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Earl C. Berger, President, Berger Family Dealerships, sponsor, Jeffrey Berger, General
Manager, Berger Family Dealerships, Jennifer Sloot, Printmark Industries, 2006 Athena
recipient, and Donna Palermo, President, Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce.

Nominations for the annual Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce/ Berger Family Dealerships Pontiac Division �gAthena Award�h are now being accepted.  Nomination letters will be sent in the Chamber�fs March newsletter  to nearly 1,000 Chamber member contacts, and are also available at the Chamber office, 300 Renaissance Center, 1 S. Church St., in Hazleton and online at www.hazletonchamber.org.

The award is presented annually to the �gBusinesswoman of the Year�h in the Greater Hazleton Area.  The presentation, which features a handsome bronze and crystal sculpture, is presented as part of the Chamber�fs Annual Meeting and is sponsored by Berger Family Dealerships.  This  year, the award will be presented on Thursday, May 10th, at the 115th Annual Dinner of the Chamber, to take place at the Genetti Best Western Motor Lodge. 

The Chamber �gAthena�h award will be given to the businesswoman who has demonstrated the �ghighest level of professional accomplishment�h and is based primarily on professional competency, achievement and dedication. According to Chamber officials the �gAthena�h award is not intended to be a civic achievement award, but a meaningful recognition of women as an integral part of the Hazleton Area workplace. 

Any woman employed by a Chamber member firm may be nominated. Nominations can be made by employers, employees or friends, and should be forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce prior to the April 6th deadline.  Individuals who are nominated will be contacted by the Chamber for additional information necessary for the award judges to consider the nomination. Official nomination forms can be obtained by contacting  the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce at 455-1509 or emailing the Chamber at info@hazletonchamber.org.  Official forms are not necessary however, and individuals desiring to submit the name of someone for consideration can do so by forwarding the name, place of employment, position, and  brief comments about the individual to the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce.  The name and a contact phone number for the individual making the recommendation must accompany the nomination.

This year will mark the twentieth presentation of the award which was initiated by the Chamber twenty- two years ago.  Previous winners are, 1986: Lillian Paternoster, Case and Keg Beverage, 1987: Lorraine Shema, Bishop Hafey High School, 1988: Donna Jean Yannuzzi, Job Johnny of Hazleton, 1989: Mary Bollman, former Administrative Assistant for the Chamber of Commerce, 1990: Patricia Werner-Savage, Lutheran Welfare Services of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 1991: Theresa Raffety, Executive Secretary and Office Manager, Yamulla Trucking and Excavating Co., Inc, 1992: Martha Herron, Hazleton Area Manager, Pennsylvania Power and Light Company, 1994: JoAnn Yannuzzi, Hazleton Floral Design, 1996: Ruth Wimsatt, Wellife Health and Fitness, 1997: Molly Blasko, Sport Shack, 1998: Bettie Sitoski, PNC Bank, 1999: Linda Schreiber of the Hazleton YM-YWCA, 2000: Catherine Seamon of United Rehabilitation Services, 2001: Mary Jane Saras, Serento Gardens Alcoholism and Drug Rehabilitation Services, 2002: Atty. Sharon Evans, 2003: Dr. Geraldine Shepperson, 2004: Mary Malone of the Greater Hazleton United Way,  2005: Atty. Elizabeth Maguschak and in 2006: Jennifer Sloot of Printmark Industries. No awards were presented in 1993 or 1995. In addition to this year�fs winner, all previous Athena winners are encouraged to attend the Chamber event at which time they will be recognzied as part of the 20th anniversary of the award.

Chamber President Donna Palermo notes, �gOnce again, we are pleased be able to count on the support and sponsorship of  Berger Family Dealerships in presenting this most prestigious award. The Berger family has sponsored this award since its inception, and we proud to join with them again this year.�h

For 2007, the Chamber's Annual Meeting will continue with its successful format which will include an extended Executive Reception and an exclusive business and trade exposition.

Registration forms for the business show will been mailed in the Chamber�fs March newsletter with Annual Dinner invitations going out a few weeks later. For information on the Athena Award, Business Expo or the Annual Dinner, contact the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce at 455-1509.

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