The Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce is inviting all community leaders who want to celebrate the contributions of advocates for women business owners to attend the 19th annual Athena Award luncheon on Nov. 12 at 11:30 a.m. at Our House restaurant in Howell. Tickets are $40 per person and can be ordered by calling (732) 462-3030.
The luncheon will feature a keynote presentation by state Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-Monmouth and Mercer), a candlelighting to honor the nominees and the award presentation of the person voted the Athena recipient. The nine individuals nominated for the annual Athena Award, which is awarded to a person who has made a difference in the life of women in the western Monmouth County community, were honored in a preliminary program, the Athena Tea, hosted by Georgian Court University, Lakewood, on Oct. 14.
The nominees are Jeff Callahan, Sandler Sales Institute; Jayne Carr, Freehold Center Partnership; Cheryl Cummings, Brookdale Network; Natalie Kober-Dallenbach, Provident Bank; Amy Mallet, Personals by Design; Sally Mollica, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; Barbara Nymick, Provident Bank; Roberta Sheridan, JCP&L; and Diane Turton, Diane Turton Realtors.
The theme this year is “Reaching Back to Move Forward,” and celebrates how women draw upon past experiences in order to build new opportunities for themselves and others in the future. The 2004 Athena Award corporate sponsors are CentraState Healthcare System, Georgian Court University, Greater Media Newspapers and SK Visions.
“On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Athena Award, we mark the difference women leaders have made in the business community,” said Sue Kozel, chairwoman of the Athena Award and Athena selection committees, the 2003 Athena Award recipient, and owner of SK Visions. “Let’s remember that we have an obligation to present other women with growth opportunities as we promote more diversity in the top corporate leadership and board positions, and public sector elective offices.”
The active members of the 2004 Athena committee were past recipients Sue Kozel, Dorothy Avallone, Mary Ann Crouse, Beth Krinsky, Patricia Lindberg, Kathleen Lockwood, Elaine Warga Murray, Suzanne Pease, Maryann Torre, and Loretta Kuhnert, Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce liaison.
To order tickets, call (732) 462-3030 and speak with the chamber staff.