Description

ATHENA Leadership Awards, first hosted in Canandaigua in 1985, has grown to be one of Ontario County's largest awards events. Nominees for ATHENA exemplify the highest level of professional excellence and exceptional leadership. They contribute time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and actively mentors others, particularly women, in realizing their full potential. Nominees are honored at the ATHENA Leadership Awards Program each November, and recipients of the ATHENA Leadership and ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Awards (nominees 45 and younger) are announced for the first time that evening. The event is a partnership between the Chamber of Commerce and Professional Women of the Finger Lakes. A portion of the proceeds fund college scholarships for local women.

This year's ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award honorees are:

• Samantha Boccacino, director of athletics at Finger Lakes Community College
• Alexa Dow Carroll, director of nursing (intensive care unit, observation and diagnostic imaging) at University of Rochester Medicine Thompson Health
• Caitlin Langmead, CPA - principal at MMB+CO

This year's ATHENA honorees are:

• Arlene Eddington, retired teacher and co-founder of Geneva Breathes
• Jennifer Carlson, president and CEO of FLACRA
• Johnelle Keck, director of medical/surgical nursing at University of Rochester Medicine Thompson Health
• Kate Ott, director of Ontario County Public Health
• Jacqueline Tiermini, director of Finger Lakes MOSAIC Collective and Chair of the Humanities Department at Finger Lakes Community College
• Kimberle Ward, coordinator of adult education at Finger Lakes Community College
• Megan Webster, district manager at Ontario County Soil and Water Conservation District.