Left to right: Paula Jackson, Taylor Gardner, Krystal Allan, Summer Webb, Shane Jasmine Young, Angela Cook, Jacqueline Nguyen. Photo by Dolores Campuzano-Pignatello

A Night at the Athena Awards

By Joan S. Peck

The Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Nevada presented the 19th Annual Athena International Awards at the Orleans Hotel & Casino. In addition to the awards given, the event was a fundraiser for the Foundation Scholarship, “Achieving Your Dreams Through Education,” serving “at-risk” female high school students.

John Huck, the award-winning news anchor of Fox 5 News, served as Master of Ceremonies, Patricia Lee was Mistress of Ceremonies, and Tamra Coulter, real estate partner of NV Homes, presented the awards. A standing ovation was given to Patricia Lee in honor of being elected to the State Supreme Court as the first black/Asian person to accomplish this.

June Beland, Founder, President, and CEO of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Nevada welcomed everyone. Then, the room became quiet as singer Amie Jo Greer performed the first of two songs. Afterward, the room stirred, and the excitement was palatable as everyone awaited the announcement of the eight winners among the 15 female nominees, all of whom have extensive, impressive backgrounds and accomplishments demonstrating their leadership in their areas of expertise.

Left to right (back row): Dolores Campuzano-Pignatello, Norman Beland Jr., June Beland, Norman Beland, Capucine Holmes Left to right (front row): Summer Webb, Patricia Lee, Berenice Church

Photo of the Chamber Board by Dolores Campuzano-Pignatello
Left to right (back row): Dolores Campuzano-Pignatello, Norman Beland Jr., June Beland, Norman Beland, Capucine Holmes. Left to right (front row): Summer Webb, Patricia Lee, Berenice Church

The winners were:

Shane Jasmine Young, Founder, Attorney & Counselor at Law, Young Law Group, was called to the stage and awarded the Leadership Award.
Jacqueline Nguyen, President of the American Medical Association Alliance, was honored with the Minority Lifetime Achievement Award.
Angela Cook, Team Chief, Attorney in the Children’s Attorneys Project (CAP), Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada was honored with the Young Professional award.
Taylor Gardner Chaney, Founder, and CEO of the Garden Foundation was honored with the Organizational Award.
Summer Webb, American Estate & Trust, VP, Business Development, was honored with the Women’s Chamber President Award.
Krystal Allen – Anchor, Channel 3 – was awarded the TV News Anchor Award.
Paula J. Jackson – Executive Producer and Director – was honored with the Executive Producer/Director award.
Ann Parenti was honored as the recipient of the Digital Media Award for Publisher, Chic Compass Magazine, and Founder, Forgotten Song Foundation.

Ann Parenti receives the Athena Digital Media Award. Photo by Sheryl Aronson.

Ann’s night of recognition was a night for everyone who knows and loves Ann to celebrate her being honored for all she has done and does to support artists and creatives here in Las Vegas and beyond.

Ann, always generous with praise for those who support her, acknowledged those who were there at the event to celebrate her win, including her husband, Curtis McCoy.

In 2018 Chic Compass was born, dedicated to culture and art. We at the magazine are thrilled to see Ann recognized for her hard work and efforts to bring this stunning “coffee-table” magazine to Las Vegas and beyond.

Ann announced at the event that the new merger of the magazine will take effect in January, 2023, and her new associates will be Joe Amato of Silveridge Group and Robert Dolan of Cashman Photos.

Congratulations, Ann!