“Supporting, developing, and honoring women leaders; inspiring women to achieve their full potential; and creating balance in leadership worldwide.”
– ATHENA International
On Thursday, June 13th at Massasoit Community College in Brockton, the Metro South Chamber and Eastern Bank presented the 26th Annual ATHENA Leadership Award during a special luncheon to an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way, and has assisted women in reaching their full leadership potential. Our 26th ATHENA Award recipient is Beverly Williams, BAMSI; our guest speaker was Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Lauren Jones. Read on to learn more about the history of the ATHENA Award, our award recipient, and our guest speaker.
Full photo album available on Flickr – PC: Rich Morgan Photography
Missed the event? Don’t worry, we recorded it for you. Thanks BCA!
About the Award:
The ATHENA Award was inspired by the goddess of Greek mythology known for her strength, courage, wisdom, and enlightenment – qualities embodied in the ATHENA Leadership Model. The Award is unique in both scope – local, national, and international – and the ATHENA mission upon which it is based. The ATHENA Leadership Award is presented to a person who is honored for professional excellence, community service, and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.
Since the program’s inception in 1982, more than 7,000 exemplary leaders in over 500 communities have received the prestigious ATHENA Award in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, China, Greece, India, Russia, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. By honoring exceptional leaders, the ATHENA Leadership Award Program seeks to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives.
The ATHENA Leadership Award is presented annually by chambers of commerce, women’s organizations, and universities. The award is established in partnership with ATHENA International. For more information, visit athenainternational.org
PREMIER SPONSOR: EASTERN BANK
Past ATHENA Award Recipients:
2023 Barbara Arena – Granite State Economic Development
2022 Phyllis Ellis – Brockton Area NAACP
2021 Sheila Sullivan-Jardim – MassHire Greater Brockton Workforce Board
2020 Nancy B. Gustafson – Brockton Public Schools
2019 Sharon Wolder – Brockton Public Schools
2018 June Saba-Maguire – Brockton Public Schools
2017 Diane Bell – Bridgewater State University
2016 Cheryl Opper – School on Wheels
2015 Mary Waldron – Bridgewater State University
2014 Janet Trask – Brockton VA Hospital
2013 Kathleen Smith – Brockton Public Schools
2012 Ruth Bramson – Girl Scouts of Eastern MA
2011 Elaine Reiser – Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc.
2010 Anne DeMinico – St. Joseph Manor Health Care, Inc.
2009 Sue Joss – Brockton Neighborhood Health Center
2008 Vanessa Tierney – Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc.
2007 Dr. Susan Szachowicz – Brockton High School Principal
2006 Lorette DeGrazia – East Coast Petroleum Copr.
2005 Marianne Wroble Cox* – WXBR 1460 AM Radio
2004 Shailah Stewart – Brockton Public Schools
2003 Dr. Linda Faria Braun – Adult Learning Center
2002 Christine Karavites* – Proteas Consulting
2001 Barbara Duffy – Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc.
2000 Noelle Foye – Brockton Public Schools Nurse
1999 Janice Cunningham – East Bridgewater Police
*deceased
About our Guest Speaker:
Lauren Jones is the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development. She brings nearly two decades of experience working in local and state government, non-profits, and the private sector, with a particular focus on workforce development. Prior to joining the Healey-Driscoll Administration, Jones served as Executive Vice President of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable and led the organization’s workforce development policy and strategy. She previously led the Massachusetts market for the non-profit Apprenti, where she worked with companies to cultivate and diversify tech talent through registered apprenticeships. She also created and led the Business Strategy Unit for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s Office of Economic Development, supporting business attraction and employer engagement in the city of Boston. Prior to that, she held several roles in the Patrick-Murray Administration, including Communications Director for the Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development, Policy & Communications Director for former Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, and Senior Program Manager of the Economic Development Incentive Program in the Office of Business Development. Visit www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-labor-and-workforce-development to learn more.
About the Award Recipient:
Beverly Williams joined BAMSI in 1999 and has more than 20 years of clinical and leadership experience. She has served in clinical leadership positions at New England Home for Little Wanderers and Dimock Community Health Center. Ms. Williams has provided clinical and managerial consultations to several agencies including; the Boston Public Health Commission, the Center for Health and Development, Hildebrand Services, Inc., Massachusetts Association for Family Based Service Providers, the Children’s AIDS Program, and Head Start, Inc.
Ms. Williams is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and the Massachusetts Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. She is a trainer of the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Score. Ms. Williams is a certified Trauma First Responder. Ms. Williams has extensive experience developing collaborative relationships and contracts with various community providers and state departments.
Beverly earned her Master’s Degree in Education, Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Massachusetts and a Master’s of Management from Cambridge College. Visit www.bamsi.org to learn more.
Thank you to our program sponsor, Capstone Communities
