ATHENA Awards Dinner 2026
Thursday, November 12
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Blue Harbor Resort
Conference Center
Grand Ballroom
725 Blue Harbor Dr
Sheboygan, WI 53081

ATHENA Awards Dinner Event
An evening to celebrate leadership, service, and community.

The ATHENA Leadership Awards Dinner recognizes exceptional individuals and organizations who are making a difference in Sheboygan County by empowering women leaders. This event honors those who empower others, contribute their time and energy to improving our community’s quality of life, and inspire through action and leadership. Athena believes at the heart of everything we do we should Live Authentically, Learn Constantly, Build Relationships, Foster Collaboration, Act Courageously, Advocate Fiercely, Give Back and Celebrate.

• ATHENA Young Professional Leadership
• ATHENA Organization Leadership
• ATHENA Leadership 

• Celebrate local leaders and organizations who are creating lasting impact.
• Be inspired by stories of leadership, mentorship, and service.
• Enjoy an evening of networking, community, and recognition.
• Support the growth and empowerment of women leaders in Sheboygan County

Patti Habeck is the President and CEO of New North Inc., the regional marketing and economic development organization for the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin. She has held the position since December 2025. In her role, she provides leadership for regionally-focused activities designed to grow and maintain the economy of Northeast Wisconsin, engaging and collaborating with area stakeholders. Habeck also is the public-facing representative of the New North region in the areas of investment, partnership cultivation, policy and funding. Habeck previously served 14 years in multiple leadership roles with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, with the last eight years as CEO and President. She led a complete turnaround of the strategy, finances and culture to grow Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin into the largest and leading hunger-relief organization in the state with two major locations (Appleton and Milwaukee), supporting more than 550,000 people annually through 400 partner organizations. Under her leadership, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin reached the strongest financial position and food resource inventory in its history, doubling food distribution to 60 million pounds annually and revenue to $97 million. It also increased its fleet to 15 trucks and staff to 94 individuals. She additionally diversified and balanced revenue sources to include earned, philanthropic, donated and governmental. Habeck secured funding and oversaw construction of the organization’s 40,000-square-foot distribution center and office space in Little Chute, Wis. Under her leadership, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin also achieved its highest employee-engagement scores and lowest recorded turnover. She began her professional career in leadership roles with the Building for Kids Children’s Museum (2001-08) and the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region (2008-11), both in Appleton. Habeck holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a Master of Science degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a certification in AI Business Strategy from Johns Hopkins University. Beyond her professional work, she has a deep level of community involvement and has been recognized with a large number of service awards. In July 2025, Habeck was appointed to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Board by Gov. Tony Evers. She also is a member of the Council of Trustees for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Habeck’s many accolades include the Wisconsin Titan Award in 2023, 2024 and 2025, the Donald Driver Driven to Achieve Award, the ATHENA Leadership Award from the Fox Cities Chamber, and a Women of Influence Award from the Milwaukee Business Journal in 2024. She was named to the Wisconsin 275, recognizing the most influential business leaders in Wisconsin, by BizTimes Media in December 2025. A Northeast Wisconsin resident for nearly three decades, Habeck and her husband, Kevin, have three grown children and live in Appleton.

The Legacy of the ATHENA Awards

The ATHENA Award program began in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan, to honor individuals who demonstrate excellence in their profession, serve their communities, and actively assist women in achieving their full leadership potential.

Named after the Greek goddess Athena — known for strength, wisdom, courage, and enlightenment — the award celebrates those who embody these traits in both their personal and professional lives.

Over the decades, the ATHENA Awards have grown into an international movement. Thousands of recipients in hundreds of communities have been recognized through this prestigious honor, which continues to inspire leadership and mentorship across generations.

The ATHENA mission is to:

• Recognize individuals and organizations that achieve professional excellence
• Foster community service and civic leadership
• Encourage mentorship, particularly to support women in leadership roles

Nominations
Nominations will open closer to the event, check back to find out more soon.

Award Categories
ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award

The ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award celebrates emerging leaders. Must be under 40 years old, candidates should be at least of college age and have taken significant steps in their career journey, as well as serving as a role model for women and girls. 
Nominees must meet each of the following criteria:
• Demonstrates Live Authentically, Learn Constantly, Build Relationships, Foster Collaboration, Act Courageously, Advocate Fiercely, Give Back and Celebrate in all aspects of their life.
• Demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession.
• Provides valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community.
• Clearly serves as a role model for women and girls, both personally and professionally.

ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award
The ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award recognizes businesses and organizations that ignite, amplify, and celebrate leaders that are women. This award highlights organizations that are creating a culture of inclusive leadership and implementing processes that create opportunities for women’s professional advancement and growth.
Nominees must meet each of the following criteria:
• Demonstrates Live Authentically, Learn Constantly, Build Relationships, Foster Collaboration, Act Courageously, Advocate Fiercely, Give Back and Celebrate in professional environment.
• Creates an organizational culture that encourages women employees to achieve their full leadership potential.
• Gives back to the larger community of women and girls by providing and/ or supporting leadership development opportunities and initiatives.

ATHENA Leadership Award
The ATHENA Leadership Award recognizes accomplished individuals who actively support women in attaining professional excellence and leadership skills. This award highlights what recipients have accomplished in addition to ways they have paved the path for future successes. ATHENA Leadership Award inspires others to achieve excellence by honoring exceptional leaders.
Nominees must meet each of the following criteria:
• Demonstrates Live Authentically, Learn Constantly, Build Relationships, Foster Collaboration, Act Courageously, Advocate Fiercely, Give Back and Celebrate in all aspects of their life.
• Demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession.
• Provides valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community.
• Actively assists women in achieving their full leadership potential.