Nominations for the 41st ATHENA Leadership Award now accepted

Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night Oct 9 2025

The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the organization’s annual ATHENA Leadership Award. 2026 marks the 41st anniversary of the award in the community and, again this year, will be awarded at the Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night to be held at the Grand Theater on a date in November which will be announced soon.

Those who would like to nominate an individual must complete the online nomination form found by 3 p.m. on Friday, September 4. Self-nominations are allowed. Eligible nominees will be contacted to complete an application at the end of the nomination period. Those who are selected as finalists will be recognized at the Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night.

“Over generations, our community has been blessed with business and community leaders that have made positive impacts to advance the region,” said Dave Eckmann, President and CEO of the Chamber. “The Excellence in Business Awards Night program places intention to recognize and honor the area’s impactful leaders.”

ATHENA2025.jpg: Jeny Nieuwenhuis-Hardel, left, presented Laura Strek, right, with the 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award at the Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night program held on Thursday, October 9 at The Grand Theater in Wausau.
Photo by Photopoulos Family Photography, LLC

The ATHENA Leadership Award is presented to women or men who are honored for professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills. Laura Strek of Imperial Industries was named the recipient of the 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award.

Those interested in attending the Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night can register for the program on WausauChamber.com. Tickets for the event are $75 per person.

The Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night will celebrate the local business community’s visionary leaders and innovative pioneers with four distinct awards in October. Along with the ATHENA Leadership Award, the event will include the G. Lane Ware Innovator Award, the Jim McIntyre Cornerstone Award and the Liz Tillisch Heart of the Chamber Award.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night. Contact Kaycee Packard at the Chamber at 715-848-5955 or kpackard@wausauchamber.com to learn more.

Those interested in attending the Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night will be able to register for the program soon on WausauChamber.com. For more information, visit WausauChamber.com.