Berks Women2Women, a special program of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance has announced the recipients of its 2026 ATHENA Leadership Award and EmpowHER Award.

The awards will be presented March 4 during the 15th annual Berks Women2Women Annual Conference & Expo at the PLEX at Alvernia University.

ATHENA Award

Trish Shermot, director government affairs/regional urban development at Visions Federal Credit Union, has been named this year’s ATHENA recipient.

The ATHENA Leadership Award is presented each year to a woman leader who demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in their profession, provides valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community and actively assists women in achieving their full leadership potential, according to a release announcing the award recipients.

Shermot has received national recognition for her dedication to social responsibility and ethical leadership, earning several CUNA Dora Maxwell and Louise Herring Awards, according to the release.

She serves on the Berks County Workforce Development Board; Albright College board of trustees; BCTV board of directors; America’s Credit Unions advocacy advisory committee; Defense Credit Unions Council; NYCUA government affairs committee; Global Women’s Leadership Network – PA Sister Society; GRCA Advocacy & Women2Women committees; and Visions CEO advisory board.

“Realizing that in a very busy life, often quietly behind the scenes, what we do matters,” Shermot said in a statement. “Not a single achievement, but showing up, lifting others and choosing community over convenience. That tap on the shoulder that says, ‘Keep going. What you are doing matters. This work is changing lives.’”

EmpowerHER Award

Nehal Trivedi, a senior at Wyomissing High School, has been named the recipient of the second annual EmpowHER Award.

The EmpowHER Award celebrates the next generation of women leaders in Berks, recognizing a young woman who exemplifies the values of Women2Women — leadership, empowerment, community impact and the pursuit of excellence, according to the release.

Trivedi is ranked first in her high school class. She is captain of the varsity tennis team, student council president, and treasurer and founder of the travel debate team. Trivedi also earned first place nationally in the United States Forensics Olympiad for Public Forum Debate. She represented Team USA and placed fourth overall internationally.

Trivedi has worked across a range of community issues, including food insecurity, homelessness, environmental sustainability, elder care and social justice through more than 200 hours of service with Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading, according to the release.

In addition, as a leader in the VOiCEup Berks YVC Youth Mental Health Ambassadors Initiative, she spoke to more than 500 students at the Aevidum Suicide Awareness Conference and helped organize a countywide youth mental health day attended by students from more than 10 districts.

“This award means more to me than words can say,” Trivedi said in a statement. “It reflects not just my own work, but the incredible women who have supported, mentored and inspired me along the way. I hope to pay that forward by mentoring and advocating for young women across the globe.”

Trivedi was nominated for the award by Christi Terefenko, co-founder of VOiCEup Berks. Terefenko said Trivedi represents the very best of the next generation of women leaders.

“She is compassionate, courageous and unwavering in her commitment to lifting others as she rises,” Terefenko said in a statement. “Her ability to elevate unheard voices, lead with empathy and turn passion into meaningful, community-driven action is truly extraordinary.”

The event

The Women2Women Conference & Expo will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the PLEX at Alvernia, 465 St. Bernardine St., Reading, and will offer attendees the opportunity to connect with other women engaged in community and mentorship, and to explore women-owned businesses, according to information on the GRCA website.

Keynote speakers are Cory Varona and Nicol Varona Canceimo, co-founders of OCOA, a curly hair care brand they have launched nationwide at Ulta Beauty. Their keynote topic is “Rooted in Heritage: Scaling OCOA from a Founder Vision to Ulta Beauty.”

The conference will also include four breakout sessions focused on wellness: physical, mental, financial and emotional. Attendees have the option to attend three of the four sessions.

Registration for the event is required, and attendees have three options: attend the entire day’s events; attend just the keynote; or attend just the ATHENA and EmpowerHER award ceremony. To register, visit greaterreading.org/w2w-conference-expo. Registration deadline is Feb. 22.