ATHENA International Leadership Awards Breakfast
Save the Date
Thursday, MAR 5, 2026 | APGFCU Arena
2025 ATHENA Leadership Award Recipients
Pictured (L to R): April Cheatham, recipient of the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award; Vickie Bands, this year’s ATHENA Leadership Award recipient; Dr. Kristen Vance, accepting the ATHENA Organizational Award for Homeward Bound Veterinary Services; and Dr. Theresa Felder, President of Harford Community College.
Photo credit: Josh Eller
2025 Presenting Sponsor
About Athena
The inspiration for the ATHENA International Awards Program originated in Lansing,
Michigan in 1980, when Martha Mayhood Mertz, owner of Mayhood/Mertz REALTORS® Inc.,
was asked to serve on the Board of Directors of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Finding herself to be the only working woman serving on the Board, she also discovered
that, in the 75 years of presenting community awards, her Chamber had only once honored
a woman.
Martha Mertz recognized that, “The world was changing, and the Chamber boardroom did
not reflect the reality of the world outside.” The time had come to bring into focus
the many outstanding professional and business women in the community and to incorporate
them into leadership positions within the Chamber. Through the “voice of business,”
they, too, would participate in guiding the present and shaping the future. The first
ATHENA Award was presented in 1982.
The ATHENA Leadership Award® is presented to an individual or organization who demonstrates the qualities embodied in the ATHENA Leadership Model and who:
- Has achieved the highest level of professional excellence.
- Contributes time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community.
- Actively assists others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential.
2025 RECIPIENT
Vickie Bands, Director, Community Outreach and Health Improvement, University of Maryland Upper
Chesapeake Health
The ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award® was established in 2007 to honor emerging leaders who exemplify the ATHENA Award principles.
2025 RECIPIENT
April Cheatham, Director of Community and Business Relations, Extreme Family Outreach
The ATHENA Organizational Award® actively supports and celebrates the ATHENA mission of supporting, developing and honoring women leaders, inspiring women to achieve their full potential—creating balance in leadership worldwide.
2025 RECIPIENT
Homeward Bound Veterinary Services, Dr. Kristen Vance, Director
Past Award Recipients
2025
Vickie Bands, ATHENA Leadership Award
April Cheatham, ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award
Homeward Bound Veterinary Services, ATHENA Organizational Award
2024
Stacey Rebbert, ATHENA Leadership Award
Stacy Guerin, ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award
Laurel Bush Family Dentistry, ATHENA Organizational Award
2023
Dr. Andrée M. Mountain-Campbell, ATHENA Leadership Award
Allison Cuneo, ATHENA Young Professional Award
2022
Claudine Adams, ATHENA Leadership Award
Sarah Klein, ATHENA Young Professional Award
2021
Robin Tomechko, ATHENA Leadership Award
Sara Garbarino, ATHENA Young Professional Award
2020
Sandra Gallion, ATHENA Leadership Award
Beth Mosser, ATHENA Young Professional Award
2019 Sharon Jacobs, ATHENA Leadership Award
Jennie Towner, ATHENA Young Professional Award
2018 Lisa Feulner, ATHENA Leadership Award
Brittany Trocher, ATHENA Young Professional Award
2017 Kathy Walsh, ATHENA Leadership Award
Paige Boyle, ATHENA Young Professional Award
2016 Carolyn Evans, ATHENA Leadership Award
2015 Stephanie Hau, ATHENA Leadership Award
2014 Mary Teddy Wray, ATHENA Leadership Award
2013 Jayne Klein, ATHENA Leadership Award
2012 Denise Carnaggio, ATHENA Leadership Award
2011 Tamera Rush, ATHENA Leadership Award
2010 Lucie Snodgrass, ATHENA Leadership Award
2009 Content McLaughlin, ATHENA Leadership Award
2008 Pat Scott, ATHENA Leadership Award
2007 Karen Green (deceased), ATHENA Leadership Award
2006 Sheryl Davis Kohl, ATHENA Leadership Award
2005 Deborah Smith Williams, ATHENA Leadership Award
2004 Jane Howe, ATHENA Leadership Award
2003 Pat Donovan, ATHENA Leadership Award
2002 Kim Wagner, ATHENA Leadership Award