An engineer who plays a part in powering the Artemis II rocket, which will take the first woman and person of color to the moon, was awarded the 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award.
Nicole Cummings, the Engineering Program Manager at Aerojet Rocketdyne in Jupiter for the Exploration Upper Stage RL10 Engine, accepted the award Sept. 19 at the 34th Annual ATHENA Leadership Awards, hosted by The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, at the Kravis Center of the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach.
“I look at this big career and I say it’s the tool that helps me find the purpose that helps me make the impacts,” Cummings, who earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from FAU. “So I’m so grateful for the career that I have, and the people that I work with.
“And,” she added, “we have a table full of rocket scientists here today.”
The Artemis II rocket, the 21st century’s equivalent of the Saturn V that last took Americans to the moon in the early 1970s, is expected to launch sometime next year, no earlier than April.
City of West Palm Beach employee wins Young Professional Award
Jennifer Ferriol, Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of West Palm Beach, was awarded the 2025 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.
“I proudly stand here today knowing that hard work and commitment and integrity that build the kind of reputation that no one, no one, can manufacture … it’s the same type of reputation that no one can take away from you,” said Ferriol when accepting the award.
Ferriol oversaw a broad portfolio for the city that included affordable and workforce housing development and compliance, real estate and lease management, homeless and social services and state and federal entitlement programs.
Jennifer Ferriol, Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of West Palm Beach, was awarded the Young Professional Leadership Award at the 34th Annual ATHENA Leadership Awards, hosted by The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, at the Kravis Center of the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach on Sept. 19.
She gave thanks to her parents, who she said came here from another country “without anything, just so they could give me a shot at something more.”
She also had advice for her daughter, who was in the crowd.
“Stay sharp, stay kind, but don’t ever shrink yourself. Don’t ever shrink yourself to make someone else feel comfortable. And when they doubt you, because trust me, they will, you keep getting better, you show up, and you let your actions remind them of the kind of woman that raised you.”
The South Florida Business Journal, a media company that covers local business communities and breaking news in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, won the ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award.
What are the ATHENTA awards?
Nicole Cummings, who works at Aerojet Rocketdyne in Jupiter, accepts the Leadership award from Dr. Scott Orenberg, University of Miami Health System, at the 34th Annual ATHENA Leadership Awards, hosted by The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, at the Kravis Center of the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach on Sept. 19, 2025.
The ATHENA Leadership Awards honor individuals, businesses, and young professionals, who have achieved professional excellence, mentored, actively served the community, and helped women to reach their leadership potential.
The leadership award recipients, according to the Chamber, “Have achieved the highest level of professional excellence, contribute time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and actively assist others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential.”
The 34th Annual ATHENA Leadership Awards, hosted by The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, at the Kravis Center of the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach on Sept. 19, 2025.
The young leadership award recipients, the Chamber states: “Demonstrates excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession, provides valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and clearly serves as a role model for young women personally and professionally.”
The organizational leadership award recipients, the Chamber states: “Creates an organizational culture that encourages women employees to achieve their full leadership potential, gives back to the larger community of women and girls by providing and/ or supporting leadership development opportunities and initiative.”
The ATHENA Leadership Award finalists:
Danielle Shull
Danielle Shull, National Director of Client Experience for Risk Strategies, a national insurance broker, based in their South Florida regional office in Palm Beach Gardens.
National Director of Client Experience for Risk Strategies, a national insurance broker, based in their South Florida regional office in Palm Beach Gardens
Michelle Gonzalez
Michelle Gonzalez, CEO of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on nurturing healthy births and families.
CEO of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on nurturing healthy births and families.
Nicole Cummings
Nicole Cummings, Engineering Program Manager at Aerojet Rocketdyne for the Exploration Upper Stage RL10 Engine on the Artemis rocket, which will take the first woman and person of color to the moon.
Engineering Program Manager at Aerojet Rocketdyne for the Exploration Upper Stage RL10 Engine on the Artemis rocket, which will take the first woman and person of color to the moon.
Stephanie Prince-Springmyer
Stephanie Prince-Springmyer, leader of content, marketing, and sales for ESPN West Palm/Good Karma Brands, ESPN 106.3 FM, Deportes Radio 760, ESPN West Palm Play, the Boca Raton Bowl, and ESPN digital.
Leader of content, marketing, and sales for ESPN West Palm/Good Karma Brands, ESPN 106.3 FM, Deportes Radio 760, ESPN West Palm Play, the Boca Raton Bowl, and ESPN digital.
Telsula Morgan
Telsula Morgan, attorney at Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., where her practice focuses on environmental land use and tribal law.
Attorney at Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., where her practice focuses on environmental land use and tribal law.
ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award finalists
Jasmine Govan
Jasmine Govan manages programs spanning K-12 STEM education, higher education, workforce development and economic initiatives at Florida Power & Light Company
Manages programs spanning K-12 STEM education, higher education, workforce development and economic initiatives at Florida Power & Light Company.
Jennifer Ferriol
Jennifer Ferriol, Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of West Palm Beach, where she oversees a broad portfolio that includes affordable and workforce housing development and compliance.
The Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of West Palm Beach, where she oversees a broad portfolio that includes affordable and workforce housing development and compliance.
Kristen Bardin
Kristen Bardin, Vice President of Private Investment at the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.
Vice President of Private Investment at the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.
Maghan Barber
Maghan Barber, founder and president of Grant and Funding Solutions Company, a woman-owned grant consulting firm dedicated to helping communities, nonprofits, and innovative startups access transformative funding.
Founder and president of Grant and Funding Solutions Company, a woman-owned grant consulting firm dedicated to helping communities, nonprofits, and innovative startups access transformative funding.
ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award finalists
Guardians of the Glades
A volunteer-driven organization whose mission is to give a voice to the communities of the Glades.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County
Brings people together to build homes, hope, and a stronger community. The organization serve families and individuals through affordable, new home construction.
Integrated Document Technologies
Delivers customer service through the sale, service, and support of office technology that enhances productivity and improves document workflow.
South Florida Business Journal
Media company that covers local business communities and breaking news in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: ATHENA Award winners announced at Chamber of Commerce event