Nominations for the annual Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce/ Lehigh Valley Health Networks "Athena Award" are now being accepted. Nomination letters have been sent in the Chamber’s March newsletter to over 800 Chamber member contacts, and are also available at the Chamber office at 8 West Broad Street, Suite M-1490, Downtown Hazleton and online at www.hazletonchamber.org.

The award is presented annually to the "Businesswoman of the Year" in the Greater Hazleton Area. The presentation, which features a handsome bronze and crystal sculpture, is presented as part of the Chamber’s Annual Meeting and is sponsored by Lehigh Valley Health Networks . This year, the award will be presented on Thursday, May 19 at the 130 th Annual Dinner of the Chamber, to take place at the Capriotti's .

The Chamber "Athena" award will be given to the businesswoman who has demonstrated the "highest level of professional accomplishment" and is based primarily on professional competency, achievement and dedication. According to Chamber officials the "Athena" award is not intended to be a civic achievement award, but a meaningful recognition of women as an integral part of the Hazleton Area workplace.

Any woman employed by a Chamber member firm may be nominated. Nominations can be made by employers, employees or friends, and should be forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce prior to the April 22^nd deadline. Individuals who are nominated will be contacted by the Chamber for additional information necessary for the award judges to consider the nomination. Official nomination forms can be obtained by contacting the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce at 570-455-1509 or emailing Mary Malone at mmalone @hazletonchamber.org. Official forms are not necessary however, and individuals desiring to submit the name of someone for consideration can do so by forwarding the name, place of employment, position, and brief comments about the individual to the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce. The name and a contact phone number for the individual making the recommendation must accompany the nomination.

The award began in 1986. 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) and Kelly King (2021) There were no recipients chosen in 1993 and 1995.

Chamber President Mary Malone notes, "Once again, we are extremely pleased to be able to count on the support and sponsorship of Lehigh Valley Health Network in presenting this most prestigious award.

For 2022 , the Chamber's Annual Meeting will be back in the successful format exclusive business and trade exposition. Registration forms for the business show can be obtained by contacting Leann Fallabel at the Chamber office or by emailing . Annual Dinner invitations going out a few weeks later. For information on the Athena Award, Business Expo or the Annual Dinner, contact the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce at 570- 455-1509.

CAPTION: Nominations for the annual Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce/ Lehigh Valley Health Networks "Athena Award" are now being accepted. The award is presented annually to the "Businesswoman of the Year" in the Greater Hazleton Area and is sponsored by Lehigh Valley Health Networks. Pictured are, from left: Jane Danish, Lehigh Valley Director of Communications and Community Engagement; and Terry Purcell, President of Lehigh Valley Hospital- Hazleton, President of Northwest Region.