PBN chooses 2015 Business Women honorees

PROVIDENCE – A lottery industry veteran who has worked her way up from the bottom and a CEO who finds the time to mentor women while transforming a more than century-old manufacturer have been named the top two honorees in Providence Business News’ 2015 Business Women Awards program.
Connie Laverty O’Connor, senior vice president and chief customer officer for International Game Technology (formerly known as GTECH S.p.A.), will receive the Career Achievement award at PBN’s eighth Business Women event. O’Connor started her career in the gaming industry as a clerk for the New York state lottery, with stops along the way as chief operating officer of the Georgia Lottery Corp., CEO of the Northstar Lottery Group (the private manager of the Illinois Lottery) and CEO of GTECH Indiana before moving back to the head office. In addition to being a high-performing executive, “she is a mentor and sounding board who can always be relied upon to give sage advice,” said the nominating form submitted by the company.
Cheryl Merchant, president and CEO of Hope Global, and the 2014 winner for Leadership & Strategy in PBN’s 2014 Manufacturing Awards, has turned Hope Global into a worldwide supplier of engineered fabric products, from shoelaces to straps that hold automobile seats in place. But she still finds time to mentor women in ways both professional and personal, according to the nomination form submitted by three of those recipients of her time, two of them who do not work for Hope Global. She will be recognized as Outstanding Mentor.
Merchant was also a Business Women Achievement Honoree in 2008.
Twelve other women were named either Industry Leaders or Women to Watch in six industry categories as well. In addition, the Business Women Achievement Honorees who have been profiled throughout the last year in the pages of PBN will be recognized at the Business Women Awards luncheon, to be held Friday, May 29, from noon to 2 p.m., at the Providence Marriott Downtown. To register to attend, click HERE.

The 2015 winners by category are:

  • Creative Services – Industry Leader: Libby Slader, owner, Libby Slader Interior Design
  • Creative Services – Woman to Watch: Jessica Granatiero, owner, The Savory Grape and The Savory Affair
  • Financial Services – Industry Leader: Roberta Gosselin, senior assistant vice president, accounting, Amica Mutual Insurance Co.
  • Financial Services – Woman to Watch: Yahaira “Jay” Placencia, senior vice president, private client advisor, U.S. Trust, Bank of America
  • Health Care Services – Industry Leader: Dr. Nancy Gagliano, senior vice president, CVS Health and chief medical officer, MinuteClinic
  • Health Care Services – Woman to Watch: Dr. Carolyn T. Young, vice president and chief medical officer, Rhode Island Blood Center
  • Professional Services – Industry Leader: Renee A.R. Evangelista, founding partner, Howland Evangelista Kohlenberg Burnett
  • Professional Services – Woman to Watch: Alicia Samolis, partner, Partridge Snow & Hahn
  • Social Services – Industry Leader: Karen Santilli, chief marketing and strategy officer, Crossroads Rhode Island (just named CEO, beginning June 1)
  • Social Services – Woman to Watch: Heather Abbott, founder and president, Heather Abbott Foundation
  • Technical Services – Industry Leader: Robyn Smalletz, president and CEO, Gloria Duchin
  • Technical Services – Woman to Watch: Kimberly Kowal Arcand, visualization lead, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory

The Achievement Honorees for 2015 are (listed alphabetically):

  • Loren Hope Barham, Loren Hope Designs
  • Kerry Chaffer, HCC Marketing
  • Marcia Cone, Marcia Cone Consulting
  • Deborah Cox, Public Archaeology Laboratory
  • Christine Cunneen, Hire Image
  • Carolyn Drumm, Skate For Joy
  • Ann Marie Fillion, BlumShapiro
  • Betsy A. Purinton, Strategic Point Investment Advisors
  • Lisa J. Raiola, Hope & Main
  • Mari Anne Snow, SophiaThink Consulting
  • Barbara Sokoloff, Barbara Sokoloff Associates
  • Heather Tow-Yick, Teach for America Rhode Island

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