The honorees are Jane Doorley, Jo Ann Rigano, Nina Joshi, Becka Perales, and Ellen Slone-Farthing.
The Greene County Women’s Hall of Fame was established in 1981 by Alice Mae Warner to celebrate and honor women of varied backgrounds and talents for their dedication to making Greene County a better place to live.
“It is always a joy at the annual luncheons to hear each honoree share details about her involvements in activities and work that have inspired others to nominate her for this county-wide honor,” said Hall of Fame Committee Chair Ann Byrd.
Ellen Slone-Farthing, of Fairborn, will be recognized for her community service, including in her current role as director of the Fairborn Senior Center. She has worked with the Dayton Foodbank to bring a mobile foodbank to the center on a monthly basis. She is also a co-founder of Christmas in Action, which rehabilitates housing for low-income and disabled individuals. She has held various positions with the American Business Women Association, has been president of the Fairborn Chamber of Commerce, and has held many different leadership positions in community organizations throughout her career.
Nina Joshi, of Beavercreek Twp., is being recognized for her achievements in science and technology, including leading scientific research and business development. She is president and CEO of aerospace and mechanical engineering research firm UES, Inc., which has worked extensively with the Air Force Research Lab, and on other Department of Defense projects. She has advocated for student internships and STEM activities for kids, including Air Camp, Lego competitions, robotics, and others. She is a member of the Wright Brothers Institute Board of Directors, the Dayton Development Coalition, and a former trustee of Wright State University.
Jo Ann Rigano is a longtime member of the Beavercreek School Board, including serving as President. She taught third grade at Valley Elementary in Beavercreek for 24 years. Her class, called Rigano’s Raiders won a national award for the Energy Mobile Project they created, traveling around area schools to teach about the evolution of energy. After 9/11, her class sent letters and care packages to New York City Firefighters, who later came to visit them. In 2014 she spearheaded a project that resulted in a $1 million grant for STEM projects in all Greene County school districts.
Becka Perales, of Beavercreek, spent 45 years of her career in facility and asset management at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and then at her own practice contracting with several organizations. She has donated her time for 24 years to Violence Free Futures, formerly the Family Violence Prevention Center of Greene County, serving 10 years on the board, and leading in fundraising, strategic planning and acquiring resources and real estate to serve those seeking a safe place to live. Perales is the 2023-2024 President of the Beavercreek Women’s League, and is a board member of Bloom Community Services, which provides services to developmentally disabled adults.
Jane Doorley, of Fairborn, is an active volunteer at Fairborn FISH Pantry, and has served as executive director of the agency since 2021. She taught nursing at Wright State University for 25 years, and was selected by students to be a pre-commencement speaker six times. She was awarded nearly $500,000 in grants to develop minority recruitment and retention programs in nursing, as well as study end-of-life decisions. After her retirement in 2012, she led the way for providing monthly health fairs, beds and car seats for young children, medical and healthcare needs for residents and more through Fairborn FISH.
Reservations for the luncheon are $25 and must be paid by Sept. 21. Attendees should mail a check with their food preference clearly stated or download a reservation form available at www.greenecountyohio.gov. For more information, call 937-429-1805.
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