RSVP for ATHENA Young Professional Award Luncheon

media release: The Business Forum (TBF) is pleased to announce 10 nominees for the ATHENA Young Professional Award®. In its 17th year, the ATHENA Young Professional Award® recognizes emerging leaders between the ages of 25 and 40 who strive for the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, devote time and energy to their community, and serve as role models for young women.

This year's nominees are:

• Margarita Avila, Latino Academy of Workforce Development 
• Ankita Bharadwaj, UW-Madison
• Kristen Eastman, T.R. McKenzie, Inc.
• Gabrielle Garcia, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin-Badgerland 
• Efrat Koppel, REAP Food Group
• Kayla Muchka, Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS)
• Devine Nzegwu, John Deere
• Katie Pavlik, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin-Badgerland
• Lauren Rock, Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness
• Andrea White, YWCA Madison

The recipient will be announced at the ATHENA Young Professional Celebration Luncheon, which will be held from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, at Nakoma Country Club in Madison. This year’s event will be in-person and open to the public; tickets are available online at www.thebusinessforum.org. Sponsorships are also available for this event, allowing local companies to showcase themselves to event attendees and be recognized for their support of this year’s recipients.

The award celebration raises funds for The Business Forum Foundation, which provides scholarships to women who live or work in Dane County to advance their professional goals by furthering their education.

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.