BG Area Chamber of Commerce names winners of 2023 Excellence Awards
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce honored two individuals Tuesday during its annual Excellence Awards ceremony.
Dr. Martha Sales, dean of students and assistant vice president of student life at Western Kentucky University, received the ATHENA Award, presented by the Chamber and Martin Dodge Jeep Chrysler RAM. According to the chamber, the ATHENA Award recognizes women for professional excellence, providing valuable service to their community and actively helping women reach professional excellence and leadership skills.
“It is a wonderful day when the ATHENA’s can welcome yet another example of a strong, dedicated, professional woman in our community, as we see in Dr. Martha Sales,” said Tamara Vogler, 2011 ATHENA Recipient.
Sales has nearly 30 years of experience in higher education and has created scholarships that help support women of color in their education journeys, the chamber says.
This year’s ATHENA nominees included:
- Ashley Carter, English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLP
- Lisa Martens, Nat’s Outdoor Sports
- Rhondell Miller, HOTEL INC
- Abby Phillips, Junior Achievement of South Central Kentucky
- Dr. Martha Sales, Western Kentucky University
- Lindsey Sanson, American Bank & Trust Co.
- Kendra Sewell, Pan-Oston
- Christi Turner, Summit Title Company
- Melanie Watts, LifeSkills, Inc.
Sasa Mandrapa of Burger & Bowl was named the recipient of the 2023 Small Business Person of the Year, presented by the Chamber and German American Bank.
The chamber says Mandrapa has an incredible work ethic, commitment and passion for business and his community. Mandrapa is described as someone who is highly motivated but still displays humility and instills confidence in others.
His business has seen significant growth, impacting the labor in our community and offering opportunities to the culturally diverse, the chamber says. Mandrapa first came to the United States in 1996 as a refugee from Bosnia that did not speak English, according to the chamber. He now owns six restaurants in Bowling Green.
