Highlights
- The Greater Phoenix Chamber selected 11 women as finalists for its 2026 ATHENA Awards, now in their 39th year.
- Finalists span private sector, public sector, and a young professional category, with winners announced October 29 at JW Marriott Desert Ridge.
- Notable finalists include Ann Meyers Drysdale of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, and Karrin Taylor Robson of Arizona Strategies.
- Registration for the awards luncheon closes October 21; the event runs 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Greater Phoenix Chamber named 11 women as finalists for its 39th annual ATHENA Awards on Thursday, drawing from dozens of nominations across the private sector, public sector, and a young professional category.
Private sector finalists are Kathy Gallowitz, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and president and CEO of Vanguard Veteran; Ann Meyers Drysdale, broadcaster, Olympian, and Hall of Famer with the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury; Karrin Taylor Robson, founder and president of Arizona Strategies; and Alexi Venneri, co-founder and CEO of DAS Technology.
Public sector finalists are Kim Despres, CEO of Circle the City; Fran Mallace, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Arizona; Janice Palmer, senior vice president of government affairs and public policy at Helios Education Foundation; and Donna Taylor, chief operating officer of Beatitudes Campus.
Young professional finalists are Nicole Campillo Penagos, economic development and government affairs specialist for the Arizona Diamondbacks; Rachelle Giles, vice president of local government relations and association management at Goodman Schwartz Public Affairs; and Lauren Smith, director of community engagement at the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center.
Three recipients will be announced at the ATHENA Awards Luncheon on Thursday, October 29, running 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. Registration closes October 21.
The Arizona Tech Council and Arizona Digital Free Press also reported the finalist announcement Thursday.
Where to find them
- Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa · fivestaralliance.com · Instagram · Facebook · X
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- phoenixchamber.com retrieved 20/08/2026 19:25
- Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa (official site) retrieved 20/08/2026 19:25
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 20/08/2026 19:25. Every claim traces to a source.
