Tribute to Women Leadership Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  

CONTACT:    
Laura Harwin
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
412-255-1279

YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Announces the 2014 Tribute to Women Leadership Awards
Awards Luncheon scheduled for Thursday, May 29

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 21, 2014):  The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh will recognize seven extraordinary women for their demonstrated excellence and leadership in the workplace and in the community as part of the 32nd annual Tribute to Women Leadership Awards Luncheon to be held on Thursday, May 29, from noon to 1:30 p.m., at the Westin Hotel, 1000 Penn Avenue.

Awardees for 2014 include:
• Allerton Lifetime Achievement Award: Mary Kay Poppenberg, Non-profit Management Consultant, Executive Director, The Jannetta Neuroscience Foundation, Inc.
• Business & Professional Services: Lisa M. Kuzma, Senior Program Officer, Richard King Mellon Foundation
• Civic & Community Service: Lucille Prater-Holliday, Founder, Black Women’s Empowerment Institute
• Education: M.J. Tocci, Posthumous, Co-Founder & Former Director, Heinz Negotiation Academy for Women at Carnegie Mellon University
• Health & Human Services: Kimberlee Evert, MPH, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania
• Science & Technology: Shakita Trigg, CSSGB, Project Manager, FedEx Ground
• Young Leader: La’Tasha D. Mayes, MSPPM, Founder and Executive Director, New Voices Pittsburgh

“We are excited to honor these seven remarkable women whose efforts and achieve¬ments have improved the lives of women and children throughout our Pittsburgh community,” said Magdeline E. Jensen, Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh.  “The honorees are truly deserving of the YWCA’s Tribute to Women Leadership Award. They are role models for us all – and for future generations of women.”

This year was particularly challenging for the Tribute to Women Selection Committee. Included among the nominees were two women – M.J. Tocci and Laurel Y. Ragland – who are no longer with us. In addition to the Education Award to M.J. Tocci, the committee gave Special Recognition to Laurel Y. Ragland, recent Chief Financial Officer of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation.

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh launched the Tribute to Women Leadership Awards in 1983 to affirm its mission to empower women and girls to reach their personal and professional goals. Since then, the YWCA has honored the accomplishments of more than 200 exceptional women, saluting them for helping to shape the direction of our region and improve the lives of others.

The Allerton Award, named after the first president of the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh, Mrs. O.H. Allerton, was created to honor a woman for lifetime achievement.  Mrs. Allerton served as president of the YWCA’s board on three separate terms; from 1878 to 1881, 1895 to 1896, and 1915 to 1916.  This special award is given, at the discretion of the Selection Committee and with approval of the YWCA Board of Directors, to a woman who epitomizes the philosophies and concepts of the YWCA.  This year’s Allerton Award recipient, Mary Kay Poppenberg, is only the 13th such recipient of this honor since the inception of Tribute to Women.

Peggy Finnegan, co-anchor for WPXI Channel 11 News at 5 and 6 p.m., will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies during the luncheon. Ms. Finnegan received a Tribute to Women Leadership Award in 1997 in the Communications category.
 
Proceeds from the event help create positive changes in the lives of thousands of Pittsburgh area women and families served by the YWCA.  For more information about Tribute to Women, call 412-255-1261 or go to www.ywcapgh.org.

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh strengthens our community by creating and advancing opportunities for all women to seek equality and self-sufficiency; and is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.  For more information about the YWCA’s programs and services, visit www.ywcapgh.org or call 412-391-5100.

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Laura Harwin
Director of Development and Marketing
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
305 Wood Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-255-1279 (phone)
412-391-5109 (fax)

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Smithmyer Honored as Small Business Person of the Year

News Release
PITTSBURGH  DISTRICT OFFICE          
Contact:  Janet Heyl (412) 395-6560, ext. 103
Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

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Local proprietor carves up win as Western Pennsylvania SBA Small Business Person of the Year award

LORETTO, PA – Residents from 37 different Cambria County zip codes know where the beef is – because they can visit Jay Smithmyer, proprietor of Smithmyer’s Superette, who is the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Western Pennsylvania’s Small Business Person of the Year.

Smithmeyer and eight other local small business owners and advocates will be lauded at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh during SBA’s Western Pennsylvania Awards Luncheon May 25th, held in conjunction with the 49th annual celebration of National Small Business Week.

Smithmyer, 65, has worked in the small business sector his entire life, beginning with working for his father, who founded and sold several small businesses: a service station, coal-mine stripping business and TV picture tube manufacturing venture. His last project, a superette, was purchased by Jay and his wife, Louise, 40 years ago.

“I majored in economics and worked in the store starting in my freshman year at Saint Francis University,” Smithmyer said. “I decided that I enjoyed small town living, made a commitment to stay here and decided to focus on why people shop at our store and what draws them in.”

According to Smithmyer, the major reason people patronize the superette is the selection of fresh-cut meats and its customer service.

“We focused on meats and still do, we can cut 200 different pieces of beef, chicken and poultry,” he said. “Our meat isn’t pre-packaged and we smoke our own meats and offer unique products like homemade Jack Daniels burgers for grilling. We even carry your groceries to the car.”

Smithmyer said a superette sports 5,000-10,000 square feet of selling space and stocks 4,000 to 8,000 items. Since 1965, he’s seen many items come and go.

“When I first started about one-third of the superette was a hardware store and we stocked a section of matches,” he said. “Many name brands have come and gone, but if you walk through the store, you will still find everything you need. We sell the top selling items in each grouping, just not all 33 sizes.”

During his tenure as Smithmyers’s proprietor, he’s also ushered in numerous offerings reflective of societal changes.

In the early ‘70s, Smithmyer said he read a small article on the state legalizing the sale of self-service gasoline. He applied for a license, and Smithmyer became one of the first owner-operators of self-serve gasoline stations in the entire state.

“About that time, the convenience store concept was developing, so we devoted the front end of our store to that,” he said. “Back then we used to sell frozen sandwiches that had to be heated in a microwave, now we prepare approximately 200 fresh-made sandwiches each day.”

Smithmyer, with the help of his family and the Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) also has ventured into social media with a blog and Facebook site as well as an email that informs customers about weekly in-store specials. He said the Facebook site has approximately 600 friends, which is about the same number of people who shop at the superette each day.

A genuine fondness for his hometown has led Smithmyer to become a local curator of Loretto’s past, utilizing wall and upper shelf space to display pictures of the town and products from a bygone era – such as glass-bottle milk and soda containers. Customers regularly donate items knowing their treasures will find a safe haven at the superette.

Smithmyer often donates anonymously to persons in need and lives by his personal mantra: “I like to measure my life not by what I make, but what I do for others,” Smithmyer said. “I’ve never gone to bed hungry and I never want to see anyone else go to bed hungry.”

According to Western Pennsylvania SBA District Director Carl Knoblock, Smithmyer truly exemplifies what it means to be a small business person of the year. “He knows his community, his niche and knows how to position his superette for its continued growth among the large, chain-store grocers,” Knoblock said. “And most importantly, he’s remembered to give back to the community.”

Smithmyer said it was an honor to be selected as the Western Pennsylvania Small Business Person of the Year.  “My family and cow-workers are the reason this superette works,” he said.  “I’m really just a figurehead, and I really enjoy working here and being around other people.”
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The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.

Note:  If you would like to speak with Jay Smithmyer or Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, please contact Janet Heyl at 412-395-6560, ext. 103

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

YWCA Recognizes 8 Women at Leadership Awards Luncheon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              

CONTACT:  
Laura Harwin
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
412-255-1279

YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Announces the 2012 Tribute to Women Leadership Awards
Awards Luncheon scheduled for Wednesday, May 16

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 10, 2012):  The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh will recognize eight extraordinary women for their demonstrated excellence and leadership in the workplace and in the community as part of the 30th annual Tribute to Women Leadership Awards Luncheon to be held on Wednesday, May 16, from noon to 1:30 p.m., at the Westin Hotel, 1000 Penn Avenue.

Awardees for 2012 include:
• Arts & Culture: Jane Werner, Executive Director, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
• Business & Industry:  Heidi K. Bartholomew, Vice President  & Controller, FedEx Ground
• Civic & Community Service:  Missy Unkovic, President of the Board, FISA Foundation
• Education:  Donna L. Imhoff, Ph.D., Campus President, North Campus & West Hills Center,
Community College of Allegheny County
• Entrepreneur: Helen A. Davis, M.D., CEO and Medical Director, Davis Eye and Wellness Center
• Health & Human Services:  Jeannette E. South-Paul, M.D., Andrew W. Mathieson UPMC Professor & Chair, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine
• Professional Services: Susan Frietsche, Senior Staff Attorney, Women’s Law Project
• Young Leader: Christy Uffelman, BCC, Vice President, Employee & Organization Development, Mascaro Construction Company

“I am so impressed and inspired by the contributions these eight women have made to their professions and to the Pittsburgh community,” said Magdeline E. Jensen, Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh.  “We are fortunate to have such remarkable women as role models for other women and girls. The honorees are all deserving of the YWCA’s Tribute to Women Leadership Award and exemplify what the award truly represents.”

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh launched the Tribute to Women Leadership Awards in 1983 to affirm its mission to empower women and girls to reach their personal and professional goals. Since then, the YWCA has honored the accomplishments of more than 200 exceptional women, saluting them for helping to shape the direction of our region and improve the lives of others.


Jennifer Abney, News Anchor, WPXI – Channel 11, is serving as Mistress of Ceremonies during the luncheon.  Proceeds from the event benefit the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s programs and services.  For more information about Tribute to Women, call 412-255-1261 or e-mail ttw@ywcapgh.org.


The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is a women’s membership movement committed to the elimination of racism and the economic empowerment of women and girls.  To learn more about the YWCA’s programs and services, visit www.ywcapgh.org or call 412-391-5100.

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Laura Harwin
Director of Development and Marketing
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
305 Wood Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 255-1279 (phone)
(412) 391-5109 (fax)

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh