The Chamber Foundation Set To Present ATHENA Award

The Chamber Foundation, Inc., will present the 2011 ATHENA Award on Sunday, December 4 during a special brunch at The Grandview (176 Rinaldi Blvd., Poughkeepsie) from 12-3 p.m.  The recipient of the award will travel to the ATHENA International conference in Chicago to represent the Hudson Valley region.

Bestowed annually, the ATHENA Award is given to a member of the community who best embodies the ATHENA Leadership Model. The Model is unique in that it focuses on 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 traits such as courageous acts and fierce advocacy in the pursuit of excellence.

The 2011 ATHENA nominees, all chosen because of their strengths in career excellence and leadership, community volunteer involvement and willingness to serve as a mentor, especially to women in the business community, include:

• Irene Andujar, Executive Director at Vassar Warner Home
• Maureen Crush, partner at Rider, Weiner and Frankel
• Jennifer Dunn, owner/agent at the Jen Dunn Agency; State Farm Insurance
• Marcine Humphrey, retired English teacher from Spackenkill School District
• May Mamiya, Director of Case Management at Vassar Brother’s Medical Center
• Nancy O’Donnell, Clinical Psychologist and adjunct professor at Marist College
• Caryn Solomon, Clinical Coordinator at the Hudson Valley Center at St Francis
• Cathy Varunok, co-founder of Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation

The 2011 ATHENA Award Brunch is presented by Health Quest and sponsored by Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., KeyBank, N & S Supply, Rider, Weiner & Frankel P.C., Saint Francis Hospital & Health Care Centers, Verizon Communications, Rhinebeck Savings Bank, COBESO, Inc., DRA Imaging, Ulster Savings Bank, Mid-Hudson Subaru, Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union and Hudson Valley Fresh.

Tickets for the ATHENA Award Brunch are still available at a cost of $75 per person.  For more information or to make your reservation, contact Karolyn Osborne at 845-296-0001 ext. 104 or karolyno@dcrcoc.org.

The Chamber Foundation, Inc., the not-for-profit organization of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, was established in 2002 to promote education and training programs for area youth and professionals with the goal of enhancing the future of economic growth in the Hudson Valley region. The Foundation’s mission is to provide educational opportunities for youth and the workforce, to build and strengthen personal and business capacity, develop leadership skills and foster a commitment to community service.  For more information, visit www.chamberfdn.org