WOTS Celebrates 2025 Grant Winners and Ones to Watch

At Women of the Summit, we believe that when women are supported, entire communities grow stronger.

This year’s Women@Work grant recipients and Ones to Watch honorees reflect the talent, drive, and vision shaping Summit County right now. From entrepreneurship and wellness to engineering, public service, and the arts, these women are building careers, launching businesses, and stepping boldly into what comes next.

We are proud to recognize the 2025 grant winners and Ones to Watch honorees whose work, ambition, and leadership stood out in an incredibly competitive application cycle.

2025 Women@Work Grant Winners

Evelyn Patricia Hernandez

Evelyn Patricia Hernandez is proof that it is never too late to pursue a new path. After building a career in the restaurant industry, Evelyn is making a bold transition to become a nail technician. Her grant will help cover test preparation, licensing fees and essential equipment as she steps confidently into this new chapter. Her story is a powerful reminder that career pivots take courage and that new beginnings deserve support.

Mishelle Gonzalez Perez

Mishelle Gonzalez Perez, founder of Touch of Peace, is growing a wellness business centered on care, healing and accessibility. Through conscious somatic services and education, her work supports holistic wellbeing while also reinvesting in developing economies in Latin America. With support for professional training, Mishelle is expanding her ability to serve clients across Summit County.

Nicole Dietze

Nicole Dietze, a Summit County actor and Theatre SilCo employee, received funding to invest in equipment and professional training that will strengthen her auditions and expand her booking opportunities. Supporting women in the arts means investing in creativity, storytelling and representation. Nicole’s next step reflects both professional ambition and the value of artistic leadership in our community.

Larken Petardi

Larken Petardi, owner of Balanced Therapeutics and founder of Balanced School of Massage and Wellness, received funding for startup equipment to support the continued growth of her new school. Through hands-on training and education, Larken is helping people—especially women—enter flexible, well-paying careers in the wellness industry while strengthening the wellness landscape in Summit County.

Laura Mooney

Laura Mooney, an environmental scientist at a national engineering firm, is working toward earning her Professional Engineer license. Her grant will support PE licensure exam fees and study materials as she advances her expertise and career. Investing in women in STEM strengthens the future of our region, and Laura’s commitment to engineering leadership is an investment in that future.

2025 Ones to Watch

In addition to this year’s grant winners, Women of the Summit is proud to recognize a special group of applicants as our 2025 Ones to Watch honorees. These women submitted strong applications and demonstrated exceptional promise, leadership and determination. We are honored to celebrate their work and the paths they are building.

Peggy Hiller

Peggy Hiller, founder of Peggy Hiller, LLC, has spent more than 25 years leading in the ski and outdoor recreation industries. After being let go as CEO following a transition that lacked the right infrastructure, she spent a year reverse-engineering what went wrong and built a practice around fixing it.

Today Peggy works with boards and senior leaders to navigate CEO transitions intentionally, turning one of the most vulnerable moments in any organization's life into a catalyst for transformation.

Diana Patterson

Diana Patterson is a healthcare front office professional and licensed EMT who is working toward the CMC fire academy as she pursues a career as a firefighter and EMT. Her commitment to public service reflects discipline, resilience and heart. Diana represents the kind of emerging leadership that strengthens Summit County, especially in fields where women continue to break barriers and lead by example.

Brittany Niggeler

Brittany Niggeler, a Summit County engineer with a background in geology and environmental science, is continuing to grow in geotechnical engineering while working toward licensure. As she advances into higher-level engineering roles, she represents the next generation of technical leadership in our mountain community. Her work reflects both professional excellence and a commitment to the built and natural environments that shape life here.

Celebrating Women Building Summit County’s Future

This year’s winners and honorees are starting businesses, expanding careers, serving others, and building stronger futures for themselves and for Summit County. Their stories reflect exactly why Women of the Summit invests in women through grants, recognition, and community support.

We are proud to celebrate each of these women and excited to see what they do next.