Since 1998, YWCA Dayton has set aside one special day to recognize and honor women in our community. We celebrate Dayton’s most influential women, all of whom have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Nominations for the next Women of Influence will open in August, 2025.

Women of Influence Video Spotlights

Barbara Stewart Bostick
Owner, You & Me Inc.

Belinda Kenley
Vice President at Energy Optimizers USA

Janice Culver
Community volunteer and philanthropist

Sarah Hackenbracht
CEO, Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association

(Mama) Nozipo Glenn
Community advocate

Pat McDonald
Lifetime Achievement Award honoree

Special thank you to Knack Video + Photo for not only capturing Women Of Influence but for also being such a huge supporter of mission!

2024 Women of Influence Bios

  • Barbara Stewart Bostick poses by a window for a formal portrait

    Barbara Stewart Bostick

    Owner, You & Me Inc.

    Barbara Stewart Bostick's passion for volunteerism started at an early age while helping her parents and grandparents volunteer at church and at community activities.

    That volunteerism and passion continues today, as she lives her life with passion, power, and purpose, tirelessly contributing her time, talent, and resources to help improve the quality of life of others.

    Barbara retired from Delphi Corporation, and currently consults, providing excellent fund development advice and strategy.

    For over 50 years her most satisfying work and passion has been working with youth and young adults, from K-3 through 12, to college, MBA, and PhD students.

    This includes her outstanding leadership and achievements with the National Black MBA Association, which is the premier membership organization for Black professionals. The association has recognized her as Outstanding MBA of the Year, recognized her with the William J. Qualls Award of Excellence and a Legacy Leader Award.

    Locally, she is co-founder and chartered President of the Dayton Chapter of the National Black MBA Association. In 2018, she again become the president of the Dayton Chapter. In 2019, she launched the Dayton Chapter of the Leaders of Tomorrow Program. The program has mentored more than 8,000 talented youth aspiring to become effective leaders, entrepreneurs and change agents.

  • photo of janice culver, in a red coat and glasses

    Janice Culver

    Community volunteer and philanthropist

    Janice Culver has over 30 years of volunteering and philanthropy and it is almost impossible to contain it all to one introduction.

    For 25 years she worked as a CPA for KeyBank, where she helped people plan charitable giving and become an committed philanthropist herself.

    After retirement, she has served on over 15 various boards. The YW has the privilege of being on this list. She served on the YWCA Dayton Board AND was board President from 1996-1997.

    This volunteerism also includes her service to the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, and work as President of Dayton Philharmonic Volunteer Association Board. She played a critical leadership role in planning the Dayton Foundation’s Centennial celebration in 2021, which helped draw in over $2 million in new gifts.

    As a Board member for the Ohio CPA Foundation, Jan has advocated for scholarships for diverse and underrepresented candidates. Additionally, she’s helped to build a CPA professional pipeline with qualified and diverse students attending Ohio universities, and has embraced a mentorship and student ambassador program.

    Over her career and retirement, Jan has a reputation for always saying yes to a worthy cause.

  • Mam Nozipo Glenn

    (Mama) Nozipo Glenn

    Community advocate

    Mama Nozipo Glenn is a community advocate and fearless champion of justice in the Dayton community.

    She was born in South Africa and was in elementary school when the apartheid regime introduced an act that ensured inferior education. Government spending for white children was ten times than for Black children.

    Ms. Glenn protested and by the age of 17, she was on the list of “undesirables” and was expelled from high school for marching for peace.

    With the assistance of the United Nations, she left and came to Tennessee to study at Fisk University. She lived in exile for 23 years.

    Today, her impact continues through her work in the Dayton community. This includes teaching children about culture and history, connecting generations as an elder on the Dayton Africana Elders Council, working to assist and champion for immigrants arriving in Dayton, and her avid advocacy as the honorary co-chair of the Gem City Market Capital Campaign.

    She is a giver of love, provider of wisdom, and champion of inclusion.

  • Belinda Kenley posing by a brick wall

    Belinda Kenley

    Vice President at Energy Optimizers USA

    Belinda Kenley is a dedicated public servant, business leader, and community volunteer.

    Belinda serves as Vice President of Energy Optimizers, USA, which helps K12 schools with energy conservation upgrades. The business is currently the #1 provider of this service in Ohio.

    She also previously served for ten years as the Regional Director for Ohio’s Attorney General and Auditor of State Betty D. Montgomery.

    In addition to her role with Energy Optimizers USA, Belinda is a dedicated community volunteer and an elected official. She was first elected to Centerville City Council in 2007, served as Deputy Mayor for 4 years, and won her re-election campaign for her 5th term beginning in January 2024.

    Belinda has been an active community volunteer and donor her entire adult life, serving and volunteering at Clothes That Work, The Victory project, Crayons to Classroom and many other organizations.

    She has served several times as co-chair of the Montgomery County Human Services Levy campaign. Each time she championed the passing of this levy to ensure funding for vulnerable children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low income residents in need of safety net services.

  • sarah hackenbracht posing by a brick wall

    Sarah Hackenbracht

    CEO, Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association

    Sarah Hackenbracht is the CEO of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, where she convenes hospital leadership across the region in collaboration.

    But when she took on this promotion, she had no way of knowing the number of crises she would be leading through.

    This includes crises when coordination and collaboration were critical, from the water crisis in 2019, to the Memorial Day tornadoes and mass shooting, to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Since taking over this role, Sarah has worked hard to establish relationships and launch partnerships throughout the region, with a focus on equity and building up community health.

    Some of Sarah’s many honors and recognitions over the years include receiving the Forty Under 40 award from Dayton Business Journal, being listed on Dayton Business Journal’s Power 50 list, and being named a WIBN Woman to Watch.

    Sarah is a dedicated community advocate in her personal and professional life. She has volunteered in healthcare, such as outreach to STEM programs for workforce development, and out of healthcare through Junior League of Dayton and House of Bread. She was selected for Leadership Dayton 2019-2020, which was educational and impactful for her and continues to fuel her passion for community impact.

  • Pat McDonald

    Pat McDonald

    Lifetime Achievement Award honoree

    In January of 2023, Pat McDonald answered the call and came aboard as YWCA Dayton’s interim President and CEO.

    She ensured a seamless transition and ensured we didn’t have one day without a leader steering the ship.

    While here, she lived the values of the YW, advocating for peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

    YW would not be where we are without her hard work and determination through this transition.

    Prior to coming to YW, she was previously Market President at KeyBank, from which she retired.

    Pat was a trailblazer in the field, rising through the ranks at a time when few women were in banking management.

    After retirement in 2017, Pat used her gift as a leader to play the unique role as interim CEO at several nonprofits, including the Dayton Society of Natural History and Dayton Performing Arts Alliance.

    This is the third time YWCA Dayton has had the privilege of presenting an honor to Pat McDonald.

    Along with being a past Women of Influence honoree, YW also previously recognized her with our Marsha Froelich Survivor Award during our 2014 Voices Against Violence Breakfast. YW is honored to have her on the Women of Influence stage again this March.

    She embodies all that YWCA Dayton wishes to honor with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Circle of Influence

Women of Influence as not just a one-time award ceremony, but rather an important part of our mission to uplift women and girls in leadership and mentorship. Women of Influence Honorees are invited to stay connected through our quarterly newsletter, events, and mentorship opportunities.