TE'13G Jessie Garcia nominated for 2019 Product of the Year!

Philly’s annual Rad Awards, which celebrates the city’s most inspiring women, turns five this year and continues to grow in its joyous impact and popularity. Over the past few years, the ceremony has identified the city’s most impassioned firebrands, and it plans to celebrate and honor the work of these local movers and shakers once again this year. The 54 nominees this year are making big change in our city across a number of industries and in 13 categories including Entrepreneur of the Year, Connector of the Year, and Rad Girl and Rad Guy of the Year.

 

Rad Girls founder Leah Kauffman said the organization received 473 nominations, up almost 200 from 2018. This is the third year Rad Girls accepted reader-submitted nominations. “Every single one of our nominees is working to change the fundamental building blocks of society for the benefit of the generations to come,” Kauffman told Philadelphia magazine. “These nominees are the future leaders of Philadelphia.”

 

Before you scroll down to the list of nominees below, be sure to claim your ticket to the 2019 Rad Awards held at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar this year on Friday, April 26th. And you can expect a few changes at the event. While the awards will be filled with its usual elements including refreshments, a roaming photographer and photo booth, Kauffman says they will “find new and creative ways” to recognize all of the nominees, including visual displays and a wearable item such as a pin. You can secure your tickets here.

 

Here are the 2019 Rad Award nominees:

 

Nonprofit of the Year

 

Entrepreneur of the Year

 

Technologist of the Year

 

Scientist of the Year

 

Artist of the Year

 

Educator of the Year

 

Product of the Year

 

Connector of the Year

  • Heather Qader | Senior Aide to the CEO at La Colombe Coffee Roasters
  • Jill Harrison-Snyder | Executive Director and Founder of Directors Gathering
  • Kristin Fitch | Director, Marketing at University City Science Center
  • Ellisa Bloom | Executive Director, Philadelphia Fashion Incubator

 

Innovator of the Year

  • Alanna Raffal | Founder, Access Point
  • Lisha Davis | Head of Vanguard Innovation Studio
  • Aurora Archer | Founder/CEO at Bellatrix Group
  • Eliza Pollack | Assistant Director of Innovation Strategy for the City of Philadelphia Office of Innovation & Technology

 

Storyteller of the Year

 

Activist of the Year

 

Rad Guy of the Year

  • Geoff DiMasi | Principal, P’unk Ave
  • David Silver | Co-Founder & CEO of REC Philly
  • Bon Ku | Assistant Dean for Health and Design at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
  • Lee Whack | Deputy Chief of Communications School District of Philadelphia

 

Rad Girl of the Year