Simpson Goodman Receives 2009 ATHENA Young Professional Award

Contact:
Jessica Thompson, Communications Director
781-3200, jessica@bgchamber.com

	Laura Simpson Goodman (left) accepted the ATHENA Young Professional Award from Amber Martin, a representative for Martin Automotive Group.

"Laura is truly deserving of this award," said Todd Davis, chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors. "She is a dedicated young professional who is deeply involved in community and Chamber programs, and she demonstrates a real desire to make Bowling Green a better place for all."

The ATHENA Young Professional Award, which is an extension of the ATHENA Award, was introduced at the ATHENA International Conference in Chicago in April 2007. The Young Professional Award recognizes an emerging leader in the community who demonstrates the following leadership skills:

• provides valuable service to his or her business or profession and to the community
• exhibits initiative and creativity
• exemplifies and upholds the goals of the professional woman
• clearly serves as a role model for young women personally and professionally

"The Chamber believes in ATHENA International's philosophy of incorporating the talent and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, our communities and our government, and we are proud to present the ATHENA Award and the ATHENA Young Professional Award to leaders within our community," said Beth Oliphant, Chamber program director.

The Chamber is the only organization in Kentucky to honor a community member with the ATHENA Young Professional Award. After having presented the ATHENA Award to community members for 23 years, the Chamber is proud to have added the Young Professional Award to their program opportunities in 2008, when Jana Sublett received the inaugural award. The Chamber is able to present both awards because of the generous support of Martin Automotive Group.

"Martin Automotive Group has sponsored the ATHENA Awards since the Chamber first presented the prestigious honor in 1986. We're proud to expand the tradition by sponsoring the Young Professional Award because we believe in the importance of recognizing those outstanding young professionals who help women achieve success in the workplace and in the community. Laura is a tremendous example of what this award represents," said Amber Martin of Martin Automotive Group.

Simpson Goodman is a 2005 graduate of Western Kentucky University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in public relations with a minor in women's studies. While at WKU, she was named Outstanding Senior Public Relations Student. Prior to her current position at Junior Achievement, she served as an AmericCorps VISTA at CASA and an advocate at Hope Harbor, and she worked in University Relations as a WKU student.

As program manager for Junior Achievement, Simpson Goodman administers and manages all school programs and volunteer recruitment in Cumberland, Edmonson, Logan, Simpson and Warren Counties. She has been instrumental in growing local Junior Achievement programs by 12%, and she has helped to grow the Chamber's Work Ethic Seal program, expanding it from one county to now five throughout the region. She received the JA Peak Performance Team Award and the Silver Summit Award for the past two years; both awards are presented by Junior Achievement Worldwide. In 2008, she was recognized as one of four Junior Achievement associates worldwide with the Rising Star Award, which is given to mid-level staff members who are emerging leaders within the organization.

Simpson Goodman is very active in community organizations such as the Professional Marketing Association, the Warren County Chapter of WKU Alumni and the Workforce Development Committee of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. She is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Bowling Green and a member of the Leadership Bowling Green Alumni Association. She is part of the Citizens Committee for the Warren County Regional Juvenile Detention Center and a member of the Chi Omega Sorority Advisory Board and Housing Corporation. She is also involved with the Bowling Green Humane Society.

Through her work at Junior Achievement, Simpson Goodman has become involved with the chambers of commerce in Logan and Simpson Counties, as well as the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. She served as a deejay for a Simpson County Chamber of Commerce radio program, and she often gives presentations to local Rotary, Kiwanis and Society of Human Resource Management organizations.

According to Simpson Goodman's nomination form, which was submitted by Junior Achievement of South Central Kentucky President Heather Rogers, Simpson Goodman "is a strong advocate for women and clearly serves as a role model to other young women through her work with Junior Achievement, the Juvenile Detention Center and Chi Omega sorority. She always gives 110% in her endeavors."

"We had an excellent group of nominees for the ATHENA Young Professional Award this year," said Oliphant. "All are deserving of recognition for their work in our community." Other nominees for this year's ATHENA Young Professional Award were

• Melanie K. Cook - Individual Chamber partner and senior employment attorney for Dollar General Corporation
• Elizabeth Heller - Career counselor for Western Kentucky University
• Kristi Miller Smith - Manager of business services for Holland CPAs, PSC
• Nancy Mitchell - Manager, valley relations for Tennessee Valley Authority

Incorporated in 1935, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce is the driving force for economic development in South Central Kentucky. As one of only 336 chambers nationwide to be accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the fourth largest chamber in Kentucky, the Chamber serves as a premier business advocate for its more than 1,300 partners. Its primary goals are to promote growth and success in the business community, reaching its small business partners and those in large industries alike. With leadership programs, governmental relations projects, educational initiatives and involvement opportunities, the Chamber aims to support the community and its neighbors in order to enhance the business climate and continue to grow the region.