The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce announced that Michele L. Watley, (GMLC Class of 2014) Founder and Owner, The Griot Group LLC, is the ATHENA Young Professional.

In addition, Sherry Turner, Executive Director, Kansas City Women’s Business Center is the ATHENA recipient. Sherry has been a steadfast friend to Greater Missouri and a frequent speaker for session events.

According to a release from the Chamber, both will receive the awards Thursday, October 7, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm. Due to COVID restrictions, the reception is a private event, but the public can register in advance to watch the ceremony and see the recipients accept their awards via livestream.

Watley is the Founder and President of The Griot Group, a public affairs and strategic communications firm. She’s contributed expertise to some of the region’s most transformative issues and campaigns, including the 2017 General Obligation bond. Driven by a passion for service, Watley founded Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet (Shirley’s KC), a non-partisan non-profit based in the Midwest that is dedicated to amplifying the voices and power of Black women across the nation through education and advocacy.  She holds a Master of Science in Organizational Development and a Bachelor of Communications degree from Avila University.

With a variety of experiences from corporate management to business development to entrepreneurship, Turner is the Founder of OneKC for Women Alliance, an umbrella alliance that brings together Women’s Employment Network, Women’s Business Center, Women’s Capital Connection, and Women Lead Initiative. Previously, Turner was Director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwest Missouri State University and is a native of Kansas City. In 2015, she was the recipient of the Legacy Award by Thinking Bigger Business Media and was awarded the Missouri Women’s Council Award of Distinction. She is a Kansas City Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business honoree, joining the class of 2017.

We invite all Greater Missouri alumnae to celebrate with Michele and Sherry! Click here for additional information and to register.