Tribute to Women 2009 will honor 12

Tribute to Women 2009. Front row, from left: Karen Jezierny, chair; honorees Elizabeth Johnson and Deborah Poritz. Back row, from left: Honorees Judith McCartin Scheide, Mia Cahill, Denise Wood, Janet Smith Dickerson, Meredith Moore, and Cynthia Ricker.Missing from photo: Bridgette Heller, honorary chair, and honorees Harriet Bryan, Melissa Harris-Lacewell, and Susan Nettesheim.
    Twelve women from local businesses, organizations and educational institutions will be honored at the 26th anniversary of the YWCA Princeton’s Tribute to Women awards dinner, to be held at the Hyatt Regency Princeton on Thursday, March 5, beginning at 5:15 p.m.
    The tribute program was established nationally by the YWCA to honor women who have made significant contributions to their professions and community in executive, entrepreneurial, professional, educational and elected roles. Until 2002, the program was known as Tribute to Women in Industry, or TWIN.
    Candidates are nominated by managers, colleagues and peers in the workplace and in the community. All Tribute to Women 2009 honorees were judged on criteria that took into account academic achievement, professional responsibility, community service, demonstrated leadership, mentoring of others, ability to communicate ideas, special projects or accomplishments, and commitment to the YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women.
    Honorary chair of this year’s awards is Princeton resident Bridgette Heller, Global President- Baby Care, Johnson & Johnson. The 2009 honorees are:
    • Harriet Bryan of Montgomery, community volunteer.
    • Mia Cahill of Princeton, J.D., Ph.D, managing partner, Dennigan Cahill, P.C.
    • Janet Smith Dickerson of Princeton, vice president for campus life, Princeton University.
    • Melissa Harris-Lacewell of Princeton, associate professor of politics and African studies, Princeton University.
    • Elizabeth Johnson of Trenton, chief operations officer, Isles, Inc.
    • Meredith C. Moore of Pennington, senior vice president, communications, NRG Energy, Inc.
    • Susan Nettesheim of Princeton, vice president of stewardship, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Co.
    • The Honorable Deborah T. Poritz of Princeton, formerly Chief Justice of The State of New Jersey, currently of counsel, Drinker, Biddle & Reath LLP.
    • Cynthia Ricker of Pennington, vice president, PNC Bank.
    • Judith McCartin Scheide of Princeton, philanthropist.
    • Denise E. Wood, vice president, Princeton BMW/Mini.
    Also being recognized at the Tribute dinner is the late Fannie E. Floyd of Princeton. On her behalf, her husband Jim will accept the inaugural Fannie E. Floyd Racial Justice Award, established by the YWCA Princeton’s board of directors, to be given to women who, over the course of a lifetime, have made a truly distinguished contribution to racial justice.
    Chair of the Tribute program is Karen Jezierny of Princeton, director of public sffairs for Princeton University and a former Tribute honoree.
    As of Feb. 12, Leader sponsor is Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Co. Benefactor sponsor is NRG Energy Inc. In the Associate category are Bracco Diagnostics, Covance, Janssen Pharmaceutica, PNC Bank and The Times of Trenton.
    For sponsorship and ticket information, visit www.ywcaprinceton.org.
    The public is invited to attend the awards dinner on March 5. Fee is $125 per person, with proceeds from this event benefiting the YWCA Princeton and its mission- based programs.
    For more information about the dinner or program, call Jenn Attridge, 609-497-2100, ext. 333, or visit the Web site.