2016 ATHENA Leadership Award recipients announced

The Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce has announced the recipients of the 2016 ATHENA Leadership Award and ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.

Kari Solomonson, vice president and retail team leader at Peoples State Bank, was named the recipient of the 2016 ATHENA Leadership Award during a program at City Grill: An American Bistro on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

“Winning an ATHENA Leadership Award is a humbling experience,” said Solomonson. “There were so many amazing nominees and I admire each and every one of them and thank them for what they give back to our wonderful community.”

Finalists for the 31st annual ATHENA Leadership Award were:

Suzanne Buska-DeSautel, Buska Retirement Solutions Inc

Barbara Ermeling, Village of Weston

Kimberly Fischer, Central Beer Distributors Inc

William Hsu, Hsu’s Ginseng Enterprises Inc

Meleesa Johnson, Marathon County Solid Waste

Heather Martell, Peoples State Bank

Debra Pagel, Schenck SC

Mary Thao, Stockbridge-Munsee Community

Maysee Yang Herr, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point

Shanna Yonke, an attorney with Ruder Ware, was named the recipient of the 2016 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.

“Receiving the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award is a tribute to my passion of supporting women and giving them opportunities to achieve success.” said Yonke.

Finalists for the ninth annual ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award were:

Rose DeHut, Center for the Visual Arts

Beth Goetsch, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northcentral Wisconsin

Janelle Gokey, Domtar Paper Company LLC

Katie Hamel, Church Mutual Insurance Company

Nora Hertel, Wausau Daily Herald/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Allison Liddle, Allison Liddle Consulting, Prosper Wealth Management

Amanda Murphy, footlocker.com/Eastbay

Kristina Neyrinck, Forward Service Corporation

Laura Scudiere, North Central Health Care

Erika Van De Yacht, footlocker.com/Eastbay

Nicole Williams, QPS Employment Group

The ATHENA Leadership Award and the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award are presented to women or men who are honored for professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.

Rebecca Ribley, WAOW Newsline 9 Wake Up Wisconsin anchor, was the master of ceremonies for the event. For more information about the Awards, visit WausauChamber.com.

The 2016 ATHENA Leadership Award Program’s presenting sponsor is O’Malley Cadillac Honda, the gold sponsors were The Dirks Group and WAOW, the silver sponsors are Associated Bank, BMO Harris Bank, Schenck SC and Wisconsin Public Service Corp, the bronze sponsor is EO Johnson Business Technologies and the location sponsor is City Grill: An American Bistro.

A Women’s Leadership Conference will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 at the Stoney Creek Hotel & Convention Center. TEDx presenter Theresa Rose is one of the keynote speakers at the event, to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Author Kristen Brown along with Jami Kaiser and Erika Van De Yacht are also among the keynote speakers. Cost is $35 for Chamber members and $50 for non-members. Register for the event at wausauchamber.com.