The Lehigh Valley Business Women of Influence awards recognize high-achieving women who are making a positive impact through leadership, community service and mentoring. This year LVB also will recognize Women to Watch – honoring women leaders, age 35 or younger, who are stepping up to help shape the Lehigh Valley area of tomorrow through professional success and a commitment to making a positive impact on the community.

Circle of Excellence honorees are women of longstanding, notable success in the community who are leading the way for other women. These women are selected by the LVB editorial board.

Who should be nominated?

You know and admire her. She’s the woman who never fails to exceed expectations – at work and beyond. No matter how many tasks she juggles, she makes it look easy. She always makes time to mentor others and creates a picture of what’s possible by leading by example.

Don’t miss this chance to recognize her for her inspirational leadership and extraordinary accomplishments – nominate her for LVB Women of Influence or Women to Watch!

To qualify for this honor, nominees must:

• Be currently employed in any of the following counties: Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Lower Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Upper Bucks, Schuylkill or Warren.
• Complete an online application, after being nominated, in order to complete the decision-making process.

For questions about nominations, please contact our events team at lvbevents@bridgetowermedia.com.

Nomination cost: $10

Women of Influence

Lina Barbieri

Associate Vice President, Annual Giving, DeSales University

Carmen A. Bell

Director, Healthy Aging, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Angela Gehman Berkosky

Chief Investment Officer, Domani Wealth

Ikhlas Darkhalil PhD, NRCC, MBA

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Integration Officer, Lehigh Valley Health System – HNL Lab Medicine

Maria Esposito

Vice President of Advancement, Communities in Schools of the Eastern Pennsylvania

Debbi Fetter

Partner, Financial Outsourcing Solutions

Carmen A. Flosdorf

Vice President, Commercial Lending Officer, Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company

Mimi Griffin

President & Founder, MSG Promotions, Inc.

Jane Heft

VP, Director of Project Design, City Center Allentown

Danielle M. Joseph

Executive Vice President, Diversity Councils, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce

Lisa A. Luciano

Vice President, Commercial Lending, American Bank

Francine Marz

Culinary Director, Northampton Community College

Mary Kay McMahon

President and CEO, Fellowship Community

Maureen Michael

Chief Administrative Officer, Da Vinci Science Center

Angela Nolan

Chief Operating Officer, Vistacom Inc.

Jessica O’Donnell

EVP, Affiliated Chambers, Affiliated Chambers & Northern Tier of the Greater Lehigh Valley of Commerce

Lisa Oliver

Life Safety Advisor, Keystone Fire Protection

Lisa Pektor

President, PennCap Properties

Kellie Rahl-Heffner

Partner, Gross McGinley, LLP

Kim Rompilla

Executive Vice President, Global Marketing, Development & Activation, Crayola, LLC

Ashlee Scavazzo

Store Manager, The Giant Company

Maraleen D. Shields

Shareholder & Attorney, Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C.

Jodie Stetz SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Vice President of Human Resources, Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group, Inc.

Katie Suppes, M. Ed.

Director of Programs, Research, & Evaluation, Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center

Irene Titus

General Manager, Elek Plumbing

Sarah Trimmer

General Manager & Director of Sales, The Sayre Mansion Inn

Heather Walbridge

VP, Relationship Manager, NCR Payroll & HR Solutions

Jennifer Walls

Director, Operations Programs and Integration, Buckeye Partners, LP

Susan Worobec

Area Manager AVP, Unity Bank

Angela Zanelli

VP Policy and Advocacy, Lehigh Valley Public Media

Women to Watch

Jessica Elliott

Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley

Staci Saeger

Director of Marketing, NAI Summit

Paola Gaitan

Vice President, Senior Branch Manager, M&T Bank

Circle of Excellence

Dawn J. Anuszkiewicz

Chief Operating Officer, Reading Hospital

Ranju Gupta, MD

Medical Oncologist with specialization in Breast Cancer, Lehigh Valley Health Network

Judith A.  Harris, Esq., LL.M (Taxation)

Equity Member, Co-Chair, Estate Trust and Tax Group, Norris McLaughlin

Christina “Tori” Morgan

Commissioner, South Whitehall Township

Jeane M. Vidoni

President & CEO, Penn Community Bank

Rebecca A. Young, Esq.

Partner, King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC.

2020 Honorees

Women of Influence

Mary Agnew, DNP, RN, NEA-BC Tower Health, Reading Hospital

Alisa Baratta Third Street Alliance

Qiana L. Cressman Miller-Keystone Blood Center

Catherine (Kate) Durso Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C. I.G.

Joni Elekes J.G. Petrucci Company

Mary Evans  Evans Wealth Strategies

Mary Ann Falk DeSales University

Carrie L. Fellon, CFP Agili

Cheri H. Freeh, CPA, CGMA Hutchinson, Gilahan & Freeh, PC

Rochelle Grey

Abigail Gross Gross Law Office

Laurie Grube Riverview Bank

Carol R. Halper Lehigh Valley Planning Commission

Denise J. Hozza Concannon Miller

Alneasa Jordan

Kimberly G. Krupka Gross McGinley, LLP

Kimberli B. Kyra, PHR Barry Isett & Associates, Inc.

Michelle L. Landis Pinnacle 7, Inc.

Val Lewis  BSI Corporate Benefits, LLC

Katrina Marshall Artistic Toys & Promotions

Sarah O’Steen KingSpry Law Offices

Corrine Post Lehigh University

Fiorella R. Mirabito Borough of Bath

Melissa Siegfried St. Luke’s University Health Network

Abby M. Silfies American Heart Association

Karen Smith Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley

Tracy Smith Parkland School District

Women to Watch

Kelly Chando  St Luke’s University Health Network

Missy Hartney The Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation

Alejandra “Allie” McGinley-Sepulveda Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania

Circle of Excellence

Catherine Bailey Rea. Deeming dba Beauty Blender

Anne Baum Capital BlueCross

Lin Erickson DaVinci Science Center

Dr. Tina Q. Richardson Penn State University Lehigh Valley

Laurie Siebert, CPA, CFP, AEP Valley National Financial Advisors

How can I be considered for the Women of Influence award?

Nominations can be made by anyone, including yourself. An application is automatically emailed to all nominees and must be completed in order to be considered for this award. A letter of recommendation is not required, but is strongly encouraged to assist the judges in making their decision.

To be eligible, applicants must live in or work in either Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, lower Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, upper Bucks, Schuylkill or Warren County.

How often can I be considered? 

Women can be honored every other year but not two consecutive years. If a woman is awarded for the third time, (which would take six years) they have the opportunity to be inducted into the Circle of Excellence.

Who are the judges and what are they looking for when selecting the Top 100 Women?

A panel of judges consisting of business professionals and past winners from across Pennsylvania select the Women of Influence. It is essential that the candidate prove a combination of excelling at all three levels–professionally, in the community and with mentoring. It is helpful to have at least one letter of recommendation from someone that can speak to all three of these achievements.

Do the judges evaluate differently for the Circle of Excellence?

The Circle of Excellence is awarded for sustained achievement and those women who have won two times prior are eligible. The judges are asked to be extremely selective at this stage and look for continued involvement in all key areas with a demonstration that they are still actively involved and proactive.

Where do I have to live to qualify for this award? 

You must live or work in one of the following counties: Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, lower Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, upper Bucks, Schuylkill or Warren.

Should I have a letter of recommendation sent?

Past judges have told us that the letter(s) of recommendation is helpful particularly when they are not familiar with the candidate. Up to 3 letters of recommendations can be emailed to lvbevents@bridgetowermedia.com. Please save all letters of recommendation as PDFs labeled with your name (or organization) led by the category or event you are being nominated for. The letter will be paired to your application when it is received.

Do the winners have to say something?

Winners do not speak live during the event, but will be contacted to be profiled in a multi-media video that will be aired during the event. 

I’m a Women of Influence award winner, what now? 

Sit tight, a member of our team will contact you soon with any additional details.

If I’m a winner, do I need to purchase a ticket?

You do not need to purchase a ticket for yourself as an honoree. All other attendees must purchase a ticket. Sponsorship packages are available to purchase for those wanting large groups of tickets and additional benefits.

Can I buy an ad in the publication?

The Women of Influence program is supported through sponsorships. The ads you see in the magazine are part of the sponsorship packages. Please email shuettner@bridgetowermedia.com.

I bought a ticket but I don’t see it? 

Remember, tickets can only be opened on one device, if you open it on your phone but then try to open it on your computer it will not work. 

Remember, tickets can only be opened on one device, if you open it on your phone but then try to open it on your computer it will not work.

Contact lvbevents@bridgetowermedia.com if you have any questions