Get to Know the ATHENA Young Professional Finalists

In 2008, the annual ATHENA Awards grew with the introduction of an ATHENA Young Professional category. Courtney Klein of New Global Citizens was the inaugural recipient, followed by Wendy K. Akbar of Quarles & Brady LLP in 2009 and Rachel Bennett Yanof of Phoenix Collegiate Academy last year.

Three outstanding young women are finalists for this award in 2011, which will be presented along with the ATHENA Awards in the Private and Public Sectors at a gala luncheon on Tuesday, October 25 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. Click here to register today for this wonderful event, and read on to find out more about this terrific trio.

Gelie Akhenblit is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of NetworkingPhoenix.com, a website which brings more than 16,000 local professionals, business owners and entrepreneurs together using a constantly updated calendar of more than 600 monthly local events.

“People want to do business with people in their communities. We help them meet face-to-face,” says Akhenblit, who, despite being just 30 years old, is sought after by business people of all ages for her wealth of experience, personality and business acumen.

“Age doesn’t matter if you can connect with people,” says Akhenblit. “If I can share my experiences with someone and that will help them get where they’re going on their journey, I’m always happy to do it.”

Jaclyn Keller is Project Coordinator for Valley of the Sun United Way and the youngest ATHENA finalist at 26. She has made the most of her time, giving back through the community a mentor and community volunteer. She worked with the City of Maricopa to establish a community center and a teen program, and mentors at-risk teens to help them complete high school through the United Way’s “Destination Graduation” program. Keller believes the best about our youth, even those in the worst of circumstances.

“Even with the hardest teenagers I’ve had that were on three strikes and about to go into jail, I can still see underneath the hard exterior,” Keller says. “They all want someone to believe in them and tell them they can do it.”

At Valley of the Sun United Way, Keller oversees the First Things First Childcare Scholarship program that helps low-income families afford quality childcare. A former single mother herself, Keller is a role model for young women in challenging circumstances, and constantly seeks new ways to inspire others to reach their potential and achieve self-sufficiency.

“When youth and children aren’t given every opportunity to be the best they can be, they just need a little extra help and push,” Keller says.

Andrea Stouder Pursley is the Executive Director of the Sanford Education Project at Arizona State University (ASU). This unique educational initiative, in collaboration with Teach For America, will recruit, train, support and engage better teachers to build a better educational system for the future.

As a former classroom teacher in South Phoenix, Pursley gained firsthand experience in the educational inequities facing school children from low-income areas. Now she not only works to ensure that all children are given equal opportunities to succeed, but that the next generation of teachers have the resources and encouragement they need to do the challenging and life-altering job of educating our kids.

“All the research shows the number one indicator of academic attainment for students is who their teacher is,” Pursley says. “I absolutely believe in the power of teachers.

“I am really excited about the opportunity to do the things I am most passionate about – to mentor people who are going to be teachers and educational leaders at every level who will help us solve these problems.”

This story is part of the Chamber's monthly Valley Young Professionals email. To sign up for any or all of the Chamber's email communications, click here.