ATHENA Award Celebration

press release: Eight nominees will be honored, and one will be named the 2023 ATHENA Award® recipient at this year's ATHENA Award® Celebration.

March 14, 2022, from 3 P.M. to 5 P.M., Girl Scout Leadership Center, 4801 S Biltmore Lane, Madison

The event is sponsored each year by The Business Forum, a local professional women’s organization that fosters the personal and professional growth of its members and other women through networking, scholarships, mentoring, and community involvement.

This year's nominees are:

Ginger Auchter, Director of Scientific & Engineering Talent, Carex Consulting Group

Rachellee Bly, MMSD Principal, Kennedy Elementary

Rebecca Carlin, Executive Director, Wisconsin Youth Company

Shar Hermanson, Director of Strategy, Mid-West Family Madison

Dera Johnsen-Tracy, Partner/Estate Planning Attorney, Horn & Johnson SC

Zach Ketterhagen, Founder, Self-Leadership Collective, LLC

Dana Pellebon, Executive Director, RCC: Sexual Violence Resource Center

Rachel Snethen, Director of Development Coordination, Gorman & Company

ATHENA Award® nominees must demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession, provide valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and assist women in reaching their full leadership potential. Both women and men are eligible.

The recipient will receive an ATHENA sculpture and will be invited to join the ATHENA International Foundation, which works to create leadership opportunities for women.

Dane County's first ATHENA Award® was presented in 1998 to community activist Carol Toussaint, a foundation consultant. In 2022 there were two recipients for the 25th anniversary: Christy Clark-Pujara and Kelly Jackson. Christy Clark-Pujara is an associate professor of Afro-American studies and the Director of graduate studies at UW Madison. Kelly Jackson is the founder of Innovative Solutions, a 100% Native American woman–owned consulting firm. 

The 2023 ATHENA Award® Celebration is to be held on March 14, 2023, at the Girl Scout Leadership Center (4801 S Biltmore Lane, Madison). Tickets purchased by February 21, 2023: Individual tickets are $60. Tickets purchased after February 21, 2023: Individual tickets are $65. Tickets are available from The Business Forum at www.thebusinessforum.org or call 608-838-1019 or email: tbf@thebusinessforum.org.

Event partners are InBusiness, NBC 15, and Magic 98, as well as the support provided by numerous other women’s groups and local businesses. Proceeds go to The Business Forum Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that awards scholarships to high school students and returning adult women who attend college in Wisconsin.

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The Business Forum is a local professional women’s organization that fosters the personal and professional growth of its members and other women through networking, scholarships, mentoring and community involvement. Proceeds from our events go to The Business Forum Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that awards scholarships to returning adult women and high school students who attend college in Wisconsin. Since the scholarship program began in 1989, The Business Forum Foundation has awarded over $456,000 in scholarships.