Local Mentor, Advocate, and Strategic Planner Named 2025 ATHENA Award Recipient

(KNSI) — A local mentor, strategic planner, and advocate for women and girls is being honored with the 2025 ATHENA Award from the Women’s Fund of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation.

Joanne Kudrna was selected through a nomination process recognizing outstanding women leaders. The panel says she was chosen for her decades-long commitment to mentoring and empowering women both personally and professionally.

Rick Bauerly, Founder and CEO of Granite Partners, nominated Kudrna for the award, saying her tireless advocacy makes her an exceptional fit. “Joanne exemplifies excellence in her personal, professional, and community work. In her earnest personal work, she has mentored and empowered women and men toward their full leadership potential. In her impactful professional work, Joanne is an expert in organizational strategy, alignment, and execution, and she has guided many for-profit and non-profit boards and management teams in their strategy journeys. In her broad community work, she has served as a volunteer, advisor, donor, and fundraiser for a series of organizations that help make Central Minnesota a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.”

Kudrna represents Granite Partners on the GEOTEK and All Flex Boards of Directors. In 20 years of prior work with Granite Partners, she served as the Director of Strategy Services, supporting company boards and executive teams through detailed strategic planning processes.

The ATHENA Award is a lifetime achievement honor celebrating women who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their careers, while also dedicating time and energy to improving the lives of others and helping women realize their full leadership potential.

Kudrna will be formally honored at Women’s Fund Presents: Dancing with Our Stars, Live! on June 9th at the College of Saint Benedict.

For more event details, click here.

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