ATHENA Leadership Award recipients announced
For the Wausau Times
WAUSAU – The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce has announced the recipients of the 2021 ATHENA Leadership Award and ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.
The recipients were named during a program held Nov. 3 at the Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center in Rothschild.
The ATHENA Leadership Award and the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award are presented annually to women or men in recognition of their professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.
Robin Hegg, the manager and Strategic Business Leader of Human Resources Shared Services at the Greenheck Group, was named the recipient of the 2021 ATHENA Leadership Award.
“I am very humbled and honored to be the recipient of this very prestigious award.” said Hegg. “I accept it on behalf of all of the nominees as everyone nominated is deserving of it. I don’t do what I do for the recognition but because it is the right thing to do. I am very thankful for my support system; family, friends, colleagues, business partners. Without them I could not do half of what I do. I am extremely grateful to live and work in a community that allows me the opportunity to serve.”
The finalists for the 36th annual ATHENA Leadership Award were:
Carla R. Baker
Mauri Brueggeman
JoAnn Draeger
Aleese Fielder
Jacquelyn Forbes Kearns
Gretchen Kray
Mandy Landwehr
Heather Martell
Linda Ramthun
Vicki Resech
Katie Felch, associate vice president of marketing, public relations and legislative advocacy at Northcentral Technical College, was named the recipient of the 2021 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.
“There is no greater gift than the ability to make a difference in the lives of others and the support and mentorship that I have personally received enables and inspires me to lead and advocate for other women.” said Felch. “Whether it’s inside our workplaces, within the walls of our homes or within the greater community, I am so grateful to surround myself with amazing women, and friends, who make a difference every single day. I am truly humbled to be the recipient of this award because there are so many women who could also be recognized. Our community is richer and stronger because of each and every one of them.”
The finalists for the 14th annual ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award were:
Keri Anne Connaughty
Katy Lang
Neena Pacholke
Traci Wisz
Mang Xiong
Lada Xiong-Vang
The finalists were profiled in live interviews streamed through the Chamber’s Facebook page and are archived on the Chamber’s YouTube channel.