The Rochester Women's Network presents its prestigious Up & Coming Businesswomen's Award annually to local women who have worked full-time in their current career fields for fewer than 10 years and have successfully demonstrated their professional influence in that field through numerous accomplishments, career growth and advancement, innovative and creative thinking, and initiative at work and in the community. Nominations are accepted from the community.  A woman does not have to be a member of Rochester Women's Network to be nominated.

2008 Up & Coming Businesswomen's Award Honorees

The following "up and coming" local women, selected by an independent panel of judges, were recognized for their professional and volunteer accomplishments and contributions to our community during the RWN Business Conference luncheon that was held on May 2, 2008.  Click on each honoree's name to see their bio.

Andrea Juan Allen, Hope Hall School
Claudia Burcke, RochesterWorks, Inc.
Melisza Campos, Dale Carnegie Training
Shannon Craig-Mulvaney, HR Works, Inc.
Victoria Damon, DDS Companies
Alana Fuierer, Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C.
Eileen Galinski, Rochester Institute of Technology
Laura Jeanne Hammond, The Next Step Magazine
Brenna Hartmann, Fixin'Chix Inc.
Kelly Olczak, Edward Jones Investments
Heather Ostrander, EDS @ Xerox
Christina Paulus, Catholic Family Center
Meredith Powell, Rochester's Black Sheep Theatre Coalition
Michelle Sommerman, Bergmann Associates
Gretchen Woodworth, Paychex, Inc.



BACK ROW: Shannon Craig-Mulvaney, Heather Ostrander, Michelle Sommerman,
Eileen Galinski, Laura Jeanne Hammond, Brenna Hartman, Melisza Campos
FRONT ROW: Victora B. Damon, Gretchen Woodworth, Meredith R. Powell,
Claudia Burke, Kelly Olczak, Andrea Juan Allen, Christina Paulus
Not appearing in photo: Alana M. Furier, Esq.

Past Honorees

2006 Karlee Bolanos    Amy Castronova Kay Conheady Tamala David Kelly Downs	Cynthia Gary         Amber Joles Michelle Keller Tracy Robertson Hysha Robinson	Jennifer Smiljanich Mary Staropoli Donna Tortoretti  Renee Williams Robin Wilson