Columbus NAWBO is a partner with National City Bank for the ATHENA PowerLink program in central Ohio. 

Each year the central Ohio ATHENA PowerLink recipients receive an advisory panel consisting of a variety of professionals, including lawyers, bankers, accountants, insurance agents and business advisors. Each panel commits to working with the business owner for one year.

The ATHENA PowerLink program began in 1992 to provide female entrepreneurs with access to the professional advisors and mentors who are essential elements of success. The program, created by two Pittsburgh-area businesswomen now has expanded to cities throughout the nation.

The ATHENA Foundation offers its PowerLink program with support nationwide from National City Bank and the Ewing Marion Kaufmann Foundation. Local sponsors include financial institutions interested in the success of businesses in the communities they serve. Other corporate sponsors invest to strengthen their communities and recognize the value of enhancing women-owned businesses.

Applicants for the program must have clearly defined business objectives and specific goals for seeking ATHENA PowerLink assistance. They must also be at least 51 percent owned and actively managed by a woman; in operation for at least two years; a minimum of two employees; and annual revenues must be of at least $250,000 for retail or manufacturing businesses, or $100,000 for service related businesses.

According to ATHENA International, on average, women business owners participating in the ATHENA PowerLink program see the following increases: 88.5 percent in sales; 56.6 percent in personal income; 75 percent in part-time employees; 37.6 percent in business income; and 36.3 percent in full-time employees.

ATHENA PowerLink Brochure

ATHENA PowerLink Application

Past ATHENA PowerLink Recipients:

2005

Lisa King of Brownie Points Inc.

Bonnie Maxwell of Cardinal Home Care Inc. (now CarePartners) 

2006

Jeanne Gokcen of FutureCom Technologies, Inc.