Business community honors Dr. Donna Milavetz with the prestigious 2024 ATHENA Leadership Award
Today, the Salt Lake Chamber hosted the 48th annual Women & Business Conference and awarded the prestigious 2024 ATHENA Leadership Award. This annual conference provides a valuable platform for furthering professional growth and fostering relationships in the business community. This year’s theme was “I.L.L.U.M.I.N.A.T.E.,” which stands for Inspiring Leadership, Learning, Unity, Motivation, Innovation, Networking, Ambition, Teamwork and Empowerment. View the conference agenda here.
During the luncheon, the ATHENA Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Donna Milavetz, Chief Medical Officer of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah. This award honors an active Salt Lake Chamber member who demonstrates 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.
“Dr. Milavetz is a true testament to what the ATHENA Leadership Award stands for,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “She goes above and beyond to provide valuable service and improve the quality of life of so many. Her dedication to making a positive impact on our community inspires us all to strive for greater excellence.”
In addition to the ATHENA Leadership Award, six women received the Pathfinder Award for their work to create new paths and promote the development and recognition of women in business. This year’s recipients included:
- Senator Ann Millner, Utah Senate – District 5
- Kerry Norman, Executive Vice President of Operations, CHG Healthcare
- Liz Owens, CEO, YWCA Utah
- Noella Sudbury, Founder & CEO, Rasa Public Benefit Corporation
- Diana Young, Partner and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, PrincePerelson & Associates
- Jessica Yurgatis, CEO, Industrial Supply Company
Attendees at the conference had the opportunity to hear from several business leaders in breakout sessions, covering topics such as exploring leadership lessons, harnessing your personal brand and best practices for addressing mental health in the workplace.
Nicole Sherman, President & CEO of Riverview Bancorporation and Riverview Bank in Washington State, gave the opening keynote address, delving deep into the power of embracing one’s true self in leadership and in life to embrace an even higher level of self-acceptance. Sherman brings over 20 years of executive leadership experience, and is well-known as being a catalyst for financial innovation. She is a “leader builder” throughout organizations and does so by her actions, work ethic, high standards and dedicated coaching and mentoring of others. As a visionary and an architect of momentum, Sherman leverages past accomplishments to fuel future innovation. Her “live on purpose, lead with intention” philosophy and dedication inspire others to see their greatness and bring that level of engagement every single day.
This year’s conference was sponsored by Enbridge and WCF Insurance. Wells Fargo sponsored the ATHENA Awards Luncheon and the event sponsors were BW Productions and the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation. CHG Healthcare, JP Morgan Chase, Mountain America Credit Union, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, Select Health and WaFd Bank were breakout sponsors. The exhibit hall sponsor was L3 Harris Technologies. Supporting sponsors were America First Credit Union, CBRE, Holland & Hart, Housing Authority of Salt Lake City, Intermountain Health, KSL.com, Minky Couture, Morgan Stanley, O.C. Tanner Company, Rio Tinto Kennecott, Rocky Mountain Power, Salt Lake City Corp., Salt Lake County, Staker Parson Materials & Construction, The Larry H. Miller Company, University of Utah, Utah Transit Authority, Visit Salt Lake – The Convention and Visitors Bureau, Western Governors University and Zions Bank.
Again, to view the full agenda, award winner bios, speakers, and photos, please visit our website.
ABOUT THE SALT LAKE 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 champions community prosperity.
ABOUT THE ATHENA LEADERSHIP AWARD
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.
ABOUT THE PATHFINDER AWARD
The Pathfinder Awards are presented annually to community leaders who create new paths promoting the development and recognition of women in business.
