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WILKES-BARRE &#8212; And the winner of the 2019 ATHENA Award is &#8212; tune in next week.At Thursday&#8217;s Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber Women&#8217;s Network&#8217;s ATHENA Panel Luncheon, the winner of the coveted award was not announced.Lindsay Griffin, COO/Vice President of the Chamber, said the winner will be revealed next week and the winner, along with the winners of the Chamber&#8217;s Epic Awards. All will be presented their awards at the annual Epic Awards ceremony on June 11 at the Wyoming Seminary Kirby Center for the Creative Arts.With the ATHENA AWARD pushed to next week, the 150 in attendance under a tent at the Westmoreland Club were treated to a Q &amp; A with four influential area women &#8212; all past ATHENA Award winners.The panel members were:&#8226; Elizabeth Graham, chief operating officer at Riggs Asset Management Company, 2009 ATHENA Award recipient.&#8226; Mary Erwine, RN, MSN, president of Erwine Home Health &amp; Hospice, Inc., 2002 ATHENA Award recipient.&#8226; Denise Cesare, executive vice president and chief operating officer of United One, 2003 ATHENA Award recipient.&#8226; Sen. Lisa Baker, of the 20th Senatorial District, 2008 ATHENA Award recipient.The women were questioned about how their careers began, how they advanced through the years, how they dealt with gaining respect in a business world dominated primarily by men, how they overcame obstacles, how they have helped other women who worked for them, how they feel about the importance of community involvement and what their life has been like since they won their ATHENA Awards.Baker said she quit her job at Blue Cross to seek public office, finding herself in a race against four men.&#8220;You have to be willing to take a calculated risk,&#8221; Baker said. &#8220;You have to take a look inside and step forward.&#8221;Cesare said her biggest obstacle was to have the courage to speak for herself. She told of how she had been passed over for promotions until one came along that she felt she was the right person for the position.&#8220;I decided to seek it and I went to my boss and spoke up for myself,&#8221; Cesare said. &#8220;I got the job.&#8221;Cesare would rise to the top at Blue Cross/Blue Shield, being named president of the company.The four panelists offered their thoughts on how to balance work, family and community volunteerism.&#8220;It varies day to day on which one drives the bus,&#8221; Graham said. &#8220;You find yourself constantly juggling to get everything done.&#8221;Cesare advised to set your priorities.&#8220;I was focused on my career, but family is what matters most.&#8221;As far as community involvement, the women said to make sure you fulfill your obligations.&#8220;Make the meetings,&#8221; Erwine said. &#8220;Commit to the organization that you signed up for to help.&#8221;Graham said you have to explain to co-workers, family, everyone about the important work that the organization your are volunteering for does in the community.&#8220;If people don&#8217;t understand it, they won&#8217;t value it,&#8221; Graham said.Asked why they still choose to live and work in NEPA, all four had the same answer &#8212; it&#8217;s the people.&#8220;The greatest people come from NEPA,&#8221; Cesare said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a great community with great schools and beautiful places. NEPA really does rock.&#8221;<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Panel speakers of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce&#8217;s Women&#8217;s Network&#8217;s ATHENA gathering are, left to right: Mary Erwine, RN, MSN, president of Erwine Home Health &amp; Hospice, Inc.; Denise Cesare, executive vice president and COO of United One; PA State Sen. Lisa Baker, 20th Senatorial District; and Elizabeth Graham, COO, Riggs Asset Management Co. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_2019-Athena-Luncheon-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Panel speakers of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce&#8217;s Women&#8217;s Network&#8217;s ATHENA gathering are, left to right: Mary Erwine, RN, MSN, president of Erwine Home Health &amp; Hospice, Inc.; Denise Cesare, executive vice president and COO of United One; PA State Sen. Lisa Baker, 20th Senatorial District; and Elizabeth Graham, COO, Riggs Asset Management Co. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Bill O&#8217;Boyleboboyle@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>Past ATHENA winners1985 - Anne Vernon1986 - Sue Kluger1987 - Mary Ann Keirans1988 - Evelyn Gurbst1989 - Phyllis Belk1990 - Ruth Borland1991 - Anna Cervenak1992 - Joan Evans1993 - Susan Shoval1994 - Rosemary Sigmond1995 - Rose Tucker1997 - Ina Lubin1998 - Elly Miller1999 - Christine McLaughlin2000 - Phyllis Mundy2001 - Ellen Smith2002 - Mary Erwine2003 - Denise Cesare2004 - Judith Ellis2005 - Maureen Bufalino2006 - Dr. Patricia Donohue2007 - Jill Schwartz2008 - Lisa Baker2009 - Elizabeth Graham2010 - Donna Sedor2011 - Catherine Shafer2012 - Lissa Bryan-Smith &amp; Marilyn Millington2013 - Jackie Brozena2014 - Katie Lambert2015 - Lori Nocito2016 - Patrice Persico2017 - Barbara Maculloch2018 - Kathleen Dunsmuir </factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</shirttailMeta></div>

Past ATHENA Award winners tell their success stories