Month: July 2023

Columbus Business First held its inaugural Women of Influence Awards reception at the Westin Great Southern Hotel in Columbus this week. The reception celebrated 27 Central Ohio businesswomen who are having an impact on their organizations, bettering the community by giving back and helping foster the next generation of leaders by acting as advisers and mentors.

Bath & Body Works CEO Gina Boswell served as keynote speaker at the sold-out event and participated in an interview hosted by Columbus Business First Assistant Managing Editor Eleanor Kennedy. During her talk, Boswell highlighted her more than 30 years of experience in the personal care industry and offered advice to other women leaders seeking to take the next step in their careers.

See the full list of the 27 honorees below and get more information about this year’s inaugural Women of Influence Awards here.

Businesswoman of the year

Karen Jefferson Morrison, president, OhioHealth Foundation; senior vice president, OhioHealth

Community champion

Amy Albery, CEO, Wallick CommunitiesCorrine Burger, managing director, JPMorgan ChaseDarci Congrove, managing director, GBQNatalie Pantalos, director of external relations and community affairs, Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Entrepreneur

Bhakti Bania, CEO, BBCOSheri Chaney Jones, founder and president, Measurement Resources Company; founder and CEO, SureImpact Inc.Merry Korn, CEO, Pearl Interactive Network Inc.Catherine Lang-Cline, president and co-creator, Portfolio Creative

Mentor

Lisa Banks, director, ECDI Women’s Business Center of Central OhioNichole Dunn, CEO, Flying Horse FarmsEmily Foote, area manager, Bechtel Corp.Rachel Kleit, associate dean of faculty affairs, College of Engineering / Professor of City and Regional Planning, Knowlton School of Architecture, Ohio State University

Nonprofit leader

Rebecca Butler, executive vice president, Columbus State Community CollegeLisa Courtice, CEO, United Way of Central OhioRachel Finney, CEO, Columbus HumaneKari Jones, CEO, Down Syndrome Association of Central OhioLark Mallory, CEO, Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin CountyTammy Wharton, CEO, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland

Trailblazer

Lori Bongiorno, managing principal, studio lead – mixed use, MA DesignMichelle Crandall, city manager, city of HilliardLindsay Karas Stencel, partner, Thompson Hine LLPVinita Mehra, director and leader, Global Business Practice, Kegler Brown Hill + RitterSarah Perez, firm managing partner, Perez Morris LLCChristina Perry, senior vice president of finance and investor relations, Forge BiologicsJo Ann Quinif, chief client officer, Diamond Hill

Rising star

Amanda Reed, senior consultant, Centric Consulting