Host Sponsor

College of Lake County Foundation

Nancy Camacho, Elegant Embroidery Inc. / Melon Ink Screen Print, is the 2010 Women Business Ownr in ATHENA Mentoring Program

ATHENA International is a worldwide organization with the mission of supporting, developing and honoring women leaders and inspiring women to achieve their full potential.  In Lake County, Illinois, the ATHENAPowerLink program is sponsored by the College of Lake County Foundation and National City Bank, and currently chooses a single applicant annually to participate.  The program's proven mentoring process "links" a women-owned business with a panel of local community volunteer advisors.  For one year, the panel and business owner work together as a team to help the owner achieve her specific business objectives.

"Participation in the ATHENAPowerLink program can make a significant, positive contribution to a company's success," stated Jan Bauer, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at the College of Lake County.  "A participating company can generally expect to see a marked increase in business within twelve to eighteen months after entering the program."

Bauer also lauded the contributions of the participating advisors, members of the area business community. 

"The benefit of receiving advice and counsel from the volunteer business leaders is that each is an expert in their field, be it accounting, marketing or human resources.  They are able to look at a business in an objective manner and provide insights the owner may not see.  They are also contributing their time and expertise to a business in their own community, and the mentoring they provide is important and meaningful to them."

Elegant Embroidery is located at 100 B Oakwood Road, Lake Zurich, IL 60047.  Information about Lake County ATHENAPowerLink can be found on its website at www.lakecountyathena.org.