HARRISBURG – CEOs, partners-in-charge, and senior vice presidents are among the winners of the 2008 Best 50 Women in Business Award, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.
“Once again this year, choosing just 50 women out of all the worthy nominees we received wasn’t easy,” Governor Rendell said. “Whether it’s the founder of a professional development firm, or the partner in charge of a global firm, or the president of a bakery, all of the winners have one thing in common – they’re all hard-working people who are making Pennsylvania a better place to live, work, and play.”
An independent panel of judges selected the top 50 candidates based on their dedication to business growth, professional and personal accomplishments, community involvement, and advocacy for women in business. Recipients must also be a female resident of Pennsylvania, be employed in the state as an owner, partner, president, chief executive officer, board chair, in a senior executive management-level position, or a woman with significant authority in decision-making in a business or company.
Honorees will be invited to several events on May 19, including an evening reception at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg. Winners will be highlighted in special supplements in several business journals throughout the commonwealth.
Allegheny County
Audrey L. Brourman, founder, owner and president, A.L. Brourman Associates Inc., Pittsburgh
Laura E. Ellsworth, partner-in-charge, Jones Day, Pittsburgh
Diane P. Holder, executive vice president, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh
Linda Ruckert, owner, Linda’s Imprinted Products, Pittsburgh
Sharon Scheidemantle, broker of record, Achieve Realty Inc., Wexford
Sandy E. Simon, owner and artist, Kiln-in-Time Studios, Pittsburgh
Berks County
Deborah A. Kintzer, senior vice president, Westlawn Graphics, Reading
Anne L. Stevens, chairman, president and CEO, Carpenter Technology Corporation, Reading
Blair County
Bonnie Lee Hand, president, Blair Insurance Services Inc., Altoona
Amy B. Seltzer, owner, Seltzer Financial Strategies LLC, Altoona
Bucks County
Ramila Philip, Ph.D., Immunotope Inc. Doylestown
Gina F. Rubel, esquire, Furia Rubel Communications Inc. Doylestown
Donna E. Teitelman, president, Impact Executive Consulting LLC, Richboro
Butler County
Victoria A. Hinterberger, CEO, Butler County Radio Network Inc., Butler
Ann F. Morrison, senior vice president, Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, Butler
Centre County
Jessica Dolan, owner, Room to Breathe Home and Office Organizing, Bellefonte
Chester County
Kimberly J. Brumbaugh, president, Brumbaugh Wealth Management Group, Glenmoore
Bronwyn L. Martin, financial advisor, Amerprise Financial Service Inc., Kennett Square
Cumberland County
Tammy L. Shearer, vice president, Shearer Enterprises d/b/a The Camera Box, Camp Hill
Dauphin County
Linda Harvey-Burkley, principal, Ardis Communications, Harrisburg
Rhonda R. Hess, president and CEO, Rhonda Hess Associates LLC, Hershey
Janice L. Holsinger, owner, founder, and chairperson, U-GRO Learning Centres Inc., Harrisburg
Deborah Saline, principal and COO, PR Works Inc., Harrisburg
Delaware County
Mildred E. Bell, president and CEO, Skin Health Solutions, Edgemont
Mary L. Catona, president and CEO, Retriever Waste Management, Media
Marlene Weinberg, owner and operator, McDonalds, Villanova
Erie County
Misty O’Connor, founder, owner and president, Point Click Learn Inc., McKean
Lackawanna County
Sunita Arora, president and owner, ERA One Source Realty, Clarks Summit
Lancaster County
Marilyn Hedge, vice president, Susquehanna Bank, Lancaster
Sarah Young Fisher, president, Kuntz Lesher Capital LLC, Lancaster
Lebanon County
Anna Lynn Skamangas, president, The Baklava Goddess Inc., Schaefferstown
Montgomery County
Janet B. Cunningham, president and CEO, JBC Associates Inc., King of Prussia
Patricia H. Imbesi, founder and president, Patriarch Management, North Wales
Patricia J. Owens, chief strategy officer, Decision Strategies International, Conshocken
Ilyse Shapiro, founder, MyPartTimePRO.com, Wynnewood
Bonnie Squires, president, Squires Consulting, Wynnewood
Philadelphia County
Autumn Bayles, senior vice president, Tasty Baking Company, Philadelphia
Leslie Esdaile Banks, author and entrepreneur, Leslie Esdaile Banks LLC, Philadelphia
Deborah M. Fretz, president and CEO, Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., Philadelphia
Iola Harper, president, In Good Company LLC, Philadelphia
Vernoca L. Michael, CEO and president, The Legendary Blue Horizon, Philadelphia
Keirra Strayhorn White, owner, Copper Desserts LLC, Philadelphia
Kinberly R. Williams, prinicipal, KlingStubbins, Philadelphia
Pike County
Ellen Cabaniss Bawc, owner and president, La Tienda Inc., Milford
Union County
Erica L. Shames, editor and publisher, Susquehanna Life Magazine, Lewisburg
Washington County
Sherri Hewitt-Laird, president and CEO, The Caring Mission Inc., Washington
Westmoreland County
Carol Boerio Croft, owner and CCO, Cozy Inn Pet Resort, Stahlstown
Candy D. Valentino, founder and owner, Platinum Salon and Spa, Greensburg
York County
Lynne Grote Briel, president and founder, The Professional Edge, York
Anne E. Zerbe, attorney, CGA Law Firm, York
