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RBA announces ATHENA award finalists for 2016

Khristopher J Brooks

@AmericanGlow

The women's arm of the Rochester Business Alliance has named the finalists for the 2016 ATHENA awards.

RBA's Women's Council will name the winner of the 30th annual 2016 ATHENA award and the 2016 ATHENA Young Professional Award at a luncheon at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center on Jan. 21. The ATHENA award is based on a finalist's efforts in professional achievements, community service and advancement of other professional women. The young professional award is based on finalists who are 30 to 45 who show excellence, creativity and initiative in their profession. Amy Tait and Claudia Burcke won the awards last year.

Amy Tait, Claudia Burcke win ATHENA awards

The 2016 finalists for the ATHENA Award are:

Deborah Hughes, National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House CEO
Susan Latoski, Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley executive director
Lesli Myers, Brockport Central School District Superintendent
Marilynn Patterson Grant, M.P. Grant owner
Kathleen Pringle, Kathleen Pringle Group CEO
Elaine Spaull, Center for Youth executive director
Patricia Uttaro, Rochester Public Library and the Monroe County Library System director
Lori Van Dusen, LVW Advisors CEO

Melissa Brown, CDS Monarch executive vice president of strategic initiatives and marketing
Katrina Busch, Roberts Communications president
Dorothy Coleman, Excellus/Lifetime Healthcare Co. chief financial officer and executive vice president
Rachel DeGuzman, 21st Century Arts president and CEO

An image from last year's Athena Awards at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

The finalists for the ATHENA Young Professional Award are:

Traci Adolph, Tra-Lin Corporation DBA Samson Fuel & Trucking president
Lauren Gallina, Gallina Development marketing director
Alyssa Kalish, The Highlands at Pittsford marketing and communications coordinator
Sufiya Kwaja, Bank of America relationship manager
Jessica Lord, Volunteers of America Western New York recruitment coordinator
Lindsay Morrow-Lilly, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust vice president of corporate communications and shareholder relations manager
Katelin Pellett, Ad Council of Rochester vice president of programs
Leah Tarantino, Underberg & Kessler associate attorney
Erin Tolefree, Baldwin Richardson Foods vice president of sales
Melanie Wolk, Trevett Cristo Salzer & Andolina attorney