NASHVILLE, TN — The Nashville ATHENA Leadership Awards Program announced its 2019 award recipients recently at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Mendy Mazzo was honored with the 2019 ATHENA Award. Brenda Gadd received the Young Professional Leadership Award. Mazzo is among 26 ATHENA nominees selected this year by middle Tennessee organizations and associations, and Gadd represents a class of 25 Young Professional Award nominees.
“Tonight is a celebration for and of our nominees. Our nominees are leaders who display excellence in all that they do and are intentional about mentoring others, especially young women. All of these women embody the qualities of the Greek Goddess ATHENA – wisdom, courage and fierceness in all they do,” said ATHENA Chair Andrea Perry. “Both of our recipients are exemplary women who have achieved great success in their careers and gone above and beyond to serve their communities. Katie and I congratulate each of our recipients and our 51 nominees for their dedication and exemplary leadership. It has truly been a true honor to chair this amazing program!”
Mendy Mazzo is the Corporate Senior Vice President of National Business Development at Skanska USA. Mendy has a passion for issues related to diversity and inclusion and was instrumental in the development of Skanska’s Diversity Business Program and is Immediate Past National Chair & Founding Member of the Skanska’s Women’s Network (nominating organization). Mendy was honored by the Nashville Business Journal as a Woman of Influence in 2012 and has received numerous recognitions, in addition to serving on multiple non-profit organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, Cumberland Region Tomorrow, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville, Hands on Nashville and Josie Mazzo Children’s Charities..
Nominated by CABLE, Brenda Gadd is the founder and president of Rethink Public Strategies, a woman-owned public affairs firm, where she represents nonprofits and socially conscious companies in the public policy and political arenas. Brenda previously served as the Public Policy Director of the Tennessee Bar Association and Vice President of CivicPoint. She managed the successful statewide retention election of three Tennessee Supreme Court Justices and became the first woman to manage three statewide successful candidates, including a successful statewide Democratic candidate. She also served as Chief of Staff in the Tennessee Senate and then as a Legislative Liaison in Governor Bredesen’s administration.
ATHENA continues to be a premier program, powered by CABLE. The annual event is organized and sponsored through the collaborative efforts of local women’s organizations in partnership with local businesses, corporations and individual sponsors, unlike other cities, which rely upon their local Chamber of Commerce.
The ATHENA Awards Program honors business and professional women for their career success, service to community and encouragement of women. This year’s ATHENA nominees include:
Andrea Blackman
Cheryl Farrar
Mendy Mazzo
Lisa Booker
Kristi Faulkner Lewis
LaMona Prince McCarter
Terry Renee’ Browne
Paula Foster
Nicole Rowan
Patricia Burks-Jelks
Cathey Gurley
Stephani Ryan
Lottye Covington
Leslie Hayes
Yanika Smith Bartley
Laura Creekmore
Michele Herlein
Laquita Stribling
Angelita Dalton
Keri Floyd Kelly
Dawana Wade
Jenean Davis
Brittany Lorenzi
Vivian Wilhoite
Ana Escobar
Anne Martin
ATHENA also provides the unique opportunity to feature rising women in the community who use their vision and persistence to excel, while reaching out and opening the way for others. This year’s ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award nominees include:
Nicole Adams
Brenda Gadd
Charlane Oliver
Ora L. Bransford
Jennifer Hillen
Matia Powell
Jenny Charles
Jamica Hines
Nekasha Pratt
Jade Dodds
Monchiere Holmes-Jones
Allison Reynolds
Leah Dupree
Kyonzte Hughes-Toombs
Lorelei Samuelson
Meredith Ficken
Royya James
LaKisha Simmons
Danielle Frazier
Kristal Knight
Kearston Winrow
Tya Frelix
Phylicia Moye
Bria Woods
Melinda Noblitt
Launched in 1993 through the support of the Patrons Society and local sponsors, the ATHENA Scholarship Program awards middle Tennessee high school females and young women, both traditional and non-traditional, scholarships for continuing their education.
This year ATHENA presented $14,850 in scholarships to 11 deserving students, who include:
Tammy Guo
Katelyn Stark
Emily Gwydir
Annabelle Taylor
Emily Lu
Caroline Tracy
Emily Jackson
McKenzie Williamson
Lauren Pinckar
Rhea Zaverchand
Skyler Sopko
