Two dozen women form around Northwest Indiana were honored this year as Influential Women for 2019.
The awards are presented by the Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association. Honorees were recently recognized at a banquet at Avalon Manor in Merrillville.
The 24 winners were chosen from 12 different industry categories; one Influential Woman and one Up & Coming Woman from each.
Additional awards were presented for Empowering Business of the Year, Community Leader of the Year, and Supporter of the Year. Honorees were selected from more than 150 finalists, which was narrowed from a field of more than 300 nominees.
This year’s honorees include:
Overall Influential Woman of the Year
Kimberly Blaesing, owner, Tiger Plumbing
Overall Up & Coming Woman of the Year
Vicki Urbanik, auditor, Porter County
Arts
- Up & Coming: Leta Sena-Lopez, director of bands, Kahler Middle School
- Influential Woman: Michelle Golden of Books, Brushes & Bands for Education
Business
- Up & Coming: Natalie Krivas, purchasing manager, AM Stabilizers Corp.
- Influential Woman: Lisa Preston, owner, St. John Animal Clinic
Construction/Manufacturing
- Up & Coming: Patty Stovall, property development manager, Hasse Construction
- Influential Woman: Tannaz Javadi, senior research engineer, ArcelorMittal
Economic Development/Government
- Up & Coming: Katie Hall, director, Crossroads CASA
- Influential Woman: Jennifer Gadzala, special projects coordinator, Town of Chesterton
Education
- Up & Coming: Uzoma Obidike, founder, She Leads Beautifully
- Influential Woman: MaryAnn Chapko, principal, Eisenhower Elementary
Finance
- Up & Coming: Candice Kouros Logue, vice president/banking center manager, Peoples Bank
- Influential Woman: Kathy Ireland is the vice president / wealth services, Wintrust Bank
Healthcare
- Up & Coming: Brittany Owen, family nurse practitioner, Winfield Family Medicine
- Influential Woman: Sister Marlene Shapley, vice president of mission integration, Franciscan Alliance
Law
- Up & Coming: Nicole Keith, senior associate attorney, Kreig DeVault LLP
- Influential Woman: America McAlpin, attorney, Austgen Kuiper Jasaitis / probate commissioner, Lake Superior Court
Marketing/Media
- Up & Coming: Jen Soffin, founder, The IN Coast
- Influential Woman: Marie Forszt, vice president of marketing and corporate communications, Community Healthcare System
Nonprofit
- Up & Coming: Michelle Novak, community liaison, Tradewinds Services
- Influential Woman: Nupur Arora, director of business administration, FoodBank of Northwest Indiana Inc.
Service & Tourism
- Up & Coming: Natalie Johnson, executive director, Save the Dunes
- Influential Woman: Nicole Caylor, president/owner, Aftermath Cidery & Winery/Running Vines Winery
STEM
- Up & Coming: Michele Murday, Northwest Indiana branch manager, EnviroForensics
- Influential Woman: Megan Glaros, meteorologist, CBS Chicago
Supporter of the Year Award: Cynthia Warner-Lowe of Hammond Adult Education
Community Leader of the Year Award: Andrea Graciano, victim advocate, Hobart Police
Empowering Business of the Year: Jay Marie Salon and Spa
