Linda Stevenson, the banking executive who brought the Athena mentoring program for women-owned businesses to Erie 25-years ago, announced that she is transitioning leadership to the Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership. Her hope is that the chamber resources and technology will bring the ability to help more businesses more efficiently.
Stevenson plans to be very involved in the hand off. “I’m going to stay involved, I see myself still pursuing candidates for the program and and advisors, that’s my favorite thing to do — to meet people and to know that with a little, just a little nudge, we can change their life,” she said.
The Chamber, already a long time partner looks forward to bringing its full resources and staff to help women-owned businesses in the region thrive and grow. Director of Entrepreneurship Jordan Fuller said, “We are really excited to be able to expand our offerings on the economic development side to be able to provide direct support to these businesses when they come to us with a need or a gap or a challenge. Now we’ve got another arrow in our quiver to be able to help them out.”
On that note, Heather-Renee Rinderle of JPS Signs LLC, Sarah Kershner of Matchless IT LLC, and Desiree Troutner of Fixed HHS LLC were announced as the three business owners to receive an advisory panel of senior level professionals for a year, to take each of their businesses to the next level.
“While I have an amazing team that works with and for me they’re not at the level of me having those subject matter experts I need to continue grow the business and focus on some other areas,” Rinderle said
Troutner said, “I have been an entrepreneur for about 12 years now but never had the opportunity to be able scale a business so having that advisory committee and mentorship is going to be huge in that next phase of the business.”
Kershner who also has a lot of years under her belt as an entrepreneur said she’s at an inflection point and ready for the help. “I kind of have hit that moment where I need support you know to keep going and I know Athena is that something that’s going to keep me going, keep me successful forever,” she smiled.
Kershner’s thinking fits Athena PowerLink’s track record in Erie. It has a 93% business sustainability rate.