Nursing leader Johnelle Keck and Finger Lakes Community College athletics director Samantha Boccacino received Ontario County’s 2026 ATHENA leadership awards at a dinner that also recognized mentoring and community service across the county.
The Ontario County Chamber of Commerce presented the awards Nov. 5 during its 41st annual ATHENA dinner at FLCC. Keck received the ATHENA Professional Leadership Award, while Boccacino received the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.
More than 320 guests attended the sold-out event, sponsored by the Sands Family Foundation. The program recognized seven ATHENA honorees and three young professional honorees, including the two recipients.
Recipients recognized for mentoring and opportunity
Keck is director of medical and surgical nursing at University of Rochester Medicine Thompson Health. She oversees three hospital wings, with responsibilities for staffing, patient care and workplace safety.
Her work includes developing an RN residency program and “Tech U,” a program that standardizes training for patient care technicians. The chamber also recognized her mentoring of people pursuing nursing, physician assistant studies and medicine, along with her community service.
Boccacino is FLCC’s first female director of athletics. Her work has focused on expanding opportunities and resources for student-athletes.
Under her leadership, three FLCC teams qualified for national championships last year, including the men’s volleyball team, which won the first national championship in the college’s history. Her doctoral research examined increasing female participation in athletics.
The ATHENA program recognizes professional excellence, creativity and initiative, as well as contributions to the success and development of others. Founded in 1982, the international program includes principles such as giving back, living authentically and advocating for others.
Chamber President and CEO Marisa Enzinna said the honorees’ influence extends beyond their own accomplishments to the people they encourage and the opportunities they create.
“For 41 years, this program has celebrated women who make our community stronger,” Enzinna said.
Ten women honored across the two programs
The ATHENA honorees were Jennifer Carlson, president and CEO of FLACRA; Arlene Eddington, a retired teacher and co-founder of Geneva Breathes; Keck; and Kate Ott, director of Ontario County Public Health.
Also honored were Jacqueline Tiermini, director of Finger Lakes MOSAIC Collective and chair of FLCC’s Humanities Department; Kimberle Ward, FLCC’s coordinator of adult education; and Megan Webster, district manager of the Ontario County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The young professional honorees were Boccacino; Alexa Carroll, director of nursing for intensive care, observation and diagnostic imaging at Thompson Health; and Caitlin Langmead, a certified public accountant and principal at MMB+CO.
Give Back initiative supports Safe Harbors
The dinner’s Give Back initiative benefited Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes, which supports people affected by interpersonal and sexual violence.
Leadership Ontario participants collected hundreds of household and personal-care items, along with several hundred dollars in donations, for individuals, children and families served by the organization.
A silent auction also benefited the Professional Women of the Finger Lakes scholarship program. More information about the awards and honorees is available through the chamber’s ATHENA program page.
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