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Thank you to Better Bookkeepers\, Inc. and all those who sponsored and attended the 2025 \;ATHENA Leadership Award Luncheon! Find photos from the event \;here.
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\nCongratulations to Rachel Goodlad on receiving the 2025 \;ATHENA Leadership Award!
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\nThe ATHENA Leadership Award is presented to a local woman who has achieved the highest level of professional excellence\, contributes time and energy to improve the quality of life for others\, and actively assists women/girls in realizing their full potential. Award recipients have included leaders in education\, business executives\, non-profit founders\, and more.
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\nNominations are sent to ATHENA International\, the award presenter\, who selects finalists and the recipient. The luncheon on July 18 is \;held to recognize nominees\, honor finalists\, and celebrate the award recipient.

\nPrevious ATHENA Leadership Award recipients:
\n2024: Nicole Robinson Gauthier
\n2023: Judge Kathleen Hamilton
\n2022: Natalie Saikowski Goertz
\n2021: Carol Gooch
\n2020: Dr. Dana Hoyt
\n2019: Dr. Marlen Tejeda
\n2018: Danielle Scheiner
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\nSee 2024 event pictures here.
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\n2025 \;Nominees:
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\nAngela Gentry Rucker\, Project Mentor (Conroe ISD)
\nRachel Goodlad\, Alpha School
\nShivani Tripathy Patel\, EnFab Inc
\nSonya Brazeal\, Amazing Window Cleaners
\nChastity White\, Story Built Homes
\nCourtney Budra\, Montgomery County Food Bank
\nShelley Dacus\, First Financial Bank
\nAmanda Anders\, Guaranty Bank &\; Trust
\nMonica Bomkamp Enia\, Education for Tomorrow Alliance
\nCarrie Watkins\, Meals on Wheels Montgomery County
\nMonette Smith\, Pink Poodle PR LLC powered by PR Marketing
\nJudge Scharlene Valdez\, County Court at Law #6
\nVelvet Dove\, Gladd Foundation
\nAmanda True\, The Color Bar
\nGayla Lewis\, The Color Bar
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\nAbout Valorie Burton:
\nValorie Burton\, life strategist and international speaker\, is CEO of the Coaching and Positive Psychology (CaPP) Institute. Her life-changing message has an intriguing\, research-based emphasis in the pioneering field of applied positive psychology - the study of what happens when things go right with us. Her company provides coaching\, coach training\, and resilience training and has served clients in all 50 states and 37 countries on six continents. Since 1999\, she has written 14 books translated into multiple languages\, including Let Go of the Guilt\, It'\;s About Time\, and Successful Women Think Differently. She has appeared regularly on the TODAY Show\, CNN\, Dr. Oz\, and Essence\, and has spoken for hundreds of organizations around the globe. She was named one of the top 60 motivational speakers in America and one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in the field of personal development. For over 15 years\, Valorie'\;s books\, speaking engagements\, and coaching programs have helped people: - Make major life changes that are exciting and scary at the same time. - Be happier and have more fun\, even when life seems routine. - Become strong leaders\, navigate office politics\, and achieve professional dreams. - Navigate setbacks and disappointments in a way that makes life better\, not bitter. - Speak up with confidence rather than settling for less. - Go to sleep at night feeling at peace about decisions. - Conquer emotions that cause procrastination\, emotional spending\, and self-sabotage. She and her husband Jeff\, live on a ranch south of Atlanta with their children.