Chamber News Release

December 2, 2025 (ROCHESTER, NY) – Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the finalists for its 2026 ATHENA International Award®, 2026 ATHENA International Young Professional Award®, and 2026 ATHENA International Organizational Award®. These internationally recognized awards will be presented at a ceremony on Thursday, February 5th at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

Greater Rochester Chamber has presented the ATHENA Awards annually in Greater Rochester, NY since 1987 as part of its Women’s Council initiative. The 2026 awards mark the 40th anniversary of honoring and empowering Greater Rochester’s female leaders in business. The ATHENA International Award is given annually to a professional female leader who has demonstrated significant achievements in business, community service, and the professional advancement of women.

The 2026 ATHENA International Award finalists in the Greater Rochester, NY area are:

• Wendy A. Bello, Vice President and General Manager, WROC-RochesterFirst, Nexstar Media Inc.
• Courtney Cotrupe, CEO, Partners + Napier
• Maria E. Cristalli, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hillside
• Meaghan de Chateauvieux, President & CEO, Willow Domestic Violence Center
• Marisa Geitner, President & CEO, Heritage Christian Services
• Andrea Holland, Chief Strategist & Founder, Andrea Holland Coaching
• Kirsi Jarvinen-Seppo, Chief, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, UR Medicine's Golisano Children's Hospital
• Colleen Matteson, President, Rochester NY, Bank of America 
• Kim McCluski, Chairman of the Board, Golisano Children's Hospital
• Cory Raggi, Partner & COO, 1RDG the financial center
• Jessica M. Savage, President & CEO, Dixon Schwabl + Company
• Naomi Silver, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer, Rochester Community Baseball
• Amy Storey, President, Keuka College
• Tashanda Thomas, Senior Vice President, Chief People and Culture Officer, Foodlink
• Elizabeth Williamson, Artistic Director, Geva Theatre

The ATHENA International Young Professional Award recognizes emerging female leaders who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession and serve as a role model for young women both personally and professionally. 

The 2026 ATHENA International Young Professional Award finalists are: 

• Kelly A. Zimber Beach, Senior Manager, Global Quality Assurance, CooperVision
• Sydney Bell, Co-Director, Our Local History Project at CCSI, Inc. 
• Lindsay Connelly, President & Founder, Linden Digital Marketing
• Karla George, CEO & Board Chair, FLX AI, Inc.
• Kimberly A. Harvey, Associate Provost for Student Experience and Dean of Students, Nazareth University
• Terra Keller, SVP, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, Foodlink
• Sarah Ptach, President & CEO, Canyon Labs
• Allison Shannon, AIA, Principal, SWBR
• Josie Sheppard Wilson, Managing Partner - Rochester Office, McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP 
• Marietta Smithrand, Senior Vice President, Sales, First American Equipment Finance
• Kate M. Torok, Director of Marketing and Communications, St. John Fisher University
• Jennifer "Jazzy" T Williams, Director of Content Development, JazzCast Pros LLC

The ATHENA International Organizational Award goes to a woman-owned or woman-led business or organization that creates a culture encouraging women employees to achieve their full leadership potential and supports leadership development opportunities for women and girls in the community. 

The 2026 ATHENA International Organizational Award finalists are: 

• The Arc of Monroe
• Everyday Hands, Inc.
• Helen + Gertrude
• Info Advantage
• Nearpass & Koegel PLLC
• Rochester Hope, Inc
• Travel Alliance Partnership

Bob Duffy, President & CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, said, “This year’s 34 ATHENA finalists join the prestigious ranks of over 700 honorees over the past 40 years. Since its inception, we have been proud to honor women and women-led organizations in our community who embody the ATHENA leadership model and build a better region for us all – and this year’s finalists continue to raise the bar for what that looks like. Greater Rochester Chamber looks forward to hosting this year’s celebration to honor all of our finalists and commemorate this anniversary. We hope you will join us on February 5th to celebrate!” 

For more information about the ATHENA International Awards, please contact Events Director, Susan George at Susan.George@GreaterRochesterChamber.com. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the ATHENA Awards Celebration in February. To learn more about how you can showcase your brand in front of Greater Rochester’s top women in business, please see here. Event registration is also open; tickets are available for purchase online here.