CINCINNATI — Uniform and services provider Cintas Corp. reports that three members of its board of directors — Melanie Barstad, Beverly Carmichael and Karen Carnahan — have been named to WomenInc. Magazine’s 2025 Most Influential Corporate Board Directors list.
This annual honor celebrates women whose leadership, strategic governance and influence have significantly shaped corporate decision-making and paved the way for inclusion at the board level.
Their designation reflects not only their remarkable individual achievements throughout their careers but also the valuable insights and leadership they bring to the board of directors and to Cintas, the company says.
Barstad was elected to Cintas’ Board of Directors in 2011, chairs the Compensation Committee and serves on the board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
She worked at the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies for 23 years before retiring in 2009 as president of Women’s Health in its Medical Device and Diagnostics Division.
She also served as co-chair of Johnson & Johnson’s world-renowned Women’s Leadership Initiative and was recognized in 2018 by the Auburn University Alumni Association with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Barstad makes her third appearance on the list since 2019.
“This recognition not only acknowledges, but also signifies the commitment, resilience, integrity and passion I see every day from the impressive employee-partners at Cintas,” she says. “It is recognition I share with my colleagues, and I am humbled by my third appearance in WomenInc.”
Carnahan was elected to the Cintas Board of Directors in 2019 and serves on the board’s Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. This is the second time she has been recognized by WomenInc., having received her first honor in 2023.
For 35 years, Carnahan was an employee-partner at Cintas. She started in 1979 as an accountant, working her way up to vice president and treasurer and then vice president of Corporate Development. In 2011, she was named president and COO of the company’s former Document Management business. When that business merged with Shred-It in 2014, she served as its COO until her retirement in 2015.
“It’s truly an honor to receive this award and to be recognized alongside such remarkable women,” Carnahan says. “Helping other women grow into confident, capable leaders is something I’m passionate about, and I’m grateful for the chance to have done that at Cintas.”
It’s Carmichael’s first appearance on WomenInc.’s Most Influential Board Directors list. She was elected to the Cintas board in 2024 and serves on its Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Before joining Cintas’ board, Carmichael served as the executive vice president, chief people, culture and resource officer at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers from 2017 to 2019, where she led the human resources and legal teams. Earlier, she was the senior vice president and chief people officer at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store from 2014 to 2017, and held various leadership positions at Ticketmaster, Rockwell Collins and Southwest Airlines.
With over 30 years in human resources and employment law, Carmichael brings a wealth of strategic insight that continues to enhance the board’s leadership and governance.
“Earning this recognition is a powerful reminder that leadership is rooted in intention and in the impact we have on others,” says Carmichael. “I’m truly honored to be named to this list for the first time, and I share this recognition with the incredible women of Cintas, whose influence and dedication continue to inspire me every day.”
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