New Albany resident and local leader Lisa Hinson has been honored as a member of the YWCA Women of Achievement class of 2010.

Hinson, president of Hinson Public Relations, is part of the 25th class of the Women of Achievement, which has honored 206 women throughout the years for their contributions to the community.

Cindy Lazarus, president and chief executive officer of the YWCA, said the Women of Achievement award honors women who have benefited the community in significant ways.

"It started with the YWCA recognizing the value and need of the community to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women," she said. "Originally, it was a relatively small event with women meeting after work to recognize different women who have made significant contributions to the community."

Since its start, Lazarus said, the Women of Achievement program has gained a broader audience to further carry into the community the message of leadership and giving.

Lazarus said she is proud to honor Hinson's service to the community.

"Lisa was chosen in a class of six for the 25th anniversary," she said. "She was nominated because of the contributions she has made to the YWCA. Years ago, Lisa helped make the event a much more significant celebration for the community."

Other 2010 Women of Achievement include Mary Cusick, senior vice president of restaurant marketing for Bob Evans Farms; Teresa Long, Columbus public health commissioner; Linda Stoverock, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of patient-care services for Nationwide Children's Hospital; Tei Street, Franklin County and statewide minority liaison for the Ohio Secretary of State's Office and founder of StreetTalk; and Audrey Tuckerman, first vice president of investments for Merrill Lynch.

Recently, Hinson has been involved with the organization's capital campaign for the shelter for homeless families and with helping the YWCA spread its programming into the community, Lazarus said.

Hinson said she is honored to receive the distinction.

"In the very early stages of my career, when I was with Limited Brands, Limited Brands became a sponsor, and I helped work on the event from the sponsor perspective," she said. "I thought, all these women are so incredible and do so much. It seemed like such an unreachable goal to end up being one. Here, some 20 years later, I was really humbled. I still feel a little unworthy of it."

In addition to her role with the YWCA, Hinson also is a member of the board of trustees for the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital Foundation, the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, Columbus School for Girls and Experience Columbus.

She also has served as the former chair and board member of Directions for Youth and Families, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the United Way of Central Ohio.

Through her public-relations firm, Hinson has mentored about 24 college and high school students.

"Another thing I care about is providing young women with mentorship," she said. "I had a strong mentor when I was a college-age intern."

Most recently, Hinson said, she worked with New Albany High School senior Murphy Ferguson, daughter of Plain Township trustee Dave Ferguson, for her senior seminar project. She said she has worked with a number of New Albany girls.

Hinson and the other five honorees will be recognized during the YWCA's 25th anniversary luncheon April 7 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.