Paradigm Award to Be Presented to Mary Stengel Austen of Tierney Communications at Downtown Marriott, 3/11

Mary Stengel Austen, president and chief executive officer of Tierney Communications, will receive the 2010 Paradigm Award, the region’s most prestigious award for businesswomen, at the 18th annual Paradigm Award Luncheon.

The luncheon will take place on Thursday, March 11 at 11:00 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, located in Center City. Register for the luncheon or view more information here, or call 215-790-3675 with questions.

Meet Mary Stengel Austen, GPCC’s 2010 Paradigm Award Honoree

Ms. Austen co-founded The Tierney Group in 1989, a predecessor to today’s Tierney Communications. With offices in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Tierney is one of the mid-Atlantic region’s largest communications agencies and a member of the Interpublic Group of companies (NYSE : IPG). The agency serves clients representing a range of industry leaders including Bayer Environmental Science, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Independence Blue Cross, McDonald’s, PECO, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Sun Life Financial, TD Bank and Verizon.

A member of the Chamber’s Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, Ms. Austen has distinguished herself as a champion of the region and a go-to resource for bringing in new members. In 2009, she also served as co-chair of the CEO Search Committee for the new Chamber President & CEO.

In addition, Ms. Austen serves on a number of other boards including Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital (vice-chair), Main Line Health and Steppingstone Scholars, Inc. She is a cabinet member of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania’s 2009 Campaign for Giving, and member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and the Forum of Executive Women.

Under Ms. Austen’s progressive leadership, Tierney has won accolades for its pro bono and community involvement programs from the national Stevie Awards for Women in Business (2008) and the Philadelphia Business Journal in 2008 and 2009.

Ms. Austen is devoted to mentoring and retaining talent through ongoing professional training at the agency’s "Tierney University" — and equally committed to helping professional women achieve a work-life balance: four of seven members of Tierney’s top management are working mothers.

At the luncheon, the Chamber will present Ms. Austen with a Paradigm crystal sculpture and a charitable gift. Through the generosity of Ernst & Young, a portion of the Paradigm gift will be allocated to Ms. Austen’s favorite charitable organization.

The event is sponsored by Ernst & Young, as well as supporting sponsors Devereaux, PECO, PNC and Stradley Ronon.