The 2011 Athena Award was presented to Nancy Lewis, Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center

Nancy Lewis was presented with the 2011 ATHENA Award on Thursday, April 21st at the Annual Women in Business Conference and ATHENA Luncheon sponsored by The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and The Gazette. Ms. Lewis stepped up on stage to receive the prestigious honor to a standing ovation from an audience of more than 550 who attended the luncheon at The Broadmoor. She was chosen the winner from a field of 5 finalists who were named earlier in the day.

Other nominees this year were:

Janet Conover, Community Volunteer

Melissa Grier, Security Service Federal Credit Union

Barbara Harris, Harris Group Realty

Keller Hayes, DAWA Enterprises, Inc.

Nadine Hensler, DLR Group Architects

Teresa Knox, Cheyenne Mountain Resort

Kimberly McKay, BKD, LLP

Donna Nelson, Security Service Federal Credit Union

Sherri Newell, Colorado Springs Utilities

Janet Perreault, Summit Home Health Care

BJ Scott, Peak Vista Community Health Centers

The ATHENA Award is given to a woman community leader who best exemplifies three factors: mentoring -- assisting women in reaching their full leadership potential -- business accomplishment and community service. Five confidential judges score each nominee. Results go to the Chamber and the scores are blind-calculated to determine the ATHENA recipient.

More than 5000 awards have been presented since the program's inception in 1982. ATHENA Awards are presented in over 500 communities in the United States, Canada, China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and most recently the United Kingdom. By honoring exceptional leaders, the ATHENA Award seeks to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives.

We would like to thank this year's sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor:
The Gazette

Media Sponsor:
NEWS FIRST 5

Keynote Sponsor:
US Bank

Athena Award Sponsor:
Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado

Gold Sponsor:
Insight Systems Consulting

Silver Sponsor:
PINNACOL Assurance
University of the Rockies

Bronze Sponsors:
Kaiser Permanente
OfficeScapes
Pennica Financial Group

Reception Sponsor:
Sonterra Inovative Southwest Grill

Radio Sponsor:
kLight 106.3

Former Athena Award winners

2010 Cindy Fowler
OfficeScapes

“Cindy encompasses all that the ATHENA Award represents,” says Stephannie Finley, President of Governmental Affairs at The Chamber. Fowler has been affiliated with OfficeScapes for eleven years where she combines business and community. She has served in numerous leadership roles both professionally and in the volunteer sector mentoring many other women along the way. Fowler has served as the Chair of the Chamber’s Women in Business Council as a role model developing quality educational programs for the development of professional women. She serves on the Advisory board of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at UCCS.

2009 Colette Berge
Interim Vice President for Student Services
at Pikes Peak Community College

Barton lead the small non-profit organization which had a staff of 20, a handful of volunteers, six beds and a quarter million dollar budget when she started to a national leadership role in hospice care. Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care is now one of the largest hospice organizations in Colorado with a $15 million dollar annual budget, caring for 200 patients a day.

2008 Martha Barton
President & Chief Executive Officer of Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care

Barton lead the small non-profit organization which had a staff of 20, a handful of volunteers, six beds and a quarter million dollar budget when she started to a national leadership role in hospice care. Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care is now one of the largest hospice organizations in Colorado with a $15 million dollar annual budget, caring for 200 patients a day.

2007 Mary Lou Makepeace
Executive Director, Gay and Lesbian Fund

Mary Lou Makepeace joined the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado as executive director in December 2003. In this role, she oversees the fund's programs, builds alliances with Colorado communities and other nonprofits, and directs the fund's staff and policy.

2006 CJ Moore
Public Affairs Director, Kaiser Permanente

C.J. is the Public Affairs Director for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado Springs. She is responsible for media and community relations, charitable contributions, marketing and member communications. She has been with Kaiser Permanente for over ten years.

2005 Judy Cara

2004 Patsy Buchwald
CEO/President/Owner, Colorado Springs Balloon Classic

Patsy is CEO, President and Owner of the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic. She is an aviation enthusiast of fixed wing, helicopter, gliders and hot air balloons, and a community activist involved in political volunteerism, parent groups, women’s enterprises, charitable boards and the business community. She has one son, Brian, and two grandchildren.

2003 Pam Shockley-Zalabak

2002 Barbara Winter
Sr. Vice President of Organizational Resources for Ent Federal Credit Union

Barb is the Sr. Vice President of Organizational Resources for Ent Federal Credit Union. She has been with Ent for eight years and is responsible for Human Resources, Payroll, Training, and Property and Real Estate matters. She has served on a number of community boards and enterprises throughout the region and is currently on the boards of United Way and the Chancellor’s Leadership Class at UCCS.

2001 Shirley Stewart

2000 Mary Ellen McNally
Community Leader

Mary Ellen McNally is a former District Eleven School Board member and City Councilwoman. She is an active community volunteer and holds leadership positions in several nonprofit organizations. Her civic engagement includes philanthropic and charity work, business and politics.

1999 Elizabeth Youngquist

1998 Lea Roads

1997 Marijane Paulsen

1996 Brenda Smith

1995 Cari Shaffer
Founder and Owner of ADD STAFF, Inc.

Cari married Larry Shaffer in 1965. They have one son; Kelly Shaffer, married to Patricia Shaffer; along with 3 grandchildren; Brianne, Courtney and Robert.

Cari studied ballet for 11 years, has hiked Pikes Peak (taking two steps for every one her husband took), and enjoys reading, golf, gardening and taking long walks with her husband Larry.

In 1984 Cari founded, ADD STAFF, Inc., an accounting, administrative, technical and professional staffing service with 18 full and part time in-house staffers. Cari is in the people business. She feels it has to be one of the most rewarding of all businesses because from each person you talk to, you learn something. ADD STAFF has employed over 37,000 individuals.

1994 Mary Shields