There are lots of award ceremonies in Pittsburgh–with lots of deserving people to be awarded–but there’s nothing quite like the ATHENA Awards of Greater Pittsburgh. Nominated by others in the community with finalists selected by a committee, the Athena Awards are bestowed every fall at a luncheon attended by a gazillion women–ok, make that 800-plus–in a ceremony that is always inspiring. And that’s the point: To encourage more women to excel in their profession, contribute to their community and to help other women through mentorship.

NEXTpittsburgh is happy to be part of the ATHENA Awards and to present these wonderful group photos of nominees and finalists. Getting all these busy, successful women in one room at one time wasn’t easy. Every time our (very patient) photographer clicked his shutter, it seemed to be a cue for another nominee to walk in the room, apologizing for being late.
Hey, we’re just grateful they showed up.
See the ATHENA Award finalists in the top photo,including Doris Carson Williams, African American Chamber of Commerce of Western PA, Lynn M. Banaszak, Disruptive Health Technology Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Rhonda Moore Johnson, Highmark Inc., Lisa Lenihan, United States District Court for the Western District of PA, and Lucille Prater-Holliday, Black Women’s Empowerment Institute.
See below all the ATHENA Award nominees, including the Young Professional ATHENAs.

And finally, below the 2015 ATHENA Young Professional Award finalists: Aurora Sharrard of the Green Building Alliance, Josie Badger, PEAL Center and Meredith Grelli of Wigle Whiskey.

Here’s the full list of 2015 ATHENA Award nominees. See you on October 9th! Get your tickets here before it sells out.
Shirley Anderson Barbara Baker Dotti Bechtol Marsha Blanco Lori Brinker Tracy Certo Rosemary Crawford Tracy DeCock Deborah Degner Kim Dellostretto Ilana Diamond Susan Dietrich Lisa DiGorio Miller Pat Downey Karen Wolk Feinstein Melissa Ferraro Jennifer Fox Rabold Mamar Gelaye Tisha Germany Abby Goldstein Denise Graves Karen Hochberg Susan Jordan Eva Kerschbaumer Debra Killmeyer Darcel R. Madkins Wendy Maletta Jill McKibbin Melissa McNeil Natalie Mihalek Arlinda M. Moriarty Chris Phillips Mary Jo Podgurski Betty Rich Aisha Robinson Elisabet Rodriguez Casey Ryan Fern Schwartz Dana Ann Slizik Tracy Vitale Michelle Welch Olga Welch Dr. Claudia Wendel Jillian Zacks And finally, the full list of Young Professional ATHENA nominees:
Started in 2011, the ATHENA Young Professional Award recognizes an emerging leader age 35 or younger.
Josie Badger Meredith Meyer Grelli Aurora Sharrard Erin Baker Stacie Bara Nina Barbuto Diana Bellini Wendy Berrill, P.E. Lisa Boyette Jackie Celender Kelly Collier Julie Cramer Krystle Grandy Stephanie Hannan Laura Harshberger Blayre Holmes BreAnna Kirkland Suzie Lachut Emily Markham Alichia Parker Danielle Parson Lee Anne Pontis Lindsay Scarpo Jessica Schmid Victoria Snyder Elizabeth Uhler Sarah Wagner V. Fawn Walker-Montgomery Started in 2011, the ATHENA Young Professional Award recognizes an emerging leader age 35 or younger.
Josie Badger Meredith Meyer Grelli Aurora Sharrard Erin Baker Stacie Bara Nina Barbuto Diana Bellini Wendy Berrill, P.E. Lisa Boyette Jackie Celender Kelly Collier Julie Cramer Krystle Grandy Stephanie Hannan Laura Harshberger Blayre Holmes BreAnna Kirkland Suzie Lachut Emily Markham Alichia Parker Danielle Parson Lee Anne Pontis Lindsay Scarpo Jessica Schmid Victoria Snyder Elizabeth Uhler Sarah Wagner V. Fawn Walker-Montgomery Started in 2011, the ATHENA Young Professional Award recognizes an emerging leader age 35 or younger.
Josie Badger Meredith Meyer Grelli Aurora Sharrard Erin Baker Stacie Bara Nina Barbuto Diana Bellini Wendy Berrill, P.E. Lisa Boyette Jackie Celender Kelly Collier Julie Cramer Krystle Grandy Stephanie Hannan Laura Harshberger Blayre Holmes BreAnna Kirkland Suzie Lachut Emily Markham Alichia Parker Danielle Parson Lee Anne Pontis Lindsay Scarpo Jessica Schmid Victoria Snyder Elizabeth Uhler Sarah Wagner V. Fawn Walker-Montgomery
2015 Nominees
Beauty Mark, Inc.
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Fragasso Financial Advisors
ACHIEVA
Merrill Lynch
NEXTpittsburgh
Crawford McDonald, LLC
PNC Bank
Noble Energy
Allegheny Health Network
Innovation Works
Sterling Office Professionals
Lisa DiGorio School of Dance
Chatham University
Jewish Healthcare Foundation
Sisters Place, Inc.
FedEx Ground Package System, Inc.
Omnyx
KBK Enterprises
91.3 WYEP
Covenant Church of Pittsburgh / Oakland Service Ministries
Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee
Fox Rothschild LLP
ESSpa Kozmetika and eDRY
Community College of Allegheny County
PNC Financial Services
NFM Group
McKibbin Consulting
University of Pittsburgh & UPMC
Natalie Mihalek Attorney At Law
Moriarty Consultants
PNC Bank
Academy for Adolescent Health/Teen Outreach
ConnectedHealth
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Elisabet Rodriguez & Associates
Reed Smith LLP
Merrill Lynch/The Schwartz Group
Caye for Judge Committee
Seneca Valley School district
PPG Industries
School of Education, Duquesne University
eyegotcha
Metz Lewis Brodman Must O’Keefe LLC
Young Professional Award Finalists
PEAL Center
Wigle Whiskey
Green Building Alliance
2015 Nominees
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
Club Cycle
Assemble Pittsburgh
BNY Mellon
Michael Baker International
SAVE JON Inc.
K&L Gates LLC
ActivAided Orthotics
NanoVision Diagnostics
Freelance Production
PNC
PPG Industries
The Women and Girls Foundation
Clarion Center for the Arts
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group
World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
A Par Educational, LLC
ACHIEVA
Woodlands Foundation
Greensburg Salem School District
Braddock Youth Project
Robert Morris University
K&L Gates LLP
Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership
Macedonia FACE
Young Professional Award Finalists
PEAL Center
Wigle Whiskey
Green Building Alliance
2015 Nominees
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
Club Cycle
Assemble Pittsburgh
BNY Mellon
Michael Baker International
SAVE JON Inc.
K&L Gates LLC
ActivAided Orthotics
NanoVision Diagnostics
Freelance Production
PNC
PPG Industries
The Women and Girls Foundation
Clarion Center for the Arts
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group
World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
A Par Educational, LLC
ACHIEVA
Woodlands Foundation
Greensburg Salem School District
Braddock Youth Project
Robert Morris University
K&L Gates LLP
Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership
Macedonia FACE
Young Professional Award Finalists
PEAL Center
Wigle Whiskey
Green Building Alliance
2015 Nominees
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
Club Cycle
Assemble Pittsburgh
BNY Mellon
Michael Baker International
SAVE JON Inc.
K&L Gates LLC
ActivAided Orthotics
NanoVision Diagnostics
Freelance Production
PNC
PPG Industries
The Women and Girls Foundation
Clarion Center for the Arts
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group
World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
A Par Educational, LLC
ACHIEVA
Woodlands Foundation
Greensburg Salem School District
Braddock Youth Project
Robert Morris University
K&L Gates LLP
Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership
Macedonia FACE