For Immediate Release – June 16, 2025

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

Nominations for the Chamber’s 40th ATHENA Leadership Award now accepted

WAUSAU — The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the organization’s annual ATHENA Leadership Award. 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the award in the community and, new this year, will be awarded at the first Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night to be held at the Grand Theater on the evening of Thursday, October 9.

Those who would like to nominate an individual must complete the online nomination form at SurveyMonkey.com/r/577HVMK by 3 p.m. on Friday, August 1. Self-nominations are allowed. Eligible nominees will be contacted to complete an application at the end of the nomination period. Those who are selected as finalists will be recognized at the Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night.

“Over generations, our community has been blessed with business and community leaders that have made positive impacts to advance the region,” said Dave Eckmann, President and CEO of the Chamber. “The Excellence in Business Awards Night program places intention to recognize and honor the area’s impactful leaders.”

The ATHENA Leadership Award is 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. Jennifer Johnson of Church Mutual Insurance Company SI was named the recipient of the 2024 ATHENA Leadership Award.

Those interested in attending the Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night can register for the program on WausauChamber.com. Tickets for the event are $75 per person.

The Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night will celebrate the local business community’s visionary leaders and innovative pioneers with four distinct awards in October. Along with the ATHENA Leadership Award, the event will re-introduce the G. Lane Ware Innovator Award and will debut the Jim McIntyre Cornerstone Award and the Liz Tillisch Heart of the Chamber Award.

The ATHENA Leadership Award’s has been sponsored all 40 years by O’Malley Cadillac Honda. The G. Lane Ware Innovator Award is presented by Ruder Ware, the Jim McIntyre Cornerstone Award is presented by the Greenheck Group. The program is also sponsored at the platinum level by Nicolet National Bank and Northcentral Technical College and at the gold level by M3 Insurance. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Kaycee Packard at the Chamber at 715-848-5955 or kpackard@wausauchamber.com to learn more.

For more information, visit WausauChamber.com.

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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.