Athena Akron, Inc.

05/07/2026

We are excited to announce our next ATHENA Akron PM event on May 20, 2026 from 4:30pm to 7:00pm at BOUNCE Innovation Hub, hosted by Jessica Sublett, CEO. Join us to learn, connect, and collaborate.

ATHENA Akron Member Tickets: $10
Guest Tickets: $15

Location: 526 S. Main Street, Akron, OH 44311. Open surface parking available across from the main entrance.

Join members and guests of ATHENA Akron for an after-hours event hosted by Jessica Sublett, CEO, BOUNCE Innovation Hub Wednesday, May 20, 2026 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM 526 S.… Read More »ATHENA Akron PM – BOUNCE Innovation Hub – hosted by Jessica Sublett

07/22/2025

On June 5, more than 300 individuals came together at House Three Thirty to mark the 17th Annual ATHENA Akron Leadership Day Luncheon!

Bev Shaffer provided the Keynote Welcome and four amazing Media Girls from the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio served as the event emcees.

Thank you to everyone who made the day special!

07/17/2025

Melissa Dunham was our very first Tribute Award Honoree and she received this award at our 2024 ATHENA Akron Leadership Awards Dinner.

Her surviving family is hosting the 2nd Annual Lake Community Hope 5K and Fun Run on Saturday, August 17 in memory of her and her children.

Melissa was a Partner at BMF - Bober Markey Fedorovich and was a Board Member at Community Support Services.

Not a runner? That's OK! Feel free to pass along the information to any runners you know.

The Lake Community Hope 5k and Fun Run is on Sunday August 17, 2025. It includes the following events: Fun Run, 5K Run/Walk, and 5K Competitive Walk.

05/22/2025

Meet Piper, Hailey, Jazmine and Belle! These four very special ladies will serve as the emcees for our Leadership Day Luncheon on Thursday, June 5, 2025. They are Girl Scouts of North East Ohio Media Girls!

The Media Girls program is designed to provide all Girl Scouts in Northeast Ohio with hands-on experience in developing communication skills while they explore the ever-changing media environment.

You might remember that Media Girls played a big role in our Leadership Awards Event this past November.

Reserve your spot at the luncheon, which takes place at House Three Thirty, by clicking here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/17th-annual-womens-leadership-day-lunch-tickets-1285421774129?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/21/2025

Thank you to the following established female leaders for serving as Honorary Chairs for our Leadership Day Luncheon taking place on June 5, 2025!

Learn more about the event and secure your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/17th-annual-womens-leadership-day-lunch-tickets-1285421774129?aff=oddtdtcreator

∙ Kimberly Beckett, President, Downtown Akron Partnership
∙ Shelly Bornstein, Executive Director of Hope United - Tyler's Redemption Place
∙ Marcela Castaño, Principal Applied Researcher Sustainable Materials and Circular Economy, Bridgestone Americas Technology Center
∙ Nicole Chavers, Program Officer, GAR Foundation
∙ Andreas Ellis, Director, Alumni and Development, The University of Akron School of Law
∙ Jenn Elting, Senior Manager of Community and Media Relations, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
∙ Demetrius Falconer, Chief of Community Engagement, Summit Metro Parks
∙ Laura Frye, Director of Planned Giving, Akron Children's Hospital
∙ Susan Gallagher, President, Akron Area Interfaith Council
∙ Amber Genet Barkoukis, Executive Director, Embracing Futures, Inc.
∙ Dr. Shelly Habegger, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Barberton City Schools
∙ Amina Hall, Fund Development Senior Manager, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
∙ Tatia Harris, Chief Culture Officer, METRO Regional Transit Authority
∙ Jackie Hemsworth, Executive Director, ACCESS, Inc.
∙ Christina Hodgkinson, Learning and Development Program Manager, Akron Children's Hospital
∙ Kimberly Huff, Community Relations Representative, Synthomer Foundation
∙ Lisa Kamlowsky, Superintendent, Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board
∙ Holly Klein, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Grace House
∙ Ashley Kline, Chief Program Officer, Hope and Healing Resource Center
∙ Suzanne Lewis-Johnson, Executive Director, No More Trafficking
∙ Allyse Love, Co-Founder and Chief Operator, Art x Love
∙ Jessica McCoy, Chief Marketing and Commercial Operations Officer, GOJO Industries
∙ Mary O'Connor, Architect
∙ Cassandra Pegg-Kirby, Director, Women's Center, Kent State University
∙ Katie Reed, Barberton Municipal Court Clerk of Courts
∙ Charmaine Rice, Senior Vice President, Learning, Development and Diversity, AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.
∙ Jess Rist, Incoming Chief Executive Officer, IBH Addiction Recovery
∙ Michele Root, Retired Manager, Goodyear Tire and Rubber
∙ Kristen Scalise, Summit County Fiscal Officer
∙ Jill Sellers, Director of Donor Engagement, Akron Community Foundation
∙ Lt. Sarah Shendy, Police Lieutenant, Case Western Reserve University Division of Public Safety
∙ Shannon Siegferth, President and CEO, Better Business Bureau Akron
∙ Sarah Spinner Liska, Director, Kent State University Museum
∙ Inna Stabrova, Co-Founder, Ohio Conservatory of Ballet
∙ Tonya Strong-Charles, Chief Marketing Officer, Northeast Ohio Medical University
∙ Betty Sutton, Judge, Ninth District Court of Appeals
∙ Rachel Tecca, Executive Director, Youth Success Summit
∙ Torey Tolson, Community Involvement Consultant (OH Region), FirstEnergy
∙ Julie Weagraff, Chief Development Officer, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio
∙ Evelyn Williams, Executive Director, Global Ties Akron
∙ Amy Woodland, Manager of Communications, County of Summit ADM Board

05/20/2025

Join us on Thursday, June 5, 2025 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. for our 17th Annual Leadership Day Luncheon at House Three Thirty!

Bev Shaffer will present the keynote welcome and four Media Girls from Girl Scouts of North East Ohio will serve as the event's emcees.

Our Honorary Chairs for the day are:
∙ Kimberly Beckett, President, Downtown Akron Partnership
∙ Shelly Bornstein, Executive Director of Hope United - Tyler's Redemption Place
∙ Marcela Castaño, Principal Applied Researcher Sustainable Materials and Circular Economy, Bridgestone Americas Technology Center
∙ Nicole Chavers, Program Officer, GAR Foundation
∙ Andreas Ellis, Director, Alumni and Development, The University of Akron School of Law
∙ Jenn Elting, Senior Manager of Community and Media Relations, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
∙ Demetrius Falconer, Chief of Community Engagement, Summit Metro Parks
∙ Laura Frye, Director of Planned Giving, Akron Children's Hospital
∙ Susan Gallagher, President, Akron Area Interfaith Council
∙ Amber Genet Barkoukis, Executive Director, Embracing Futures, Inc.
∙ Dr. Shelly Habegger, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Barberton City Schools
∙ Amina Hall, Fund Development Senior Manager, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
∙ Tatia Harris, Chief Culture Officer, METRO Regional Transit Authority
∙ Jackie Hemsworth, Executive Director, ACCESS, Inc.
∙ Christina Hodgkinson, Learning and Development Program Manager, Akron Children's Hospital
∙ Kimberly Huff, Community Relations Representative, Synthomer Foundation
∙ Lisa Kamlowsky, Superintendent, Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board
∙ Holly Klein, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Grace House
∙ Ashley Kline, Chief Program Officer, Hope and Healing Resource Center
∙ Suzanne Lewis-Johnson, Executive Director, No More Trafficking
∙ Allyse Love, Co-Founder and Chief Operator, Art x Love
∙ Jessica McCoy, Chief Marketing and Commercial Operations Officer, GOJO Industries
∙ Mary O'Connor, Architect
∙ Cassandra Pegg-Kirby, Director, Women's Center, Kent State University
∙ Katie Reed, Barberton Municipal Court Clerk of Courts
∙ Charmaine Rice, Senior Vice President, Learning, Development and Diversity, AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.
∙ Jess Rist, Incoming Chief Executive Officer, IBH Addiction Recovery
∙ Michele Root, Retired Manager, Goodyear Tire and Rubber
∙ Kristen Scalise, Summit County Fiscal Officer
∙ Jill Sellers, Director of Donor Engagement, Akron Community Foundation
∙ Lt. Sarah Shendy, Police Lieutenant, Case Western Reserve University Division of Public Safety
∙ Shannon Siegferth, President and CEO, Better Business Bureau Akron
∙ Sarah Spinner Liska, Director, Kent State University Museum
∙ Inna Stabrova, Co-Founder, Ohio Conservatory of Ballet
∙ Tonya Strong-Charles, Chief Marketing Officer, Northeast Ohio Medical University
∙ Betty Sutton, Judge, Ninth District Court of Appeals
∙ Rachel Tecca, Executive Director, Youth Success Summit
∙ Torey Tolson, Community Involvement Consultant (OH Region), FirstEnergy
∙ Julie Weagraff, Chief Development Officer, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio
∙ Evelyn Williams, Executive Director, Global Ties Akron
∙ Amy Woodland, Manager of Communications, County of Summit ADM Board

Learn more and secure your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/17th-annual-womens-leadership-day-lunch-tickets-1285421774129?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/01/2025

We are thrilled to announce that Bev Shaffer will provide the Keynote Welcome for our 17th Annual Women's Leadership Day Luncheon taking place on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at House Three Thirty!

This event provides a venue for emerging women leaders to gain valuable information about leadership from established women leaders.

Learn more and secure a spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/17th-annual-womens-leadership-day-luncheon-tickets-1285421774129

11/15/2024

We honored many amazing women this past Wednesday evening during our Leadership Awards Event which was hosted at the DoubleTree by Hilton Akron Fairlawn.

We would like to thank Sara Shookman, Quinnie Lane, Traci Buckner, Jackie Hemsworth and Elizabeth Bartz for presenting the awards. We'd also like to thank the event's Keynote Speaker Ramona Hood and our Emcee Alicia Robinson of Limitless Ambition.

: Here are our 2024 recipient honorees and finalist honorees:

ATHENA Leadership Award Recipient Honorees:
• Mary O’Connor | Architect
• Judge Kani H. Hightower | Summit County Domestic Relations Court

ATHENA Leadership Award Finalist Honorees:
• Bev Shaffer | Food & Drink Reporter for The Repository | Gannett | USA Today Network; published author of eight cookbooks
• Jennifer Malcolm | Founder, Chief Visionary Officer of Jennasis & Associates
• Cassie Pegg-Kirby | Director, Women’s Center Division of Student Life at Kent State University
ATHENA Young Professional Award Recipient Honoree:
• Lashawrida Fellows | Deputy Director, Human Resources for the Summit County Executive’s Office

ATHENA Young Professional Award Finalist Honorees:
• Dhara Patel Fitch | Rates Analyst at FirstEnergy
• Jo Peters | CEO of The Elite Movement: Extraordinary Ladies into Transformational Experiences

ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award Honoree:
• Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center (Formerly known as the Battered Women’s Shelter & R**e Crisis Center)

ATHENA Akron Leadership TRIBUTE Award Honoree:
• Melissa G. Dunham | Partner at Bober Markey Fedorovich

Attendees were greeted by four musicians from Akron Youth Orchestra and four Girl Scouts of North East Ohio Media Girls helped open and close our program, too.

We have more sponsors and vendors to thank, so look for another post soon!

11/14/2024

We all had so much fun at the Leadership Awards Program last night!

If you were there, you will recognize four Girl Scouts of North East Ohio Media Girls who provided a beautiful welcome to all in attendance.

Khloe, Anna, Serafina and Natalie are photographed here along with ATHENA Akron Board President Stacey Zahoranski and Sara Shookman!

11/01/2024