of 800, it is known as the largest nonprofit luncheon in Dayton.

Since 1998, the YWCA Dayton WOI Awards have recognized and honored more than 165 influential women in the Dayton area, visionaries and thought leaders who have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Honorees in the Women of Influence Class of 2020 are:

  • Maribeth Graham, Retired Administrator, Iddings Foundation
  • Peggy Lehner, Ohio Senator
  • Marya Rutherford Long, Vice President – Community & Economic Development Manager, Fifth Third Bank
  • Jane Marx, Vice President/Controller, Culmen Real Estate Services
  • Julia Reichert, Independent Filmmaker
  • Becky Sorrell, Director, Preble County Job and Family Services

Additionally, Jenell Ross will be honored with the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award. Ross is president of Bob Ross Auto Group in Centerville, Ohio, the first African-American owned Mercedes-Benz Dealership in the world and the only one owned by an African-American woman. She is the only second-generation African-American female automobile dealer in the country. Ross was first honored as a Women of Influence honoree in 2012.

Honorees were selected from a pool of more than 130 nominations by YWCA leadership and the volunteer WOI Committee, led this year by Chair Belinda Matthews Stenson, director, Minority Business Partnership of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, and Co-Chair Diane Pleiman, president, Premier Health Physician Network.

Says Shannon Isom, president and CEO of YWCA Dayton, “We stand in awe of these women. They are thought leaders, innovators, literal care givers. They make our community stronger by sharing those gifts to break down barriers and help the most vulnerable among us thrive. That is the mission work YWCA Dayton has done for 149 years, and we are honored to lift up these women in pursuit of that vision.

“This year’s class represents not only women who have blazed new trails in their personal and professional lives, influencing our city and region for decades before and those to come, but they also represent a significant milestone: these honorees will be recognized as Women of Influence during YWCA Dayton’s 150th anniversary year.”

The Women of Influence luncheon is YWCA Dayton’s largest fundraiser. Sponsorship opportunities, program advertising, and table and ticket purchase information is available at www.ywcadayton.org/woi20.

For more information on YWCA Dayton, its Women of Influence awards, or to arrange a media interview, contact [email protected] or 937-416-3924. Follow the conversation on social media using hashtag #DaytonWOI.

YWCA Honors Women of Influence

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Since 1998, the YWCA Dayton WOI A wards have recognized and honored the most influential women in the Dayton area , visionaries who have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism , and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Last night at a social including previous honorees the new honorees were announced:

 

Women of Influence Class of 2018 are:

• Janice Allen , Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer, Trotwood – Madison City School District

• Mary Bullen , Community Philanthropist & Founder, Home Is The (HIT) Foundation

• Kim Faris , Radio Host, I Heart Media (Dayton’s Hot Country B94.5)

• Jacque Fisher , Chief, Aircraft Survivability Division, Mobility Directorate (WPAFB)

• Sharon Rab , Founder & Chair, Dayton Literary Peace Prize

• Daria Dillard Stone , Parent Advocate & Educational Consultant

Additionally, Pam Morris, founder and CEO of CareSource , will be honored with the 201 8 Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement Award. Morris was first named a Women of Influence Honoree in 2011.

Honorees were selected from a pool of more than 85 nominations by YWCA leadership and the volunteer WOI Committee, led this year by Chair Jenny Michael, vice president of marketing and corporate communications at CareSource, and Co – Chair Debbie Watts Robinson , CEO, Miami Valley Housing Opportunities .

Says Shannon Isom, president and CEO of YWCA Dayton, “ Occasionally, someone will ask me if we’ll ‘run out’ of influential women in the Dayton area to recognize. Clearly, we will not. We stand in awe of these women. They are thought leaders, innovators, literal care givers. They make our community stronger by sharing those gifts to break down barriers and help the most vulnerable among us thrive . That is the mission work YWCA Dayton has done for 147 years, and we are honored to lift up these women in pursuit of that vision. ”

 This year marks the 21st anniversary of the award; w ith an average attendance of 800 , it is the single largest daytime nonprofit luncheon in Dayton.

 

SAVE THE DATE:
2018 Women of Influence Awards Luncheon
March 8, 2018
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Dayton Convention Center

Reserve your tickets online.

 

Nominate a Woman of Influence

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Do you know an outstanding woman in the Dayton region who: demonstrates a commitment to YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women; provides leadership in her profession and community; and gives back to the community through her time, talent and/or resources? Nominate her for the 2018 Women of Influence Awards which traditionally take place in March at the Dayton Convention Center.

Since 1998, YWCA Dayton has set aside one special day to recognize and honor women in our community. They celebrate Dayton’s most influential women, all of whom have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Selection Criteria:

To be considered for the Women of Influence award, nominees must:

•Demonstrate a commitment to the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women
•Provide leadership in her profession and community
•Give back to the community through her time, talent and/or resources
•Not currently serving on the YWCA Dayton board of directors
•Not be employed by YWCA Dayton, including contract work

Before you nominate, check here to make sure they have not already been honored.

You can complete this nomination online here.  Deadline for nominations is September 15, 2017.

YWCA Dayton announces 2017 Women of Influence

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ycollage17 YWCA Dayton will honor eight women during its 2017 Women of Influence awards luncheon on March 9, 2017, noon to 1 pm, at the Dayton Convention Center. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the award; with an average attendance of 800, it is the single largest daytime nonprofit event in Dayton.

Since 1998, the YWCA Dayton WOI Awards have recognized and honored the most influential women in the Dayton area, women who have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Honorees in the Women of Influence Class of 2017 are:

  •  Amanda Wright Lane, international aviation advocate
  •  Carmen Gooden, co-founder and executive director, Linda Vista Inc.
  •  Sandy Gudorf, president, Downtown Dayton Partnership
  •  Michelle Riley, CEO, The Foodbank
  •  Judy Cook, former mayor, City of Oakwood
  •  Maj. Wendy Stiver, Dayton Police Department
  •  Stacy Thompson, vice president and regional manager for corporate responsibility banking, KeyBank

Additionally, Jeraldyne Blunden, founder of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, will be honored posthumously with the 2017 Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement Award.

Says YW CEO Shannon Isom, “YWCA Dayton, its Board of Directors and the community are excited about Women of Influence every year; this year is especially significant as it marks 20 years of recognizing influential women in our region. I continue to be encouraged by the number of nominators who insightfully recognize that the fortitude and dedication of these women change lives, industry and our community. This is the legacy of YWCA.”

Honorees were selected from a pool of more than 70 nominations by YWCA leadership and the volunteer WOI Committee, led this year by Chair Anita Moore, owner of A. Moore Consulting LLC, and Co-chair Jenny Michael, vice president of marketing and corporate communications at CareSource.

The Women of Influence luncheon serves as the largest fundraiser for YWCA Dayton. Sponsorship opportunities, program advertising and ticket information are available at www.ywcadayton.org.

 

Nominate A Women of Influence

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WOICollage

2015 Women of Influence

YWCA Dayton has announced that nominations are open for its 2017 Women of Influence (WOI) Awards. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the award; honorees will be recognized during an awards luncheon March 9, 2017. With an average attendance of 800, it is the single largest daytime nonprofit event in Dayton.

Since 1998, the YWCA Dayton WOI Awards have recognized and honored the most influential women in the Dayton area, women who have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Past honorees have included such influencers as Mayor Rhine McLin and Virginia Kettering and the Junior League of Dayton and Standard Register.

Nominations can be submitted by and for an individual or an organization; self-nominations are also accepted. Honorees are selected by YWCA leadership and the volunteer WOI Committee, led this year by Chair Anita Moore, owner of A. Moore Consulting LLC, and Co-chair Jenny Michael, vice president of marketing and corporate communications at CareSource.

Honoree criteria:

  •   Demonstrates a commitment to the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women
  •   Provides leadership in her profession and community
  •   Gives back to the community through her time, talent and/or resourcesThose currently serving on the YWCA Dayton Board of Directors and/or currently employed by YWCA Dayton (including contract work) are not eligible for nomination
WOI Collage

2015 Women of Influence

Says Cathy Ponitz, chair of the WOI Nominations Committee, “Our honorees have made lasting impressions. They have drive, innovation, responsiveness and, oftentimes, pure grit. The world is better because they were here. They are passionate about many things: families in poverty, the arts, compassion for animals, children in need, global economics, health care, literacy, politics, food insecurity, women in corporate leadership, and, yes, even world peace. We are proud to be celebrating 20 years of women influencing positive change in our community.”

Nominations for the 2017 Women of Influence Awards are due Sept. 16, 2016, and can be submitted online.  For more information, contact [email protected].

 

 

 

 

YWCA Dayton Announces 2015 Women of Influence

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WOI Collage The YWCA Dayton will honor seven local women at the annual Women of Influence Awards Luncheon on March 12, 2015 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dayton Convention Center.

The YWCA Dayton Women of Influence honorees are women in the greater Dayton community who through their philanthropic work embody the mission of the YWCA – to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Nominations were solicited from the community and the honorees were selected by a panel of community leaders.

The 2015 honorees are: Marva Cosby– President, Cosby Consulting Group LLC, Lisa Grigsby – Development Special Events Manager, ARC Ohio, Belinda Matthews-Stenson – Director, Minority Business Partnership (Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce), Barbara Mills – CEO, Founder CBD Advisors, Colleen Ryan – Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio President, Yvonne Wathen – Business Development Director Bravo SCM (Supply Chain Management Consultants) and Karin VanZant – CEO, Co-founder Think Tank.

Additionally, the Lifetmarsha-bonhart320ime Achievement award is presented to an individual who has been very involved with the YWCA over the years, usually serving in a leadership capacity and demonstrating continued support of the YWCA. The 2015 Lifetime Achievement honoree is Marsha Bonhart – award winning journalist, TV anchor, health reporter and consummate volunteer.

“The YWCA has been dedicated to empowering women, racial justice and promoting peace; we have chosen honorees who embody our mission through philanthropic services, change agent work and a heart to share of themselves,” said Shannon Isom, CEO of the YWCA Dayton.

The Women of Influence Awards Luncheon serves as the largest annual fundraiser for the YWCA Dayton. Sponsorship opportunities and ticket information are available at the YWCA Dayton website www.ywcadayton.org or by calling 937.461.5550 ext.119