Spanning the Need is proud to honor the outstanding women nominated for the 2025 Athena Nominees in the Mahoning Valley presented by the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber and The Vindicator —trailblazers whose leadership, dedication, and community impact inspire all who know them. These remarkable individuals exemplify the spirit of the Athena by empowering others by professional excellence, community service, and dedication to empowering other women. Their achievements reflect the strength and resilience of the Mahoning Valley, and we celebrate their contributions to creating a more dynamic future for our region. Congratulations to each nominee.
Andrea Mahone Blackmon
As CEO of Just in Time Employment Agency and the Andrea Mahone Foundation, Andrea Mahone Blackmon is hailed as “a mother to the motherless.” Adopted and raised in Youngstown, Andrea’s lifelong mission of care began early. She’s helped more than 800 individuals secure housing, jobs, and transportation, while reducing infant mortality through innovative services.
Her proudest moment was taking 50 welfare clients who had never been out of Youngstown to a life-changing women’s conference in Columbus, all fully funded.
Andrea volunteers with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and is a motivational speaker at prisons. She is also a community liaison at the Youngstown Gleaners Food Bank. She empowers women toward financial independence and long-term success and hopes to bring real-world career education into schools to strengthen communities from the inside out.
Alexandra DeVengencie-Bush
As Trumbull County’s first female Human Resources Director, Alexandra DeVengencie-Bush oversees HR and risk management for 19 departments and more than 1,500 employees. Known for her transparency and collaborative leadership, she manages benefit plans, bargaining agreements, and strategic planning, with a focus on cost savings and staff empowerment.
Alexandra holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees and is a certified professional through the Society of Human Resource Management. She also teaches 15–20 hours of dance weekly at Natalie’s Dance Co., mentoring students ages 2 to 18. Passionate about lifting others, Alexandra is committed to hiring and mentoring strong female leaders. Her greatest motivation is being a role model for her two daughters—and for all women striving to balance purpose, leadership, and personal growth.
Amanda Archer
Amanda Archer, Youngstown Market Director for JPMorganChase, began her career in 2008 as a teller at the bank’s Eastwood Mall location and was promoted to the role of market director in 2024. She is credited with jumping in to assist first responders and co-workers during the Realty Building tragedy in Youngstown last year and received the Champion of Chase Award for her efforts,
She actively champions financial literacy through partnerships with nonprofits—and hopes to establish a program for young women. Amanda organized the Justin Leo Virtual Run Challenge, raising over $31,000 for scholarships for Girard High School students.
She was instrumental in launching the bank’s first local community center and has also partnered with the Youngstown Business Incubator to help promote and support minority-owned businesses.
Source: Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber
