ATHENA Leadership Awards
ATHENA Leadership Awards, first hosted in Canandaigua in 1985, has grown to be one of Ontario County's largest awards events.
Nominees for ATHENA exemplify the highest level of professional excellence and exceptional leadership. They contribute time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and actively mentors others, particularly women, in realizing their full potential. Nominees are honored at the ATHENA Leadership Awards Program each November, and recipients of the ATHENA Leadership and ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Awards (nominees 45 and younger) are announced for the first time that evening.
The event is a partnership between the Chamber of Commerce and Professional Women of the Finger Lakes. A portion of the proceeds fund college scholarships for local women.
The 40th Ontario County ATHENA Leadership Awards will be November 13, 2025, at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua. We are now accepting nominations for 2025 ATHENA Leadership Awards. Please follow the link below for the nomination form and more details.
For event sponsorship information, click here.
39th Annual ATHENA Leadership Awards
Congratulations to the 2024 Honorees!
The 2024 ATHENA Leadership Award Honorees:
- Maggie Atkins, retired engineer and business manager.
- Dr. Catherine Cantwell, physician and former medical director with UR Medicine Thompson Health’s OB/GYN practice.
- Kerri DePorter, school counselor at Middlesex Valley Primary School.
- Dr. Beata Golec, pianist, composer and music educator at SUNY Geneseo.
- Melodie Kolmetz, physician assistant with UR Medicine’s Geriatrics Group.
- Dr. Melissa O’Loughlin, co-owner of Chosen Spot Chiropractic and Wellness.
- Donna Schaertl, founding member of Ontario County Back the Blue.
- Dr. Cynthia Teerlinck, physician at the Mary Clark Thompson Family Practice and the first female president of the Thompson Health Medical Staff.
The 2024 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award Honorees:
- Lindsay Frarey, director of human resources and director of parks for the Town of Canandaigua.
- Abbey Friend-Vienna, lead listing agent for Friend Team Real Estate.
ATHENA Leadership Award Recipients
2024: Maggie Atkins
Retired Engineer and Business Manager
2023: Kristen Harter
Event Coordinator, Nolan's on Canandaigua Lake /Canandaigua Country Club
2022: Michelle Pedzich
SVP, Chief Human Resource Officer, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust
2021: Hazel Robertshaw
Vice President of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer, UR Medicine Thompson Health
2019: Margaret E. Somerset, Esq.,
Partner, Underberg & Kessler LLP
2018: Marge Donhauser
Owner/LPN, Donhauser Nursing Service
2017: Terrie Meyn
Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Happiness House
2016: Ann Scheetz
Executive Director, Ontario ARC
2015: Lauren Kolb
Senior Wealth Advisor, Tompkins Financial Advisors
2014: Deborah Wilbur
Retired Teacher, Canandaigua Schools
2013: Stephanie Kunes
President, National MS Society Upstate New York
2012: Sharon Gullo
Retired Psychiatric Nurse, Canandaigua Lake Counseling
2011: Barbara Risser
President Emeritus, Finger Lakes Community College
2010: Lynne Erdle
Retired Superintendent, Canandaigua City Schools District
2009: Margaret & Randy Farnsworth
Owners, Randall Farnsworth Auto Group
2009: Virginia "Ginny" Clark
Executive Director, Sands Family Foundation
2008: Deborah Denome
Director, Seeking Common Ground
2007: Barbara Fuge
Former CFO, Genesee Regional Bank & Community Volunteer
2006: Janet Tenreiro
Former Owner, The Medicine Shoppe
2005: Rhoda Childs
Former Managing Regional Director, United Way of Ontario County
2004: Marci Diehl
Owner, Double Vision Creative
2003: Karen Davison Blazey
Former Executive Officer, Quantum Performance Group, Inc.
2002: Deborah Weymouth
President & Chief Executive Officer, HealthAlliance Hospital
2001: Valerie Knoblauch
President, Finger Lakes Visitors Connection
2000: Lauren Dixon
CEO & Owner, Dixon Schwabl Advertising, Inc.
1999: Gail O'Brien
Retired President, Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce
1998: Sharon Pepper
Retired, Senior Vice President of Senior Living Services, Thompson Health
1997: Teresa Hall
President, TCHMED Consulting, Inc
1996: Ellen Polimeni
Former Mayor of the City of Canandaigua and Retired Assistant Principal, Canandaigua Middle School
1995: Gail D. Love
Retired Owner, Human Resource Associates
1994: Judith M. Stewart
Retired Senior Vice President, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust
1993: Linda Farchione Hawks
Retired President and CEO, Thompson Health
1992: Joyce Ezrow
Retired Associate Professor of Business, Anne Arundel Community College
1991: Linda Welch
Retired Owner, The Shopping News
1990: Kay James
Retired City Manager, City of Canandaigua
1989: Lois Kozlowski
Retired Owner, Wizard of Clay Pottery
1988: Gail Herman
Director, Sales and Marketing, Canandaigua The Medicine Shoppe
1987: Barbara Nelson
Former Executive Director, West Ontario County Red Cross, American Red Cross
1986: Tarry Shipley
Retired Business Manager, WCGR/WFLC
1985: Diane Reed
Associate Professor and Co-Director, Graduate Educational Leadership Program, St. John Fisher College
ATHENA Young Professional
Leadership Award Recipients
2024: Abbey Friend-Vienna
Lead Listing Agent, The Friend Team Real Estate
2023: Elisha Everson
Operations Manager, SimcoHR
2022: Tara Rago
VP, Canandaigua Branch Manager, Lyons National Bank
2021: Mandy Friend Gigliotti
Team Leader, The Friend Team at Keller Williams Realty
2019: Allison Hildebrandt
Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity of Ontario County
2018: Jennie Erdle
Director of Student Life, Finger Lakes Community College
2017: Sayeh Rivazfar
Investigator, New York State Police
2016: Kimberly Sorel
Assistant Vice President, Community Office Manager, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust
2015: Teresa Deacon
Family Assessment and Support Worker, Child & Family Resources
2014: Nadia Harvieux
Conservation Outreach Educator, Muller Field Station and Adjunct Faculty Member, Conservation Department, Finger Lakes Community College; Education Program Manager, Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges
2013: Erica Bapst
Owner, Adorn Jewelry and Accessories
2012: Margaret "Maggie" Whelehan
Assistant Vice-President and Personal Banking and Insurance Services Manager, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust
2011: Tracey Fuller
President, Heiser Logistics and L&J Fire Equipment
2010: Teresa Pare
Owner, The Law Offices of Teresa M. Pare