Kimberley Hammer, Carlow University and Virginia Wesleyan University 

Kim Hammer is a fundraising professional with over 28 years of experience in annual and major gift fundraising, planned giving, special event fundraising and stewardship.

Prior to serving in her current role as Vice President for Advancement and Special Assistant to the President at Virginia Wesleyan University, she served as vice president for advancement at Carlow University in Pittsburgh. She has also served as vice president for development at Robert Morris University, director of development at The Pittsburgh Promise, executive vice president for development at the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Pittsburgh of UPMC and vice president for development and donor services at the Pittsburgh Foundation. Prior to her fundraising career, she was an attorney at Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney. She earned her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. As the pandemic crisis of 2020 became a reaIity last spring, Kim immediately  recognized that her team needed a way to stay in touch with alumni beyond email and phone calls. To extend these connections, she created Carlow Connections, a bi-monthly zoom session for alumni, faculty, staff and friends of Carlow University. These webinars ranged from fun topics such as cooking classes and wine tastings to expert faculty presentations. Carlow Connections attracted thousands of attendees and showcased alumni who served as front line emergency workers during the pandemic.

Kiya Tomlin, Kiya Tomlin Pittsburgh, LLC

Kiya Tomlin is a fashion designer and apparel manufacturer. Passionate about fashion design since childhood, Kiya taught herself to sew and design at age 10. After graduating from The College of William and Mary, Kiya enrolled at The University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Art and Architectural Planning to study design formally, and then continued to elevate her craft through fit and couture workshops around the country.

After almost two decades of designing custom apparel, Kiya brought the knowledge and expertise she gained from designing for a variety of body types to the ready-to-wear market. Inspired by her own busy lifestyle as wife to Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin, and mother of three, Kiya set out to design the impossible--a versatile dress that combines runway glamour with the comfort and ease of a favorite sweatshirt. This Signature dress became the anchor for her ready-to-wear collection, Kiya Tomlin, and addresses the modern day woman’s need for comfort, style and versatility. Her collection is manufactured in the USA, primarily in her own factory in Pittsburgh, PA and sold on-line, at her retail store in Etna and in select boutiques across the country.

During the 2020 pandemic crisis, Kiya was able to keep her entire team employed as well as hire new employees. The team sewed and donated over 20,000 face masks. If you received a face mask from Highmark Health's 1 Million Masks initiative, it was designed by Kiya. 

Kristen Ricupero, Financial Fitness Coaching

Kristen Ricupero is a Financial Coach & Profit Advisor who specializes in helping small business owners, entrepreneurs and driven professionals in both their business & personal finances. She works closely with individuals to simplify money, strengthen their financial management skills, eliminate debt, and create cash flow management systems to maximize profit and ultimately build wealth. By developing specific action plans that are tailored to each client’s needs, values and goals, it allows them to live and retire in ways they only thought they could dream. 

Kristen is fueled by her passion to help others succeed and become financially free. As soon as the pandemic hit, Kristen immediately began offering financial workshops virtually, and then launched a digital course and online group coaching program. During that time, Kristen helped her students and clients pay off over $500,000 in personal debt and increase their savings by $154,000.

Lisa A. Krall, Park Avenue Wealth Management

As the founder of Park Avenue Wealth Management, Lisa Krall has 18 years of experience guiding clients towards the goal of financial independence. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Lisa is held to a higher level of care and committed to providing personal service to you, especially those who are planning for retirement.

Lisa is also dedicated to giving back to the community. She is the founder of The Moxie Women’s Network—an unparalleled resource and empowerment organization for women who live, work and shop in Westmoreland County.  She is actively involved with various chambers and women’s groups, but most passionate about her role with Inspired Women -Westmoreland County and The Visionaries of Westmoreland County. During the pandemic crisis, Lisa remained dedicated to her clients and the community, keeping them updated, informed and confident.  In October, 2020 Lisa launched a new series, Permission to Prosper, a virtual financial information series which has become wildly popular on LinkedIn. Despite the challenges of the year, Lisa doubled new assets in 2020. This year she will celebrate her fifth anniversary as an independent business owner. 

Maria Gartrell, Vintage & Soul Home

Maria Gartrell is a busy real estate agent and mom of three active boys who lives and works in Erie, PA. Fabulous at home-design ideas, Maria became a multi-million dollar real estate producer by setting herself apart from other agents and using her interior design skills. The homes she staged sold fast and her clients were impressed. When real estate clients began to ask for her advice and ideas to furnish their new homes, Maria began doing design work and consulting in addition to real estate. Passionate about promoting the work of local artists and craftsmen made her even more popular.

Her clients longed to see the choices that Maria offered them in person, thus the dream of a retail furniture store began. After market research confirmed regional demand for a local furniture and accessory store, a business plan was created and investors came on board.

Enter Maria’s sister Ann Camp, marketing and business manager, trained graphic designer, and interior design enthusiast. Combining Maria’s clients and vendors with Ann’s business savvy, the business plans began to take off. The store opening was eagerly anticipated by the entire community. 

Vintage & Soul Home, a brand new, 3,000 square foot, women-owned store was scheduled to open in the West Erie Plaza Shopping Center in the Spring of 2020. Frustrating delays from the COVID19 Pandemic and mandatory retail lockdown stalled the opening. Sadly, Maria and Ann’s father lost his battle with cancer in the fall of 2020, a really difficult time to be in the midst of launching a new business. Still, after several unplanned delays, and while grieving, Maria and Ann’s family, along with the entire community celebrated the grand opening of Vintage & Soul Home in November 2020. The store offers interior design services as well as unique new furniture and accessories that help clients create the home of their dreams. The store is located at 916 W. Erie Plaza Drive, Erie, PA, and store designers often drive to Pittsburgh for consultations. 

Mary Lee Gannon, St. Margaret Foundation

Mary Lee Gannon is the President of St. Margaret Foundation where she created the mantra of ‘filling in the gaps with hope’ at UPMC St. Margaret Hospital. In addition to her achievements, she championed five capital campaigns over the last 11 years, raising $7.2 million.She is a scholarship recipient of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute at Georgetown University, an alumnus of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Practices Program and the Harvard Medical School Coaching in Medicine & Leadership Conference.  Mary Lee is the recipient of the Honorary Woman of Courage Award by Pennsylvania Women Work, The Lifetime Achievement Award by Pittsburgh Society of Association Executives, recognized as a Leading Lady by Oakland Catholic.

Early in the pandemic, Mary Lee and her team could see the toll COVID19 was taking on hospital staff and sought ways to bring them relief. Hospital staff has the same fears as everyone else, but they show up every day ready to serve, knowing that doing so could make them among the most vulnerable. She immediately launched several new programs and raised all the money needed to pay for important needs including discounted hotel rooms for staff who were afraid to go home, boxed lunches for those staff who had children home from school, numerous care packages. For patients, the foundation purchased seven iPads for patients to communicate with family while in quarantine. They stocked food pantry items for staff who couldn't get to the store. Emergency childcare assistance was made available for staff who needed to be at work while schools and daycare facilities were closed. When visitors were not permitted to see patients on Mother's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Mary Lee's team delivered thoughtful gifts, flowers, and candles to those left alone in the hospital. Each employee received $50 in grocery store gift cards to help during the crisis. Every effort was fully funded by donations. 

Mary P. Kitchen CPA MST, Mary Kitchen CPA

Mary Kitchen is a CPA with a Masters of Science in Taxation. As an Advanced Certified QBO (QuickBooks Online)  Pro Advisor, Mary works with fast-growing entrepreneurs who need a strategic accounting partner. A Summa Cum Laude graduate of Adelphi University, Mary holds the degree of Bachelors in Business Administration. She received her Masters of Science in Taxation from Robert Morris University.

Active in the community, Mary’s favorite charities are Heroes Supporting Heroes, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and the Canon-McMillan Big Mac Band. She served on the Board of Directors for the Samuel J Foundation, an organization dedicated to Pediatric Brain Tumor Research, and was recognized with the Hometown Hero Award for her non profit organization The Tumbleweed Foundation. 

During the early part of the pandemic crisis, Mary immediately came to the aid of her clients when many of them, being non-essential workers, had to shut down their businesses. She became a clearing house of information by offering online presentations and email updates, not only to her clients, but the entire community. When the Paycheck Protection Program was announced, hundreds of small business owners relied on Mary's expertise. She worked tirelessly to help the business and nonprofit community understand the PPP process, complete their applications and use the money appropriately. 

Melanie Marie Boyer, Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Melanie Marie Boyer, a CALU and Duquesne University alumna, is a Colombian & United States Citizen. Melanie Marie is the Director of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Melanie is a devoted mom to two handsome young boys, ages 8 and 3.

An entrepreneur at heart, she contracts as a freelance marketing and production specialist. She further serves the community through being a participating member of the RAD advisory board as well as the WPXI Gets Real advisory board. Melanie Marie is passionate about helping businesses to reach their full potential and getting funding into the undeserved American entrepreneurial ecosystem. Her goal is to enable rapid success, defined as self-sustaining job and revenue generating businesses that can improve underestimated communities and the region at large.

When the pandemic first hit, Melanie immediately implemented a plan to ensure the sustainability and long-term effectiveness of the Pittsburgh Hispanic Chamber. She was one of the first to create a digital speakers series and host online events ranging in topics from using Google to reach customers, how to understand, qualify and apply for the Paycheck Protection Program, how to apply for jobs online, and inspirational success stories from successful leaders in the Hispanic Community. 

Melanie is an example of how strong and resilient women are in a time of crisis. Alongside of keeping the chamber active, she survived COVID herself, became a single mother, and revived her freelance business, saving it from near total loss. 

Michelle A. Bushée, Piatt Sothebys International Realty 

Recognized as a talented negotiator and trusted advocate for her clients, Michelle Bushée provides comprehensive real estate services for buyers and sellers in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. A former paralegal, Michelle is the agent clients turn to when a situation demands the utmost level of finesse, resourcefulness and discretion. She stayed on top of news and developments related to COVID-19, keeping others informed and prepared. President of a nonprofit board, Michelle led the directors in making concrete plans to keep the organization going and to develop systems for more efficient operations and an even stronger financial position than pre-COVID. 

Since the beginning of her real estate career, Michelle has always been a multi-million dollar producer. A consistent award winner for sales production, she has been honored with Pittsburgh Magazine's Face of Women in Real Estate Award and by Real Producer Magazine. With the state in lockdown for ten weeks allowing no real estate transactions in Western PA, this could have been a terrible blow to an otherwise successful business. Michelle instead turned her attention to what she could do and took advantage of her ability to work globally as a part of the Piatt Sothebys team. These efforts boosted Michelle's real estate numbers by more than 4 million dollars for the year. 

Nicole M. Lerda, MaxxCole Salon & Spa

Nicole Lerda is the Owner of MaxxCole – AVEDA Exclusive - Salon & Spa, a new business venture that she began in January, 2020 and took on in the midst of a pandemic, doing so alongside her full time career as the Director of Major Gifts for Carlow University. 

Nicole leads a team of ten cosmetologists, estheticians and marketing personal at her salon and spa located in Robinson Township, Pennsylvania.  

Between March-December of 2020, Nicole successfully and creatively secured a business purchase of a salon and spa when such services were shut down and considered non-essential. She hosted an outdoor, socially distant ribbon cutting and grand opening. Nicole was featured as Women’s Success Story by the Duquesne University Small Business Development Center, was named one of the Airport Corridor’s most influential women by the Airport Chamber of Commerce, featured in Allegheny West Magazine, and most importantly, revitalized the struggling salon and spa.

Despite the limitations of providing salon and spa services during a pandemic, Nicole led the business and significantly increased revenue in her first few months of business ownership. In doing so she saved the careers of all ten female employees. 

Patty Maxwell, M.Ed., M.S., BSL, Engage Kidz LLC

Patty Maxwell received her 1st master’s degree in Special Education from The University of Pittsburgh and 2nd master’s in Infant Mental Health from Chatham University. Patty is a Licensed Behavior Specialist and has been a developmental and behavioral consultant for Early Intervention Services for 14 years. She has many years of experience working in the field of mental health for children. In 2018, Patty started her own company Engage Kidz to offer private behavioral and developmental services for children, families and schools, and developmental training for teachers and service providers. Pattys' expertise allows her to support families and teachers through an array of learning abilities, behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities and emotional disorders. Her passion is to support educators in order to help children learn well, and that all families and children can find peace and happiness.

2020 brought a special sort of challenges to schools and families, and families of all children found themselves navigating the dilemma of education at home. Parents of children with disabilities felt even more alone than usual as they tackled isolation and fear along with the usual educational dilemmas for their children. Unable to visit families at home or school, Patty immediately began offering virtual appointments for students and their parents. Zoom calls became critical in helping children continue to learn while facing a lapse in educational supports. Patty discovered that you can read a book via video chat almost as easily as you can in person. Soon students and parents became accustomed to new routines and education was able to continue. 

Working virtually, Patty was able the use the time she usually spent commuting between schools to see more children and families. In May, she created a teacher appreciation initiative, noting how well teachers had made the transition from in-school to virtual learning. Patty was invited to train teachers and service providers across Western PA and participated in a global summit for families where she taught parents how to manage behavioral issues in young children. Besides impacting thousands of classrooms, training hundreds of educators and service providers, empowering parents around the globe, Patty also more than doubled sales for her company. 

Sandy Campbell, M. S., Sandy Campbell Health & Happiness Coach

After working for ten years for a major pharmaceutical company, Sandy Campbell decided to stop working in the corporate world and start improving it instead. As a Positive Psychology Coach, Sandy’s passion is to help clients achieve their full potential by helping them make small but highly impactful shifts in the way they eat, think, and move. She holds an M.S. in Counseling from Villanova University as well as degrees and certifications in Integrative Nutrition, Yoga, and Applied Positive Psychology.

During the pandemic of 2020, Sandy and her family found themselves stranded in Florida where they had been visiting family. Sandy figured out a way to homeschool her children and continue working despite not being at home. She learned how to accept online registrations and continued to offer her popular program Rise & Thrive, filling two new classes of participants. Her blog, which was started before COVID became very popular as Sandy delved into much-needed topics like "Setting Up an Office at Home", "Crazy in Costco", "Food and Lifestyle Shifts", "Resilience" and "Leading from Your Center".  She also created a Resilience Advantage workshop series for corporate clients and was selected as a teaching assistant for the Whole Being Institute's Certificate in Positive Psychology.

Shannon Slack, Luna Selene

Shannon Slack is a wife, mother, entrepreneur, and fashion enthusiast. Having worked in the corporate healthcare industry for the last decade, she forever held a special love for shoes that were functional and timeless, allowing her to move with confidence in and out of the office. In the summer of 2020 she honed her passion when she founded Luna Selene, a footwear company that is an atelier of handcrafted designs, invoking the everyday elegance and timelessness of femininity.

In the spring of 2020, Luna Selene was a mere dream for Shannon. During the time when most of the world was in lockdown, she met with a designer to create  the perfect shoe for busy fashionable women. Shannon worked throughout the summer, learning all she needed to know about design and manufacturing. Soon work began on the website and the online store was launched on October 26th, 2020. Since then, Shannon has collaborated with local artists and entrepreneurs to bring fashion awareness to the city of Pittsburgh. Now, there are seven styles of Luna Selene being sold online as well as two shoe stores in Pittsburgh, Littles Shoes in Squirrel Hill and Eva Bryn Shoetique in Zelienople.

Shannon believes women can do unstoppable things when they look and feel their best, which is the mission of Luna Selene. Through her business she collaborates with other local artists and entrepreneurs to bring fashion to the city of Pittsburgh. Her mission for the next ten years is to build a community that brings together women all over the world to lift each other through fashion.

Stefani Pashman, Allegheny Conference on Community Development

Stefani Pashman became the CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and its affiliated organizations – the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania Economy League of Greater Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance – on October 2, 2017. Before joining the Conference, Stefani served as CEO of Partner4Work and its predecessor, the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, for seven years. She transformed the organization from a $1.5 million research-based group to a $20 million public-private system that educates the region on labor market dynamics, funds public and private workforce programs and connects local employers with qualified talent. Prior to Partner4Work, Stefani served in Governor Rendell’s Administration for nearly seven years at the PA Department of Human Services as Director of Policy and as Special Assistant to the Secretary. She also worked in private consulting at Avalere Health and Navigant and as an analyst in the White House Office of Management and Budget. 

Stefani holds an M.B.A. and a Masters in Health Administration from the University of Michigan and a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. She is active in national and local organizations and is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh. 

During the COVID 19 Pandemic Crisis, Stefani distinguished herself in the region. She diligently led Southwestern Pennsylvania's 10 county regional response to pandemic thru education, advocacy, communication, and active engagement with diverse mix of public and private sector partners. She and her team constantly asked,"How can we reopen, stay open and help companies and individuals in  the region every step of the way?" They provided detailed information to help guide the region through YELLOW week as businesses struggled with the uncertainty of reopening. Her newsletter, which came out sometimes daily, was filled with practical and relevant information for businesses in the region, not only expertly and confidently guiding them through the pandemic but also though racial tensions and a very difficult election. She also hosted the region's Move Forward Summit and launched the regional brand Next is Now, a comprehensive listing of information on the assets of doing business in the region. The effort provides a new and unified way to convey what Pittsburgh and the region have to offer today, tomorrow and beyond. In December, 2020 the conference released Proud to Protect Pittsburgh, an initiative providing important resources for surviving COVID 19 and featuring local celebrities and leaders with messages to keep the spirits in the region high and remind everyone of the pride of Pittsburgh. 

Tracie McKinney, WPXI TV

Tracie McKinney is the assistant news director at WPXI TV in Pittsburgh. While she has only worked in this market for a little more than one year, she has made some key achievements. Tracie was nominated to lead a diversity, equity and inclusion initiative for the parent company of WPXI-TV, Cox Media Group. Once the project received the green light, Tracie was tapped to implement it at WPXI. As part of that plan, Tracie established an advisory board of community leaders to help guide the news station through this important endeavor.

Tracie also launched a political franchise called Coffee and Conversations. The franchise provides a platform to women and minorities, along with other groups, to voice their concerns about politics. It was especially important during the hotly contested presidential race. The franchise travels from county to county giving the average “Joe” or “Joan” an opportunity to be heard on the issues that matter most to them.

Tracie has won numerous Emmy Awards for news stories and newscasts.  She also won an award from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for exposing racist housing practices in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Tracie is perhaps most proud of this award because her undercover investigation was used as a training tool for HUD investigators dedicated to ending discrimination in housing.

2020 brought challenges to all of us. As a news director, Tracie skillfully and competently ensured that the WPXI news team reported not only critical information about the coronavirus, but also during dangerous racial incidents and a very tense election season. Tracie strives to always proved balanced coverage, giving women and minorities a platform. In 2020 Tracie spearheaded a new diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative for the station called Pittsburgh Get's REAL. New to the city, she reached out to new connections and developed a diverse advisory board of community leaders. Tracie accomplished all of this while managing remote reporters and keeping the news team safe. 

Tracy Certo, NEXTpittsburgh

Tracy Certo is the founder and former publisher of NEXTpittsburgh. She founded the media site in 2014 with its mission to highlight the people advancing the city. NEXTpittsburgh is the online source for Pittsburgh news about movers and shakers moving the region forward and the innovative things happening here. Before the pandemic, we all relied on NEXTpittsburgh email updates for advice on where to eat and what to do. When the region was faced with shelter in place orders, what sense did it make to recommend restaurants, concerts and theaters?

Tracy and her team of reporters began to publish stories that kept readers informed, motivated and inspired. They produced ongoing guides on how to help and where to get help. They let readers know which restaurants were offering takeout and updated everyone on virtual events, job openings, happenings and fundraisers. 

Tracy led the online publication to record growth in 2020 with 2.1 million unique visitors and over 11 million page views. At the end of the year she sold the publication to local entrepreneur and activist John Rhoades. At heart, Tracy is a writer, photographer, and dedicated volunteer. She has led seven Habitat for Humanity builds from Mozambique to Thailand. A travel enthusiast, she plans to visit state #50 (Alaska) this summer. 

Congratulations to the 2021 Winners: