SE Michigan entrepreneur to receive award at international women's leadership conference

Weight Watchers International Inc.’s largest franchise has been added to the roster of national ATHENA Award recipients at a September gathering in Lansing of top women business leaders from throughout the world.

The Weight Watchers Group Inc., led by CEO Florine Mark, will receive the ATHENA International National Organizational Award. Other award recipients to be honored during the conference include Flint pediatrician Mona Hanna-Attisha and anti-sexual assault activists Annie Clark and Andrea Pino, who will receive ATHENA’s National Leadership Award and National Young Professional Leadership Awards, respectively.

Actor and humanitarian Ashley Judd is set to give the keynote address during the Sept. 25-27 event at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing.

The ATHENA International 35th Anniversary Leadership Conference is expected to draw hundreds of attendees from throughout the country, Canada and China for professional development and discussion on leadership and business innovation topics.

“The WW Group Inc. is an outstanding representation of ATHENA values,” said Sarah Jennings, conference chairperson and past president of ATHENA WIN, Lansing’s local affiliate and event host. “We could not be more honored to recognize the WW Group for its commitment to a diverse leadership team and the empowerment of women leaders. Florine Mark is a phenomenal trailblazer who has always shown a passion for supporting other women and has earned respect from that work and commitment across the globe. We are delighted to be able to honor her and her leadership at the conference.”

Mark founded the WW Group Inc. in 1966. Based in Farmington Hills, the organization now owns and operates Weight Watchers franchises in Michigan and Ontario, Canada. She was the first woman inducted into the National Management Association’s Hall of Fame. Mark was also named one of Crain’s Detroit Business’s 100 Most Influential Women in Detroit, in addition to receiving numerous other national and international awards.

Founded in Lansing and now headquartered in Chicago, ATHENA International supports, develops and honors women leaders, inspires them to achieve their full potential and works to create balance in leadership worldwide. Since 1982, more than 7,000 Local, National and Global ATHENA Leadership Awards have been presented in more than 500 communities in the United States, Canada, Russia, China, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom. These awards recognize individuals who are leaders in their professions, give back to their communities and provide opportunities to other leaders, especially women.

Attendees at the Lansing conference, titled Ignite8 in reference to ATHENA International’s eight principles of leadership, will have the opportunity to learn from, connect and collaborate with many award recipients and other innovative entrepreneurs and business leaders. Plenary and breakout speakers include women from a variety of fields, including politics, global business, military, criminal justice, athletics, finance, health care, marketing, education and nonprofits.

Registration and sponsorship information are available at athenaignite.com.

Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, Eli Broad College of Business and International Business Center of Michigan State University, PNC Bank, Michigan Women’s Foundation, Plante Moran, Maner Costerisan, Consumers Energy Foundation and Güd Marketing are among the sponsors. Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, PNC Bank, Plante Moran, Maner Costerisan and Güd Marketing are among the sponsors.