LANSING, Mich. — Recipients of the 2019 and 2020 Grand Ledge Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Leadership Award were surprised with an additional commemorative gift during special presentations, courtesy of LAFCU.
LAFCU is sponsor of the Grand Ledge award that celebrates women leaders and presents each winner with an ATHENA Leadership Award pendant. The 2019 recipient is Bethany Augustine, Flour Child Bakery owner. The 2020 recipient is Pam Redman, Pam’s Pantry owner.
“The pendants are a small token to recognize the recipients who are strengthening the local economy,” said Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, LAFCU chief marketing officer and chief diversity officer. “It’s our hope that by wearing the pendants, Bethany and Pam will be reminded daily of the importance of their work in the community and of the tenets of the ATHENA Leadership Model. Providing this additional gift is also a great opportunity to support the local jeweler who helped develop the custom-made pendant for this international award program that originated in Lansing.”
Lansing jeweler Mark Arendsen of Arendsen Jewelers and his late brother, Jon, created the original ATHENA Leadership Award pendant in the 1990s in collaboration with award founder Martha Mertz. The designs of the pendant and the ATHENA Leadership Award sculpture, which the Grand Ledge honorees received when initially accepting their awards, represent a person reaching for excellence. Both designs are inspired by the award program’s namesake, the Greek goddess Athena known for her strength, wisdom, courage and enlightenment.