Cover photo: Monroe County Legislator, American Medical Response (AMR) Manager of Business Development and Public Information Officer LaShay Harris being sworn in by (left side) Constance Mitchell, the first African American Women Monroe County Legislator (1961-1965) (middle podium) LaShay D. Harris, (right side, Harris's mother) Shirley Harris, (second right, Harris grandmother, the late Lee Harris)

SOUTHWEST TRIBUNE

Rochester Business Journal (RBJ) Inaugural Women of Excellence Honorees Announced

American Medical Response Manager of Business Development and Public Information Officer LaShay D. Harris is among the inaugural class of 34 recipients of the Journal’s Women of Excellence Award, that identifies high achieving women for tremendous career accomplishments.

The honorees were judged on professional experience, community involvement, leadership and sustained commitment to mentoring.

The Journal also will induct six women into its Circle of Excellence, which recognizes women for longstanding, notable success in the community who are leading the way for other women.

“At a very young age, I understood the phrase ‘pay it forward,’ Harris said. “While growing up, I was mentored by stalwarts who were very involved in the vitality of their communities. I would not have been considered for this prestigious award, if they had not chosen to ‘pay it forward.’ They led the way for me and I want to continue their unconditional commitment to our communities, by doing my best to also lead the way for others.”

2018 Women of Excellence Recipients

• Stephanie F. Benson, partner and chief operating officer, Edgemere Development Inc.

• Mary Walsh Boatfield, president and CEO, Ability Partners Inc.

• Laurie Broccolo, CEO and owner, Broccolo Tree and Lawn Care


• Flor M. Colon, associate general counsel and chief ethics officer, Xerox Corporation

• Marisa Geitner, president and CEO, Heritage Christian Services

• Shelby George, JD, CEBS, senior vice president, advisor services, Manning & Napier

• Melissa Geska, president, US Ceiling Corporation

• LaShay D. Harris, manager of business development and public information officer, American Medical Response

• Pamela P. Heald, president and CEO, Reliant Community Credit Union

• Staci Henning, executive vice president, chief marketing officer, Greater Rochester Enterprise

• Cynthia Langston, corporate vice president, chief analytics & data officer, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

• Kate McClung, member, Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC

• Kathy Metcalfe, chief culture officer, Clark Patterson Lee

• Dianne Cooney Miner, founding dean and professor, associate vice president for community engagement, Wegmans School of Nursing, St. John Fisher College

• Dallas Nelson, MD, associate professor of medicine, University of Rochester

• Kathy Palokoff, chief igniter, goFirestarter

• Susan Parkes-McNally, executive vice president, corporate secretary and treasurer, director of human resources, O’Connell Electric Company Inc.

• Jacqueline Phipps Polito, shareholder, Littler

• Deana L. Porterfield, president, Roberts Wesleyan College

• Marisol O. Ramos-Lopez, commissioner, City of Rochester, DRYS

• Seema Ali Rizzo, partner, chair, domestic relations & family law division, Gallo & Iacovangelo LLP

• Kimberly Roberson, president and founder, executive director, Caring and Sharing Child Care Center Inc.

• Laurie G. Sagona, president, Sundance Marketing LLC

• Jessica M. Savage, managing partner, account services, Dixon Schwabl Advertising

• Monica Savino, chief financial officer, The Bonadio Group

• Karen Serinis, executive vice president, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust

• Renu Singh, senior associate dean of operations, University of Rochester School of Nursing

• Deborah C. Stamps, MS, RN, NP, NE-BC, system vice president, quality, safety and innovation, Rochester Regional Health

• Cheryl Nelan Stein, president, CMIT Solutions of Monroe

• Salley Thornton, director, national field marketing, Toshiba America Business Solutions

• Patricia Uttaro, library director, Rochester Public Library & Monroe County Library System

• Lori VanAuken, executive director, Catholic Charities Community Services

• Karen Zandi, president and CEO, Mary Cariola Children’s Center

• Heidi Zimmer-Meyer, president, Rochester Downtown Development Corporation

Circle of Excellence Honorees

• Lauren Dixon, CEO, Dixon Schwabl Advertising

• Hilda Rosario Escher, president and CEO, Ibero American Action League

• Anne Kress, president, Monroe Community College

• Fran Weisberg, former CEO, United Way of Greater Rochester

• Christine Whitman, president and CEO, Complemar Partners

• Louise Woerner, chairman and CEO, HCR Home Care

The awards will be presented to the honorees on Wednesday, April 11 at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

Cocktails and networking 5:30 pm. Dinner and award presentation 6:30-8:00 pm

For more information contact: Robert Teitgen- [email protected]