Congratulations to Principal Allison Shannon, AIA, for being selected as an Ontario County Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Awards honoree. The ATHENA Awards honor leaders who excel professionally, give back to their communities, and empower others, particularly women, through mentorship and support.
Only the third female principal in the firm’s history, Allison is an expert in the design of K-12 education facilities. She leverages her deep understanding of the challenges school districts face to develop creative, student-centered solutions. Trusted by clients for her vision and by teams for her leadership, she has guided many of the firm’s largest and most complex capital projects for districts across the region.
“Allison is a talented architect who brings a lot of creative energy and passion to the K-12 school projects she leads and to SWBR,” said Principal Leticia Fornataro, AIA. “She is also an inspiring leader, having become only the third woman ever promoted to Principal at SWBR in a profession historically led by men.”
Beyond her design work, Allison serves as a mentor and inspiration for other women in the firm and the industry. Through the Girls in Architecture program, she encourages young women to pursue careers in design. She has also volunteered as a Help Me Read tutor in the Rochester City School District and served her community through the Red Jacket PTSA and as an adviser to both the Red Jacket Community Library and Community Center boards. She has also held leadership roles with CSI Rochester for more than 15 years and leads SWBR’s fundraising efforts for the American Heart Association.
The honorees were celebrated Thursday, November 13 in Canandaigua, NY.