Skip to content

ATHENA Leadership Award Program

ATHENA2023

The recipients of the 2023 ATHENA Leadership Awards were named at an event to be held on Wednesday, November 8. The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce hosted the awards program at the Hilton Garden Inn in Rib Mountain. For more information on the 2023 awards, visit WausauChamber.com.

All of the 2023 finalists were profiled in live interviews streamed through the Chamber's Facebook page.

2023 Awards

Jessica Scharfenberg, left, was named the recipient of the 2023 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award recipient at a program held on Wednesday, November 8 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Rib Mountain. Amber Gober, right, was named the recipient of the 2023 ATHENA Leadership Award.

The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce has one of the longest running and most established programs in the US and presents two different awards. The ATHENA Leadership Award and the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award are presented to women or men in recognition of their professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.

2023 ATHENA Leadership Award finalists:

2023 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award finalists:

ATHENAsponsors3

ATHENA Leadership Award® Past Recipients

2023 - Amber Gober
2022 - Heather Martell
2021 - Robin Hegg
2020 - Dr. Kristine Gilmore
2019 – Mona Fox
2018 – Ann Dahlke
2017 – Bridget Wenman
2016 – Kari Solomonson
2015 – Dean Dietrich
2014 – Tee Daly
2013 – Karen Katz
2012 – Jeny Nieuwenhuis Hardel
2011 – Dr. Lori Weyers
2010 – Linda Larson Schlitz
2009 – Josie Paleologue-Pierce (Posthumously)
2008 – Dr. Diane Postler-Slattery
2007 – Dr. Sally Mattingly
2006 – Mary Krueger
2005 – Mary Radke
2004 – Joanne Leonard
​2003 – Mary Weller
2002 – Rosemary Barnes
2001 – Patrice Pergolski
2000 – Mary Jo Johnson
1999 – Ann Lucas
1998 – Susan Lang
1997 – Judge Dorothy Bain
1996 – LaVon Jensen
1995 – Julie Kryshak
1994 – Waltraud Karkar
1993 – Evelyn Rosen
1992 – Jean Kruncos
1991 – Barbara Hunger
1990 – Justice Ann Walsh Bradley
1989 – Cheryl Davis
1988 – Taffy Williams
1987 – Betty Peters
1986 – Jane Sternberg

​ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award® Past Recipients

​​2023 - Jessica Scharfenberg
2022 - Olivia Hill
​​2021 - Katie Felch
2020 - Mindy Hoppe
​2019 – Lora Bladow
2018 – Allison Liddle
2017 – Erika Van De Yacht
2016 – Shanna Yonke
2015 – Elizabeth Field
2014 – Sara Valiska
2013 – Norah Brown
2012 – Megan Ballard
2011 – Sheila Rovang
2010 – Bao Vang
2009 – Heather Summers Valiska
2008 – Rebecca Pilgrim Tylinski