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Presenting Sponsor

Program Sponsor

SCHEDULE

Welcome Tracy Myers Executive Vice President, Member & Investor Engagement Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Sponsor Remarks Jena Folger Vice President Core Market Growth and Business Development Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Presentation of 2026 ATHENA Award Pat Soenksen 2025 ATHENA Award Recipient Sponsor Remarks Walidah Karim-Rhoades Regional VP of Operations for the Greensboro market, Cone Health Volunteerism & Board Service Panel Michelle Gethers Trusted Consultant | Community Volunteer | Author Mary Herbenick Guilford Nonprofit Consortium Grace Thompson President & CEO, Junior Achievement of the Triad Booth Networking Followed by Lunch Fireside Chat Dr. Amber K. Brooks Vice Chief Academic Officer & Vice Dean of Institutional Learning and Transformation for Advocate Health and Wake Forest University School of Medicine Renata Reeder Government Affairs & Community Engagement, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Civic Engagement Session Leslie Garvin Executive Director, North Carolina Campus Engagement

SPONSORS

Presenting Sponsor

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Photo Sponsor Truliant Federal Credit Union

Program Sponsor Sonder Mind + Body

Souvenir Sponsor Simply Southern Collection

Booth Sponsors Bee Organized Greensboro · EPIC Esthetics · Family Support Network of Central Carolina · Girl Scouts Carolina Peaks to Piedmont · Interactive Resource Center · Joyful Pediatrics · Junior Achievement of the Triad · Kinward · Out of the Garden Project · Peacehaven Community Farm · Sonder Mind + Body · The Mingle Studio

SPEAKER

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Amber K. Brooks Amber K. Brooks, MD, MS, is a Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSM), specializing in the treatment of complex pain conditions through a multimodal, patient-centered approach. She is nationally recognized for her Previously, Dr. Brooks served as the WFUSM Vice Dean for Strategic Initiatives, where she helped guide the School of Medicine through federal policy changes and advanced enterprise-wide initiatives in Planetary Health, Community Engagement, Artificial Intelligence and Research, Innovation, and Translational Neuroscience. She currently serves as the inaugural Vice Dean for Institutional Learning and Transformation at WFUSM and Vice Chief Academic Officer for Advocate Health. In this role, she provides strategic oversight of CAPTURE (the Centralized Analytic Platform for Performance, Transparency, and Utilization in Real-time for Excellence), the School of Medicine’s integrated data dashboard designed to deliver measurable, transparent, and scalable indicators of performance across education, research, and academically integrated clinical care. Nationally, Dr. Brooks is recognized for both her scholarship and service. She is a recipient of multiple research and diversity honors, including Wake Forest University’s Research Excellence Awards, the Distinguished Alumni Award for Early Career Advancement from the University of Iowa College of Medicine, and institutional awards recognizing her leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion, including the Hero Diversity and Inclusion Award from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

SPEAKER

Speaker: Leslie Garvin Leslie Garvin, Executive Director for NC Campus ENgagement, develops and leads member institution recruitment and retention strategies, facilitates administrator and faculty professional learning initiatives, and builds strategic partnerships to develop and expand higher education civic engagement. A passionate civic builder and bridger, she is a skilled facilitator and trainer in dialogue and deliberation having trained hundreds of faculty, staff, students, and community partners across the state and country in multiple dialogue methods. She is a frequent speaker on topics related to higher education community and civic engagement, democracy, and public deliberation, civil discourse and dialogue. In February 2024, then NC Governor Roy Cooper appointed Leslie to the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service. From 2023-24, she served on the Commission on the Future of NC Elections and chaired the Election Administration and Infrastructure committee and served on the Civic Education and Early Voting committees. She has served as an NC Election Official for over a decade and is currently a Chief Election Judge in the county where she resides. In July 2025, Leslie celebrated her 20th anniversary working at NCCE. She holds a Master of Social Work with a concentration in social and economic development and a specialization in management, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and African & African-American Studies, both from Washington University in St. Louis. She is a former White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellow, a proud AmeriCorps alum, and a committed volunteer and leader in her local faith community.

SPEAKER

Speaker: Michelle Gethers Michelle Gethers is sparked by a purpose to support others to reach their full potential. She serves as a trusted advisor and inspiring public speaker to social impact and corporate clients. Her career spans 40 years with roles as Chief Diversity Officer and Head of Corporate Responsibility for Visa, CEO for United Way of Greater Greensboro, and General Manager and SVP for American Express. These roles represent a track record of global leadership across six continents building agile and inclusive teams driving philanthropic, anti-poverty, and risk management solutions. In summary, she leverages her corporate and social impact experiences to make life and business better. As a community leader in Greensboro North Carolina, Michelle has made sustaining contributions: First large corporate gift of $250,000 from Amex to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum Raised $90 million under her leadership for United Way of Greater Greensboro to reduce generational poverty 20-year volunteer in Guilford County Public School – mentoring, tutoring, proctoring, and advocating Past and Present Board of Trustees/Directors for: North Carolina A&T State University, Bennett College, Music Academy, United Way of Greater Greensboro, Cone Health Network, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Ready for School Ready for Life, and Cone Health Philanthropic Foundation Her mantra is “People follow character and not titles.”

SPEAKER

Speaker: Mary Herbenick Mary is a servant leader with a 30-year career as a strategy consultant, nonprofit executive, writer, facilitator, and change agent. She has led grassroots efforts and established organizations, galvanizing people across multiple sectors to work together to achieve a common goal. She is passionate about connecting talent and resources to help address Guilford County's biggest challenges. Mary lived and worked in DC, Chicago, and Denver before making her home in Greensboro in 2009. An active volunteer, she was recently appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women for the City of Greensboro. Fun Fact: Mary’s first volunteer role in Greensboro was with the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium after meeting and being recruited by Donna Newton (2009 Athena Award Winner) while standing in line at Harris Teeter.

SPEAKER

Speaker: Ranata Reeder Ranata Reeder works in Government Affairs and Community Engagement for Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. She brings more than 15 years of experience across community development, philanthropy, and government. Throughout her career, Ranata has worked to build healthy, thriving, affordable, and economically vibrant communities by bringing together people, policy, and community resources. She previously served as Executive Director of the South Florida Community Development Coalition and as a Trustee of the Miami-Dade County Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board. She was also recognized among South Florida’s 40 Under 40 for her work in community development. Ranata has worked on policy and advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels, engaging elected officials, business leaders, philanthropic organizations, and nonprofits across the country. Her work has included community development, economic development, and public health initiatives in cities including Boston, Greensboro, Indianapolis, Miami, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Ranata is also a member of the current Leadership Greensboro class.

SPEAKER

Speaker: Pat Soenksen Pat Soenksen is the 2025 Greensboro Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Award recipient and former President and CEO of Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro (now AuthoraCare). She retired after 40 years of experience in healthcare management, leadership, and consulting, dedicating much of her career to improving healthcare services in the Greater Greensboro community. Pat previously served as a Vice President within Cone Health, where she helped advance the health system's heart and vascular and oncology programs. She also worked with more than 40 health systems nationwide to develop strategic plans for cancer centers and hospices before returning to Greensboro in 2007 to lead Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro. Throughout her career, Pat has been a dedicated mentor to more than 30 individuals, particularly young professional women who have gone on to lead organizations throughout the community. She has also helped guide strategic planning for more than 15 nonprofit organizations and continues to volunteer with organizations including the Guilford Community Care Network, Guilford Nonprofit Consortium, and Women's Resource Center. Pat remains passionate about developing future leaders and believes strongly that "mentoring matters!"

SPEAKER

Speaker: Grace Thompson Grace Thompson is President and CEO of Junior Achievement of the Triad, where she leads the organization’s work to prepare young people for financial independence and career success. During the 2025–2026 school year, Junior Achievement served more than 21,000 students across five counties through financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship education. Since joining Junior Achievement in 2023, Grace has focused on expanding access to programming and strengthening partnerships among schools, businesses, and community leaders. She is currently leading the launch of JA Finance Park Mobile, which will bring hands-on financial education and career exploration to students throughout the region. Grace holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and began her career in the classroom before moving into nonprofit leadership. She previously served as Executive Director of the Greensboro Boys and Girls Club and was named the North and South Carolina Executive Director of the Year in 2022. Grace served as President of the Greensboro Jaycees in 2023, leading the chapter to statewide recognition as Chapter of the Year. Grace was recognized among the Triad Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2025. Her work centers on building community partnerships that expand opportunities for young people and strengthen the Triad’s future workforce.

ATHENA

About the ATHENA Leadership Award® The ATHENA Leadership Award® was inspired by the goddess of Greek mythology known for her strength, courage, wisdom, and enlightenment. The award is unique in both scope (local, national, and international) and the ATHENA mission upon which it is based. The ATHENA Leadership Award® is presented to a woman, or man, for professional excellence, community service, and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.

ATHENA

Past ATHENA Leadership Award® Winners 2025 - Pat Soensken 2024 - Memorial Year 2023 - Dr. Terri Shelton 2022 - Alejandra O. Thompson 2021 - Dr. Mary Jo Cagle 2020 - Ursula Oglesby 2019 - Mae Douglas 2018 - Anita Hughes Bachmann 2017 - Louise Brady 2016 - Kay Hagan 2015 - Robin Hager 2014 - Dawn Chaney 2013 - Sue Cole 2012 - Michelle Gethers 2011 - Janet Ward Black 2010 - Cyndy Hayworth 2009 - Donna Newton 2008 - Candace Cummings 2007 - Denny Kelly

2006 - Pam Barrett 2005 - Priscilla Taylor 2004 - Dr. Johnetta Cole 2003 - Linda Carlisle 2002 - Deborah Hooper 2001 - Beth McKee Huger 2000 - Shirley Frye 1999 - Carole Bruce Simms 1998 - Bonnie McElveen-Hunter 1997 - Lynn F. Black 1996 - Betty Cone 1995 - Betty H. Nichols 1994 - Sandra Burton Anderson 1993 - Aileen B. Oldham 1992 - Eunice M. Dudley 1991 -Joyce Richardson 1990 - Anne M. Allen 1989 - Kay Cashion 1988 - Margaret Earle

2026 Women's Executive Connection Digital Program