The Salt Lake Chamber is marking a half-century of its signature event this year, with the 50th annual Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon set for Nov. 11 at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City; event listings give different start times. The milestone gathering carries the theme “Momentum” and will feature Swig founder Nicole Robison and Army veteran Col. Lisa Jaster as keynote speakers, alongside six Pathfinder Award honorees and an ATHENA Leadership Award recipient drawn from Utah's business community.
According to slchamber.com, the event has spent 50 years bringing together women leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs and changemakers to build connections across Utah's business ecosystem. A portion of this year's proceeds will benefit the Women's Business Center of Utah, which the Chamber's event page says supports entrepreneurs across the state as they start, grow and lead businesses. As KSL reports, registration details and full pricing are available directly through the Chamber's website.
The sources differ slightly on the day's exact start time. The Chamber's event page lists the event starting at 8 a.m., while the KSL preview lists the event running from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Chamber's listing also includes the ATHENA Awards Luncheon.
Swig's Founder Headlines a Milestone Year
Robison will deliver the opening keynote, titled “The Swig Effect: Creating a Culture the World Cannot Resist,” according to the same Chamber announcement. The talk is expected to focus on people-first culture, purposeful leadership and genuine care as drivers of customer loyalty, and per the event description, Robison will discuss how Swig grew from a single southern Utah drive-thru into a nationwide brand.
The station's report notes that Swig's customer-care philosophy, which the company calls “Day Making,” centers on making customers feel seen and valued. Col. Lisa Jaster, one of the first women to graduate from the elite Army Ranger School, will also keynote; she entered the school at age 37 and spent six months confronting physical challenges, setbacks and self-doubt before completing it, per the same account.
ATHENA and Pathfinder Honorees Named
Sandi Sumner Hendry, founder and CEO of Minky Couture, has been named this year's ATHENA Leadership Award honoree. The Chamber's event page describes the award as recognizing an active Salt Lake Chamber member who demonstrates creativity and initiative in business, serves the community and helps women reach their leadership potential.
Six women were named 2026 Pathfinder Award honorees, an award the Chamber says recognizes business and community leaders who create new paths and promote the development and recognition of women in business: Jill Borst, head of the Salt Lake City office of Goldman Sachs; Carin Crowe, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area; Abby Osborne, vice president of impact, engagement and enterprise operations for the Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Organizing Committee; Victoria Petro, Salt Lake City Council member and executive director of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Sally Steed, vice president of sales at the Deseret News; and Heidi Woodbury, senior vice president for university advancement at the University of Utah.
How This Year Compares to Past Conferences
A portion of proceeds from the conference benefits the Women's Business Center of Utah.
Attendees at this year's 50th anniversary conference can expect leadership, mentorship, innovation and service opportunities, along with breakout sessions built around interactive learning and deeper discussion. Organizers describe the day as a chance to connect with business and community leaders, find potential mentors and future collaborators, and recognize women making a measurable difference in Utah's business ecosystem.
