Women of Distinction Nomination | Girl Scouts of North East Ohio

12th Annual

Women of Distinction Awards Event

Friday, May 19, 2023

2024 Nominations

Nominations for the 2024 Women of Distinction Awards Event are open through December 31, 2023 at 11:59pm. Nominations received after the deadline will be retained and considered for the 2025 event.

Before beginning your nomination, the document below can be used to plan your responses and gather the information needed. Please note that nominations are not considered complete until they are submitted via the appropriate form on this webpage.

Nomination Sample Questions and Information (PDF)

Women of Distinction Award

Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (GSNEO) established the Women of Distinction Award to honor women who go above and beyond to make our communities better places to live and work. The 10 women honored each year are selected for their remarkable achievements as business, community, and civic leaders, dedicated to supporting opportunities for women and girls.

Since 2012, GSNEO's Women of Distinction Award has honored women that continue to provide inspiration, leadership, and support for girls served by GSNEO.

>>Women of Distinction Criteria & Nomination Form

2023 Women of Distinction: Elizabeth Z. Bartz - State and Federal Communications, Inc.
Mayor Annette Blackwell - City of Maple Heights
Jessica Cohen - Verizon
Grace Gallucci - Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA)
Susan V. Juris - Hospital and Healthcare Executive/Consultant
Marcia Moreno - AmMore Consulting LLC
Elaine Russell Reolfi - CommQuest Services, Inc.
Shannon Scott-Miller - Colors+
Diana L. Selzer - S&T Bank
Autumn Ziemba McKenzie - Milestones Autism Resources
2022 Women of Distinction: Judge Theresa Dellick - Mahoning County Juvenile Court
Jennifer Deutsch - Park Place Technologies
Ka-Pi Hoh, Ph.D. - The Lubrizol Corporation
Michelle P. Medina, MD, FAA - Cleveland Clinic Community Care; Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine/ Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Sondra Miller - Cleveland Rape Crisis Center
Sherry Neubert - The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Tiffani Sutton - The Cutting Board Academy
Karen Talbott - Child Guidance & Family Solutions
Magistrate Jennifer D. Towell - Akron Municipal Court
Judge Annalisa S. Williams - Akron Municipal Court
2021 Women of Distinction: M. Ruth Coleman – ValTrans Health; Founder – Health Design Plus
Marianne Crosley – Cleveland Leadership Center
Elizabeth Engels – Acer Consulting
Jan Morrison – TIES
Tania Nemer – Summit County Prosecutor’s Office
QuynhGiao Nguyen, Ph.D. – NASA
Tracy A. Oliver – Dominion Energy Ohio
Sandy Rapp – Travel Centers America
Vivian von Gruenigen, M.D., M.S., Prof. – Northeast Ohio Medical University
Lorna Wisham – FirstEnergy
2020 Women of Distinction: Ramona Hood – FedEx Custom Critical
Nancy Kachmarik - PolyOne Corporation
Andrea Margida, MS – The Valentine Project & TechGrit
Sandra L. Reid – The Davey Tree Expert Company
Tari S. Rivera – Regency Construction Services, Inc.
Sara Shookman – wkyc studios
Ellen M. Stephens – The Sherwin-Williams Company
Gina Vernaci – Playhouse Square
Elizabeth Walters – Summit County Council & Morino Ventures
Amy Zell – Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries & Oak Hill Collaborative
2019 Women of Distinction: Angela M. Douglas, MSN, AG-ACNP, RN, ATC - Cleveland State University
Julie M. Johnson - Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve
Brenda Kirk - Hyland
Jeanene Kress - Olmsted Township
Susanna H. Krey - Sisters of Charity Health System & Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland
Lisa Mandel - Rubber City Radio Group
Dr. Candice McDonald - NASA Glenn Research Center
Kathy Moock - Community Volunteer
Antha Poleondakis, CFP, CIMA - Merrill Lynch
Grace Wakulchik - Akron Children's Hospital
2018 Women of Distinction: Marie Covington - Women's Endowment Fund of Akron
Susan Flowers - Salvation Army
Lynnette Jackson - Key Private Bank
Lisa King - Summit Metro Parks
Kirsten Lino - Huntington Bank
Margaret Mitchell - YWCA of Greater Cleveland
Margaret Nazario - NASA Glenn Research Center
Amy Stair - Sikora Family Dentistry
Heather Clayton Terry - Dominion Energy
Ebony Yeboah-Amankwah - FirstEnergy
2017 Women of Distinction: Stephanie Brown-Houston - NASA Glenn Research Center
Debra Green - Medical Mutual
Victoria Kress, PhD - Youngstown State University
Ann Manby - AAA Akron Board of Trustees
Carole Mount, PhD - Walsh University
Ilene Shapiro - Summit County
LaToya Smith - Fifth Third Bank
Cheryl Stawicki - Health Design Plus, Inc.
Mary Verdi-Fletcher - Dancing Wheels
Leila Vespoli - FirstEnergy Corporation
2016 Women of Distinction: Anne Armao – SummaCare
Dr. Diana Bilimoria – Case Western Reserve University
Theresa Carter – OMNOVA Solutions Foundation
Krista Dobronos – Westfield Bank
Stephanie Dorsey – Forest City Enterprises
Nancy Hall – NASA Glenn Research Center
Tonya McKay – Canton City Schools
Claire Rosacco – Cuyahoga Community College
Karen Washington – Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Pam Wright – BCG & Company
2015 Women of Distinction: Dr. Suzanne Allen - Philanthropy Ohio
Ashley Basile Oeken - Engage! Cleveland
Candace Benson - Camp Tech Inc.
Julie Brandle - Metis Construction
Heidi Cressman - The University of Akron
Linda Foy - Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Dr. Annemarie M. Grassi - Open Doors Academy
Pamela Hubbard - Golden Ciphers, Inc.
Stacey Litam - Moore Consulting & Mediation Services, Inc.
Barbara Marlowe - Dworken & Bernstein Co., LPA
Dr. Lolita McDavid - University Hospitals
Hilary Sparks-Roberts - Social Venture Partners Cleveland
Jamie Sullivan - Greater Cleveland Food Bank
Dr. Rachel Talton - Synergy Marketing Strategy & Research, Inc.
Reneé Whittenberger – MS Consultants, Inc.
2014 Women of Distinction: Jackie Adams - STERIS Corporation
Diane Downing - Huntington Bank
Sandra Everett - Tri-C Lorain Nord Advanced Technologies Center
Congresswoman Marcia Fudge
Robyn Gordon - NASA Glenn Research Center
Dianne Kuntzman - GSNEO Volunteer
Bethany Lemley - FedEx Custom Critical
Judith Matsko - Project Evergreen
Patricia Miller - SpaceBound, Inc.
Kathy Newman - GSNEO Volunteer
Elizabeth Pospisil - Lakeview High School
Alicia Stone - GE
Lisa Westfall - CamRB Inc.
Mary Lynne Zahler - Akron Children's Hospital
Jill Zupon - The Attention Center
2013 Women of Distinction: Barbara Carlstrom
Jenn Cox
Coleen Davis
Heather Day
Bridget DeMonica
Suzie Dills
Katie Holian
Michelle Mader
Dr. Kendra Preer
Kerri Kutz Salvino
Carole Lynn Stradtman
Anna Tyrrell
Paula Warren
Melinda Weirich
Tricia Wineland
2012 Women of Distinction: Rebecca Benya
Erine Bodo
Kristen Boye
Cheryl Bush
Senator Capri Cafaro
Sherry Clouser
Tina Collins
Toni Deluca
Suzi DeLucia
Kim Demor
Gunta Douglas
Nicole Eikelberry
Jacqueline Ellis
Krista Evans
Diane Frangos
Mercedes Geise
Lori Gillespie
Nancy L. Guthrie
Brenda Heidinger
Mary M. Hoholski
Bert Holt
Brenda Horton
Claudia Jones
Julie Karapasha
Marty Kelly
Patricia A. Koch
Dora Livesay
Cynthia Lowther
Dot MacIntyre
Jacqueline McLemore, Ph.D
Barbara JoAnne Miller
Beck S. Moldaver
Justine Mroczka
Jane Nord
Jane Norton
Donna Paola
Katerina Papas
Janice B. Patterson
Trista Powers
Elizabeth Anne Pugh
Margaret Renwand
Anne Schoeffler
Doris Schwab
Kelly M. Sites
Amy Stang
Elayne Stubbs
Margaret Suarez
Tameka Taylor, Ph.D., CDE
Janice Trent
Joan Villareal
Paula Warren
Michele Weilnau
Sandra Werbeck
Lois Zolar

Honorary Women of Distinction
Dr. Daisy Alford-Smith
Linda Bluso
Mary Beth Carroll
Margot Copeland
Candace Campbell-Jackson

Leaders of Tomorrow Award

The Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship is presented to three Girl Scout Seniors or Ambassadors who demonstrate high scholastic achievement, creativity, and initiative, and who embody GSNEO’s belief that young women with promise today will become tomorrow's leaders.

>>Leaders of Tomorrow Award Criteria & Nomination Form

2023 Leaders of Tomorrow: Grace Guy
Lengitu Hovanic
Rachel Whary
2022 Leaders of Tomorrow: Jordan Anamasi - Avon High School
Shelby Bennett - Lake Ridge Academy
Nicole Kemer - Midview High School
2021 Leaders of Tomorrow: Hailey Edie – Carrollton High School
Nia Guess – Cornerstone Christian Academy
Halle Preneta – Kenston High School
2020 Leaders of Tomorrow: Olivia Johnson – Homeschool
Ava Kress – North Royalton High School
Megan Ward – McDonald High School
2019 Leaders of Tomorrow: June Guy - Nordonia High School
Elisabeth Lendal - Avon Lake High School
Abigail Richardson - Western Reserve Academy
2018 Leaders of Tomorrow: Brianna Jacobs - Green High School
Taylre Lehmann - Fremont Ross High School
Barbara Sutherland - Our Lady of the Elms
2017 Leaders of Tomorrow: Megan Garvey - Nordonia High School
Rebecca Trumbull - Lake Catholic High School
Shelby Stevens - Columbia High School
2016 Leaders of Tomorrow: Nicole Fiorelli - Homeschool
Ellie Martin - Howland High School
Miya Timura - Columbia High School
2015 Leaders of Tomorrow: Monica Kotyuk - Howland High School
Anna McCue - John F. Kennedy Catholic School
Hunter Wells - Manchester High School

Advancing Women Award

One company or organization will be selected to receive the Advancing Women Award. The company or organization will have demonstrated a proven commitment to promoting the advancement of women in the workplace. A company or organization headquartered outside of Northeast Ohio is permitted to be nominated, should the entity have a strong presence in the region.

>>Advancing Women Award Criteria & Nomination Form

2023 Advancing Women Award: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Davey Tree Expert Company
2022 Advancing Women Award: KeyBank's Key4Women Program
2021 Advancing Women Award: Nestlé
2020 Advancing Women Award: Hyland
Women’s Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation
2019 Advancing Women Award: Kent State University's Women's Center
Women's Network of Northeast Ohio
2018 Advancing Women Award: Society of Women Engineers, Northeastern Ohio Professional Section
2017 Advancing Women Award: The Sherwin-Williams Company
2016 Advancing Women Award: Oswald Companies
2015 Advancing Women Award: NASA Glenn Research Center
2014 Advancing Women Award: Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

Contact Laura De'Armond Szucs at Lszucs@gsneo.org with
questions about nominations, the event, or to learn about event
sponsorships.

170x320px_RightRail - Program Guide - Spring Program Guide

12th Annual

Women of Distinction Awards Event

Friday, May 19, 2023

2023 Women of Distinction

2022 Women of Distinction

2021 Women of Distinction

2020 Women of Distinction

2019 Women of Distinction

2018 Women of Distinction

2017 Women of Distinction

2016 Women of Distinction

2015 Women of Distinction

2014 Women of Distinction

2013 Women of Distinction

2012 Women of Distinction

2023 Leaders of Tomorrow

2022 Leaders of Tomorrow

2021 Leaders of Tomorrow

2020 Leaders of Tomorrow

2019 Leaders of Tomorrow

2018 Leaders of Tomorrow

2017 Leaders of Tomorrow

2016 Leaders of Tomorrow

2015 Leaders of Tomorrow

2023 Advancing Women Award

2022 Advancing Women Award

2021 Advancing Women Award

2020 Advancing Women Award

2019 Advancing Women Award

2018 Advancing Women Award

2017 Advancing Women Award

2016 Advancing Women Award

2015 Advancing Women Award

2014 Advancing Women Award