ATHENA Lansing Celebration Honors Two Local Women Leaders
Julie Pingston Honored with 2023 ATHENA Leadership Award & Justine Bell Named 2024 ATHENA PowerLink Recipient
(Lansing, MI) – Julie Pingston, president & CEO of Choose Lansing (formerly the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau), has been named the recipient of the 2023 ATHENA Leadership Award by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC). Pingston will formally receive her award at the annual ATHENA Lansing Celebration on Wednesday, Dec. 6.
“Julie Pingston has been a relentless advocate for the Greater Lansing region for more than 31 years and is a most deserving recipient of the ATHENA Leadership Award,” said Tim Daman, president & CEO, LRCC. “Julie’s work as the region’s number one ambassador for tourism has not only been felt throughout our community but has also been recognized on state and national levels. She has served in leadership position on the boards of numerous non-profit organization and is most generous in her support and mentoring of other women leaders in the community.”
“I am honored and humbled to be named this year’s Lansing ATHENA Leadership Award recipient,” said Pingston. “I have always been awed and inspired by the trailblazing women and men who have been bestowed this recognition in the past. To be included in their company is beyond anything I could have expected. I am truly blessed to get to do what I love every day for this community.”
Julie Pingston has served her organization for 31 years and leads the Choose Lansing team toward the mission of positively impacting our community’s quality of life by developing the region as a visitor destination. The region typically welcomes over 5.3 million visitors annually generating over $682 million to the local economy. Choose Lansing promotes to meeting and sport event planners as well as to all types of travelers seeking to experience the diverse opportunities our community offers.
Julie serves as president of the Potter Park Zoological Society, Board Member of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, Member of Potter Park Zoo Board, treasurer of the Michigan Association of CVBs, Board Member of the Holt Education Foundation, past president of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, past president of the Event Service Professionals Association, past president of the Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan, and past president of the Rotary Club of Lansing as well as the Rotary Club of Lansing Foundation.
Julie was Michigan Meetings and Events Magazine’s Hall of Fame Inductee/Supplier of the Year (2008), MSAE’s Diamond Award Winner (2009), MMPI’s Mentor of the Year (2011), ESPA’s Member of the Year (2004), ESPA’s President’s Award Recipient (2009), ESPA’s Executive Excellence Award Recipient (2013), the Arts Council of Greater Lansing’s Ted Sondag Individual Leadership Award Recipient (2016), South Lansing Business Alliance Alfreda Schmidt Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), Governor’s Award for Innovative Tourism Collaboration for Sensory Friendly Lansing (2019).
LRCC also announced that Justine Bell, owner of BeneGuides, has been named the 2024 ATHENA PowerLink Recipient. ATHENA PowerLink (APL) is a national mentoring program that connects chosen women business owners with a skilled advisory panel. The specified panel of advisors will donate an estimated $25,000 value of business consultation services to help the business achieve the next level of success. As the 2024 APL recipient, Justine will have the opportunity to work with an advisory panel that is specifically tailored to meet her business goals.
Bell has a constant need to feel like she is making the world around her a better place to live. She discovered her niche in the health insurance field, where people seemed to have a lot of questions and even more anxiety. She found that if she could help people understand their choices and feel comfortable and safe in the choices that they were making, she would head home each day feeling happy and fulfilled. Outside of work, you will find her spending time with her husband Nate and son Harrison. She loves being a part of her community, and she enjoys volunteering with many groups including Junior League of Lansing, Lansing Women’s Forum, and consulting for L-Town Jubilee. She has a rescue Aussie/Border Collie named Asher, and they can often be found walking around their hobby farm checking on the chickens or beehives together.
“We are so thankful and humbled to be receiving the ATHENA PowerLink Award, and to have the opportunity to spend a year surrounded by the knowledge and support that comes with it,” said Bell. “Thank you so much to the ATHENA PowerLink governing body for choosing BeneGuides.”
Also being recognized at the ATHENA Lansing Celebration is Lorin Cumberbatch of Skin Studio 211 who was the 2023 ATHENA PowerLink recipient.
The ATHENA Lansing Celebration on Wednesday, Dec. 6, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the MSU Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. Registration can be completed at ATHENA Lansing Awards - Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (lansingchamber.org).
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About the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce:
The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce works relentlessly to help businesses connect, grow, and thrive. No mid-Michigan business stands alone when they are a member of the Chamber. For 122 years, the Lansing Chamber has served as the voice of the Greater Lansing business community. More information about LRCC and its programs and services can be found online at lansingchamber.org, Facebook, Instagram (@lansingregionalchamber), Twitter (@lansingchamber) and LinkedIn.
