Women Who Work: Leadership Lunch and Learn with ATHENA Honorees

Women Who Work is excited to announce a very special panel-style lunch and learn featuring ATHENA Honoree panelists. The ATHENA International Award honors women who strive toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, and devote time and energy to their community. The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce has been honoring outstanding women in our community with this award since 1987. This cohort of women brings a legacy of leadership experience to share with Women Who Work. We hope you'll join us in a conversation around community leadership and building strong professional networks of women supporting women! 

Panelists:

Julita Sanders, 2021 ATHENA Honoree
Julita Sanders is a community leader, nonprofit executive, and public service professional with extensive experience in community engagement, leadership development, and youth advocacy. As the Founder and Executive Director of Juvenile Outreach Advocate, Inc. and the owner of Holding Hands LLC Consulting, she is committed to strengthening communities through innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and service-driven leadership. Recognized as a Georgia Titan 100 Honoree and ATHENA International Honoree, Julita is passionate about empowering individuals, building collaborative solutions, and creating lasting impact across Georgia. 


Jinx Patel, 2024 ATHENA Honoree
Virginia B. (Jinx) Patel (1965 Ph.D. Washington University, St. Louis, MO) was initially a research scientist publishing papers in developmental and molecular biology. Then, she was the founding Research Director for an international biotech company, Athens Research and Technology (now Athens Bioscience). She is an active community member having served on many boards, such as the Georgia Children's Chorus, Development Authority of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Athens Area Community Foundation, Classic Center Cultural Foundation, and presently, the Jeanette Rankin Foundation National Board. 


Cheryl Legette, 2008 ATHENA Honoree
Cheryl K. Legette has worked for Girl Scouts in a leadership role for 27 years, currently service as the Chief Operations Officer for Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. Cheryl's duties include oversight of membership, volunteer development, program, and property in a jurisdiction that spans 125 counties (122 in GA, 2 in SC, and 1 in AL). During her tenure with Girl Scouts, Cheryl has watched thousands of girls grow into outstanding young women who make positive contributions to their communities. Cheryl has been a member of the Athens Rotary Club for 26 years, having served as President, Foundation Chair, Assistant District Governor, and is currently on the district's membership committee. She is an active member of Ebenezer Baptist Church West where she serves as a deacon and choir member. Cheryl is a proud mother of two grown daughters, Michelle and Camile, and makes her home in Athens with her husband of 38 years, Dr. Roy Legette. 


Carol Williams, 1989 ATHENA Honoree
Carol graduated from UGA's Terry College of Business (cum laude) and considers herself fortunate to call Athens home. She is a Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty and is active in professional and community affairs including the Georgia State Board of Education, St. Mary's Health Care System Board, Athens Technical College Foundation Board, and many others. Her knowledge of the Northeast Georgia area and the state enable her to be an effective advocate for buyers and sellers.