ATHENA Awards: Celebrate & Inspire

Description

Join us for ATHENA Awards: Celebrate & Inspire in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Hosted by the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, presented by CTC, this event is the result of a women-led initiative to recognize and celebrate the women who strengthen our region.

This year, we are proud to recognize two remarkable award recipients whose work is making a lasting impact in our community Jill Casper, and Lakes Area Grit & Grace, whose leadership, service and positive impact are making a meaningful difference in our community.

ATHENA LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT

Jill Casper is recognized for her authentic leadership, deep community involvement, and unwavering commitment to empowering others. Through her board service and leadership roles, Jill has been a powerful advocate for inclusive leadership. She consistently works to ensure that women’s voices are represented, respected, and valued in decision-making spaces. Jill intentionally invites women into conversations, committees, and leadership opportunities, helping to create environments where collaboration, growth, and confidence can flourish.

Her work within organizations focused on education, workforce development, and community advancement has helped create stronger pathways for women and girls to develop skills, build confidence, and pursue leadership roles of their own.

Perhaps Jill’s greatest legacy lies in the many women she has mentored, encouraged, and championed throughout her career. She leads by example, demonstrating that strong leadership can be both compassionate and courageous. Through her advocacy, mentorship, and unwavering support, Jill has helped shape a community where women are empowered to step forward, lead with confidence, and make lasting contributions.

ATHENA ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT

Lakes Area Grit & Grace is honored for creating a supportive community for women in the Lakes Area navigating cancer. Founded through shared experience and compassion, the organization connects women with encouragement, resources, and meaningful relationships that lift them from isolation into strength and community.

Far too many of us know someone who has faced a cancer diagnosis. Along with the physical battle comes the emotional and practical challenge of navigating complex healthcare decisions while still trying to hold together family life, careers, and everyday responsibilities. In those moments, many of us wish we knew the right words to say or the most meaningful way to help.

For Autumn Loge and Melissa Dooley, that uncertainty became something deeper, a shared understanding. Their friendship was formed through their own personal battles with cancer and the realization of how powerful it is to have someone who truly gets it. Through their mutual experiences, they found strength, hope, and ultimately a calling: to ensure that no woman in the Brainerd Lakes Area has to face this journey alone.

From that vision, Lakes Area Grit & Grace was born.

Register to attend for the ATHENA Awards: Celebrate & Inspire awards luncheon on May 4, 2026 at Madden's Resort - Town Hall.

Together with our Keynote Speaker Sponsor, Red Ribbon Consulting, we are honored to welcome Traci Costa, President of ATHENA International to the 2026 ATHENA Awards. Traci will share insights on women’s leadership and the ATHENA Principles that guide this global movement.

Seating Options | Tables & Tickets

• Premium Tables: $1,250
• Standard Tables: $800
• Individual Tickets: $80

ATHENA Leadership Award

The ATHENA Leadership Award celebrates an individual who lifts women and/or girls higher through professional excellence, community service, and active support of women’s leadership. This honor recognizes an individual who expands opportunities, ignites courage and confidence, and helps others grow by modeling strength, integrity, and compassion.

Honorees demonstrate outstanding leadership in their career or profession, give back generously to the community, and serve as a role model for women and girls throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area. What matters most is the impact: the courage to lead, the heart to serve, and the commitment to helping women reach their full potential.

Individuals should demonstrate:

• The Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership™
  Live Authentically, Learn Constantly, Build Relationships, Foster Collaboration, Act Courageously, Advocate Fiercely, Give Back, and Celebrate.
  
  
• Professional Excellence
  Demonstrating strength, creativity, achievement, and integrity in their career or profession.
  
  
• Service to Women and/or Girls
  Using their time, talent, and influence to uplift women and/or girls through mentorship, leadership development, education, advocacy, or other meaningful efforts.
  
  
• Community Leadership
  Improving quality of life in the Brainerd Lakes Area and serving as a role model who inspires others to lead with courage and purpose.

ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award

The ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award celebrates an organization, group or program that lifts women and girls higher. This honor recognizes those who expand opportunities, ignite courage and confidence, and create a true sense of belonging for women and girls.

Eligible recipients may be large or small — a Brainerd Lakes Area business, nonprofit organization, program, club, or even a grassroots volunteer effort. What matters is the impact: the courage to support women and girls, the heart to help them thrive, and the commitment to building a future where every woman can reach her full potential.

Organizations should demonstrate:

• The Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership™
  Live Authentically, Learn Constantly, Build Relationships, Foster Collaboration, Act Courageously, Advocate Fiercely, Give Back, and Celebrate.
  
  
• A Culture of Empowerment
  Creating space for women to learn, lead and succeed.
  
  
• Impact That Lifts Women and/or Girls Higher
  Leadership development, mentoring, education, safety and wellbeing efforts, or other meaningful initiatives that help women and girls rise and grow.

ATHENA – “Telling Her Story” Sponsorship | $2,000 → 1 Available

Help bring the powerful stories of our ATHENA Individual and Organizational Award winners to life. As the Telling Her Story Sponsor, you will play a key role in sharing the inspiring journeys of these remarkable women through professionally produced videos and compelling feature articles published in the Brainerd Dispatch and Her Voice.

Sponsorship Benefits Include:

• Reserved seating and plated lunches for four (4) at the ATHENA Awards event
• Logo recognition in event marketing materials
• Logo placement in the closing credits of the award winner videos and accompanying stories

ATHENA Leadership Award Sponsor → (SOLD - thank you CTC)

ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award Sponsor → (SOLD - Thank you Conductor Power)

Keynote Speaker Sponsor → (SOLD - Thank you Red Ribbon Consulting)

Our prestigious community, national, and global ATHENA Leadership Awards recognize outstanding women and allies, pioneering leaders, and organizations. With 8,200+ recipients, spanning 500+ regions, representing 48 states, and 11 countries, from world-renowned icons to community champions, ATHENA International celebrates those who embody The Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership™ and open doors of leadership opportunity for women and girls around the world.