A Night of Prestige: The Annual Awards Dinner
Written By Delaney Pippon
The Downtown Neighbors Alliance (DNA) hosted its annual Downtown Experience Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 27, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh Downtown. The event celebrated downtown Pittsburgh's continued evolution and honored key contributors to its growth.
Photos By Danielle Gilbert
The evening began with a 5:30 p.m. cocktail hour, followed by a three-course dinner. John Valentine, Executive Director of the DNA, opened the proceedings with remarks highlighting downtown Pittsburgh's progress and introducing the night's honorees:
Non-Profit Person of the Year
Stefani Pashman, Chief Executive Officer of the Allegheny Conference
Large Corporation Person of the Year
Susie Shipley, Pennsylvania, Ohio Valley, and Mahoning Valley Region President of Huntington Bank
Small Corporation Person of the Year
Gregg Broujos, Executive Vice President of the Buncher Group
County Executive Sara Innamorato delivered the keynote address, focusing on compassionate urban revitalization. She highlighted Allegheny County's "500 in 500" plan, an initiative to aid unhoused individuals by combining existing public housing resources, new housing units, and conversions of underutilized buildings.
Valentine unveiled several upcoming DNA initiatives during the event including:
A centralized calendar system for downtown events, aimed at improving community engagement and awareness of local activities.
A project proposing vegetation additions to downtown rooftops to address urban heat and enhance biodiversity. Collaborations with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Point Point University were mentioned.
A free service designed to support local businesses in the Golden Triangle, enhancing representation and advocating for downtown business needs.
These initiatives spotlight the DNA's commitment to creating a vibrant, sustainable, and community-oriented downtown Pittsburgh. The Annual Awards Dinner not only celebrated past achievements but also set the stage for future developments contributing to Pittsburgh's reputation as one of America's most dynamic cities. We extend our gratitude to all attendees for joining us and contributing to the success of this memorable celebration!
For more information about the DNA's initiatives or to get involved, interested parties are encouraged to email info@pittsburghdna.org.
