The 30th annual Tribute to Women and INdustry (TWIN) awards held at Mid-Ohio Conference Center, sponsored by MedCentral Health System, continued a tradition that began in 1985. Since JoAnn Dutton launched the program over 600 women have been recognized by their employers for their contributions to their companies and the community.
In addition to the TWIN awards three additional special awards are given as well, and the winners are not announced until the awards dinner. The JoAnn Dutton Award is given for outstanding volunteerism. The Corporate Achievement Award is given to a business an environment of potential for female employees. The Athena Award is a prestigious national award given to women who excel professionally as well as through service to the community.
Joanne Humphrey Blay was awarded the JoAnn Dutton Award for her outstanding service to the community. Blay, a founding member of Connections, a philanthropic group at the Richland County Foundation, has devoted significant time to a long list of nonprofits including her children’s school and sports activities, Planned Parenthood, and Friendly House, where she has served as board president for eight years.
The Corporate Achievement Award was given to the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) for creating an outstanding work environment for women. The majority of employees of the VNA are women and the organization has tailored policies to the needs of their staff by creating institutionalized flexibility through progressive paid time off policies and employer-paid short term disability insurance.
Richland Bank sponsored this year’s Athena Award. The prestigious national award celebrates the wisdom, courage, strength, and enlightenment which are inherent in its recipient. Named for the Greek goddess, the award is given to women who embody the spirit of Athena in not only their persistence to excel, but also reach out and open the way for others. The 2014 recipient of the award is a shining example of these virtues. Kathy A. Daniels currently is the Government Relations Manager at Centurylink, where she has worked since it was “the phone company,” where she began as an operator.
Daniels has not only excelled in her career, but has devoted herself to the comity in various capacities. She has served as president of the Women’s Network Steering Committee, Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging Foundation chairperson, Richland County Economic Development Board, Renaissance Performing Arts Board, Mansfield/Richland Chamber of Commerce member and the North Central State College Foundation Board.
The families of all three special awards winners surprised the women by attending the presentation of the awards.
The TWIN recipients were Brigette Gatton of Bellville Village, Deborah Robinson of CenturyLink, Pamel’la Rembert of Children’s Cupboard Outreach, Sherri L. Shade of Emerson Thermodisc, Donna Bradshaw of Lexington Church of Christ (honored posthumously), Jane Yarger of Mansfield Memorial Homes, Jamie Monica of McDonald’s Family Restaurants, Heather Silcox of McDonald’s Family Restaurants, Elizabeth Daniels of Mechanics Bank, Srividya Viswanathan M.D. of MedCentral Professional Foundation, LLC, Lorelei Caudill of MT Business Technologies, Inc., Sheila Campbell of North Central State College, Michele Schaad of North Central State College, Paulette Johnson of Ohio District 5, Area Agency on Aging, Duana Patton, of Ohio District 5, Area Agency on Aging, Kay Truax of OhioHealth MedCentral Hospitals, Susan Delagrange, Ph.D. of the Ohio State University at Mansfield, Lisa S. Clingan of Richland Bank, and Kristy Eichar of Stonridge, Inc.
