The Greater Phoenix Chamber announced the 11 women chosen as finalists for its prestigious 38th annual ATHENA Awards, continuing its strong tradition of recognizing outstanding Valley businesswomen.
The ATHENA Businesswoman of the Year Award recognizes a woman in the public and private sectors and highlights an upcoming leader in the Valley as an ATHENA young professional. ATHENA finalists are chosen among dozens of nominations for their excellence in business and leadership, dedication to the community, and support and mentorship of others. Congratulations to all the 2025 ATHENA nominees!
The 11 finalists are:
Private Sector Finalists
- Jessica Berger, founder & CEO, Bundle x Joy
- Sonya Engle, chief operating officer, Sonora Quest Laboratories
- Heather Lennon, owner/founder, Imagine General Contracting and Development
- Grenee Martacho, CEO, Concord General Contracting
Public Sector Finalists
- Elvy Barton, water and forest sustainability senior manager, Salt River Project
- Debbie Esparza, CEO emerita, YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix
- Melinda Gulick, CEO, First Things First
- Sintra Hoffman, president & CEO, WESTMARC
Young Professional Finalists
- Breanna Naegeli, PhD, dean; Honors College & Global Education Programs, Grand Canyon University
- Christina Ngo, executive director of social embeddedness, Arizona State University
- Brandie Reiner, executive director, National Association of Social Workers, Arizona Chapter
“Celebrating the women who are shaping the future of the Greater Phoenix region through the ATHENA Awards is one of the Chamber’s most cherished traditions,” said Todd Sanders, president & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber. “These leaders bring extraordinary value to their organizations and communities, and their impact is helping position Arizona as a national leader. We invite everyone to join us this November at the ATHENA Awards Luncheon to honor and connect with these inspiring changemakers.”
The ATHENA Awards highlight women who have achieved the pinnacle of success within their industry, have mentored others throughout their careers, dedicated their time to their community, and are making a difference in the lives of others.
Join the Greater Phoenix Chamber to celebrate outstanding businesswomen in our community and to support all nominees, finalists, and recipients, past and present.
Three ATHENA Award recipients will be announced during the Greater Phoenix Chamber’s ATHENA Awards Luncheon on Thursday, November 13th, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Register here (registration closes on Friday, November 7th). For questions, email events@phoenixchamber.com. Hashtag: #PHXATHENA2025.
