Wednesday, September 16
PRESENTED BY
2026 Women Innovators Honorees
Join us in celebrating this year’s remarkable women who are making an impact across business, leadership and their communities.
Rebecca Ahimor
External Communications Manager
Blythedale Children’s Hospital
Melissa Alcruz
Chief Marketing Officer
Mr. Short Sale
Beverly Balaz
CEO
Fairfield Chamber of Commerce
Anne Bradner
CEO
Port Chester Carver Center
Catherine Dwyer
Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Privacy & Security Officer
Burke Rehabilitation®
Patty Ferris
Brand Sales Manager
AVE Hamilton Green - Korman Communities
Melissa Fitter
Senior Associate
Cuono Engineering PLLC
Shelby Green
Professor of Law
Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
Anna DePold Hohler, MD, FAAN
Director of neurology for Northwell’s Westchester Region
Northwell Health
Monica Hughes
Lead Administrator, Water Infrastructure Modernization and Environmental Justice
City of Mount Vernon
Laura Krauss
Vice President, Business Banking Relationship Manager
M&T Bank
Stephanie Melowsky, Esq.
First VP, Attorney Relationship Manager
Orange Bank & Trust Company
Christine Mullen
CEO
Aspire Digital Solutions
Samantha Pardal-Jerez
Director of Government Affairs
Optimum
Elena Rivera-Cheek
CEO and Founder
C&A Digital
Joanne Russo-Lanza
Chief Operating Officer, Housing
United Hebrew Senior Living
Patricia Simone
Principal and President, Simone Management Group
Simone Development Companies
Maggie Smith
Director of Client Experience
Next Level Private
Patricia Stark
Founder
Patricia Stark Communications
Lauren Tetenbaum
Author, Therapist, Advocate for Women
The CounseLaur
Meena Thever
Partner and Head of Capital Formation
ACON Investments
Irene Tsetsekos
Senior Vice President, Development
WMCHealth
Sharmee Walton
Production Operations Senior Manager
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company
Courtney Welyczko, MBA, BSN, RN, CMPE
CMPE and Senior V.P of Operations
Crystal Run Healthcare, Part of Optum
Stephanie Weston
First Vice President, District Manager
Apple Bank
Meet our
JUDGEs
Kecia
Palmer-Cousins, MBA
CEO
Aero-Ba-Soul, Inc.
Stacey
Ross Cohen
CEO
Co-Communications
About Women Innovators 2026 Awards
Women Innovators isn’t just a celebration; it’s the networking opportunity of the year.
Women Innovators is where careers shift, leadership grows and the most impactful voices come together as women who are reshaping industries and redefining what success truly means. This is your opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with women who break barriers and lead boldly. Support the women who shatter ceilings, challenge the status quo, and lead with purpose, because their success ignites your own. Whether you’re looking to build your network or want to celebrate fierce women making waves, this event is not to be missed. Because greatness belongs to those who refuse to settle.
Awards Presentation:
September 16
5:30 – 8:00 PM
Christina Dufour
Meet our EmCee
Corporate Wellness Consultant
& Executive Coach
Carnelian Connection
Your partnership helps us celebrate excellence and drive progress across our region
Please be advised:
Any communications or materials from Showmark Ltd. and other outside vendors regarding awards or plaques are independent of our organization. We do not endorse or support these offerings, and we encourage our honorees and attendees to contact us directly for any inquiries related to our Women Innovators Awards. Plaques from us can be purchased here.
Women Innovators FAQs
General Information
What is the Women Innovators Awards?
The Women Innovators Awards recognizes women in Fairfield and Westchester Counties whose leadership, vision, and impact are helping shape the future of our region. Honorees include executives, entrepreneurs, advocates, founders, and changemakers across a wide range of industries.
When and where is the Women Innovators Awards?
The 2026 Women Innovators Awards will take place on Wednesday, September 16, from 5:30–8:00 PM at The Waters Edge at Giovanni’s in Darien, CT.
Who attends Women Innovators?
The Women Innovators Awards attracts a highly engaged audience of executives, C-suite leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, nonprofit leaders, community advocates, and decision-makers from across Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Attendees represent a wide range of industries, including finance, healthcare, professional services, real estate, technology, education, nonprofit, and more.
NOMINATIONS & ELIGIBILITY
Who is eligible to be nominated?
Women working, living, or making a significant impact in Fairfield or Westchester Counties are eligible for nomination. Please note that previous Women Innovators honorees are not eligible for consideration, and any honoree of a Westfair Business Journal event within the past year is not eligible.
What qualities are judges looking for?
Judges consider leadership, innovation, business and community impact, professional accomplishments, advocacy, mentorship, and contributions to their industry and/or community.
What information should I include to make a nomination stand out?
The strongest nominations go beyond job titles and general praise. Tell us specifically what this person has accomplished, how they have made an impact, and why their leadership stands out. Share examples of initiatives they have led, challenges they have overcome, measurable results they have achieved, and the influence they have had on their organization, industry, or community.
The more detail you provide, the better. A thoughtful nomination gives our judges a clear picture of the nominee’s contributions and accomplishments. Brief responses do not fully capture the scope of a nominee’s impact, while detailed submissions help ensure their story is understood and fairly evaluated.
Do multiple nominations increase a nominee's chances?
No. The Women Innovators Awards is not a popularity contest. To maintain the integrity of the Women Innovators Awards, judges evaluate the quality and substance of each nomination, not the number of nominations a candidate receives.
Can I nominate more than one person?
Yes. Multiple nominations are welcome.
Can I nominate someone from my own organization?
Absolutely.
Can I nominate a client?
Yes. Clients, colleagues, executives, business partners, and community leaders may all be nominated.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes. Self-nominations are accepted and encouraged.
Is there a cost to submit a nomination?
No. Nominations are free.
Can I save my nomination and finish it later?
Yes. To save and resume later, scroll to the bottom of the nomination form and click ‘Save and Resume Later’ and follow prompts. Be sure you enter the correct email. Formstack will send you the link and you can resume later.
Note: Check your spam folder if you did not receive the email.
When is the nomination deadline?
Nominations closed on Friday, July 3, 2026.
JUDGING & SELECTION
How are honorees selected?
All nominations are reviewed by an independent panel of judges comprised of respected business and community leaders from Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Judges carefully evaluate each nomination based on the information submitted, considering factors such as leadership, innovation, professional accomplishments, community impact, and influence within their industry. Every nomination is reviewed individually, with the goal of identifying women who exemplify the values of the Women Innovators Awards.
Who serves as judges?
The Women Innovators Awards are judged by an independent panel of distinguished business and community leaders from across Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Judges are chosen for their professional expertise, leadership experience, and commitment to recognizing excellence across a variety of industries and sectors.
What happens after someone is nominated?
Once the nomination period closes, all submissions are compiled and provided to our independent panel of judges for evaluation. Judges review each nomination based on the information provided in the nomination form.
Before submitting a nomination, please verify the nominee’s name, title, company, email address, and phone number, as well as your own contact information.
After the judging process is complete, selected honorees will be notified prior to the Women Innovators Awards celebration.
When do the honorees get notified?
Honorees will be notified via email on Friday, July 10. Honorees will be announced in our digital flipbook here and social media pages on Monday, July 13.
EVENT & HONOREE INFORMATION
Do honorees receive complimentary tickets?
Yes. Each honoree receives one complimentary ticket to attend the Women Innovators Awards celebration, along with one complimentary guest ticket.
Additional tickets can also be purchased here.
What is the recommended attire?
Business casual to business professional.
Will food and beverages be served?
Yes. During the networking/cocktail hour, guests will enjoy a selection of passed hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and soda. Dessert, coffee and tea will be provided at the end of the ceremony. Specific menu offerings may vary by event and venue.
Do honorees receive an award?
Yes. Honorees are recognized during the Women Innovators Awards celebration and receive official recognition from Westfair Business Journal.
Honorees also have the option to purchase a commemorative plaque, offering an additional way to celebrate this milestone and preserve the recognition for years to come.
Note: Any communications or materials from Showmark Ltd. and other outside vendors regarding awards or plaques are independent of our organization. We do not endorse or support these offerings, and we encourage our honorees and attendees to contact us directly for any inquiries related to our Women Innovators Awards. Plaques from us can be purchased here.
Can family members and colleagues attend?
Absolutely. We encourage honorees to celebrate this achievement with the people who have supported them along the way.
The Women Innovators Awards is more than an awards ceremony, it brings together an influential network of executives, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community advocates from across Fairfield and Westchester Counties. In addition to celebrating our honorees achievements, the event offers valuable opportunities to build new relationships, strengthen existing connections, and engage with some of the region’s most accomplished professionals.
Will there be networking opportunities?
Yes. The Women Innovators Awards is designed not only to celebrate the achievements of our honorees, but also to bring together the most accomplished and influential professionals from across Fairfield and Westchester Counties.
Whether you’re reconnecting with familiar faces, meeting potential clients, exchanging ideas with fellow leaders, or building new professional relationships, the event provides ample opportunities to engage with executives, entrepreneurs, business owners, community leaders, and innovators from a wide range of industries.
Many attendees tell us that some of the most valuable conversations of the year happen at Women Innovators. The event creates a rare opportunity to connect with accomplished professionals from different industries, exchange ideas, strengthen relationships, and develop new business opportunities in a setting designed for meaningful engagement.
SPONSORSHIP & VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES
Are sponsorship opportunities available?
Yes. Sponsorship opportunities are available for organizations looking to support the recognition of women leaders while gaining visibility among Fairfield and Westchester County‘s business community.
How can I become a sponsor?
Please contact our team here to discuss sponsorship opportunities and benefits.
Are Vendor Showcase table opportunities available?
Yes. Vendor tables are available for organizations looking to increase visibility, build relationships, and engage directly with attendees throughout the evening.
Who should consider purchasing a vendor table?
Organizations looking to strengthen brand awareness, build relationships, and connect directly with influential women leaders. If your ideal audience includes women executives, business owners, entrepreneurs, and key decision-makers, this event is for you.
How can I reserve a vendor table?
Contact our team here for availability, pricing, and package details.
Why do leading organizations in every industry return year after year?
Women Innovators continues to grow because it consistently delivers access to the right audience, meaningful engagement, and measurable value.
Women Innovators Awards is more than an event, it’s an opportunity to be part of a community of leaders, decision-makers, and professionals who value innovation, leadership, and impact across Fairfield and Westchester Counties.
Our clients consistently tell us they appreciate the caliber of attendees, the quality of the conversations, and the visibility their organization receives throughout the event experience. We work hard to ensure our partners receive meaningful value, not just logo placement.
We take pride in creating events that are thoughtfully curated, professionally executed, and designed to maximize value for our partners. From relationship-building and brand awareness to lead generation and community engagement, organizations often find that the connections made at Women Innovators continue long after the event concludes.
For event information contact:
Natalie Holland nholland@westfairinc.com
For Sponsorship inquiries contact:
Anne Jordan Duffy anne@westfairinc.com
Past Events
2025
2024
