And the winners of the first RVA Power Women awards are…

A festive Monday night alongside the riverfront culminated with the crowning of the inaugural class of Richmond BizSense’s RVA Electrical power Girls awards, introduced by Brown Edwards.

Whittled down from extra than 500 nominees, 30 finalists have been honored at the party held at the Estate at River Run, in which 10 winners in the end were being announced across varying industries and classes. (Stay tuned for a slideshow from the event later on this 7 days)

And the winners are:

Accounting/Banking/Finance

Maria Tedesco, president and COO, Atlantic Union Bank

Prior to Atlantic Union Lender, Maria was COO for retail at BMO Harris Bank dependent in Chicago and a senior government at Santander Lender and Citizens Economical Group. She’s been named to Most Strong Girls lists by American Banker and serves on the boards of Quarles Petroleum, Improved Housing Coalition, RVA757, Undertaking Richmond, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Bankers Association and Consumer Bankers Association, amid other neighborhood roles. She acquired an MBA from Northeastern College and her B.S. from Ithaca Faculty.

Rising Chief Under 40

Anna Hsu, co-founder and president, Laptop or computer Up grade King

Anna is the co-founder and president of Computer system Upgrade King, a top reseller, technique builder and integrator of effectiveness enhanced computer systems. She and her partner started out the business in 2008, upgrading laptops in their attic. These days, the firm has above 70 personnel and is speedily escalating with options for enlargement into a recently created 50,000-sq.-foot warehouse.

Government

Jennifer McClellan, Virginia State Senator

Expanding up as the child of local community leaders and educators, Jenn has often felt a calling to community service to reinforce her group and make sure that just about every Virginian has an prospect to do well. She brought these values, passion and determination to justice to the Virginia legislature, representing the bigger Richmond location. She served in the Residence of Delegates from 2006-2017 and has served in the Senate because 2017.

Health Care

Annette Bennett, CEO, Clinical Research Companions, president, Infusion Alternatives

At 28 a long time outdated, Annette co-launched Scientific Research Partners, the greatest clinical demo company in Virginia managing amongst 70-85 clinical trials every year, most notably COVID-19 vaccines and remedies. In 2019, she opened Infusion Remedies as the initially independent infusion middle in Central Virginia. In addition, Infusion Options opened the biggest outpatient coronavirus remedy heart given that the start out of the pandemic in 2020, conserving hundreds of life in Central Virginia and beyond.

Hospitality/Cafe

Katherine O’Donnell, govt vice president, Richmond Region Tourism

Katherine loves the Richmond location and has invested 20 many years at Richmond Location Tourism advertising and advocating for it. As executive vice president, she delivers strategic leadership to enable the business develop the Richmond region’s tourism sector and improve high-quality of everyday living for inhabitants. Katherine is a Licensed Spot Administration Executive and committed to championing the region’s hospitality sector. She served launch the BLK RVA and OutRVA strategies with local community leaders to highlight the RVA’s range. Katherine came to Richmond to go to the University of Richmond and now life in the vicinity of campus with her husband, Darby, and kids Norah and Henry.

Law

Stephanie Grana, husband or wife, Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci 

For the earlier 29 many years, Stephanie has fought for men and women and people in Virginia suffering from catastrophic injuries and wrongful loss of life as a top rated Virginia private injuries and clinical malpractice attorney.  When clients’ lives are turned upside down owing to everyday living-altering injuries or the dying of a liked one induced by someone else’s wrongful or negligent steps, they convert to Stephanie since she has a established track document demonstrating her talent and her enthusiasm for securing fair payment on behalf of the hurt.  In her yrs of observe and as a founding partner of Cantor Grana, she has recovered additional than 75 verdicts and settlements of around $1 million.  Stephanie will suppose the function of president of the Virginia State Bar on June 17, 2022.

Nonprofit Chief

Linda Tissiere, CEO, YWCA Richmond

Linda has been CEO of YWCA Richmond for 10 years and sales opportunities the strategic course of the 135-12 months-aged business with a exclusive emphasis on fund advancement, local community engagement, advocacy and organizational performance. Prior to signing up for the YWCA, Linda was vice president of Stakeholder Engagement & Built-in Communications at Luck Businesses and was responsible for the execution of name management methods, as nicely as leading government engagement initiatives, strategic communications, public relations, government relations, and social duty.  Her extensive specialist occupation spans a wide variety of disciplines like journalism and the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Other Industry

Angie Miles, VPM News Focal Place

Angie is a Virginia indigenous, a longtime broadcast news qualified and the anchor/producer of the new, statewide information program, VPM Information Focal Point.  Angie is also a committed literacy educator and is founder of the nonprofit Delighted Reading, which supplies workshops, tutoring and summer season camp activities for literacy learners.  Angie is an writer and a former adjunct professor at VCU’s Robertson College of Media and Lifestyle.

True Estate/Growth/Development

Amanda Wheeler, operator and CEO, Riverstone

In her 20-calendar year tenure and steadfast development to proprietor and CEO of Riverstone, Amanda has held lots of titles, excelling at each: estimator, undertaking manager, and lover. This palms-on field practical experience has afforded her “ground-up” information of what it will take to deliver a thriving job from thought to completion. These days, Amanda is building it ahead with her group of gurus. Collectively, they strive to give a greater development encounter by cultivating interactions with the industry’s foremost trade companions and actively collaborating with their clientele, architects, and engineers to deliver exceptional tasks. Amanda is happy of her “blue-collar” foundation and carries on to execute and develop on Riverstone’s confirmed custom of excellence and integrity.

Startup Founder

Liz Doerr, co-founder and spouse, Sandbox

Liz is a co-founder and companion at Sandbox – a boutique consulting firm that associates with startup founders to launch, improve and monetize their scaling firms. At Sandbox, Liz serves as a fractional CFO encouraging her clients put together for foreseeable future growth, funds raises or acquisitions.  She is notably passionate about supporting underrepresented founders and is co-founder of a nonprofit, Women in Venture that seeks to improve the quantity of woman investors in venture cash.   In her spare time, she is concerned with a variety of corporations which include the Richmond Faculty Board and neighborhood accelerator Lighthouse Labs.  When she’s not operating, she can be identified chasing her astounding son Luke close to Richmond with her excellent partner Mike and their beloved corgi Woman David Bowie.

And congratulations to all the finalists:

Jennifer Luzzatto, Summit Fiscal Companions

Jennifer Wakefield, president and CEO, Increased Richmond Partnership

Laura Bowser, Fahrenheit Advisors

Virginia Mathurin, Markel

April Bingham, director, Division of General public Utilities, Town of Richmond

Maritza E. Mercado Pechin, deputy director for Equitable Progress, Town of Richmond

Susan Kornstein, govt director, VCU Institute for Women’s Wellbeing

Debbie Johnston, president and CEO, Serenity 1st Hospice

Kendra Feather, operator, Ipanema Cafe, Garnett’s Cafe, The Roosevelt, and Laura Lee’s

Kelli Lemon, operator, City Hold Suite

Courtney Paulk, president, Hirschler

Susheela Varky, Virginia Poverty Legislation Center

Tracy Coogle, Virginia Repertory Theatre

Lauren Moore, president and CEO, Children’s Hospital Foundation

Libby Lewis, CEO and founder of Mama Lew’s

Sandra Tkacs, east location health director, HDR

Ashley Peace, president, Sauer Homes

Catina Jones, founder and principal broker, Icon Realty Team

Vanessa Terry, founder, Notary2Notary

Paige Wilson, founder, Naborforce

And click under to understand additional about all the RVA Electricity Gals sponsors