Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce opens nominations and applications for its 2027 ATHENA International Awards honoring women leaders and organizations

Rochester, New York – The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is inviting local leaders, professionals and organizations to put themselves forward for recognition through the 2027 ATHENA International Awards. The annual program will honor women and organizations that have demonstrated leadership, professional achievement and a commitment to strengthening the Rochester community.

The Chamber announced the call for applications and nominations on August 11, 2026. Three awards will be presented as part of the 2027 program: the ATHENA International Award, the ATHENA Young Professional Award and the ATHENA Organizational Award.

The nomination period will remain open through October 30, 2026, while applications will be accepted until November 13. The recipients will be revealed during the 41st annual awards celebration, scheduled for Thursday, February 4, 2027.

People and organizations interested in participating should pay attention to the separate nomination and application deadlines. A nomination is not required to apply, and being nominated does not play a role in determining who ultimately receives an award.

For those who are nominated, there is an additional step. Once an online nomination form is submitted, the nominee will receive an email informing them of the nomination. To remain under consideration, the nominee must then complete the application form before the November 13 deadline.

The nomination form is available through the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce website, giving community members an opportunity to identify women and organizations they believe deserve recognition.

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The ATHENA International Award is the program’s recognition for an established professional female leader. Candidates should have a record of significant accomplishments in business, involvement in community service and efforts to advance women professionally.

The award is intended to recognize leadership that extends beyond success in a particular career. It highlights women who have made meaningful contributions both through their professional work and through their involvement in the wider community.

A separate award is available for younger professionals who are beginning to make their mark as leaders. The ATHENA Young Professional Award recognizes individuals between the ages of 25 and 45 who demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession.

The category provides an opportunity to highlight emerging leaders whose work and approach show promise for continued contributions to their organizations and the community.

The third category, the ATHENA Organizational Award, focuses on businesses and other organizations rather than an individual. It is presented to a woman-owned or woman-led organization that has created a workplace culture encouraging women employees to reach their leadership potential.

The organization must also demonstrate support for leadership development opportunities for women and girls in the community. In that sense, the award looks not only at what an organization has achieved, but also at the environment it creates for developing future leaders.

The ATHENA International Awards have a long history of recognizing women in leadership. The internationally recognized program was founded in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan, by Martha Mertz, founder of ATHENA International.

The original purpose of the award was to recognize exceptional women leaders while encouraging others to pursue excellence in their professional and business lives. The program has since expanded beyond its original location and has become a widely recognized leadership awards program.

In Rochester, the ATHENA Award has been presented annually since 1987, giving the local program a history stretching back nearly four decades. The upcoming 2027 celebration will mark the 41st annual awards event hosted by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.

The continued program reflects the Chamber’s effort to recognize leadership within the Rochester business community while highlighting the contributions of women at different stages of their careers.

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With nominations opening first and applications following shortly afterward, potential nominees and applicants have several weeks to prepare their materials. The Chamber is encouraging those interested in the awards to review the requirements and deadlines before beginning the process.

In addition to seeking nominations and applications, the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is offering sponsorship opportunities for the February awards celebration. Businesses and organizations interested in supporting the event can review the available 2027 sponsorship opportunities.

Questions about the awards or the application process can be directed to Events Director Susan George at [email protected].

The February ceremony will ultimately bring the process to a close, when the Chamber announces the 2027 honorees. Until then, the nomination and application periods give Rochester-area professionals and organizations an opportunity to recognize leadership that might otherwise go unnoticed and to highlight women who are helping shape their workplaces and communities.