The concept of the Athena Powerlink program just made sense to Linda Stevenson, a career banker who retired as a senior vice president of PNC Bank.
Part of a broader Athena program that offers education, networking and leadership development, Athena Powerlink provides women business owners with the free services of a team of professionals for a full year as they work to build their businesses.
Stevenson, who was with another bank when the Athena program was first proposed in Erie, said the program, now in its 25th year, has been an unqualified success.
The numbers tell the story
Since the first recipient was announced in 2000, 63 woman have spent a year working with more than 200 volunteer professionals over the years.
Linda Stevenson, chairwoman of Athena Erie, is shown in this 2019 file photo.
The numbers speak to the success of the program, which provide each recipient with the free on-call services of a lawyer, accountant, information technology professional and one or more people with marketing expertise.
Stevenson said national and local statistics show participants grow sales by an average of 88%, and increase net business income by 37%.
Most recipients have good ideas and a willingness to work.
“They have this thing they are good at,” Stevenson said. “They don’t have a law degree They don’t have an accounting degree. When you are running a business you need to have all those skills.”
She cites another reason for the success of the program. Participants already have proven themselves at some level before being assigned a group of mentors.
“I think really the secret sauce is the fact that we don’t do startups,” Stevenson said. “These women already had a successful business model and just want to get to the next level.”
Stevenson said she’s proud of the program and of the role that’s been played by Erie volunteers, some of whom continue with the companies as consultants.
The program, which was the third offered in the nation, is the nation’s longest surviving Athena program.
Athena program honors women
Erie’s Athena program was celebrated Sept. 9 with an awards luncheon. During that program, held at the Ambassador Conference Center, the the 2025 Athena Award was presented to Jennie Hagerty, executive director of the Mercy Center for Women.
Jennie Hagerty, Mercy Center for Women
Hagerty, who was appointed by Gov. Josh Shapiro to the Pennsylvania Children’s Trust Fund Board, oversaw the transformation of a vacant school into the Mercy Anchor Community Center, a hub for affordable housing and vital services.
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The Athena Young Professional Award was presented to Madeline “Maddie” Emerson, a Gannon University student who is studying advertising communications and digital media communications.
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Stevenson, who continues to run the Athena program, said she’s proud of both the women the program has mentored and others the program has honored.
“Of all the things I did in my banking career — and I was very fortunate, I did what I loved — it’s probably the best thing I have ever done,” she said.
Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie PA Athena program has honored, empowered women for 25 years