7 Women Nominated for Athena Geneva Award

ATHENA Geneva honored seven women today on Rose Day when each was presented with a rose signifying their nomination for the prestigious ATHENA Award.Established in 1982, the ATHENA award is given annually to women in communities around the United States to recognize leaders who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession, while assisting women to reach their full leadership potential.The criteria for the award include professional leadership, community service and personal leadership. The nomination process is extensive and an integral part of the program.The seven women nominated this year are:- Erica Cooney Connor, Director, Summer Operations/Conferences and Events, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, nominated by Anne Schuhle;- Jane Davison, Aide, Children’s Hours School, nominated by Flo Hoyt;- Sage Gerling, Community Planner/Landscape Designer, nominated by Matt Horn;- Margaret Kennedy, Psy.D, Child and Adolescent Psychologist, nominated by Dr. Jane McCaffrey;- Emily Palladino, Purchasing Manager, Guardian Industries, nominated by John Buckner;- Elisabeth Toole, Attorney at Law, Law Office of Toole and Toole, nominated by Robert Schick;- Laura VanNiel, Teacher, New Vision Medical Career Program, Wayne Finger Lakes Technical and Career Center, nominated by Lara Turbide.A dinner to recognize the nominees and present the 2010 award recipient is being planned for September 9 at Club 86. Mike Barnard Chevrolet Buick, located on Hamilton Street in Geneva, is the founding sponsor of the event. For more information, call the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce at 315-789-1776.A reception to honor and introduce the nominees will take place on Tuesday, July 13, from 4-6 p.m. at the Ramada Geneva Lakefront.The first five ATHENA recipients were Nancee Scott, retired from Seneca Falls Savings Bank; Dr. Jane McCaffrey, a pediatrician at Finger Lakes Medical Associates; Lucile Mallard, Finger Lakes Misdemeanor Drug Court Resource Coordinator; Lara Chatel Turbide, Vice President, Community Services of Finger Lakes Health; and Mary Walsh Boatfield, Chief Executive Officer, Happiness House – Finger Lakes Cerebral Palsy Association, Inc.ATHENA Geneva, now in its sixth year, is organized by a Steering Committee of Chamber members chaired by Jessica McGuigan, Program Manager at the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce, and Christine Shultz, Director of Clinical Services and Program Initiatives at Happiness House – Finger Lakes Cerebral Palsy Association, Inc.“We are proud to continue highlighting outstanding women from Ontario, Seneca and Yates counties who have done great things and inspired and helped others,” said Rob Gladden, Chamber president and CEO.For more information, contact the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce at (315) 789-1776. The Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce is the premier business organization of the Geneva area representing nearly 500 members.