Join us for the 2022 Athena Leadership Award® Dinner!

Nominate someone!

Athena Leadership Award® Dinner

Hosted & Sponsored by Wayne Bank and Indiana University East since 2014
Recognizing leaders who motivate, inspire and create positive change in the community.

This event honors leaders who motivate, inspire and create positive change in the community. This year, three awards will be presented:

  • ATHENA Leadership Award®
  • ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award
  • ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award (NEW this year!)

Proceeds benefit local organizations dedicated to serving leadership building for women of all ages.

Wayne Bank and IU East believe in the values underlying Athena International’s philosophy of incorporating the talent and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, our communities and our government. Reflective of a quote attributed to Plato, "What is honored in a country will be cultivated there," the ATHENA Leadership Award® honors and illuminates the leaders and leadership styles of individuals others would emulate.

Facebook page of Wayne County Athena International Leadership Award Keep up with award news and nominees on Facebook!

  • Aug 18, 2022
    🕕 6 p.m. Cocktail Reception
    🕖 7 p.m. Dinner
    🕗 8 p.m. Awards

    Tickets coming soon!

  • Forest Hills Country Club

  • Platinum Sponsors


    IU East

ATHENA Leadership Award®

The Award

The ATHENA Award is presented to an individual who is recognized for professional excellence, for providing valuable service to their community and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills. ATHENA Leadership Award® recipients are presented a hand-cast, bronzed and crystal sculpture that symbolizes the strength, courage, and wisdom of ATHENA recipients.

The award’s rich history, international scope and emphasis on mentorship make this award unique and amongst the most prestigious leadership awards one can receive.

ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award

The ATHENA Young Professional Leadership 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.

ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award

This award is for businesses or organizations, in the profit or non-profit sectors – who create an organizational culture that encourages women employees to achieve their full leadership potential or gives back to the larger community of women and girls by providing and/ or supporting leadership development opportunities and initiatives.

Selection Criteria

Recipients are deemed to be exemplary leaders who have achieved excellence in their business or profession, served the community in a meaningful way and, most importantly, actively assisted women to achieve their full leadership potential.

Nominations are sought throughout the community and recipients are selected by a diverse group of community leaders.


Past Recipients

We're proud to share with you the past recipients of the ATHENA Leadership Award®.

2022 Nominees

Do you know someone who should be nominated?
The ATHENA Leadership Award® is presented to an exemplary leader who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, served the community in a meaningful way and, most importantly, actively assisted women to achieve their full leadership potential.

Melissa Vance

2019 Recipient
Vance, of Richmond, IN, is the president and CEO of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. She whole-heartedly dedicates herself to the betterment of Eastern Indiana and has served on numerous community boards and advisory committees.

Janis Buhl-Macy

2018 Recipient
Buhl-Macy, of Cambridge City, Indiana, is the founder and owner of the Western Wayne News and Nettle Creek Gazette. She serves on several boards and committees helping to serve and shape the Wayne County community.

Angie Dickman

2017 Recipient
Angie Dickman of Richmond, Indiana, is vice president at Reid Health. She oversees many areas at Reid Health. In the community, Dickman serves as chair of the IU East Board of Advisors and as a board member and resource development chair for Community in Schools.

Kim Poinsett

2016 Recipient
Vice president of community relations for First Bank Richmond. In her role, Poinsett oversees community engagement and philanthropic efforts. She also serves on several boards and committees helping to serve and shape the Richmond community.

Jackie Carberry

2015 Recipient
Owner of Warm Glow Candle Company, Carberry serves on the Wayne County Tourism Board and generously provides in-kind and monetary donations to local schools and non-profit organizations. She also serves on many local boards and committees.

Mary Jo Clark

2014 Recipient
Long-time community builder and leader in Wayne County. Brought together the team of 27 upbeat young people from divergent backgrounds and giving them the reins to steer Richmond toward the All-America City Award in 2009.

ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award

Introduced in 2018

Ashley Sieb

2019 Recipient
Ashley is the founder of Ashley Sieb Marketing and she is the marketing strategist and storytelling advocate for Stratavize Consulting. She is a visiting instructor and senior thesis advisor at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She is also an instructor for Richmond Social Media and is a member of the board of directors for Birth to Five.

Jessie Pilewski

2018 Recipient
Pilewski of Richmond, Indiana, is a career coach for the Earlham College Center for Career and Community Engagement. Her work with first-generation and underrepresented students has led her to become a mentor and role model for many of these students.

“This year’s finalists demonstrate the dedication and service to community that the ATHENA award represents. Each year we receive many outstanding nominations for the ATHENA award, and this year the tradition continues and is a testament to the number of women who help to lead this community. We look forward to announcing the recipient at this year’s dinner.”
- IU East Chancellor Kathy Cruz-Uribe on the 2018 Nominees

Hosted and Sponsored by:
Wayne Bank and
Indiana University East
Questions?
Email JoAnn Spurlock
or Paula Kay King
Questions? Call JoAnn Spurlock
at 765-259-0209 or Paula Kay King at 765-973-8331
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