The Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Nevada celebrated the 14th Annual ATHENA® International Leadership Awards on January 19, 2018. The ceremony was held at The Orleans Hotel & Casino starting with a VIP Champagne Reception and Silent Auction, sponsored by Laura and Kevin Fairchild, beginning at 11:15am. Master of Ceremony John Huck, Award Winning News Anchor with FOX5 News. Opening Performance by Amie Jo Greer, Las Vegas television personality and entertainer.
Corporate Community sponsors were: Premier Gold Sponsor: MGM Resorts International. Silver Sponsor: Caesars Entertainment, Inc. Bronze Sponsor: Cox Communication, Roche Constructors, Inc. Table Sponsors: McCarran International Airport, Nevada State Bank, WBEC-West, Wells Fargo.
The Athena® International Awards is the annual fundraising gala that benefits the charitable work of the Women’s Chamber. All net proceeds award “At Risk” female high school graduates with scholarships for higher education and post-secondary education through the WCCNV Legacy Foundation 501(c) (3) charity. Scholarships are distributed by The Public Education Foundation. This year, MGM Foundation donated an additional $5,000 to the WCCNV Legacy Foundation, allowing the charity to award scholarships to more of these determined young women working towards a brighter future for themselves.
ATHENA® International Women’s Leadership recipient: Sandra Roche, Vice President/General Counsel of Roche Constructors, Inc. Finalists: Diane Gandy, President of Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association, Penny Grandon, Senior Manager, Network Facility Operations for Southwest Region (Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson) Cox Communications, Nancy Nelson, Author of Blue.River.Apple and Second Harvest, and Galit Ventura-Rozen, Entrepreneur & President of Women of Global Change.
Minority Lifetime Achievement Award recipient: Dr. Pamela Williamson, CEO/President of WBEC-West; ATHENA® Organizational Leadership Award recipient: Corner4Success Charitable Foundation; and the ATHENA® Young Professional Leadership recipient: Stephani Ortiz, Co-Owner of CAST Design Team and finalist: Megan Neri, Account Director at Imagine Communications.
Women in Entertainment and Media (Co-Ed) recipients: Entertainer of the Year Award: Jodie Rocco, singer, songwriter, entertainer, radio show personality, Grammy Award winner with Milli Vanilli Group and three time American Music Award winner, TV & Film Producer Award: Theresa Goss, TGoTV, Performing Arts Award: The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Casino Entertainment Director Award: Jill Schneider, Director of Citywide Entertainment Group Sales, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Media recipients: TV-News Anchor Award: John Huck, FOX5 News. Print Media Award: Las Vegas Magazine, Greenspun Media Group. Radio Personality Award: Mercedes Martinez, Mercedes in The Morning, Local CBS Radio (Mix 94.1).