- This event has passed.
Women of Influence
The honorees were selected based on professional experience, community involvement and a commitment to mentoring. Additional categories include Women to Watch honoring women 35 years old and younger and Circle of Excellence honoring women at the pinnacle of their career who have shown sustained commitment to their profession and the community.
The Central Penn Business Journal Women of Influence awards recognize high-achieving women who are making a positive impact through leadership, community service and mentoring. This year CPBJ also will recognize Women to Watch – honoring women leaders, age 35 or younger, who are stepping up to help shape the Central Pennsylvania of tomorrow through professional success and a commitment to making a positive impact on the community.
Circle of Excellence honorees are women of longstanding, notable success in the community who are leading the way for other women. These women are selected by the CPBJ editorial board and have been selected three times.
Who should be nominated?
You know and admire her. She’s the woman who never fails to exceed expectations – at work and beyond. No matter how many tasks she juggles, she makes it look easy. She always makes time to mentor others and creates a picture of what’s possible by leading by example.
The same woman can be nominated every other year but she will not be selected for back-to-back years.
Don’t miss this chance to recognize her for her inspirational leadership and extraordinary accomplishments – nominate her for CPBJ Women of Influence or Women to Watch!
For questions about nominations, please contact our events team at cpbjevents@bridgetowermedia.com.
Nomination deadline: March 19, 2022
*Please note that starting in 2022 nominations will cost $10.
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
