Spada honored with ATHENA Leadership Award
Leanna Spada received the award at a luncheon on Friday.
By the MVI
Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Leanna Spada is the recipient of this year’s ATHENA Leadership Award.
The Washington County Chamber of Commerce presented the award during an annual luncheon Friday at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe, which was attended by more than 350 business and community leaders.
In addition to Spada, the 2026 finalists were:
• Lori Mesta, WesBanco.
• Genevieve Peters, Dress for Success Pittsburgh.
• Amy Podgurski-Gough, UPMC Washington Teen Outreach, Academy for Adolescent Health.
• Jamie Coleman-Price, AHN Canonsburg Hospital.
According to Washington County Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Kotula, the ATHENA Award is an internationally recognized award that honors women’s leadership within business and civic communities.
Kotula stated, “The award promotes leadership by honoring exceptional individuals in the community who contribute in significant ways to the achievements of women and women’s leadership efforts. As Ms. Spada and the four finalists demonstrated, we are very fortunate that Washington County’s businesswomen are leading and being acknowledged for their positive impacts in Washington County.”
The ATHENA Award recipient and finalists are selected by the following criteria: have achieved the highest level of professional excellence; contribute time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and actively assist others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential.
Celebrating its 23rd year in Washington County, the annual ATHENA Award event is presented by Dollar Bank and hosted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.
The Washington County Chamber of Commerce also announced the recipient of the Diana Irey Vaughan ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award as Aliesha Walz of the Washington County Community Foundation. The award honors emerging leaders who demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession. The recipients provide valuable services by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community, and most importantly, serving as role models for young women personally and professionally.
