Business

Athena luncheon honors business achievements
Kathleen Lockwood
receives 2002 award
By clare MARie celano
Staff Writer

Kathleen Lockwood

HOWELL — Much like the anticipation experienced on Oscar night, members of the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce gathered at a luncheon to honor the 2002 Athena award recipient whose name was inside a sealed envelope.

This year, the name inside that envelope belonged to Kathleen Lockwood.

Lockwood, a four-time Athena nominee, received the award from the chamber during a luncheon at Our House Restaurant on Nov. 1. The event was hosted by the chamber and sponsored by CentraState Healthcare System, Freehold; Greater Media Newspapers, Freehold; and Georgian Court College, Lakewood.

The award has held particular significance to women over the last 17 years since it was created by Martha M. Mertz, through her Chamber of Commerce in Lansing, Mich. Her goal was to bring into focus the outstanding professional and business women in the community and to encourage leadership opportunities to women.

According to material provided by the chamber, the award is modeled after the qualities of its namesake, the Greek goddess Athena. According to Greek mythology, Athena was a strong, courageous female, enlightened by wisdom and reason and was worshiped as the patroness of artists and craftsmen.

Female and male nominees are selected for their business and professional commitment and must be a member of the chamber or employed by a member firm.

Lockwood, the president of Stewart Title of Central New Jersey Inc. since 1991, accepted the award with grace and an eloquent acceptance speech. The recipient was moved to expressing visible emotion to her audience when she thanked those who supported her endeavors, especially her husband and her mother.

In an emotional moment, Lockwood said she wanted to share the award with those who were so dear to her and whispered softly, "there really are angels smiling down at us."

Lockwood was the first woman to be admitted to the Exchange Club in the United States and in 1990 she was the first female president of any exchange club. She currently serves as president of the Western Monmouth Exchange Club.

Lockwood mentioned the other nominees, stating that she would like to possess the charm, wit and wisdom of Bernice Garfield-Szita, the humanity of Jeff Ball, and a touch of Sue Kozel’s eloquence.

Lockwood shared memories of a trip to France. Visiting museums, she was able to view statues of Venus and Athena.

"I was drawn in by the power of the 8-foot statue of Athena," Lockwood said, adding that the sculpture depicted wisdom and strength.

"Many were drawn to the beauty and grace of Venus," Lockwood said, "where Athena seemed to be barely noticed."

Lockwood said her museum visit made her "get the message."

"The message in our personal and professional lives is very clear," she said. "We must make space for both the charm and grace of Venus and the strength, courage and wisdom of Athena. Maybe Venus would not have shined so brightly without Athena’s strength in her midst."

Lockwood said there is room for a bit of each of those qualities in people’s daily lives.

In her keynote speech, guest speaker Linda Keenan of Image Dog Media told the audience of her own rocky road up the success ladder.

Stating that although she may "not have climbed Mount Everest," in her quest for success, she nevertheless, shares her own "rock" seven days a week.

"It’s called life," Keenan explained.

Keenan cited passion, the support of her network of co-workers and a sense of humor as being three critical elements on her path. She spoke of how lives are filled with the daily juggling of self, family and business and how sometimes it becomes very difficult to try to keep everything on an even keel and strike a balance. The three elements are what she employs to get her through the rough times.

Keenan left a secure 20-year corporate position to take a chance in the business world.

Remembering the moments people consider special is one way Keenan keeps it all together. She told the audience members to try not to dwell on those things that drain them but rather, to embrace the color in the world, have a sense of humor and savor the "real moments" of their journey.