Laura McHugh to receive 2021 Athena Award

Laura McHugh, associate vice president of marketing & communications for the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, will be this year’s recipient of the Athena Award from the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Council. 

The award, which has been given out each year since 1981, recognizes women leaders in the community, with the goal of inspiring women to achieve their full potential. 

Before her current role with the United Way, McHugh was working in broadcast television for more than 15 years for both commercial and public television stations. She has also worked as an adjunct professor of communications for Cedar Crest College. 

Also this year, Natasha Ljuljic, HR specialist for talent & diversity, inclusion and belonging at Air Products, is being honored with the Athena Young Professional Award. 

Ljuljic is responsible for managing the diversity, inclusion and belonging initiatives for Air Products, globally. She also serves on a number of boards for Lehigh Valley nonprofits including the Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites, Valley Youth House and Rising Tide. 

The Athena Organizational Award will be presented to the Olympus Corp. of the Americas in Center Valley. 

The company employs more than 5,500 people throughout North and South America. 

This year’s Athena Awards will be held Oct. 11 at the Samuels Theater at Cedar Crest College.