The East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce has named Brenda Case, a woman at the helm of one of Slidell’s oldest businesses, as the recipient of the 2008 Athena Award.

Case is the joint owner with her husband, John, of Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien, an insurance firm, and was named as this year’s recipient during an annual luncheon at the Northshore Harbor Center recently. Nominated with her were STARC Executive Director Dianne Baham; Karen Vinterella, WilStaff; and Cheri Webster, Mental Health Association of St. Tammany.

The award was first established in 1982, when the only female member of a Michigan Chamber of Commerce saw the need to recognize the accomplishments of women in the community and to create a balance in leadership roles. Since then, it has been celebrated in more than 500 communities around the world, and Case is the 13th woman to receive the honor in the Slidell area.

Past recipients of the Athena Award are pictured with the 2008 Athenian, Brenda Case, and representatives of the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce. From left: Carol Wolfram, Dr. Jeanne Reeves, Dr. Joan Archer, Irma Cry, Brenda Case, Lydia Alford, Poki Hampton and Dawn Sharpe. (Staff Photo by Anne Lautzenheiser)

Dr. Joan Archer, honored in 1996 for her work with families in crisis, addressed the luncheon guests on the principles guiding the recipient selection process.

“It’s not always about what you do, but also about how you do it,” said Archer, citing the “eight tenets of leadership” in the Athena Leadership model.

Among those tenets are courageous acts, which Archer acknowledged by noting that taking a stand is often a difficult choice, and relationships, which she said “brought me back after the storm.”

Case’s firm, a family business, has been in operation since 1901, and she first started working there as a teenager. On the board of the Olde Towne Slidell Association, she was also appointed to the Olde Towne Task Force, where she is chair of the economic development committee.

The group is applying for designation later this month as a Main Street U.S.A. community, and Case has been one of its most active supporters.

Nominations are submitted anonymously. In nominating her, Case’s sponsor noted her efforts to help revitalize the Olde Towne area, her willingness to freely share her affirmations and positive experiences and her genuine care and concern for others.

Case commented that all the nominees were “outstanding” and said she is honored to be chosen.

“When I look at all of the past people who have received it, I feel very humbled to be among them,” she said.

Linda Larkin of Simply Fabulous Boutique and Property Title Inc. was also recognized during the luncheon as Member of the Month.