The ATHENA Award honors individuals who strive toward the highest levels of professional accomplishment ... women who excel in their own chosen field, have devoted time and energy to their community in a meaningful way and who also open paths so that others may follow.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Nominee must have a proven record of contribution to the business and/or financial growth of her company or organization.
• Nominee must demonstrate in her career ongoing advancement or progressive job growth, as well as significant leadership accomplishments and other achievements and milestones along the way.
• Nominee must possess a minimum of five years of professional business experience.
• Nominee is not required to be a member of the Chamber or to be employed by a Chamber member firm. However, her employment must be within the Chamber service area encompassing the Mahoning Valley.
• Nominee may be from either profit or not-for-profit sectors.
• Previous ATHENA nominees are eligible for nomination.
• ATHENA Award Co-Presenter, The Vindicator/vindy.com, ATHENA Committee and Selection Committee members are not eligible for nomination.

EVALUATION CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA
Nominees will be evaluated according to the following categories:

BUSINESS/PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS 60%
Demonstrated significant, measurable achievements that have produced exceptional organizational impact. Areas of concentration include profitability and/or financial impact, quality, customer/employee satisfaction and strategic planning.

COMMUNITY SERVICE 20%
Provided valuable leadership service to the community.

SUPPORT FOR PROFESSIONAL WOMEN 20%
Exhibited active support for and involvement in the goals of professional women (beyond daily/regular job responsibilities).

SELECTION PROCESS

• A Selection Committee comprised of prominent business leaders from our community and past ATHENA recipients will review all nominations to ensure that candidates fit the qualifications of an ATHENA nominee. All finalists will receive a confirmation letter and ATHENA Nominee Questionnaire by March 12, 2012, and must be available for orientation from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, at the Youngstown Club in Downtown Youngstown.
• All ATHENA nominees will be recognized, and the 2012 ATHENA Award recipient will be announced, at the ATHENA Award Dinner to be held on May 24 at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman.
• Separate invitations will be mailed in April for the dinner.

NOMINATION PROCEDURE

• Nominator is required to make a “courtesy call” to Kim Calvert, Vice President of Marketing & Business Services at the Regional Chamber, at 330.744.2131, ext. 35, to prevent the duplication of nominees, as well as to ensure that a potential nominee fits the criteria if nominator is unsure.
• Complete the nomination form as thoroughly as possible to ensure a comprehensive profile of your nominee.
• A CURRENT RESUME must accompany all nomination forms.
• Completed nomination forms must be received NO LATER THAN MARCH 1, 2012.

RETURN COMPLETED FORM AND RESUME TO:

ATHENA AWARD
c/o The Regional Chamber
11 Central Square, Suite 1600
Youngstown, Ohio 44503
Fax: 330.746.0330
Email

COMPLETING THE FORM

• Nominations for the ATHENA Award should be submitted using this nomination form and format.
• Computerized versions of this nomination form will be accepted. However, the format must be identical.
• If necessary, one additional typed page of information may also be submitted.
• We cannot accept handwritten documents.
• Nominees are strongly encouraged to assist in completing the form.