For Immediate Release – November 22, 2024

Contact:
Brian Otten, Marketing Director
Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce
715-848-5947 | botten@wausauchamber.com

2024 ATHENA Leadership Award recipients announced

ROTHSCHILD – The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce has announced the recipients of the 2024 ATHENA Leadership Award and ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award. The recipients were named during a program held on Thursday, November 21 at the Holiday Inn & Suites 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.

Jennifer Johnson, Senior Corporate Communications Specialist at Church Mutual Insurance Company SI, was named the recipient of the 2024 ATHENA Leadership Award.

“Looking at this year’s winners really shows how amazing this award is,” said Johnson. “Chances are when someone thinks of a leader, they initially picture a people leader. However, neither Lindsey nor I fit that mold. This year’s recipients prove that you can do great things in your community to lead and help others regardless of where you are in your career or life. You just need to find your passion and pour yourself into it.”

The finalists for the 39th annual ATHENA Leadership Award were:

• Lisa Hieronimus
• Trena Loomans
• Beth Ann Richlen
• Laura Strek

Lindsey Lewitzke, Chair of the DC Everest Area Education Foundation, was named the recipient of the 2024 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.

“It is an honor to be recognized for my work on various boards, my philanthropy and my vision,” said Lewitzke. “It is my hope that girls in our community further believe they can be and do anything - including being an athlete, a mom, event planner, board member and visionary. (They can be) literally everything and anything they want to be by seeing myself selected, someone who doesn't hold the typical 'job.'”

“I love this community and am grateful for the opportunities I have to further advance the quality of life for the region,” said Lewitzke.

The finalists for the 17th annual ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award were:

• Alissandra Aderholdt
• Lea Beckman
• Ashley Dupuis-Bohman
• Nicole Johnson
• Beth Tritten
• Misty Wolff
• Zoua Yang

All of this year's finalists were profiled in live interviews streamed through the Chamber’s Facebook page and are archived on the Chamber’s YouTube channel.

Amber Gober of Peoples State Bank, the recipient of the 2023 ATHENA Leadership Award, and Jessica Scharfenberg of Healthfirst Network Inc, the recipient of the 2023 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, presented the awards to this year’s recipients. Sadie Fisher of News 9 WAOW served as the emcee for this year’s event.

The ATHENA Leadership Award Program’s presenting sponsor was O’Malley Cadillac Honda, the platinum sponsors were The Dirks Group and UMR - Wausau, the gold sponsors were Ansay & Associates LLC – Wausau and Runkel Abstract & Title Company, and the silver sponsors were Cloverbelt Credit Union, Ruder Ware, Stine Eye Center LLC, The Business News and Virtual Vision Computing LLC. The media sponsor was WAOW/WYOW Television Inc.

The Chamber’s next signature event will be held on Wednesday, January 15 as the Women’s Leadership Conference returns for its tenth year. Registration for this event, which features a trio of high-impact speakers along with many local leaders, is now open on WausauChamber.com.

Caption ATHENA2024.jpg: Lindsey Lewitzke, left, was named the recipient of the 2024 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award recipient at a program held on Thursday, November 21 at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Rothschild. Jennifer Johnson, right, was named the recipient of the 2024 ATHENA Leadership Award.

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The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce is the source for business information in the Wausau Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The organization has earned a 5-Star Accreditation, one of only two chambers in the state with that designation. The Chamber strengthens member businesses and enhances the region by building business success. For more information on the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce, visit us online at www.wausauchamber.com or call 715-845-6231.