Kristine Pettoni Courageous Leadership Award

Created in 2020 to honor the legacy and life of Kristine Pettoni from the NextUp Atlanta Region, Kristine embodied a courageous leader demonstrating resiliency, vulnerability, and set a higher standard in everything she accomplished. Kristine always found time to mentor, lead, use her voice, include others, and leave this world in a better place as she fought her battle with cancer. To learn more about Kristine’s life and legacy, click  here.

Criteria:

Award consideration is based on someone who has demonstrated resiliency, reveals vulnerability, confronts reality head-on, seeks feedback and listens, gives credit to others, and establishes higher standards for their team.

2025 Award Winner

Karla Galvan, NextUp Texas

As Connects Lead for the NextUp Texas Programming Committee, Karla exemplifies the spirit of the Kristine Pettoni Courageous Lead Award through her resilience, optimism, and inclusive leadership. She has expanded engagement across Houston with diverse, high-impact events and volunteer opportunities that reflect the community’s diversity. Even during a time of personal challenge, she continued to lead with strength and grace, supporting other Connects Leads across Texas and fostering collaboration among regions. Karla’s creativity, compassion, and unwavering commitment have strengthened connection, built unity, and advanced the mission of NextUp across the state.

Previous Winners

2024 Recipient

Elise Keeler, NextUp Cincinnati

2023 Recipient

Cherish Kelley, NextUp Nashville

2022 Recipient

Dianne Galang, NextUp Anywhere

2021 Recipient

Rachel Doll, NextUp Toronto

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