Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of Columbus for 2024. As Ohio’s capital and most populous city, Columbus boasts a remarkably diverse economy. In The Arch City, no single industry accounts for more than one-fifth of the workforce, showcasing a balanced and dynamic market. Some of the most prominent sectors include finance, insurance, technology, food and beverage, and retail. This year’s honorees lead in these sectors and beyond, serving some of the most widely recognized companies and brands on the planet.
In the food and beverage sector, we honor Jessica Claytor, Human Resources Business Partner for Corporate Functions at Chipotle Mexican Grill. With previous leadership roles at retail giants Bath & Body Works and Victoria's Secret, Claytor partners with Chipotle’s senior leaders to deliver an HR strategy that spans multiple corporate functions.
Next, we honor Chandra Adams, Senior Director of GE Healthcare, a leading global medical technology and digital solutions innovator. As an IT professional, Adams leverages 15 years of experience in business analysis and program management to oversee development projects for the entire project life cycle.
Lastly, we recognize the accomplishments of Kathie Mancini, a seasoned healthcare executive. As Regional President for Humana’s East Central Medicare operations, Mancini brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience to her role, where she leads all aspects of Humana’s Medicare business.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Columbus for 2024.
1. Emily Wagner
Chief Financial Officer, Bon Secours Mercy Health
Emily Wagner is the Chief Financial Officer of Bon Secours Mercy Health. She first joined the team in 2019 as a senior financial analyst. In 2018, Bon Secours Health System and Mercy Health combined to become the United States’ fifth-largest Catholic healthcare ministry and one of the nation’s 20 largest healthcare systems.
Wagner has been with Bon Secours Mercy Health since 2019, starting as a senior financial analyst. She was a key member of the finance team supporting the Transformation Office, where she reviewed business plans for over $250 million in net recurring benefits of Now, Near, and Far (NNF) initiatives. In 2022, she was promoted to assistant CFO, where she developed monthly and quarterly forecasts, as well managing an annual budget of $41 million. She was made CFO in February 2023.
Previously, Wagner was a financial analyst at UC Health and a quality management and process improvement consultant at Primary Health Solutions. She earned an MBA in Finance from Xavier University and an undergraduate degree in healthcare administration and management.
2. Marlowe Lichtenfeld
Global Head of Talent, Development & Engagement, Willis Towers Watson
Marlowe Lichtenfeld is the Global Head of Talent, Development, and Engagement at Willis Towers Watson (WTW). At WTW, they provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk, and capital.
Lichtenfeld is a talent-focused leader with extensive experience supporting global organizations as a human resources executive, hands-on partner, coach, and consultant. She has a strong track record of guiding organizations through major business transformations. Her expertise lies in partnering with leadership to implement innovative practices in talent development, engagement, organizational transitions, and culture.
Lichtenfeld started her career in 1997 as a human resource generalist at Lehman Brothers. From there, she went on to Watson Wyatt Worldwide, before eventually rising to director of talent development at Activision, her most recent position before joining Willis Towers Watson. Lichtenfeld graduated from Columbia University with an MS in Social Work and from The University of Kansas with an undergraduate degree in political science and women's studies.
4. Stephanie Revish
VP, Finance, Target
Stephanie Revish is the Vice President of Finance of Target, one of the world’s most recognized brands and one of America’s leading retailers. Revish is an experienced vice president with a successful track record in the healthcare and retail industries. She brings strong financial, strategic, and operational expertise to her roles. She is passionate about building high-performing teams and fostering a positive culture while leading transformative initiatives that deliver tangible value.
Previously, Revish was the vice president of finance transformation at Cardinal Health, where she drove efficiencies and improved business insights through process optimization and the implementation of innovative tools and digital technologies. Before that, she served as the vice president of strategic pricing at Cardinal Health. Earlier in her career, she worked as a senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers, leading multi-location engagement teams in financial statement audits and Sarbanes-Oxley 404 integrated audits across various industries.
Revish graduated from The Ohio State University with a Master of Accounting and from The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
5. Marcie Merriman
Managing Director, Americas, Cultural Insights & Consumer Strategy Leader, EY
Marcie Merriman is the Managing Director of the Americas and a Cultural Insights and Consumer Strategy Leader at EY. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform, and operate. Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax, and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing their world today.
Merriman is an internationally recognized leader in cultural anthropology and brand strategy, having her work frequently featured in news publications. For over 25 years, she has been working with teams to anticipate disruption and propel growth through human-centric strategies. She leads practices focused on helping organizations understand the nuances of human behaviors and the organizational implications that can be addressed through improved experiences, including the deployment of digital technologies.
Before joining EY, Merriman was an executive at a global fashion retail company and a successful business leader and entrepreneur. She was also a founder and chief executive officer at PrimalGrowth (acquired by EY). Merriman earned an MBA from Case Western Weatherhead School of Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, International Studies, Anthropology, and Sociology from Michigan State University.
7. Linda Salters
VP, Senior Business Banking Relationship Manager, Bank of America
Linda Salters joined Bank of America in 2022 as a business banking relationship manager for the Central Ohio market. Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individuals, small- and middle-market businesses, and large corporations. Salters now serves as a Vice President and Senior Business Banking Relationship Manager.
Salters originally moved into banking from the restaurant industry seeking a way to help small businesses better navigate the financial world. With almost 15 years of banking experience, she has served a variety of different sizes and industry-specific companies throughout Ohio as a single point of contact to holistically meet clients' diverse and often complex banking needs. Before joining Bank of America, Salters was a vice president of business development and market manager at FCBank. Before that, she was a senior branch manager and business specialist at PNC.
Salters graduated with a double major from Ohio State University and later acquired her graduate degree from Bowling Green State University. Since then, in addition to in-house training, she has completed a variety of relevant bank courses via the Bankers Association and Ohio Bankers League, compounding class knowledge with experience through years of dedication and service to clients across a wide spectrum of industries and sophistication levels.
11. Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD
Chief Talent & Global Strategy Officer; The Centennial Professor of Nursing, The Ohio State University
Dianne Morrison-Beedy serves as the Chief Global Strategy Officer and Centennial Professor of Nursing at The Ohio State University. Internationally recognized as a scholar, leader, and educator, she has received four prestigious Fulbright Awards, is a Certified Global Nursing Consultant, and holds nine international distinguished visiting professorial appointments. Before that, she served as dean of the University of South Florida College of Nursing and senior associate vice president of USF Health. She serves on the board of directors for the Friends of the National Institute for Nursing Research (FNINR) and as journal editor-in-chief of Building Healthy Academic Communities.
As an internationally-recognized nurse scientist, Morrison-Beedy developed The Health Improvement Project for Teens (HIPTeens), recognized by the CDC and US DHHS as an exemplary evidence-based intervention for HIV/STI and teen pregnancy prevention. As the founder and CEO of HIP4Change, LLC, she is committed to moving research to practice. HIPTeens reaches some of the most vulnerable/underserved adolescent populations, including victims of sexual trafficking, those in foster care, and resettled refugee/diasporic girls from twelve different countries
Morrison-Beedy is an elected fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the National Academies of Practice, and the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. Recipient of numerous awards, including election into the International Nursing Research Hall of Fame, the Audrey Hepburn Award for contributions to children globally, the Adolescent Research Legacy Award, Ohio Nurse of the Year by March of Dimes, Excellence in HIV Prevention Award, and Lifetime Achievement in HIV work, Florida and New York State Distinguished Researcher, Intrapreneur of the Year for global educational innovation and the FNINR President’s Award for her impactful, sustained program of adolescent research. She is a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Rochester (PhD), SUNY at Buffalo (MS), and Niagara University (BS), where she serves on the Board of Trustees.
15. Chandra Adams
Senior Director, GE Healthcare
Chandra Adams is the Senior Director of GE Healthcare. As a leading global medical technology and digital solutions innovator, GE HealthCare enables clinicians to make faster, more informed decisions through intelligent devices, data analytics, applications, and services, supported by its Edison intelligence platform.
Adams is an IT professional with over 15 years of experience in business analysis, project, and program management. She has participated in multiple software development projects encompassing the entire project life cycle and has extensive experience with requirements gathering/analysis/documentation, process modeling, project planning, resource planning, financial management, and process implementation. Her strengths include excellent attention to detail, the ability to readily grasp new concepts, and a diverse knowledge of a broad range of fields.
Before joining GE Healthcare, Adams was a senior business analyst at IDX Systems. Earlier in her career, she worked with Ceridian Canada Ltd. as a functional consultant. Adams graduated from Saint Mary's University with an undergraduate degree in marketing and human resources.
View the complete list of awardees.
18. Michelle Melendez
VP, Aon
Michelle Melendez is the Vice President of Aon. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, Aon provides clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.
Melendez is an enthusiastic and results-driven security professional with experience in several security and risk management domains. At Aon, she leads the organization responsible for cybersecurity and technology risk management. Previously, Melendez was an executive director at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where she led the transformation of processes that resulted in savings of over $5 million annually while reducing risk. She also established a global organization to support network security risk management across 1,200 firewalls and network devices. Before that, she was the director of IT governance at EXPRESS, where she managed vendor relationships, developed policies and procedures, and successfully saved $250,000 within the first four months by renegotiating security-related contracts.
Melendez volunteered as a director of communications for Central Ohio ISSA, where she contributed to the organization's efforts in science and technology. She is currently a grant reader for The Women's Fund of Central Ohio, where she has played a key role in reading and scoring grants to help improve the Central Ohio community, and she volunteers with Homes for Our Troops, where she helped build a brand-new ADA-compliant home for an injured USMC Corporal.
20. Tara Campbell
VP, Director of Community Development Operations & Strategy, Fifth Third Bank
Tara Campbell leads regional and national lending and investment programs at Fifth Third Bank, focusing on supporting underestimated communities and entrepreneurs. As a key collaborator in the Bank’s $180MM Empowering Black Futures Neighborhood Investment Program, she launched the Empowering Black Futures Capital Readiness Grant program with the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) and implemented the Connect2Capital referral program with the Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) to expand small business capital access.
Before joining Fifth Third in 2021, Tara served as Signature Initiatives Manager at U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation. There, she advanced social impact strategies, including a $50 million Paycheck Protection Program liquidity fund for CDFIs and a $25 million fund for women of color micro businesses.
With over 20 years of experience in community development and banking, Tara has held significant positions such as Manager of Lending at Community Affordable Housing Equity Corporation (CAHEC) in Raleigh, Senior Vice President of Lending & Investments at the North Carolina Community Development Initiative, Director of Lending for IFF, and Vice President of Lending for Finance Fund in Columbus, Ohio. She has deployed over $65 million in various lending programs, including small business and facilities-based lending, CDFI investments, and loans utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, New Markets Tax Credits, and Historic Tax Credits.
Tara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Economics from Denison University. She has completed the McKinsey & Company Black Management Accelerator Program, earned her Certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional from the National Development Council, and completed the Citi Leadership Program through the Opportunity Finance Network. She actively serves as a board member for the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), and the YMCA of Central Ohio.
21. Michelle Greene
Chief Information Officer, Cardinal Health
Michelle Greene is the Chief Information Officer of Cardinal Health, a distributor of pharmaceuticals, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical and laboratory products, and a provider of performance and data solutions for healthcare facilities.
Greene has held technology-oriented roles with increasing responsibility at companies like Johnson Controls and Sony Ericsson. Before joining Cardinal Health, she served as the vice president of information technology for Masco Corporation based in Livonia, Michigan. In this role, she was responsible for aligning the IT strategies and initiatives supporting Masco’s corporate functions and overall business objectives. In addition to providing leadership for the corporate IT organization, she directed the planning and implementation of corporate IT solutions and led Masco’s enterprise-wide IT strategy for shared services, information security, and data analytics initiatives.
In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities at Cardinal Health, Greene serves on the board for Goodwill of Southeastern Wisconsin, serves as the vice chair for Goodwill Manufacturing, Inc. subsidiary, and is a member of the DE&I Taskforce. Additionally, she serves on the board for GreenPath Financial Wellness as vice chair and chair of the Audit Committee. She is also on the board of Detroit Public Television (DPTV) and is a member of the HR and Comp Committee. Lastly, she is an active member of ITSMF (IT Senior Management Forum), Chief and Black Women on Boards. Greene earned a Bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University and a Master’s degree in Information Sciences from Florida State University.
22. Amy Arthur
Managing Director, Investments, Wells Fargo Advisors
Amy Arthur is the Managing Director of Investments for Wells Fargo Advisors. With over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, Arthur is passionate about making a difference in the financial lives of her clients. In 2019, she moved to Wells Fargo Advisors in her current role after working at JPMorgan since 2004.
Arthur formed The Arthur Woodby Financial Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in 2021. Since then, she has been a registered Player Financial Advisor with the NFL Players Association and currently serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. Her areas of expertise are financial planning and portfolio management. She holds a CFP and is a Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA).
Arthur holds an MFA from The Ohio State University and is a forever Buckeye fan. Before her career in finance, she was a professional dancer and enjoys yoga, biking, and reading.
24. Myeshia Troy Harmon
Senior Director of Clinical Research Operations, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Myeshia serves as the Senior Director of Clinical Research Operations for Nationwide Children's Hospital. In her role, Myeshia oversees the research operations for the Hematology, Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant, and Clinical Research Services groups, respectively. Both teams serve as full-service project management teams that support the initiation, and execution of all clinical research projects, regardless of funding source.
Over the past several years, NCH's clinical research portfolio has tripled in size and has facilitated highly complex clinical research - from clinical trials for rare diseases and gene therapies to large-scale longitudinal cohort studies. The Division of Hem/Onc/BMT is a National Institute of Health (NIH) designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the largest facility of its kind in Ohio and one of the largest in the United States. It is also a leading center for clinical trial enrollment for the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), the world’s largest and most recognized pediatric cancer research collaborative.
During Myeshia’s tenure as director of the Hem/Onc/BMT Clinical Research Office, 74% of eligible oncology patients participated in clinical trials for new therapeutic agents, treatment delivery technologies, and radiation treatment strategies. In 2020, Myeshia played a vital role in the successful, rapid transition of Maryam Fouladi, MD, and the CONNECT research consortium from Cincinnati Children’s to Nationwide Children’s. Through astonishing research growth, Myeshia has kept patients in focus, consistently reminding her teams of the direct link between their work and the child at the end of every clinical trial opened at Nationwide Children's.
Myeshia has been chosen as the Hem/Onc/BMT Mentor of the Year, received an NCH "Service from the Heart" award, and was selected as the 2020 Manager of the Year. Her love for process improvement garnered the 2022 Maribeth Quinn Award for Process Improvement. Myeshia has been integral to the growth of Nationwide Children’s clinical research enterprise. Her successful leadership continues to contribute to streamlined clinical research operations in partnership with NCH faculty and staff. Outside of work, Myeshia enjoys spending time with her husband, their two children, and a very large extended family. She enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, community service, and mentoring those new to leadership, clinical research, and professions in healthcare.
26. Melody Birmingham
Executive VP & Group President of Utilities, NiSource Inc.
Melody Birmingham serves as Executive Vice President and Group President of Utilities at NiSource Inc. As group president, she leads NiSource’s gas and electric business segments, focusing on the energy transition of NiSource’s electric generation fleet and driving the long-term sustainability of its gas segment. Additionally, Birmingham leads sustainability, customer operations, strategy, planning, regulatory, federal government affairs, and public affairs for the six NiSource operating companies.
Birmingham has more than 25 years of experience in the energy industry. Previously, Birmingham served as the chief innovation officer for NiSource, where she was responsible for enterprise transformation and project management office, information technology, cyber and physical security, data analytics, supply chain, real estate, corporate aviation, enterprise communications, and customer organization. She also previously served as senior vice president and chief administrative officer for Duke Energy, where she was responsible for information technology, supply chain operations, accounts payable, corporate aviation, real estate, facilities, and enterprise security.
Birmingham serves on the board of directors for 1st Source Corporation and 1st Source Bank, the largest locally controlled financial institution headquartered in northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. In addition, she serves on the board of directors for the United Way of Central Ohio, the Columbus Symphony and Orchestra, and One Columbus. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, an organization committed to increasing the number of global Black executives. Birmingham most recently served on the board of directors for the Urban League of Central Carolina, the board of directors for Charlotte Symphony and Orchestra, the board of directors for Discovery Place, and a former member of the board of trustees for Marian University in Indianapolis. Birmingham earned a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University. She also completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School. In 2016, Birmingham was conferred an honorary Doctor of Humanities by Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Terre Haute, Indiana.
29. Jessica Dejanovic
Director, Operations, Swim & Dive, The Ohio State University
Jessica Dejanovic joined the Ohio State staff in October of 2021. She is entering her fourth full season with the Buckeyes. As Director of Operations, she oversees all logistics and operations of the Swimming, Diving, and Artistic Swimming teams. She works as a liaison to all parts of the athletic department.
Jessica was born and raised in the small town of Windham, Ohio. She graduated from The Ohio State University in the spring of 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Industry. While an undergrad, Dejanovic worked four years as a student manager for the Women’s Basketball program, focusing on operations. After the completion of her Bachelor’s Degree, Jessica received her Master’s Degree in Sport Management in the spring of 2021. During her post-graduate years, she continued her work with the Women’s Basketball Program.
While on staff, Jessica’s teams and athletes have won 3 Big Ten Titles, and 2 Artistic Swimming Collegiate Championships and had 11 Buckeyes represented in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She has a passion for not only working in sports but also watching young people grow and develop as young professionals outside of the pool.
View the complete list of awardees.
31. Tonjia Coverdale
SVP, Chief Strategy Officer for Operations & Technology, Associated Bank
Tonjia Coverdale joined Associated Bank as a Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer in Operations and Technology. Associated Banc-Corp has total assets of $41 billion and is the largest bank holding company based in Wisconsin.
Coverdale is a technology executive, professional, and scholar who has cultivated her unique perspective through industry best practices, strategic focus, academic theories, and applied research with nearly 30 years of experience and three degrees in technology. She was previously with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, where she launched the enterprise data partner solutions team to mobilize data strategies for the entire enterprise, including all lines of business and corporate functional units, led the finance technology team, and strategized modernization efforts for enterprise performance management, planning/budgeting, risk management, treasury management, and regulatory reporting and drove strategic initiatives to support over 25,000 associates and led modernization efforts to support operations, compliance, litigation, and philanthropy as the leader of the workforce and legal technology team.
Coverdale earned her PhD in Business Administration and Information Science and Systems from Morgan State University and her MBA in Computer Information Systems from Georgia State University. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Systems from Morgan State University. In the community, Coverdale is a member of several advisory boards that provide access to technology education and career opportunities, including Project Lead the Way and Per Scholas.
32. Megan Ellis
Executive Director, OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan University
Megan Ellis co-leads the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan University's signature experience. As a strategic leader, she is responsible for the unification and growth of this transformational program, which is integrated into the OWU curriculum.
In her role as Executive Director, Ellis works closely with students, faculty and staff, alumni, community members, and corporate partners to create opportunities for personal and professional development for OWU students through research, service, travel, and career development. She oversees multiple teams, including Career Connection, Delaware Entrepreneurial Center, Woltemade Center for Economics, Business, and Entrepreneurship, Ross Art Museum, Early Childhood Center, Perkins Observatory, Global Scholars, Arneson Institute, Education Fellows, and New York Arts Program, which provide high-impact practices and student opportunities connecting curriculum to out-of-classroom experiences.
Ellis’ passion for innovation and strategy development is evident in her ability to create new initiatives, develop a strategy, and execute the plan. Her teams view her as a collaborative leader and skilled change manager. She is a doctorate student at the University of Pennsylvania, researching strategy and change leadership in higher education. Ellis earned a Master's of Education in Higher Education from Pennsylvania State University with a Certificate of Institutional Research. She has a BA in Economics Management with a minor in Psychology from Ohio Wesleyan University.
34. Jenn Fowler Howard
Senior Managing Director, Per Scholas Columbus
Jenn Fowler Howard is the Senior Managing Director of Per Scholas Columbus. In her role, she directly addresses the issues of thriving workforces through ensuring equitable access to education for all. She leads strategic vision and program oversight to develop partnerships with community-based organizations, corporations, and private and public foundations to ensure the delivery of the organizational mission at Per Scholas Columbus.
Howard is also the founder and executive director of Project C.L.O.U.D.S, a nonprofit organization that provides leadership training, life-skill development, and college and career preparation for youth between the ages of 14 and 22. She has a varied educational background that has prepared her to work collaboratively and compassionately with others as a community developer and youth advocate. Howard is passionate about people and seeks to inspire, motivate, and encourage those around her to live authentic, full lives. Her recent debut as a TEDx King-Lincoln Bronzeville speaker allowed her to talk about the power of influence in the lives of teens and young adults.
Howard holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Further, she completed a Master of Divinity from Methodist Theological School in Ohio and is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She is a kid at heart, who seeks to live a life that makes a difference through supporting the development and advancement of everyone she is privileged to encounter. Howard loves puzzles, reading, and binge-watching reality TV shows. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her spouse and puppy.
35. Denise Snowden
Founder & CEO, Coach to Lead
Denise Snowden is the Founder and CEO of Coach to Lead. Coach-to-Lead offers executive leaders a blend of action learning, group and individual coaching and training, using a combination of psychology, spirituality, and leadership competencies, to co-create vision to develop and implement actions aligned with organizational objectives.
Snowden brings knowledge, skill, and wisdom to the table with more than 25 years of experience creating, designing, implementing, and directing professional learning ranging from one-on-one executive coaching to large speaking engagements. She personalizes the coaching and consultation approach by listening first and then collaboratively constructing a path forward. A constant learner, Snowden immerses herself in the current research, policy, and practice literature, and readily applies these new understandings in practical ways.
Previously, Snowden was a senior director at Battelle for Kids. Before that, she was an education pastor at Quest Community Church. Earlier in her career, she worked with Firelands Local Schools as a middle school teacher. Snowden earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Policy and Leadership from Ohio State University, and from Ashland University, she earned a Master of Education in Literacy and an undergraduate degree in education.
36. Amy Koch
Chief Operations Officer, Roof Maxx
Amy Koch, an executive based in Columbus, Ohio, brings over 20 years of leadership experience with Fortune 500 companies. Her career has been distinguished by a focus on coaching teams to peak performance and driving success through strategic operations management, organizational leadership, and sales growth across various industries.
Since 2017, Amy has served as Chief Operations Officer at Roof Maxx, a trailblazing company at the crossroads of roofing and sustainability. Roof Maxx offers the first natural asphalt shingle rejuvenator, a bio-oil product that extends the life of shingles while promoting environmental sustainability. Under Amy’s leadership, Roof Maxx has experienced rapid growth, driven by her passion for sustainability and her expertise in building effective processes for the company’s dealers.
Before joining Roof Maxx, Amy held key leadership roles at Solo Cup and Newell Rubbermaid, where she managed significant revenue streams and large teams. Her ability to craft and execute strategies that consistently exceed targets highlights her results-driven approach.
Amy’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond her professional life. She has aligned herself with organizations that prioritize making the world a safer, better place, including building a fully remote corporate infrastructure. Her work reflects a deep dedication to creating a positive environmental impact and ensuring a better future for generations to come.
Outside of her professional achievements, Amy enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, playing pickleball, and reading. Her personal passions emphasize her belief in a balanced, fulfilling life.
38. Laura Kimball
VP, Global GTM Enablement, Simpro Group Software
Laura Kimball is the Vice President of Global GTM Enablement of Simpro Group Software, the total business management software that empowers trade businesses around the world to improve business efficiency and make smarter decisions with one software solution. As a leader, Laura fosters an environment where creativity and autonomy are encouraged, and she is committed to empowering her team members to be “owners of their own business." By investing in Individual Leadership development, Laura ensures that each team member has the experience and confidence to excel, driving both individual growth and collective success. Through years in the ever-changing technology and software landscape, she believes embracing ambiguity, being prepared with “Plan B”, and weaving in a dose of levity can greatly contribute to success.
Kimball has extensive work experience in the field of global revenue enablement. She started her career as a senior account representative at Sterling Software (later Sterling Commerce) in 1994 and held various roles within the company, including sales program manager and manager of field engagement. After the 2010 acquisition by IBM, she was the manager of B2B & Commerce sales programs, before transitioning to become a sales enablement leader within IBM Commerce & Smarter Cities. Kimball moved on to work at NetSuite (Oracle) as global sales enablement manager for the Retail sector. In 2016, she joined Magento Commerce as the director of global enablement, and after the acquisition by Adobe, she was the director and head of global commercial enablement. Kimball worked as a freelance enablement consultant at E4Globe before joining Cart.com as the vice president of GTM enablement.
Kimball has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Business Management from Franklin University, Columbus Ohio. She is a member/patron of The Tim Tebow Foundation, Compassion International, Sandy Hook Promise Organization, Columbus Mid-Ohio Food Bank, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum Foundation.
40. Tina Anne Sebastian
VP, Abstrakt
Tina Anne Sebastian is a seasoned tech leader with over a decade of experience in software development, AI innovation, and data engineering. Currently serving as the VP of Engineering at Abstrakt, she leads a remote team from Columbus, OH, where she oversees the development of real-time call guidance AI software that mitigates risk, automates quality assurance, and ensures compliance for enterprise clients.
Before Abstrakt, Tina founded Card Boss, an AI-powered card grading startup, which she successfully grew to 3,000+ users before a successful exit in 2022. Under her leadership, Card Boss introduced an innovative AI system for grading collectible cards, earning her a U.S. patent for her work in AI-driven systems for collectible grading. She has worked as a software engineer at places like Verizon Wireless and Whirlpool over the span of her technology career.
Tina holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. She also earned a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Engineering from the College of Engineering Chengannur.
A passionate educator and advocate for STEM, Tina volunteers with the Microsoft TEALS Program as a computer science teacher and has guest lectured on AI at various institutions. Her dedication to innovation and leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of the 100 Top Tech Innovators and Influencers by Internet 2.0 Vegas and one of IndustryEra's Most Inspiring Women Leaders of 2021.
Tina is also certified in Quantum Computing and Cybersecurity from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a Certified ScrumMaster®. In her free time, Tina enjoys spending time with her 10-year-old twin children Aaron and Alyssa, and her 1-year-old twin cats, Sparkle and Tinsel.
View the complete list of awardees.
41. Gwen Evans
VP, Global Library Relations, Elsevier
Gwen Evans is Vice President of Global Library Relations, at Elsevier. As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society.
Before joining Elsevier in 2020, Evans spent seven years as the executive director of the state agency and library consortium OhioLINK. She held the position of associate professor and coordinator of library information technologies at Bowling Green State University until 2012. She has extensive experience with all types of academic libraries and institutions, including academic content contract negotiations on the consortial level, statewide affordable textbook initiatives, including OER, and leading, maintaining, and creating shared collaborative services in a technology-driven environment. She was active in the International Coalition of Library Consortia, serving as chair of the Coordinating Committee. Her recent publications include an Ithaka S+R issue brief co-authored with Roger Schonfeld, It’s Not What Libraries Hold; It’s Who Libraries Serve: Seeking a User-Centered Future for Academic Libraries and Creating Diversity in Libraries: Management Perspectives in Library Leadership & Management with Mihoko Hosoi and Nancy S. Kirkpatrick.
Evans graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with an MSLIS in Library and Information Science and from the University of Chicago with an MA in Cultural Anthropology.
42. Morgan Polen
Marketing & Product Director, B'laster Holdings
Morgan Polen is a marketing executive with over 12 years of experience in developing and executing robust marketing strategies that have a powerful impact. She currently acts as a Marketing and Product Director for B'laster Holdings, as well as senior marketing consultant for KeyBank.
Polen has built a career in managing the market strategy for several brands across different industries. As her focus is on growth marketing, she helps establish and manage an e-commerce presence, develops and executes marketing communications, and acts as a product marketing expert. Polen combines data-driven insights with artistic vision to optimize campaigns across channels and platforms, leveraging generative AI and omnichannel marketing techniques.
Polen’s passion for marketing stems from her curiosity and creativity, and her desire to communicate effectively and persuasively. She holds an MBA with a focus on Strategic Marketing from the University of Akron and a BA in Communication Studies from Kent State University. She is an award-winning marketer, a mentor for aspiring marketers, and a member of various university advisory boards. Her goal is to help businesses grow through thoughtful, strategic marketing, and to build brand trust and loyalty with customers.
44. Tami Chapek
CEO, Founder & Executive Leadership Coach, WeInspireWe
Tami Chapek, the Founder and Head Coach of WeInspireWe, has 20+ years of corporate experience in team and individual coaching, strategic performance management and operations, as well as communications. Tami is a seasoned leadership and career coach committed to supporting authentic leadership development for all, regardless of title or tenure, age or gender, or any other qualifier.
Tami holds her Professional Certified Coach credentials through the ICF and Certified Professional Coach and a Master Practitioner for the Energy Leadership Index through the Institute for Professional Excellence (iPEC). Tami is also a Certified Diversity Coach from Out of the Box Coaching and has received numerous awards for her coaching expertise and offerings. In addition, Tami has served organizations such as Google, Novartis, Fifth Third Bank, MediData, American Electric Power, Uber, Havas, Syneos Health, Taysha Gene Therapies, Medtronic, and more.
In 2017, Tami founded WeInspireWe based on the belief that everyone has the right to be a great leader and by leaning into individual strengths, wrapped with fundamental leadership principles, can stretch beyond their current level and unleash their true potential – making a transformational impact in the environment around them. Tami believes that most organizations develop leaders to reach the status quo, but Tami believes that by defying the ordinary, you can unleash true potential. Because of that, Tami developed the Leadership reDEFYned™ platform to ensure success for all individuals defying traditional leadership standards. Tami empowers her clients to identify their strengths to reach leadership goals, overcome barriers to success, and own their development paths and successful futures.
In addition to coaching, Tami also brings real-world leadership and career concepts to life with hands-on leadership development and career advancement training, customized workshops, employee-resource group leadership initiatives, as well as motivational keynote speaking engagements. Tami is also passionate about serving women and underrepresented groups like LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities providing a keen focus on empowerment and leadership growth offerings to corporations to expand their diversity and inclusion footprint beyond numbers alone.
47. Rebekah Marette
VP, Compensation & Total Rewards Practice, Lockton Companies
Rebekah Marette is the Vice President of the Compensation and Total Rewards Practice of Lockton Companies. Lockton is an American company that provides insurance, risk management, and employee benefits. It is the world's largest privately held insurance brokerage firm.
Marette is experienced in designing and optimizing career frameworks, base pay compensation structures, short-term incentive programs, and executive compensation programs to help clients successfully attract, retain, and engage their employees. She partners with clients to build and lead change management initiatives in support of organizational transformation and is skilled in helping clients optimize both talent and technology. Marette’s consulting style leans into listening and being curious about an organization’s culture and goals and she becomes a strategic partner in developing creative solutions that are customized and developed in collaboration with each client.
Marette started her career in 2007 as a compensation analyst II at Tween Brands, Inc. From there, she went on to EXPRESS, before eventually rising to director of career practice at Buck, her most recent position before joining Lockton Companies. Marette graduated from The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business with an undergraduate degree in human resources.
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