Announcing the 2024 ATHENA on the Lakeshore Award Finalists
MUSKEGON, MI – The ATHENA on the Lakeshore committee is pleased to announce the 2024 ATHENA Award Finalists and the 2024 ATHENA Young Professional Award Finalists. Celebrating its 18th year, the ATHENA awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding women along the West Michigan Lakeshore who have demonstrated excellence in their business or profession, provided valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in their community, assisted women in reaching their full potential, and exhibit the spirit of regional collaboration. This year, six ATHENA Finalists and eight Young Professional Finalists have been selected.
2024 ATHENA Award Finalists
Anna Urick Duggins, Parmenter Law
Dr. Kelley Conrad, Muskegon Community College
Kelly Larson, Sweet Temptations & Fortinos
Kris Collee-Vanderstelt, Agewell Services of West Michigan
Sandra Baker, Harmony Communities
Shelby Bytwerk, MillerKnoll
2024 ATHENA Young Professional Award Finalists
Amanda Frifeldt, West Michigan Regional Medical Consortium
Brittany Goode, Aldea Coffee
Contessa Alexander, City of Muskegon
Emilee VanLinden, Fresh Coast Counseling
Dr. Jessica Lambert, Great Lakes Dental Excellence
Monica Turnbull, Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore
Sara Sherwood, United Way of the Lakeshore
Visishta Boeringa, Muskegon Family Court
The award recipients will be announced and honored at the ATHENA on the Lakeshore Award Luncheon on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at Trillium Catering and Event Center. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt, the co-founder of The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realists and co-curator of The Bennett Collection, an art collection dedicated to paintings of women by women. Schmidt and her husband, Steven Alan Bennett, are major donors to the Muskegon Museum of Art, which will open its new wing, the Bennett Schmidt Pavilion, in 2025.
Reservations for the ATHENA on the Lakeshore luncheon can be made by visiting muskegon.org or by calling the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce at 231.722.3751.
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About ATHENA International – ATHENA International is a catalyst for developing diverse, transformative leaders worldwide through experiential programs that ignite, amplify and celebrate girls, women and allies —from young scholars to seasoned professionals. At the heart of everything we do are the Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership™ (ATHENA Leadership Model®): Live Authentically, Learn Constantly, Build Relationships, Foster Collaboration, Act Courageously, Advocate Fiercely, Give Back and Celebrate. ATHENA is driven to bring empathy based, compassionate, and inclusive leadership culture to the workplace, educational institutions, and individuals.
In our pursuit of creating positive change, we empower women entrepreneurs to achieve new heights of success through ATHENA PowerLink®, an innovative mentorship program connecting selected entrepreneurs with a tailored advisory board to support the growth of their businesses. For over four decades, we have recognized exceptional women and pioneering leaders with ATHENA Leadership Awards on global, national, and community levels. Our impact extends to nearly 8,000 award recipients who stand as change-makers and trailblazers, opening doors of leadership opportunities for girls and women in communities worldwide.