By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News
More than 80 friends, coworkers, family and past recipients gathered Thursday for lunch to honor the 2017 ATHENA Award winner, Dr. Heather Schweizer.
As a fellow woman in business, Joan Bullard of Joan Bullard Realty was the day’s keynote speaker, before Schweizer stepped up to speak, and looking over the crowd, she said she felt very honored.
“I had a lot of my office staff and a lot of our leadership team that came that I wasn’t expecting to come, but also, I know several of the ladies who have been past recipients. I mean, these are some peppy, hitting, strong, educated women in our community who have done a lot of great things, so I’m very humbled and very honored to be a part of that group,” Schweizer said.
Schweizer also said that there are several things to keep in mind when pursuing your dreams.
“Follow your own dream. Don’t let someone else tell you you can’t do something. Work hard and don’t ever give up. You always have second chances to come back and make it right. Learn to lean on people around you, because we can’t ever do it on our own. We’ve got to have the support of the people we work with, the people that we love at home, our religious community and our community members,” Schweizer said.
The ATHENA Award is presented to a woman or man who is honored for attaining professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their achievement of professional excellence and leadership skills. Schweizer is the 32nd honored in Pontiac.
