Better reach to customers, cash flow, human resources scenarios, breaking into new markets…these are just a few of many reasons why a woman business owner might seek the help of an ATHENA PowerLink® advisory panel.
Now in its 20th year, ATHENA PowerLink® is an advisory program aimed at guiding women business owners, whose companies are poised for growth, in defining and achieving tangible goals by providing them with access to a panel of business advisors. Each advisory panel is hand-selected based upon each woman business owner’s individual needs. These volunteer panelists serve as mentors and advisors for a 12-month period at no charge to the woman business owner and strive to help the woman business owner achieve growth and profitability. As the third city in the nation to start this volunteer program, ATHENA PowerLink® has helped more than 50 woman-owned businesses to date representing a variety of industries.
The program’s growth and the response from business professionals in the community eager to volunteer their expertise validates the important impact this program has made and continues to make in the community.
The 2020 ATHENA PowerLink® Program Awardees who will receive a panel of highly skilled professionals are:
- Sarah Purvis, Erie Dance Conservatory
- Jennifer Minski, Popluck
- Alice DeGeorge, Presque Isle Printing
Each of these three awardees will receive an ATHENA PowerLink® Advisory Panel of Business Professionals for 2020. The Advisory Panel works with the business owner for one year, free of charge. The panel, which can include everyone from lawyers and bankers to accountants and marketing professionals, help each woman with her individual needs to help grow her business.
Linda Stevenson, chair of the ATHENA PowerLink® Governing Body commented, “We are excited to see the program continue to grow and draw a number of women business owners and professional advisers. This is a true testament to the community’s support for the ATHENA PowerLink program and our belief that these women are positioned to take their businesses to the next level with increased revenues and jobs. Without a doubt when women owned business grow, the entire community benefits- it’s a win/win.”
And the success is in the numbers. According ATHENA International, on average businesses realize an 88 percent increase in sales and 37 percent increase in business growth income as a result of the mentoring program.
For further information on eligibility requirements or application fee, questions can be directed to athenaerie.stevenson@gmail.com or athenaerie.org.
