ATHENA Award Winner Announced

Lisa Morel Las has been selected as the 2011 recipient of the Joliet Region Chamber’s Annual ATHENA Award.  Lisa becomes the 24th Chamber ATHENA recipient, and will be honored by the Chamber and the Chamber’s COUNCIL FOR WORKING WOMEN AT A LUNCHEON ON Thursday, September 1st at the Holiday Inn Joliet Hotel & Conference Center.

The Athena Award sponsored locally by D’Arcy Automobiles and PNC Bank is presented annually to an area leader who demonstrates outstanding commitment to their profession, their community and to the advancement of women. 

Nominees for the ATHENA Award must:

• Demonstrate unselfish support of business and professional women
• Exhibit initiative and creativity enhancing both their business and profession and the stability and improvement of their community
• Demonstrate excellence in their business or profession
• Willingly serve as the Joliet Chamber’s community representative for  the ATHENA foundation

Lisa began her career as a high school social studies teacher in New Orleans.  She moved to Joliet to accept the position as Guidance Counselor at St. Francis Academy.  During her 5-year tenure at SFA, Lisa developed an extensive college admissions library and resource center and was instrumental in bringing the first "Operation Snowball" to Joliet for at-risk kids.

Her professional communication skills were sharpened during here tenure as Director of Public Relations for Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, IN.  This experience proved to be invaluable for her high-profile public information position as Director of Public Administration for Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow, where she served as the official press spokesperson.  While at the State's Attorney's Office, Lisa wrote the grant for Will County's first drug court program and she coordinated the Will County Domestic Violence Commission, the Will County Child Advocacy Advisory Board, and the Douglas Petan Crime Victims Assistance Commission.  Additionally, Lisa was instrumental in the legislative lobbying efforts for the State's Attorney Glasgow's legislative initiatives - many of which helped women.

Since August 2004, Lisa has served as the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.  Under her leadership, Big Brothers Big Sisters has moved to new office headquarters in Joliet, and established satellite offices in Morris and Kankakee.  She has successfully obtained over $500,000 in federal and state grants for the agency and implemented new service delivery systems to serve more at-risk children from single-parent and low-income families.

Lisa is a proud mom to Lauren Lucy Las, a graduate of JCA, Harvard University and George Washington University's Graduate School of Business, where she earned an M.B.A. in Sports Management.

Lisa's Community Service, Involvements:

• Joliet Rotary Club
• Holly Club
• Will County Take Back The Night
• Zonta Club of Joliet
• Will County Child Advocacy Board Member
• Past Board Member for the Will County Sunny Hill TB Sanatorium
• Past Board Member for United Cerebral Palsy of Will County
• Past Board Member for Family Counseling Agency
• Past Board Member for Child Care Resource & Referral
• Past Board Member for D-FY-IT
• Past Board Member for the Diocese of Joliet Board of Education
• Past Board Member for St. Paul The Apostle School