Pillar Awards

The Pillar Awards will celebrate it's 10th year of honoring exceptional leaders and organizations within the Greater Dayton and Miami Valley region. Join us for the Awards ceremony June 2nd!

Tickets are available now.

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Miami Valley Urban League Pillar Awards

Every year, the Miami Valley Urban League (MVUL) honors outstanding community leaders and minority-owned businesses with the prestigious Pillar Awards. These awards recognize individuals and organizations that have excelled in their respective fields and made significant contributions to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Greater Dayton and Miami Valley regions. Their unwavering commitment and transformative efforts in the community underscore the Pillar Awards as a beacon of the region's highest accomplishments in service and leadership.

OUR 2026 HONOREES

We are proudly honoring five distinguished recipients as the 2026 Pillar Honorees, recognizing exceptional community leaders and minority-owned businesses for their excellence and meaningful impact on the Greater Dayton and Miami Valley regions.

2026 Pillar Award Honorees:
• Dr. Alonzo Patterson, III
• Marya Rutherford Long
• Karen Wick Gagnet, Posthumous

2026 Rising Star Honoree:
• Sean Freeman, Omega Community Development Corporation

2026 Pillar IMPACT Award:
• Total Health & Wellness, Dr. Rosalind “Dr. Roz” Mascall

ABOUT THE 2026 HONOREES

“The 2026 honorees reflect the leadership, vision, and commitment needed to create lasting change in our community,” said Nikol M. Miller, Executive Director of the Miami Valley Urban League. “Their work spans health, economic development, education, and entrepreneurship—but at the core, each has dedicated their efforts to expanding opportunity and strengthening the fabric of the Dayton region. Their impact is not only measurable, but also transformational.”

DR. ALONZO PATTERSON III

Physician, Educator, and Advocate for Children’s Health

Alonzo Patterson III, M.D., has served children and families of the Greater Dayton area as a pediatrician for over 3 decades. He is a valedictorian graduate of Wilbur Wright High School. He has degrees from Wright State University (WSU) in Biomedical Engineering with University Honors and from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital receiving multiple awards including Resident of the Year twice in 3 years. Since returning to Dayton, he has served on several health-related committees and participated in various community and professional organizations. Dr. Patterson is the former Assistant Dean for the Office of Student Affairs at the WSU Boonshoft School of Medicine (WSUBSOM) and has taught medical students throughout his career. He has received multiple teaching awards and community accolades throughout his career.

MARYA RUTHERFORD LONG

Community Development Leader and Civic Advocate

Marya Rutherford Long is a servant leader and trusted community advisor with over 30 years of experience in Community and Economic Development. She most recently served as Vice President and Community Impact Manager for the Dayton, Toledo, and Cincinnati regions at Fifth Third Bank, where she was a member of the senior leadership teams in both the Dayton and Toledo markets. In this role, she ensured compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act while cultivating strategic partnerships and advancing high-impact community development initiatives. Her passion for strengthening communities through meaningful collaboration continues to guide her work. Mrs. Rutherford Long has been a dedicated civic leader, serving on numerous boards and committees. An ordained minister for 30 years, she is now “rewiring” in retirement, while continuing her work alongside her husband through LongWay Ministries, and is excited to launch their newest venture, LongWay Consulting.

KAREN WICK-GAGNET, POSTHUMOUS

Entrepreneur, Restaurateur, and Public Servant

Karen Wick-Gagnet (January 3, 1961 – December 6, 2025)
Karen Wick-Gagnet was a respected Dayton entrepreneur, public servant, and community leader whose impact spanned business, education, and civic life. She moved to Dayton after high school and began her career at Reynolds & Reynolds before pursuing her passion for hospitality and community connection. As co-founder of Coco’s Bistro, she became known for her warmth, excellence, and intentional leadership. Under her guidance, Coco’s grew into a cornerstone of Dayton’s business and social community. Karen’s commitment to service extended into education and civic engagement. As a dedicated parent within Dayton Public Schools, she served on the Board of Education from 2017 to 2025, advocating for student success and community progress. Karen Wick-Gagnet will be remembered for her leadership, generosity, and dedication to Dayton. Her legacy lives on through the institutions she strengthened and the community she helped shape.

2026 RISING STAR HONOREE | SEAN FREEMAN

Community Strategist and Economic Development Leader

Sean Freeman is a results-driven Project Manager at Omega Community Development Corporation (Omega CDC), where he supports the implementation and strategic advancement of the Hope Zone Promise Neighborhood (HZ) grant. In this role, he leads and coordinates initiatives designed to strengthen community outcomes, expand opportunities for residents, and drive sustainable neighborhood transformation. Sean is recognized for his ability to align stakeholders, manage complex projects, and deliver programs that create measurable and lasting impact.

2026 IMPACT HONOREE | TOTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

Dr. Rosalind “Dr. Roz” Mascall, Business Owner

Dr. Rosalind “Dr. Roz” Mascall is a Board-Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and founder of Total Health & Wellness OBGYN in Dayton, Ohio. After years practicing conventional medicine, she became passionate about transforming women’s health—particularly for menopausal women—through functional and personalized care. A proud graduate of the Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Metabolic, and Nutritional Medicine, Dr. Roz believes true wellness begins by addressing root causes, not symptoms. She is an author, sought-after speaker, and proud alumna of the TEDx stage, where her talk “The Woman You Become” inspired women to embrace every phase of life. Her dedication to advocacy and community has earned her numerous honors, including the NCCJ Humanitarian Award, recognition as one of Dayton’s Top 25 Women to Watch, and inclusion in Who’s Who in Black Dayton. Dr. Roz also mentors future clinicians as a preceptor at the University of Dayton and is an active member of The Links, Incorporated and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

2022-2025 Pillar Honorees
2016-2019 Pillar Honorees

2022

Stacy Thompson Speare-Hardy
Cathy Ponitz
Lucious Plant
LFL Insurance, Leronda Jackson, Owner

2023

Helen Jones Kelley
J. Tom Maultsby
Sharon White
KTownsend Consulting, Dr. Karen Townsend, Owner

2024

Brian O. Martin
Tom Roberts
Belinda Matthews Stenson
CDO Technologies, Al Wofford, President

2025

Marsha Bonhart
Carl Kennebrew
Stacey Lawson
Fabrice Juin
Robinson’s Janitorial & Floor Care Service, Lewis Robinson and Dr. Joeanna Hill-Robinson

2016

Willie Walker
John Moore, Sr.

2017

Margaret Peters
Jenell Ross

2018

RoNita Hawes Saunders
Willis "Bing" Davis

2019

Daryl & Vanessa Ward
Dr. & Mrs. Charles S. Brown