Vision for the Future

Meet Our New ATHENA Board Members

Welcoming the New ATHENA International Board Members

We are thrilled to announce and welcome the newest members of the ATHENA International Board of Directors. These remarkable individuals bring a wealth of experience, passion, diversity and dedication to our mission of empowering women leaders globally. Join us in celebrating their achievements and looking forward to their contributions to ATHENA International.

Kimberley Bates

Global Brand & Product Marketing - Executive Consulting | San Diego, CA

With over 15 years of experience in connecting businesses, partners, and consumers through superior storytelling and copywriting, Kimberley Bates is a force in the marketing world. Her expertise in extracting actionable insights from market data and translating them into world-class design strategies has elevated brand engagement across industries by 55%.

Kimberley's role as a creative director has also seen her manage internal teams and agencies, driving cross-functional collaborations and implementing systems that reduce project bottlenecks by 40%. Her leadership in brand and product marketing will be invaluable to ATHENA International.

“I'm very passionate about youth and career mentoring and have participated in leadership and mentoring programs at each of my previous companies. I strive to lead by example, reaching for levels in my career that are typically dominated by men so younger women and girls have the opportunity to see women in those roles, and as an artist I most frequently use my art to celebrate empowered women and their stories.”

- Kimberley Bates

Paula M. Farmer

President at pmfaith & Associates, Inc. - Strategic Human Resources Consultant & Coach | Nashville, Tennessee

Paula M. Farmer stands at the forefront of human resources innovation, specializing in diversity, inclusivity, equality, and belonging. Paula’s unique and diverse value proposition includes her Black Belt in Six Sigma, certifications from the Covey Leadership Institute, and her role as a Quality Development Consultant for one of the largest employers in Tennessee. With over two decades of experience, she is impactful as an executive coach, community leader, and speaker.

Paula’s commitment to community and social advancement is evident through her involvement with organizations such as the Robertson County Hospital Foundation, Music City Toastmasters Club, Cable Nashville, and the Center for Non-Profit Management to name a few. Her leadership and expertise will greatly enhance our board.

“Serving on the ATHENA International Board provides the opportunity to make a global impact. Transforming organizations through sound decision making, modeling, and leadership development is my passion. It happens one life at a time. I’m grateful to be a part of the impact.”

- Paula M. Farmer

Kimberli Green

Vice President, Business Services-Development, Military Affairs, Chamber Relations - America First Credit Union | Ogden, UT

A second-generation Credit Union advocate with over 20 years in the industry, has excelled in various roles from teller to senior management. Her passion for sales and community service was evident during her time as a branch manager, where she thrived in relationship building..

Kimberli's leadership extends to numerous professional and service activities, from the Top of Utah Military Affairs Executive Board to the Boys & Girls Club Weber-Davis Utah. Her dedication to community and the CU Philosophy of 'People Helping People' aligns perfectly with ATHENA International's values.

“I have already gained so much from the ATHENA leadership model in my life. I have a genuine love for everything this organization stands for - the leadership principles and the program within my own community has changed my life for the good. It continues to be a shining light for me in professional development and leadership. It’s an honor to spend some of my time, talents, and resources to give back to the organization that has already given me so much.”

- Kimberli Green

Michelle Massey

VP Community Outreach and Customer Support – TechSmith | Founder – M2 Speaks | Lansing, MI

Michelle Massey brings over 25 years of Information Technology industry experience to our board. Her extensive experience in community engagement, business operations, and corporate planning has earned her accolades such as the 2021 ATHENA Leadership Award.

Michelle's dedication to philanthropy and women's leadership, coupled with her professional expertise, will be invaluable to our mission.

We are excited to welcome Kimberly Bates, Paula Farmer, Kimberli Green, Hellena Pugh, and Michelle Massey to the ATHENA International Board of Directors. Their collective experience, passion, and leadership will undoubtedly propel our organization to new heights. Together, we will continue to empower and inspire women leaders around the world.

I have lived in many countries, and I am a firm believer in ATHENA and living proof the principles can have an impact in a practical way. I want to give back some of what I have received from ATHENA by using my experiences and resources to reach a wider audience. 

- Michelle Massey

Tasha Price

CVP, Deputy General Counsel, Global Ethics & Compliance - Blue Yonder | Kaneohe, HI

Tash Price is a seasoned legal and compliance professional with extensive expertise in labor and employment law, litigation, ethics and compliance, investigations, and human resources. Her career spans law firms, the public sector, and in-house positions globally.

Prior to joining Blue Yonder in May 2024, she held leadership positions at Walmart and Avnet.  At Avnet, she served as Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, leading global strategy for the Ethics & Compliance Office, developing a three-year roadmap for the Ethics & Compliance Program, chairing the Corporate Ethics & Compliance Committee, collaborating on cybersecurity and ESG initiatives, and overseeing corporate security and enterprise risk management. At Walmart, among other roles, she served as Chief of Staff & Managing Counsel, Strategy & Operations, Global Governance, and also as VP, Global Investigations – EMEA (Europe - Middle East – Africa). Her career also includes positions at the Office of the Arizona Attorney General and roles in international law firms specializing in labor and employment law and litigation. Tash’s diverse background and leadership in ethics, compliance, and legal governance make her a valuable addition to the ATHENA International Board, where her experience and commitment will greatly advance ATHENA’s global mission.

“I want to try to make a difference in the lives of women and girls — globally.  Due to my parents’ careers, and then my own, I have spent much of my life overseas;  I have witnessed — firsthand — the challenges faced by women and girls in many countries (including in our own).”

-Tash Price 

Hellena Pugh, MBA

Entrepreneur, Founder of Zahara Veterans Network, Inc. | Dallas, TX

Hellena Pugh is a distinguished professional with a diverse background as a military officer, corporate employee, and dedicated servant leader. Her accomplishments include:

• Founder of Zahara Veterans Network, Inc., a nonprofit organization established to connect women veterans to resources and each other.

• Licensed Minister and Faith Based Missionary with over thirty years of Domestic and International experiences around the globe.

• Developer of private corporations and brands that create services to solve the unique needs of its consumers.

Hellena’s commitment to community is evident through the pillars of her character traits of Faith, Perseverance and Tenacity. And is displayed through her creation of innovative programs, work within the military veteran community and execution to empower women veterans, nationwide. Her entrepreneurial spirit and leadership helps to magnify the spheres of influence for Athena International!

“The difference between where a woman is today and where she focuses her energy tomorrow, is either driven or derailed by the choices that confront her daily. The Athena International platform and programs, are designed to assist women with a desire to magnify personally and professionally, to choose wisely and refocus herself to illuminate her tomorrow and shine for others to see."

- Hellena Pugh

Michele Reister

Vice President, Global Marketing - Anecdotes | Raleigh-Durham, NC

Michele has a proven track record in driving growth for B2B technology and SaaS solutions. From start-ups to large enterprises, Michele has experience building marketing teams for scale - across people, processes, and technology - to exceed aggressive revenue goals. Through developing data-driven go-to-market (GTM) strategies, she has successfully delivered on customer acquisition and retention efforts, brand amplification, and product launches. Her successes are a result of 1) a strong collaboration with Sales, Product, and Customer Success; 2) a passion for the voice-of-the-customer; and 3) a relentless focus on metrics, measurement, testing, and optimization. With 25 years of experience and an MBA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Michele consistently delivers results in demand generation, product marketing, and business development.

“Serving on the ATHENA International Board is an opportunity I greatly value. During my tenure, I aim to contribute to a meaningful mission by driving organizational growth and making an impact, expand my professional network, enhance my leadership skills—including joining a leadership development cohort—learn from diverse perspectives, and achieve personal fulfillment while leaving a lasting legacy.”

- Michele Reister