Foundation celebrates 11 ATHENA Honorees

The Chamber Foundation, Inc. celebrated the 11 honorees of the 2016 ATHENA International Awards at a reception on November 17 at Villa Borghese in Wappingers Falls.

Chosen by a selection committee composed of the past three years’ honorees, these individuals demonstrated strengths in career excellence and leadership, community volunteer involvement and willingness to serve as a mentor – especially to women in the business community.

In the past, honorees were selected and one was chosen to represent the group, effectively diminishing the much-deserved recognition of the others. This year, The Foundation modified the process to not select one representative, but to charge each honoree with the task of being an advocate for the ATHENA model.

Now in its 11th year here in the Hudson Valley, the ATHENA Award is given to members of the community who best embody the ATHENA Leadership Model, which focuses on the personal traits of strong, successful leaders. It captures the spirit and collaborative leadership style often exemplified in women leaders, while also recognizing the importance of courageous acts and fierce advocacy in pursuit of excellence.

The 2016 honorees are: 

• Gloria Cukar, MidHudson Regional Hospital
• Pamela R. Edington, Ed.D., Dutchess Community College
• Renée Fillette, Ph.D, Astor Services for Children & Families
• Lauren Gillett, Chazen Companies
• Krista Jones, Sparrow's Nest
• Cynthia Keller, The Culinary Institute of America
• Kelly Lyndgaard, Unshattered
• Ruth Mahoney, KeyBank
• Major Kathleen Sileno, Air National Guard
• Catherine O. Spratt, MPH, OCN, NE-BC, MidHudson Regional Hospital
• Bettina "Poet Gold" Wilkerson, R.E.A.L. Skills Network

The ATHENA Award Reception also featured a keynote address from Jane Bryant Quinn, a nationally known financial journalist. 

Thank you to all of the generous sponsors. Presenting sponsor MidHudson Regional Hospital; gold sponsors KeyBank and IBM; silver sponsors The Arc of Dutchess, Dutchess Community College, LCS Companies, M&T Bank, and Tompkins Mahopac Bank; supporting sponsors Adams Fairacre Farms, Fortress Financial Advisory, Hudson Valley Office Furniture, and the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum; and media sponsor Daily Voice.

A private VIP reception, sponsored by DCH Wappingers Falls Toyota, was held on November 3rd at Mariapolis Luminosa in Hyde Park.