ATHENA Award Recipients

Anchorage ATHENA Society
ATHENA Award Recipients

The ATHENA Award recipient is selected by a panel of past recipients.  She/He is selected for his or her work toward accomplishing the mission of the Anchorage ATHENA Society. The award recipient is honored at the annual Anchorage ATHENA Society luncheon with a plaque and a scholarship for attending the National ATHENA Conference. 

2009 -- Fran Ulmer 

Fran Ulmer is the Interim Chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage, bringing to this position 30 years of experience of public policy in Alaska.  Previously, she was a fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Public Policy at the Institute of Social and Economic Research. In the early 1980s, Fran was the Mayor of Juneau, then a member of the Alaska House of Representatives (1986-1994) and in 1994, Fran became the first female Lieutenant Governor of Alaska. In that year, she was appointed to the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission by President Bill Clinton and served on this international board for 11 years. 
Fran has participated in numerous panels, task forces, commissions and forums as a speaker, moderator and panelist to address the intersection of science, economics, politics and policy.  Fran currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the National Parks Conservation Association, the Advisory Board of the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Alaska Nature Conservancy Board. Fran has a BA in political science and economics and a Law Degree from the University of Wisconsin.


2008 -- Leslie Ellis

Leslie Ellis is president and ceo of Credit Union 1. She has been with her company for more than 25 years.  Ellis is recognized for going out of her way to help others in need.  Whether sharing her expertise, advice or experiences, she works with others to get the job done. Giving back to our community is important to Ellis and she encourages her employees to actively participate as well.  Annually her relatively small company does dozens of projects that help non profits in Anchorage.  Every employee has the opportunity to spend time with these nonprofit organizations—to learn what they do and who they help in our community. Their most recent special project was “Adopt a Platoon” which was inspired by the many employees and customers who have family members in the military and have been affected by the war in Iraq.  Employees identified needs of their adopted platoon and gathered necessities, electronics and home comforts—and sent 97 boxes overseas! One of Leslie’s proudest recent initiatives is the construction of “Little Ones”, an on-campus day care that is open extended hours to the children of her employees.  The facility provides a sense of security to working parents.

2007 -- Janie Leask

Leask, former president of Alaska Federation of Natives, is known as someone who exemplifies the tenets of the International ATHENA Leadership model:Authentic Self, Celebration and Joy, Collaboration, Courageous Acts, Fierce Advocacy, Giving Back, Learning and Relationships. She has organized events in and out of her home, facilitating meetings and networking sessions for many of Anchorage’s young leaders. She was also recognized for her work in mentoring young women entering into Alaska businesses. Leask, who was also named as one of Alaska’s 25 most powerful people, began as secretary for the Alaska Federation of Natives in 1974 and worked her way to the top, becoming its president in 1982. She also worked for National Bank of Alaska and Alyeska Pipeline before assuming her current position as President/CEO of First Alaskans Institute. She has given of herself to a number of non-profit organizations including the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, where she coordinated business trips to rural Alaska; she serves on the board for Commonwealth North; YWCA and on the Permanent Fund Board of Trustees, among others.

2006 -- Morgan Christen

Morgan Christen is a Superior Court Judge for the Third Judicial District. Prior to her current position, Christen was a Partner with Preston, Gates & Ellis. Christen says her view of a superior court judge's job is to provide a fair and impartial forum where parties can reach a final resolution in disputes. Christen says resolutions that provide for the maximum amount of input from litigants are often the best long-term solution for Alaska's families and businesses. Christen has advocated for women by serving as Chair for the Federal Admiralty Rules Committee Federal/State Gender Equality Task Force and as President of the Anchorage Association of  Women lawyers. She is also active in the community, serving for Anchorage Rotary, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Alaska and is a board member for United Way of Anchorage. Christen is the recipient of the 2004 Light of Hope Award.

2005 -- Barbara Cash
As the ATHENA Society co-chair for 2004 and 2005, Barbara Cash exemplifies the spirit and virtues of the ATHENA Society. She is owner of RIM Design and has spent that past 25 years in Anchorage creating successful design solutions for her clients, providing a positive work environment and contributing to the success of the community. Cash was named Alaska’s Small Business Person of the Year in 2000 and also served as one of the 16 Alaska delegates to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business in Washington D.C. She is committed to Anchorage’s potential for world class business opportunities and to improving the quality of life in Anchorage through her volunteer efforts and is known throughout the community as a strong supporter of the arts. She currently serves on the Anchorage Chamber’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee, as co-chair of the Anchorage ATHENA Society, UAA’s Small Business Development Center’s Statewide Advisory Board, Municipality of Anchorage Arts Advisory Commission, Anchorage Museum Governance Task Force and she is a member of the Anchorage Downtown Rotary.

2004 -- Carol Comeau 

Carol Comeau is superintendent of the Anchorage School District, a position she has held since December 2000.  Prior to her current position, Comeau had been with the Anchorage School District since 1974, serving in just about every capacity from lunchroom attendant, to teacher, to elementary school principal.  Comeau believes strongly that it is essential to be an active participant in community organizations, which was a significant factor in her selection as the 2004 ATHENA Award recipient.  She is currently the Chair of the United Way Board and serves on the Board of Directors for the Alaska Humanities Forum, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, the Juvenile Justice Working Group, and the Steering committee for the Reclaiming Futures Project and the Alaska 20/20 Oversight committee.  She has been a member of the Anchorage East Rotary Club since 2000 and has received recognition from many community groups for her service to the Anchorage community. 

2003 -- Jewel Jones 

In March 2003, Jewel Jones was the director of the department of Health and Human Services and an enduring force in government for 32-years.  She has served under every mayor since George Sullivan and shaped the modern-day municipal public heath system.  Jones has tirelessly worked to provide more opportunities for women and minorities in government.  Jones is active in the Alaska Black Caucus, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Alaska Black Leadership Conference, United Way, LINKS, Commonwealth North, is on the board of Alaska Housing Finance Corporation and more.  Two of her many awards are the 2001 BP/YWCA Women of Achievement Award as well as the 2001 National Association of Social Workers Alaska Chapter Citizen of the Year.  Today she owns Jewel Jones and Associates.

2002 -- Kathleen Porterfield

Kathleen Porterfield has helped open the door for women in a once truly male-dominated profession.  With more than 80 offices nationally and 800 international locations, Porterfield was the first woman managing partner at KPMG.  Through great recruiting efforts on her part, more than half of KPMG ' s Anchorage office management is now women.  Just 10-years ago, fewer than 25-percent of office management was women.  Porterfield was a 1998 YWCA Woman of Achievement and has served as the Vice-Chair of the board of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, Treasurer of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service, President of the board of the Alaskan Aids Assistance Association and on the board of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, chairing the Business and Economic and Development committee. She is also a charter member of the board of the YWCA, and is currently co-chair of its $1-million building campaign. 

2001 -- Betsy Lawer

Betsy Lawer, vice president and chief operating officer of First National Bank, is the 2001 ATHENA Award recipient.  In her tenure at First National, Lawer has promoted women into leadership positions within the bank, helped to add another woman to the bank’s board of directors and actively worked within the community to promote women in business.  She has been named one of the top 25 Most Powerful People in Alaska, has won the Soroptimist International Anchorage Women Helping Women Award, and is a director for the Seattle Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

2000 – Arliss Sturgulewski

Beginning her more than 30-year public service career with the Greater Anchorage Borough Planning & Zoning Commission in 1968, Arliss Sturgulewski quickly moved to the Anchorage Municipal Assembly and then to the Alaska State Senate, where she served until 1992 when she chose not to stand for re-election. During her time with the legislature, she served as Senate President Pro Tempore and served as chair of six committees, including Budget and Affairs, Resources, Rules, and Community and Regional Affairs. In 1986 and 1990 she ran for Governor as the Republican candidate. Today, Sturgulewski serves as a trustee or board member on 20 boards, commissions, or committees, ranging from the Anchorage Community YMCA to the State of Alaska Commission on Rural Alaska Governance and Empowerment. She also gives speeches frequently about small business opportunities and on educational issues.

1999 – Sharon Richards

With a long history of assisting women and her community, Sharon Richards, the 1999 ATHENA Award recipient, founded the YWCA and served as its executive director for 12-years. In that role, she established the "Women of Achievement" awards program. She also serves as a role model for young women in the community who aspire to public service and political positions. She has been the president of the League of Women Voters, the Anchorage School Board, the Association of Non Profit Corporations, and the Anchorage Association of Volunteer Administrators. She was presented with the 1994 "Citizen of the Year" award by the Alaska Chapter of National Association of Social Workers and is a 1999 YWCA "Woman of Achievement." Richards is truly a non-profit entrepreneur who has developed an organization that enriches the lives of all women and girls in the community.

1998 – Julianna Guy

Julianna Guy, the 1998 ATHENA Award recipient, began her career as a CPA and moved from accounting with a "big eight" firm to broadcast management.  Guy was one of the first women station managers in the Western U.S. and in the early 80’s, she served as the first woman Deputy Commissioner for Telecommunications for Alaska. She has served as president of the Anchorage Chapter of the American Society of Women Accountants and was the society’s 1992 National Woman of Achievement. She is a member of the Alaska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame and has been a board member for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Arctic Power, ALPAR, and the Alaska Center for Performing Arts. She also was recognized as a 1992 YWCA Woman of Achievement.

1997 – Jo Michalski

Jo Michalski is one of Anchorage’s most successful entrepreneurs. Running a series of popular businesses has made her a valuable mentor for local women in business. Michalski is always willing to share her experiences and expertise. She has worked with professional businesswomen from Russia as well as international business students. She was the 1997 recipient of the Anchorage ATHENA Award, one of 50 1998 YWCA National Woman Entrepreneur Award recipients, 1998 recipient of the Philanthropy Small Business Award, and an Anchorage Chamber of Commerce 1999 Gold Pan Award recipient. She also has been the President of the League of Women Voters, President of the YWCA board of directors, a charter member of the Alaska Junior Theater, and a board member of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.

1996 - Cynthia Parker

Now living and working in Seattle, WA, Cynthia Parker, the 1996 ATHENA Award recipient, is the former executive director for Anchorage Neighborhood Housing Services. Under her direction, the organization grew from a $15,000 business contribution start-up to a $57 million asset-based corporation. While in Anchorage, she was responsible for providing safe low-cost housing for single women, childcare programs, home ownerships for single women, and increased participation by women on ANHS related programs and boards. She received the 1994 Alaskan of the Year Governor’s Award and received the Fannie Mae Foundations’ 1993 Maxwell Award for The Village project. She served two three-year appointments to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco board, served on an advisory committee on the Alaskan Commission for the Homeless and is a past chair of the Anchorage Planning Authority.

1995 – Eleanor Andrews

Eleanor Andrews has built her business from the ground up and still has the time to support the issues she cares about. Through chairing the Anchorage ATHENA Society, Andrews, the 1995 ATHENA Award recipient, has worked tirelessly to support local women in business. In 2000, she brought the ATHENA PowerLink program to Alaska. A few of her many contributions to the community and recognitions include the 1993 YWCA Woman of Achievement and the 1998 Alaska Small Business of the Year awards, Andrews has served on the board of directors for the Anchorage Mutual Housing Association, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Commonwealth North, University of Alaska Anchorage and Anchorage East Rotary.  Andrews continually seeks out joint ventures to work with new and emerging companies to launch them into the business world. She also regularly employs her company’s resources and staff’s efforts in support of community activities.

1988 – Joyce Murphy

Joyce Murphy was the first Anchorage ATHENA Award recipient. Originally the owner of Alaska Animal Eye Clinic and Alpine Veterinary Clinic, she now lives in Homer and continues to practice veterinary medicine. During her time in Anchorage, Murphy received the 1993 Soroptimist Woman of Achievement Award and the 1988 U.S. Small Business Administration’s Alaska Businesswoman of the Year award. She was the first woman president of Chugach Electric Association; she served on the Governor’s Energy Task Force and was vice-chair of the Alaska Energy Authority. In addition, she has served as the chair of the Salvation Army’s Booth Memorial Home Advisory Council and the American Red Cross Disaster Committee and founded and chaired the People-Animal Connection which takes pets to seniors in nursing homes and patients in hospitals.