Abduction survivor Elizabeth Smart is the featured speaker at this summer’s Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce Athena Leadership Award Luncheon.
For the event, the chamber will again partner with Athena International, an organization that develops, supports and honors female leadership. The chamber announced this week that Smart would offer the keynote presentation at the July 24 luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Conroe.
“Through her advocacy and ongoing fight for change relating to child abduction, recovery programs and national legislation, Elizabeth Smart has changed lives, giving women empowerment, vision, leadership and hope,” said Scott Harper, chamber president. “Her message is the perfect fit for our audience, and her story will inspire women of all ages who have experienced trauma but have persevered.”
Smart will speak about leadership and empowerment in the context of resilience and adversity, according to the announcement from the chamber.
NEW COURTHOUSE:
Her story
Smart, then 14, was taken from her Utah home June 5, 2002, and held as a prisoner for nine months. Police safely returned her to her family March 12, 2003. Brian David Mitchell was sentenced to life in prison after Smart testified in court about her ordeal. Wanda Ileen Barzee, Mitchell’s wife, was also convicted in the kidnapping and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Smart has since founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation and has supported the National Amber Alert, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act and other safety legislation. She also wrote the New York Times best-seller, “My Story.”
A Netflix documentary, “Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart,” began streaming on the platform this year.
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What is the Athena Award?
The international Athena program recognizes excellence and achievement among female leaders.
Locally, the leadership award is presented to a Montgomery County woman who has achieved the highest level of professional excellence, contributes time and energy to improve quality of life for others, and assists women and girls in realizing their full potential.
Former award recipients include Rachel Goodlad in 2025; Nicole Robinson Gauthier, 2024; Judge Kathleen Hamilton, 2023; Natalie Saikowski Goertz, 2022; Carol Gooch, 2021; Dana Hoyt, 2020; Marlen Tejeda, 2019 and the inaugural winner, Danielle Scheiner in 2018.
Former guest speakers have included Erin Brockovich and Joan Lunden.
The luncheon will recognize nominees, honor finalists and celebrate the recipient who is announced at the event.
The link to nominate a local female leader will be coming to the chamber’s website soon. The event will also serve as a fundraiser for a chosen Montgomery County nonprofit supporting women and girls.
Nonprofits may apply by Friday through a Google form. Tickets to the event are available on the chamber’s website. The event is presented by Better Bookkeepers.