Amy Grant’s career spans over 25 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality, and philanthropist.

Grant has sold more than 30 million albums and won six Grammys® in multiple categories, beginning with the platinum selling Age to Age in 1982. She also has six #1 hits, including Baby, Baby and Every Heartbeat and is one of only two Christian artists to be awarded a star on the legendary Walk of Fame in Hollywood.

Read Grant’s complete bio on the Speakers page.

The Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas and Walmart, is proud to present the 14th annual Northwest Arkansas Business Women’s Conference on Tuesday, September 11.

The mision of the Northwest Arkansas Business Women’s Conference is to provide personal and professional enrichment through motivational and networking experiences for women.

Stay tuned for more details!

The ATHENA Award ®Program celebrated nationally and internationally recognizes individuals for professional excellence, for providing valuable service to their community and for assisting women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. By honoring exceptional leaders, the ATHENA Award Program fulfills the ATHENA mission of supporting, developing and honoring women leaders, inspiring women to achieve their full potential—creating balance in leadership worldwide.

Established in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan, the program is now administered from its Chicago, Illinois headquarters and boasts over 300 active communities in the United States, Canada, China, Russia and the United Kingdom. More than 5000 individuals representing a wide variety of professions and businesses have received the ATHENA Award. Presented by local host organizations in partnership with ATHENA’s national underwriters, local businesses and individual sponsors the award practically demonstrates the quote from Plato, “What is honored in a country will be cultivated there.”

ATHENA Award Recipients comprise a network of outstanding individuals who have met the following criteria:

1. Demonstrates excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession

2. Provides valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community.

3. Actively assists women in realizing their full leadership potential.

The 2012 ATHENA Women’s Leadership Luncheon will be held on September 18 at the Pinnacle Hills Country Club. To register for the luncheon, call (479) 273-2841 or e-mail Krista Khone (kkhone@bbvchamber.com). Tickets are $25 each or two for $40.

ATHENA Award Winners

2011 Winner – Karen Parker, Walmart Foundation

2010 Winner – Robin Green, Benton County Circuit Judge

2009 Winner – Shirley “Peaches” Peterson, Hollis Enterprises

2008 Winner – Kelly Johnson, NWA Regional Airport (XNA)

2007 Winner – Susan Barrett, Mercy Health Systems

The Northwest Arkansas Business Women’s Conference is known for high-caliber speakers. Former keynote speakers include:

• 2011 – Deborah Norville, Emmy Award-winning journalist, author
• 2010 - Helen Hunt, Academy Award-winning actress
• 2009 – Mia Hamm, former professional soccer player and Olympic gold medalist
• 2008 - Gladys Knight, Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter
• 2007 – Campbell Brown, Emmy Award-winning journalist
• 2006 – Pat Summitt, NCAA basketball’s winningest coach
• 2005 – Ivana Trump, author and fashion model
• 2004 – Erin Brockovich, environmental activist
• 2003 – Nancy Lieberman, former professional basketball player, WNBA coach, and Olympic gold medalist
• 2002 – Suzy Humphreys, motivational humorist
• 2001 – Joyce Landorf Heatherly, author
• 2000 – Emory Austin, motivational speaker
• 1999 – Beth Higgs, motivational speaker