About the Women of Distinction Awards

The annual Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (GSNEO) Women of Distinction Luncheon was established in 2012 to celebrate and recognize women in northeast Ohio who go above and beyond to make our communities better places to live, work, and raise a family. GSNEO’s Women of Distinction embody the core values of Girl Scouts and provide girls with positive role models.

In 2014, the Advancing Women Award was added to honor organizations demonstrating strong commitment to advancing women in the workplace. In 2015, three annual Leaders of Tomorrow scholarships were added to recognize GSNEO Girl Scouts who display exceptional promise to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Funds raised by the Women of Distinction Awards Event benefit Girl Scouts of North East Ohio scholarships and financial aid for girls in need. These funds are designated for programs, uniforms, books, camp, and membership fees for girls throughout our 18-county footprint.

New for 2020! Tin to Win Raffle

Tin to Win Sales are closed. Join us 9/22/2020 to see if you won a raffle prize! Winning numbers will be drawn live during the Women of Distinction virtual program on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 beginning at 4:00pm. Winners do not need to watch live to win, but they must pick up their raffle prizes from a GSNEO service center.

2020 Honorees

Congratulations to our 2020 Women of Distinction Honorees!

Women of Distinction:

Ramona Hood – FedEx Custom Critical
Nancy Kachmarik   – Avient Corporation
Andrea Margida, MS  – The Valentine Project & TechGrit
Sandra L. Reid  – The Davey Tree Expert Company
Tari S. Rivera  – Regency Construction Services, Inc.
Sara Shookman  – WKYC Studios
Ellen M. Stephens, SHRM-SCP – The Sherwin-Williams Company
Gina Vernaci  – Playhouse Square
Elizabeth Walters  – Summit County Council
Amy Zell  – Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries & Oak Hill Collaborative

Leaders of Tomorrow

Olivia Johnson – Homeschool, North Canton
Ava Kress – North Royalton High School
Megan Ward – McDonald High School

Advancing Women Awardees

Hyland
Women’s Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation

Thank you to our 2020 Selection Committee!

Event Chair: Kathy Moock* – 2019 Woman of Distinction and GSNEO Board Member
Diana Bilimoria, PhD*
Jan Conrad
Lynnette Crenshaw*
Jonathan Dominy, CFA
Kelly Glover
James Harris
Audrey Hudak
Victoria Kress, PhD*
Lisa Mandel*
Judith Matsko*
Carole Mount, PhD*
Antha Poleondakis*
Ebony Yeboah-Amankwah*

*Indicates Past Woman of Distinction Honoree

–

Thank You to our 2020 Sponsors!

–

Signature Event Go-Getter Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors

Andy and Kathy Moock

Signature Event Risk-Taker Sponsor

Signature Event Leader Sponsors

Confidence Sponsors
The Lubrizol Corporation
Medical Mutual of Ohio
Dr. Vivian von Gruenigen

Character Sponsors
Dominion Energy
Playhouse Square
Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro’s Department of Job and Family Services
Sandy Rapp

Program Sponsors
Akron Children’s Hospital
Avient Corporation
FedEx Custom Critical
Regency Construction Services, Inc.
Sikich
State and Federal Communications, Inc.