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St. E’s Boardman president wins ATHENA Award
By Kalea hall
BOARDMAN
When Genie Aubel’s name was called Thursday night, summoning her to accept her ATHENA Award, she looked shocked.
The president of Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital genuinely felt honored to be the one woman selected out of 16 to receive the award that represents an exceptional woman in more ways than one.
After accepting the award at the 23rd annual ceremony presented by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and The Vindicator, she was quick to acknowledge the other nominees, all exceptional women with a passion for their career and their community.
“Whether it is health care, in education, in criminal justice, in wellness or in a whole variety of other areas, I think tonight’s award is really for us to celebrate our collective accomplishments,” Aubel said. “Meeting the other nominees and reading their bios – everybody has found their own unique ways to contribute back to society.”
Like many of the women nominated for the ATHENA Award, Aubel worked her way up the ladder to her top position in the health care industry.
She began as an administrative resident for Mercy Health in 1988 and kept going.
In 2006, she got her president position and kept up the climb, not for herself, but for the hospital.
Aubel brought growth to the hospital that now has a cancer center, emergency and diagnostic center, wellness center and maternity services because of her vision and guidance to evolve the hospital into what some call a campus.
“When we talk about women in leadership and women who are inspirational, my mind first goes to the sisters of the Humility of Mary,” Aubel said. “We have a strong and rich history thanks to these sisters.”
Women were the theme of the night, and keynote speaker Beth E. Mooney, chairwoman and chief executive office of Cleveland-based KeyCorp, packed a punch in her speech to keep up the fight for the next generation of female leaders.
“We each have our own experiences,” she said. “These experiences have been when we were included and excluded because of our gender.”
In her experience, after she graduated from college summa cum laude, she was asked, “How fast can you type?”
Mooney, who was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Business,” became a secretary.
“We have transformed,” she said of the industry.
But the fight continues as the number of female leaders in banking and other industries declines.
“Part of what we need to do is to pave that way to continue to deliver exceptional performance,” she said.
Mooney talked about her “lightning bolt” of a moment when she realized she wanted that chief position.
“The job looked easier to get than it actually was, and easier to do than it is,” she said. “I took chances. I took different roles. I was intentional, but opportunistic. I believe what I am doing is what I was meant to do.”
She challenged those in the audience of 500 to pursue their dream: Define it, be purposeful, set your sights and see it through, she said.
“We all who are successful in business have an obligation to reach down and lift up the next generation of women,” she said. “I promise to do my part.”
Three local future female leaders received scholarships at the ceremony: Youngstown State University student Briana Scott, ATHENA Scholarship for $1,500; YSU student Megan Guliano and Poland Seminary High School senior Nicolette Kreatsoulas, $1,250 Anthem scholarship each.