Lisa Marie Halecky, Communications & Community Engagement Manger at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Hazleton, has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Athena Award, sponsored by LVH–Hazleton.

Halecky’s career at LVH–Hazleton began in 2015. In 2019 she received the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) Guldin Award for Efficiency and Innovation in the Clinical Workplace for managing a team of 35 colleagues, across various departments, to assure patients were having optimal hospital experiences.

Responsible for two key community groups, Lisa Marie leads LVHN’s VitalChoice and Board of Associates programs which consist of 470 members, combined. She also hosts WYLN TV 35’s Wellness Wednesday program which provides up-to-date health information provided by LVHN experts.

Halecky’s comprehensive knowledge of both the community and health care services were key to our community’s success as we navigated the challenges of COVID-19. She facilitated communications between hospital leadership and media partners via virtual conferences to keep the community apprised of everchanging updates, worked with organizations who provided support to the health care team, and assisted with the distribution of thousands of vaccines.

From October 2019 to March 2020, unaware of the impending pandemic, she created a multifaceted program to teach first grade students, throughout the Hazleton Area School District, proper handwashing techniques.

Community service is a key component of the Athena Award. Halecky has been a proud member of the Hazleton Rotary Club since 2012 and has been a key contributor on projects like Coats for Kids, Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser, Night at the Races, and multi-year chair of the successful Wine & Beer Festival. These programs allow the club to grant scholarships in other key community programs. Lisa Marie was the 102^nd President of the club in 2023. Her year was marked by innovation and caring. She initiated a partnership between Rotary and LVH–Hazleton to provide and serve meals to clients of the Salvation Army. Her action-oriented leadership style was both inspiring and engaging to new and longtime members. She also has shared substantial time, talent and resources with the Chamber’s Women’s Networking Committee serving as chair on the Ladies Nigh Out and annual Holiday Event.

An internationally recognized award, The ATHENA Foundation and the awardees are invested in the work of mentoring the next generation of leaders. Halecky’s role as Community Engagement Manager offers many opportunities to work with the leaders of all ages. Her efforts with H.I.P., the Chamber’s Women’s Networking Committee, Hazleton Area School District, Miller Keystone Blood Center, Drop the Drugs initiative, Divine Providence Shelter, United Way, Catholic Social Service, Casa Dominicana De Hazleton, Active Adult Centers, as well as the outreach project she established while President of Hazleton Rotary Club, showcase her talents in lifting up individuals and teaching valuable skills to sustain community efforts going forward.

Halecky also has been recognized for her excellence and mentorship by receiving the YWCA PEARL Award in 2019. Throughout LVHN, Lisa Marie is viewed as a colleague willing to help in all efforts and work for the success of all.

Lisa Marie resides in Hudsondale with her husband of 15 years, Joe. She is the proud mother of Richard and Amber Rose, proud stepmother of Josh, and her granddaughters, Aria Jo and Lillian Rose are her newest joys. In her free time, Lisa Marie loves collecting experiences. Her passion, adventurous spirit, and zest for life shine through in her willingness to discover new things and places.

The Athena Award, presented each year to a Greater Hazleton area businesswoman for "outstanding professional achievement," will be presented at the 132^nd Annual Meeting and Business Expo of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, May 16^th at Capriotti’s Palazzo starting at 5 pm.

“We are proud to continue our sponsorship of the Chamber’s Athena award that recognizes female leaders who make a difference in their profession and the Greater Hazleton area,” says Tammy Torres, DNP, President, LVH–Hazleton. Torres also appreciates mentorship being a key component of the award criteria. “Building the next generation of leaders in our area is critical for success,” she noted. “Lisa Marie’s impact has touched many lives in both the health care setting and through her partnerships with various organizations and fellow leaders in our community. Her work ethic, kindness and impact are the epitome of what the Athena Award stands for.”

The presentation of the award began in 1988. Lisa Marie Halecky joins a long list of distinguished women who have won the Athena Award in its thirty-six-year history. Past winners include Lillian Paternoster (1986); Lorraine Piehota (1987); Donna Jean Yannuzzi (1988); Mary Bollman (1989); Patricia Werner-Savage (1990); Theresa Raffety (1991); Martha Herron (1992); Jo-Ann Yannuzzi (1994); Ruth Wimsat (1996); Molly Blasko (1997); Bettie Sitoski (1998); Linda Schreiber (1999); Cathy Gallagher (2000); Mary Jane Saras (2001); Attorney Sharon Evans (2002); Dr. Geraldine Shepperson (2003); Mary R. Malone (2004); Attorney Elizabeth Maguschak (2005); Jennifer Sloot (2006);Paula Sagan Hahn (2007); Lonnie Polli (2008); Terry Moran Bauder (2009), Dr. Deb Carr (2010); Nancy Stasko (2011); Jeannine Lesante Mazurkiwecz (2012); Kathleen Benyo (2013); Donna Palermo (2014); Elaine Judd (2015); Jane Danish (2016); Carla M. Thaller (2017), Krista L. Schneider (2018); Donna M. Barna (2019) Represenative Tarah Toohil ( 2020) ; Kelly King ( 2021) Miss Faberge (2022) and Elizabeth Tolan ( 2023) There were no recipients chosen in 1993 and 1995.

The award will be presented during the program portion of the 132^nd Annual Meeting and Business Expo, the Chamber’s largest event of the year. There are opportunities to take part in the Business Expo as well as the opportunity to attend this fun event. If you are interested, please connect with LeAnn Fallabel, Chamber’s Vice President of Marketing at or by call the Chamber office at 570-455-1509.