SALT LAKE CITY, UT (July 29, 2019) – Two-time Olympic medalist and U.S. National Champion Nancy Kerrigan will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2019 Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon, the Salt Lake Chamber announced today.
One of America’s most recognizable sports icons for over 20 years, Kerrigan’s rise to competing at a national level began when she placed 3rd at the 1991 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, allowing her to qualify for the 1991 World Championships where she won the bronze medal as part of an American sweep.
“Nancy Kerrigan’s life is an inspiring example of discipline, perseverance and overcoming even the most unfair obstacles,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “We could not be more excited, particularly given her theme: ‘Stronger Than You Think.’ Few people recognize, as she does, that despite challenges andsetbacks—professionally or personally—the key is to face them head-on. I cannot think of a more inspiring message for our local business professionals.”
In 1992, Kerrigan earned a bronze medal in the Albertville Winter Olympics and the silver medal at the 1992 World Championships. In 1993 she became the United States Ladies Champion and followed that up with her historic silver medal performance at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics.
In addition to her work on the ice, the two-time Olympic medalist has regularly appeared on television and movies as an actor or commentator and is well known for being instrumental in the creation of Halloween on Ice and other shows. She is currently the executive producer of the upcoming documentary “Why Don’t You Lose 5 Pounds” which will examine the silent epidemic of eating disorders in sports, and she serves on the Advisory Board for the upcoming Aurora Games, which will be a platform for women in sports and entertainment.
The Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon is attended by over 1,000 businesswomen from across Utah. The conference provides attendees with inspirational speakers, networking opportunities and valuable business insights, as well as recognizes the accomplishments of those helping to make a difference in our community.
The 2019 Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon takes place on November 12, 2019, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Grand America Hotel.
This year’s conference sponsors are Dominion Energy and WCF Insurance. The luncheon sponsor is Wells Fargo, and event sponsors include Boeing and Intermountain Healthcare. American Express and Chase will sponsor the breakout sessions, and supporting sponsors include Aetna, CBRE, CenturyLink, Rio Tinto, Rocky Mountain Power, and The Enterprise – Utah’s Business Journal.
For more information: Click here
###
ABOUT THE CHAMBER
The Salt Lake Chamber is Utah’s largest and longest-standing business association. A statewide chamber of commerce with members in all 29 Utah counties, the Chamber represents the broad interests of the state’s 63,000-plus employers, which employ more than 1.4 million Utahns. This includes thousands of Chamber members and their employees. With roots that date back to 1887, the Chamber stands as the voice of business, supports its members’ success and champion’s community prosperity.
ABOUT THE ATHENA
The ATHENA Leadership Award is a prestigious national award presented annually to an active member of the Salt Lake Chamber who demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in business, provides valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community, and assists women in reaching their full leadership potential.
Established in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan, the ATHENA Award ®Program is now administered from its Chicago, Illinois headquarters and boasts over 300 active communities in the United States, Canada, China, Russia and the United Kingdom. More than 5,000 individuals representing a wide variety of professions and businesses have received the ATHENA Award. Presented by local host organizations in partnership with ATHENA’s national underwriters, local businesses and individual sponsors the award practically demonstrates the quote from Plato, “What is honored in a country will be cultivated there.” The award takes the form of a hand-cast bronze sculpture symbolizing the strength, courage and wisdom of the recipient.
