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 one of the following counties Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry at the time of judging.

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 central 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.

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 cpbjevents@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 cpbjevents@bridgetowermedia.com if you have any questions or issues. 

Women of Influence:

Marissa Bankert Central Pennsylvania Independent Electrical Contractors

Gina Breslin North Group Consultants

Kimberly Brister WellSpan Health

Sara Bruton Simon Lever

Gina Casner The Casner Group at Iron Valley Real Estate of Central PA

Susan M. Cort JPL

Sherry M. Cracium-Bolin Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz

Kimberly J. Decker Barley Snyder

Devon DiBiase Members 1st Federal Credit Union

Margaret “Mieke” Driscoll CGA Law Firm

Stacy Durbin Pennian Bank

Susan R. Ewing-Rathfon Crescent Strategy LLC

Kathleen Pearson Fabrizi PennState Schuylkill

Dr. Linda Fedrizzi-Williams Central Penn College

Sue Fornicola New Hope Ministries

Jenny Gallagher Blom The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region

Kelli Gift PaySmart Payroll Services

Denise DelGrosso Gilliland Pink Power

Marissa Graby Hoover Penn State Harrisburg

Kathy Gutierrez RKL LLP

Judith L. Hoar Trout CPA

Jennifer Hollister The Jennifer Hollister Group

Donna K. Holloway Hershey Lodge, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts

Jennifer Hynes TEAMCare Behavioral Health

Andrea Karns Karns Foods

Rebecca Korn Rise Reign Rule

Theresa S. Kwayi Harley-Davidson

Jeannette Magaro Storytelling Marketing Communications

Emily Mikus The GIANT Company

Laura Stedenfeld Omnes

Rhodia D. Thomas MidPenn Legal Services

Vicki I. Turjan Versatile Credit Inc.

Kimbarley Williams Boyer & Ritter LLC

Ashley A. Wise Conrad Siegel

Women to Watch:

Lindsay Berkstresser Post & Schell P.C.

Olivia B. Surry Members 1st Federal Credit Union

Casey VanFleet Hershey Entertainment & Resorts

Emma Watson American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Meghan Zook The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region

Women of Excellence:

Maura Donley SO Tactics

Janet R. Donovan Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA

Helen L. Gemmill McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC

Amy Helmuth UPMC Pinnacle

Carol McKinley Simpson Senior Services DBA Simpson

Jacquelyn Summers Penn-Mar Human Services

Abeer Srouji Allen Eye Candy Family, LLC

Denise DesGroseilliers Britton Shalom House

Linnie S. Carter, Ph.D., APR HACC & HACC Foundation

Meghan Clark Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts

Stephanie G. Clay, P.E. ARRO Consulting, Inc.

Nicole Deary Leadership Cumberland

Erin P. Deller Assemble; Andculture

Betsy Hamm Duck Donuts Franchising

Jessica Hughes Viscul

Kandice Kerwin Hull McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC

Sharice Johnson Milton Hershey School

Stephanie Kessler RKL LLP

Ellen Kyzer PNC

Janeen M. Latin UCP Central PA

Michelle Latta Feeser’s, Inc.

Michelle Lisk Mid Penn Home Care LLC / Synergy HomeCare of Mid Penn

Shelly Matter HB McClure Company

Jeshanah McLeod Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz

Regina Bilotta McLeod Ace Distributing

Tracy Pawelski PPO&S Integrated Marketing

Robin K. Rohrbaugh Community Progress Council

Brooke E. D. Say Stock and Leader

Kristine C. Saylor Keystone Human Services

Stephanie Schmidt Poole Anderson Construction

Joelle Shea Gannett Fleming

Debra Kohr Sheppard PCN

Ruth Katherine Shiffler Wilmington Trust, N.A. 

Traci Shughart Premier Wealth Management

Patty Sibbach Precision Training Concepts, LLC

Natalie M. Wech M&T Bank

Jessica L. Whitmyer Members 1st Federal Credit Union

Leigh Ann Wilson MANTEC

Amy M. Young Wagman Construction, Inc.

Karen Young Hr Resolutions

Woman to Watch

Katie Roering Fontana Candle Company, LLC

Circle of Excellence

To be considered for the Central Penn Business Journal’s Circle of Excellence recognition, women honorees have sustained leadership roles in their choice of profession, through mentorship and in their community. They are at the pinnacle of their careers and true icons of their industry.

Victoria Connor York County Bar Association/York County Bar Foundation

Susan Graham Susan Graham Consulting

Una Martone Leadership Harrisburg Area

Lisa Myers Boyer & Ritter

Tina L. Nixon UPMC Pinnacle