The star-studded Athena Conference is designed to promote leadership and empowerment for women of all ages. We discuss the program with chairperson Sarah Jennings.
In 1982, a local businesswoman often found herself as the only female in the room. In fact, Martha Mayhood Mertz was the sole woman on the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
She decided to do something about that. Her idea was to create an award for those who promote women as leaders. That's how the Athena Awards began, with one recipient, in Lansing.
Current State talks with Sarah Jennings, past president of the Women’s Interest Network and Chair of the Athena International 35th Anniversary Leadership Conference, which begins on Sunday.