Purdue Northwest announces ‘Women on the Rise’ honorees
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The Leadership Institute and the Society of Innovators at Purdue Univerity Northwest have announced the slate of women honored as 2024 Northwest Indiana Women on the Rise.
The cohort includes leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who have left their mark on northwest Indiana “shaping business and encouraging economic growth in our region’s communities.”
“Celebrating women and their powerful accomplishments is a way to call out exemplary leaders who through innovation, effort and a dose of moxie, change our communities,” Sheila Matias, executive director of the Leadership Institute, said in a news release. “Recognizing their contributions honors these women and serves to share varied leadership models with other women and girls who can find motivation and encouragement from these truly inspiring women.”
The honorees will be recognized at the 2024 Northwest Indiana Women on the Rise Reception on March 21 at the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex on Purdue Northwest’s Westville campus.
The honorees are:
- Samantha Bean (Valparaiso, Ind.) – Director of Marketing and Communications, Porter County Community Foundation
- Felicia Blakely (Michigan City, Ind.) – Executive Pastor, President & Founder, Diamonds & Pearls Mentorship for Girls and High Praise Outreach Ministries
- Whitney Bradshaw (Michigan City, Ind.) – Curator, Lubeznik Center for the Arts
- Julie Dessauer (Knox, Ind.) – Owner & Operator, Papa Farm Pizza
- Sara E. DeYoung (Lake Village, Ind.) – Executive Director, Jasper County Economic Development Organization
- Emmani Ellis (Merrillville, Ind.) – COO, IronWorkz Corporation and CEO, No Limit Living LLC
- Liliana Franco López (Michigan City, Ind.) – Operations Director, Economic Development Corporation Michigan City
- Kylee Fraze Norman (La Porte, Ind.) – Partner, CLH, CPAs & Consultants
- Amy Fry, Ph.D, RN (Hammond and Westville, Ind.) – Dean, College of Nursing, Purdue University Northwest
- Nicky Ali Jackson, Ph.D. (Hammond and Westville, Ind.) – Professor of Criminal Justice and Executive Director of the Center for Justice and Post-Exoneration Assistance, Purdue University Northwest
- Gretchen Kalk-Castro (Michigan City, Ind.) – Partner, CLH, CPAs & Consultants
- Beverly Mack-Martin, MPA (Michigan City, Ind.) – Founder & Director of Development, The Midwest Minority Consortium for Alternative Energy Solutions
- Joellen Matzat (North Judson, Ind.) – Co-Owner & Operator, Lewellen Blooms
- Imani Mayo (Crown Point, Ind.) – Director of Aging Services, Northwest Indiana Community Action
- Melissa Mitchell (Valparaiso, Ind.) – CEO, HealthLinc, Inc.
- Meg Piercy (Munster, Ind.) – Owner, MegMade
- Faith N. Spencer (Gary, Ind.) – Founder & CEO, IronWorkz Corporation
- Jacqueline Thomas (La Porte, Ind.) – President, South Shore Public Relations
- Darien Thompson (Hammond and Westville, Ind.) – Director of Student Success & Urban Engagement, Purdue University Northwest
- Catisha Toney (Merrillville, Ind.) – President & CEO, Coates Inc.
- Becca Tuholski (La Porte, Ind.) – Local Food Access Coordinator, NWI Food Council
- Shannon Walker (La Porte, Ind.) – Vice President, Unity Foundation of La Porte County
- Jen Yednak (Chesterton, Ind.) – Owner & Cake Designer, Jen’s Gourmet Cakes
- Gianna Zyla (Portage, Ind.) – Manager, Asset and Risk Management, NiSource