Founding and lead Sponsor Mike Barnard Auto Group presents the ATHENA  Award 2007.  A Celebration of Community by the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce. The ATHENA Award, an international program with over 3,000 recipients, was founded in 1982 to recognize and honor the achievements of outstanding professional business women.  This award recognizes women for their professional excellence and community service, and for actively and generously assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.   This program is a celebration of excellence.  As such, there are no winners or losers in the ATHENA program.  Every woman offers unique value to the business world, to her community, and to other women.