Livingston County Clerk Kristy Masching at a surprise gathering to announce her selection. (Photo by Cathi Coppinger)

Livingston County Clerk Kristy Masching is the 2018 ATHENA Award winner. The award is presented by the Pontiac Area Chamber of Commerce, and it  recognizes an individual who has achieved excellence in his or her profession, given back to the community and has assisted women in realizing their full potential. As reported on WJEZ’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/989Wjez, Masching said she was “very honored and humbled.” Masching has been county clerk since December 2003 and has served in some county capacity for more than 40 years. ATHENA award nomincations are collected each year, and an award recipient is selected from those nominated by a committee. Since the program’s inception in 1982, ATHENA International has awarded more than 6,700 leaders in over 500 communities.