Springfield Symphony Orchestra Announces 2026 Fearless Women Recipients

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) announced the 11 recipients of its fourth Annual Fearless Women Awards, which honor local women who embody courage, resilience, and empowerment.

A record 80 nominations were received for this year’s Fearless Women Awards. Women were nominated by their peers in several categories. The 11 recipients will be recognized on stage at the SSO’s performance on Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 pm, “Gershwin and A Woman’s Voice.” They are:

• Claudia Quintero, director of the Central West Justice Center, nominated in the Advocacy category;

• Maeliz Colon, project manager at Robert W. Hall Consulting Engineers Inc., nominated in the Advocacy category;

• Linda Thompson, president of Westfield State University, nominated in the Perseverance category;

• Kisha Zullo, founder and president of Events for Joy, nominated in the Perseverance category;

• Erica Swallow, president of the Springfield Preservation Trust Board, nominated in the Passion category;

• Rongbing Shen, educator at Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, nominated in the Passion category;

• Shannon Rudder, president and CEO of Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services, nominated in the Authenticity category;

• Terry Powe, assistant superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development at Springfield Public Schools, nominated in the Authenticity category;

• Pat Ononibaku, president of the Black Business Assoc. of Amherst Area, nominated in the Bravery category;

• Megan Moynihan, president and CEO of United Way Pioneer Valley, nominated in the Bravery category; and

• Michelle Wirth, founder of Feel Good Shop Local and owner of Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, nominated in the Collective Impact category.

Since the awards’ inception, the SSO has recognized more than 30 women in the region. Those being honored will receive two tickets to the March 14 SSO concert, along with the individual who nominated them, and there will be a welcome reception for honorees, their guests, and nominators in the Mahogany Room prior to the concert. The Fearless Women will then be recognized on stage at the start of the performance.

“When we started Fearless Women four years ago, we simply hoped people would participate. This year our community submitted more than 80 nominations. That kind of response tells you everything about the extraordinary women shaping this region every day,” said Heather Caisse-Roberts, president and CEO of the SSO.

“Celebrating them on the Symphony Hall stage is one of the greatest honors we have as an orchestra,” she added. “On March 14, we’ll recognize these remarkable honorees and the many women of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra who help to bring the music to life. I hope our community will join us, buy a ticket, and fill the hall to celebrate them — because the women being honored that night are the same women who are quietly making this region better every single day.”