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Honoring Influential Women in the Community

We love movers and shakers! They’re the community members who are collaborating, joining and making themselves known in rooms full of their peers—those who are not only making suggestions but making them happen.

That same group naturally rises to the top in terms of their careers, their drive and commitment to a cause pushing them to be amongst other decision makers and major players to make a difference.

It’s no coincidence they’re also common attributes among ATHENA Leadership Award® recipients.

“President,” “CEO,” “COO,” “Founder” and “Owner” are just some of the titles the women who have received the prestigious honor hold and have held while receiving the award, but it encompasses much more than a career header.
A national award, the ATHENA celebrates its 40th year in the Fox Cities in 2025.

When it began within the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce in 1985, it was at the suggestion of then executive director Don Stone.

Fox Cities Magazine’s Ruth Ann Heeter and Joanne Fischer Chastain, now president of Telecom Insites, LLC, were tasked with bringing the program to the area, having used a Michigan chamber as an example. Fast forward four decades and today the ATHENA Leadership Award®’s sponsor is Bergstrom Automotive.

“The ATHENA Leadership Award celebrates female leaders who have achieved significant accomplishments in their field while contributing meaningfully to the growth and success of others, particularly women,” Aimee Herrick, Director of Events & Emerging Talent for the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce, says.

“The award is named after the Greek goddess of wisdom, courage and strength; traits that are a common thread among award recipients. Selection criteria is based on The Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership…”

1. Live Authentically. Being true to yourself. Leaders know their values and remain true to them.
2. Learn Constantly. Continuous development of skills and intellectual expansion. Leaders seek knowledge.
3. Build Relationships. Connecting genuinely with those around you. Leaders engage, empower and trust.
4. Foster Collaboration. Encouraging participation from those often overlooked. Leaders welcome others to the work of leadership.
5. Act Courageously. A willingness to stand alone and speak the truth, to challenge the status quo. Leaders dare.
6. Advocate Fiercely. Passionate, personal devotion to something that deeply matters. Leaders champion what is right.
7. Give Back. Leaving a worthy legacy for your community and the world.  Leaders serve.
8. Celebrate. Memorializing moments, triumphant or tragic. Sharing joyful or solemn reflection. Leaders remember and rejoice.

ATHENA recipients are also known for embodying both mental and physical strength, professional excellence, community involvement and advocacy for women. Plus, an affinity for partnership and connection with others.

“(They) exemplify the very best of leadership in the Fox Cities community,” Herrick says. “They embody the spirit of collaboration, innovation and service that defines our region. Their contributions extend to supporting talent retention and development, economic growth and community well-being—core pillars of the Fox Cities Chamber’s mission. By breaking barriers and creating opportunities, they leave a legacy that inspires others and enhances the vibrancy of our community.”

A selection committee made up of previous ATHENA recipients accepts nominations annually through the Fox Cities Chamber. The committee meets to review all applications focusing on each nominee’s demonstration of excellence, creativity and initiative in business or profession that impacts the financial success within their business. They must be a chamber member, demonstrating how they give back through their involvement in the community outside of their day-to-day business and job title.

“Over the past 40 years, ATHENA Award recipients have been involved in making a difference throughout Wisconsin, volunteering to bring forth new initiatives to make this a closeknit, family focused, strong business community. Just look around and see the developments such as the Highway 441 bypass and New North,” Joanne Fischer Chastain, president of Telecom Insites, LLC and the ATHENA Leadership Award recipient in 1992, says.

“Many serve on various board of directors, are active in their churches, schools, chairing various fundraisers such as Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA expansion, performing arts and the Fox Cities new library as well as the development of many new community programs to benefit the entire northeast Wisconsin.”

Paving the Way and Forming a Sisterhood

When the ATHENA Leadership Award began in 1985, the business world looked different—especially for women.
Mary Hosmer received the award in 1994.

“Knowing the chamber and who the past winners were, knowing what it means, it was pretty special,” Hosmer says. “I almost look at it like Businesswoman of the Year.”

Hosmer’s career history is one filled with firsts, having been one of the only women in outside sales in the Fox Cities in the 1970s.

“I went to outside sales for commercial insurance—business to business sales—and it was highly unusual at the time,” she says. “I had a great mentor at the time and my mentor asked me, ‘Why wouldn’t you consider going into sales?’ At the time, to get into that position the ownership team—all men—had to approve that. One of the owners said Appleton, Wisconsin wasn’t ready for a woman to sell commercial insurance. My thought was ‘Watch this.’

“It’s been a series of opportunities. Opportunities that you just don’t ignore. Don’t say ‘no.’ Be open to those possibilities.”

Although she received the award in 1992, Joanne Fischer Chastain carries the honor and sense of camaraderie with her to this day—not to mention close friendships with fellow ATHENAs.

“I was overwhelmed with gratitude to have received the ATHENA Award… (it) is a reminder of the incredible opportunities that have come my way along with the support and friendships that were made,” she remembers. “It was another ATHENA recipient that encouraged me to start a telecom consulting business when I did work for their company in 2011.”

Beth Davis, retired VP of Community First Credit Union, who received the award in 2013, says that 40 years ago it was rare for women to be honored for things like building departments and starting small businesses.

“The chamber and Bergstrom have really hung onto that opportunity to be recognized,” she says. “I felt really proud when I was nominated and received it. I felt that group of women was really supporting me. I always felt that they had, so it wasn’t like I needed the award to do that but I felt that maybe it might help me accomplish other things.

“I want to say that a shift happened. It’s not the old girls’ network anymore and we wanted to get the ATHENA to the new generation. So we streamlined the application process and built the portal.”

“A personal financial commitment was developed shortly after the first award in 1985, within the Women’s Fund,” Fischer Chastain adds. “It is a token of each ATHENA recipient to support young women furthering their education while enrolled at the UW Fox Valley, UW Oshkosh and Fox Valley Technical College.”

The collaboration amongst ATHENA recipients doesn’t end after a year, and the 40-year history of the program lends itself to genuine camaraderie and friendship, many of its recipients extending their professional relationships to personal.

“Past recipients meet regularly throughout the year to foster relationships and continue their shared commitment to leadership and community impact,” Herrick says.

They’re also looking to the next wave of women in business to continue the legacy.

“Future generations need to be involved in the community and understand what their chamber of commerce does in that community, as well as for businesses and the employees of those businesses,” Davis urges. “It’s all interconnected. If we can hold up women as business owners, entrepreneurs, as nonprofit leaders, that’s what the ATHENA is about.”

Meet the Newest ATHENA:
Coreen Dicus-Johnson, President & CEO Network Health

“The 2024 recipient is Coreen Dicus-Johnson, CEO of Network Health,” Herrick announces. “She has a personable nature and extraordinary ability to make others feel like they are the sole focus of her attention during conversations. A strong and influential leader, Coreen exemplifies the values of the ATHENA Leadership Award.”

What does it mean to you to have been awarded the ATHENA Leadership Award® this past year? “This recognition is extremely humbling in large part because of the amazing circle of women who have been recognized before me,” Dicus-Johnson says. “They are incredibly inspiring and it is hard to believe that I share this same recognition with them.

“Movers and shakers make things happen for the benefit of the community. This award embodies this by recognizing women who mentor and sponsor other women, lead courageously, who are strong advocates and work collaboratively.

Forty Years of ATHENA Leadership Award® Recipients

2024 Coreen Dicus-Johnson
2023 Maiyoua Khang Thao
2022 Laurie Butz
2021 Maria Van Laanen
2019 Heather Schimmers
2018 Patti Habeck
2017 Donna Gehl
2016 Jean Long Manteufel
2015 Lisa Cruz
2014 Margaret LeBrun
2013 Beth Davis
2012 Monica Vomastic
2011 Kathi Seifert
2010 Heather Wessley
2009 Kim Bassett-Heitzmann
2008 Susan May
2007 Chris Hanson
2006 Julie Huth
2005 Sharon Hulce
2004 Karla Blair
2003 Anne Paulus
2002 Debra Michiels
2001 Elinor Smith
2000 Margie Weiss
1999 Beth Nemecek
1998 Catherine Tierney
1997 Linda Kennedy
1996 Kate Dugan
1995 Bonnie DeBraal
1994 Mary Hosmer
1993 Mary Anne Drewek
1992 Joanne Fischer Chastain
1991 Valerie Nevitt
1990 Joyce Bytof
1989 Elizabeth Hoover
1988 Katherine Westover
1987 Ruth Ann Heeter
1986 Vivian Huth
1985 Susan Knaack