The Westmoreland County Winners’ Circle is pleased to announce the 2014 Winners’ Circle Awards recipients to be honored at a luncheon reception May 21, 2014, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, at the Greensburg Country Club, Jeannette.

This year’s ATHENA Award® will go to Diane Proctor, Finance Controller, Kennametal, Inc.

The Progress Fund, represented by Karen Post, Chief Financial Officer, will receive the Seton Hill University Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.

The Award for Community Service will be presented to Norma Skillings, Clinical Research Coordinator, Westmoreland Neurology Associates.

Kristen Varoli, Owner/Stylist, Contempo Artistries Salon, will be given the YWCA Rising Star Award.

The Westmoreland County Winners’ Circle Awards Program recognizes women, men, businesses or organizations who inspire others and advocate for women, women-owned business and our community. The ATHENA Award® is part of Athena International, which honors women and men annually from all over the world for their professional accomplishments, community service, and commitment to actively assisting women in the attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.

The YWCA Rising Star Award, sponsored by the Womens Leadership Council of the United Way of Westmoreland County, is a local award that recognizes a woman 35 years of age or under who shows outstanding promise and leadership early on in her career. The winner of the YWCA Rising Star Award receives a $2,000 scholarship to use toward career development and is part of a year-long mentoring program with women business leaders in the community.

For the fourth year in a row, the winner of the Award for Community Service will receive $1,000 that she can donate to the charitable organization of her choice.

The Winners’ Circle Awards Program is one of Westmoreland County’s most prestigious business awards programs. This program, presented by Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify women’s business center and underwritten by First Commonwealth, began in 1995 to recognize and celebrate those who advance women as leaders and community activists in order to motivate, inspire, and guide women to assume leadership roles throughout Westmoreland County. In 2012, the Winners’ Circle Awards Program was recognized as one of the “Top 12 Events in Westmoreland County” as selected by the Tribune-Review.


In addition to First Commonwealth as Underwriter, the Premier sponsors include Comcast, IQ Inc., S&T Bank, Trib Total Media, UPMC Health Plan, and the Womens Leadership Council of the United Way of Westmoreland County. Gold sponsors are Apollo Design Group, Carlow University, Classic 107.1 WHJB, First Niagara, and Fotorecord Print Center. First National Bank, SkySight Photography, and the Women Presidents Organization, Greensburg Chapter are Silver sponsors. Bronze sponsors are Kennametal, Inc. and PNC Bank.