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Women of Excellence
Date & Time
Event Location
Women of Excellence identifies high-achieving women for their tremendous career accomplishments. The women are selected based on their professional experience, community involvement, leadership and sustained commitment to mentoring.
The Circle of Excellence honorees are prior Women of Excellence honorees in which these women are of longstanding, notable success in the community who are leading the way for other women.
Awards Celebration
May 8, 2025
Rochester Riverside Convention Center
5:00 p.m. – General networking reception
6:00 p.m. – Dinner and Awards Celebration
This evening will include passed hors d’oeuvre, drinks, plated dinner and dessert.
Reserve your sponsorship today and secure a table to celebrate with your team!
Sponsorship benefits include a table for your guests, the right to use the event logo, multimedia marketing opportunities and much more depending on the sponsorship level you choose. This event is limited attendance. If seats are available after the sponsorship deadline, a limited number of individual tickets will go on sale. Tables are only available with sponsorship.
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities and benefits please contact your account manager or email [email protected].
If you have questions about this awards event, please email [email protected].
FAQ
What is the nomination process and the steps to take?
Once the online nomination form is completed an automated email will be sent to the individual nominated (the email address entered in the “Nominee Email” field) and a submission receipt will be sent to the email placed in the “Nominator’s Email” field.
In order for the nominee to continue with the process they must fill out the application form by the application deadline listed in the automated email and on the corresponding event landing page.
We also recommend submitting up to three letters of recommendation to https://rbj.net/letters-of-recommendation-submission-form/ by the application deadline to be included in the nominee’s judging packet as supporting materials. This is not a requirement, but an added benefit.
How can I be considered for the Women of Excellence award?
In order to be considered, candidates:
● Must demonstrate significant professional accomplishment within their career, strong leadership and mentoring skills as well as strong civic commitment in our community;
● Must be employed in Greater Rochester (Counties to include: Monroe, Ontario, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wayne); and
● May be self-nominated or nominated by another person.
While anyone can nominate, we recommend nominations come from a senior leader in the candidate’s organization. It is then required that the nominee go through the entire application process, please see above response for more details on that.
Who are the judges and what are they looking for when selecting the Women of Excellence honorees?
A panel of judges consisting of prior year Circle of Excellence honorees and RBJ’s editorial team select the Women of Excellence honorees. It is essential that the candidate prove their professional experience, community involvement, leadership and sustained commitment to mentoring and the Rochester community. It is helpful to have at least one letter of recommendation from someone that can speak to these achievements.
What is the Circle of Excellence award?
The Circle of Excellence award are for women who have been honored as Women of Excellence in prior years and are eligible to be nominated for the Circle of Excellence. Circle of Excellence honorees are women whom other women want to emulate, women who broke the glass ceiling and women whose success has impacted the next generation and the Rochester community. Circle of Excellence nominees must follow the same nomination and application process as the above.
Can I save the nomination or application forms while I’m working on them?
Unfortunately, at this time you cannot, but we’re working to fix that. In the meantime, we suggest either filling out the forms on a separate sheet of paper and/Word Doc first or be prepared to spend some time in the form.
If I’m an honoree, do I need to purchase a ticket?
You do not need to purchase a ticket for yourself if you are an honoree. All other attendees must purchase a ticket. Please, note that all RBJ events are limited attendance based on location. Honorees and sponsors are guaranteed tickets. Individual tickets will only go on sale if space is available after sponsorship deadlines.
What is included in sponsorship packages?
Sponsorship opportunities to include a table for your guests, multimedia marketing, logo usage and much more depending on the level your company selects. For more sponsorship information and benefits please contact your account manager or email [email protected].
Can I buy an ad in the publication?
Please contact Suzanne Fischer-Huettner to place an add or purchase a sponsorship package.
Congratulations to the 2025 Honorees!
Circle of Excellence Honorees
Maria Cristalli, Hillside
Mary Therese Friel, Mary Therese Friel LLC
Nadine General, Dixon Schwabl + Company
Jennifer Sahrle, St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center
Pam Sherman, The ShermanEDGE
Elizabeth A. Talia, Esq., Thompson Health
Tashanda Thomas, Foodlink
Women of Excellence Honorees
Denise A. Battles, SUNY Geneseo
Paula W. Belemjian, The Margaret Home
Malorie Benjamin, Dixon Schwabl + Company
Teresa O’Loughlin Bianchi, United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes
Hope Delancy Breen, 92.5 WBEE
Megan Broomfield, MMB+CO
Nita T. Brown, Mansawear, Clothing Made To Lift You
Kim Brumber, Conava Consulting
Sherita D. Bullock, Perinatal Network of Monroe County Inc., DBA Healthy Baby Network
Kim Clark, Heritage Christian Services
Shelly D. Clements, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT)
Stephany D. Corcoran, Unified Maintenance and Construction Inc.
Kijana G. Danzy, MVP Health Care
Mary Anne Detmer, Friendly Senior Living
Ethel Mokhiber Duble, Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity
Stephanie Hoppe Fedorka, Esq., Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC
Katie Flynn, Flynn Agency LLC
Amanda L. Galley, Wahl Media Inc.
Andrea Holland, Andrea Holland Coaching
Deborah L. Hughes, National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House
Lana K. Ivy, Lippes Mathias LLP
Terra Keller, Foodlink
Sara Kelly, Ph.D., SUNY Brockport
Karen Kinter, Oak Orchard Health
Christina Lacagnina, Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women
Cheryl Leader, Lifetime Assistance Inc.
Raquel Denise Lowry, Coordinated Care Services Inc.
Dr. Candice A. Lucas, Urban League of Rochester
Regina MacAdam, Rochester Regional Health
Tamara Mayberry, City of Rochester
Ebony T. Miller, Rochester Institute of Technology
Walida Monroe-Sims, City of Rochester/AmeriCorps Program
Emily A. Ormsby, Stantec Consulting Services Inc.
Sara Passamonte, Compeer Rochester
Deana Percassi, Wegmans Food Markets Inc.
Katarina Polozie, Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP
Cory Raggi, 1RDG, the financial center
Patricia Redding, Saunders Management Inc./Saunders Foundation
Jodi A. Reynolds, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Cassandra C. Rich, Barclay Damon LLP
Berta Rivera, Rochester Area Community Foundation
Colleen Rose, Rochester Regional Health
Deb Rosen, JFS Rochester
Samantha Schafer, The Bonadio Group
Michelle Schleher, AAC Contracting LLC
Rosemary Ventura, University of Rochester Medical Center
Lauren P. Wadsworth, Ph.D., ABPP, Genesee Valley Psychology,
Meridian Psychology, Twin Star Diversity Trainers, MHNTI
Mary Beth Walker, Trillium Health
Linda Weller, Info Advantage
Josie Sheppard Wilson, McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP
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SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsor
Awards Sponsor
