Elizabeth Smart announced as ATHENA Leadership Award Luncheon keynote speaker

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Inspiring survivor-turned-advocate Elizabeth Smart will deliver the keynote address at the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Leadership Award Luncheon, presented by Better Bookkeepers. The luncheon is scheduled for Friday, July 24, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Conroe.

“Better Bookkeepers is proud to continue supporting the ATHENA Leadership Award Luncheon,” said Melanie K. Bush, owner of Better Bookkeepers. “Women leaders throughout our community are driving meaningful change and inspiring others to reach higher. Like this year’s speaker, ATHENA leaders set the standard for excellence while lifting others along the way. Their leadership creates opportunity, and we are honored to celebrate their influence and impact.”

For the ninth year, the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce will partner with ATHENA International, an organization that develops, supports, and honors girls and women from the classroom to the boardroom, building a global pipeline of women leaders.

“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, President of the Chamber. “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 on leadership and empowerment in the context of resilience and adversity.

The abduction of Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases of our time. She was abducted on June 5, 2002, and her captors controlled her by threatening to kill her and her family if she tried to escape. Fortunately, the police safely returned Elizabeth back to her family on March 12, 2003, after being held prisoner for 9 grueling months.

Elizabeth triumphantly testified before her captor and the world about the very private nightmare she suffered during her abduction, which led to conviction. The founder of the “Elizabeth Smart Foundation,” Smart has also helped promote The National Amber Alert, The Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act, and other safety legislation to help prevent abduction. She has chronicled her experiences in the New York Times best-selling book, “My Story.” In addition, she and other abduction survivors worked with the Department of Justice to create a survivor’s guide, entitled, “You’re Not Alone: The Journey From Abduction to Empowerment.” This guide is meant to encourage children who have gone through similar experiences not to give up but to know that there is hope for a rewarding life.

Elizabeth’s abduction and recovery continue to motivate parents, law enforcement, and leaders worldwide to focus on children’s safety. She emphasizes vigilance by "everyday" people and the belief that hope always exists to find every missing child. Smart attended Brigham Young University, studying music as a harp performance major. She married her husband Matthew in 2012, and they now have three beautiful children. Elizabeth’s example is a daily demonstration that there really is life after tragedy.

To recognize the wonderful women in Montgomery County, the Chamber collects nominations for the ATHENA Leadership Award and sends them to ATHENA International, where a committee selects three finalists and an award recipient based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrates a high level of professional excellence
• Contributes time and energy to improve the quality of life for others
• Actively assists women and girls in achieving their full potential

The luncheon will recognize nominees, honor finalists, and celebrate the recipient who is announced at the event. This is the only women-focused event in Montgomery County that celebrates women leaders from all industries, ages, and backgrounds. More than 500 guests are anticipated to attend.

Former ATHENA Leadership Award recipients include:

• 2025: Rachel Goodlad
• 2024: Nicole Robinson Gauthier
• 2023: Judge Kathleen Hamilton
• 2022: Natalie Saikowski Goertz
• 2021: Carol Gooch
• 2020: Dr. Dana Hoyt
• 2019: Dr. Marlen Tejeda
• 2018: Danielle Scheiner

The link to nominate a woman for the ATHENA Leadership Award (by Sunday, May 3) will be added soon to the Chamber’s website at www.conroe.org.

In combination with the Leadership Award, the event will also raise funds to support a nonprofit organization in Montgomery County that serves women/girls. Montgomery County-area 501(c)(3) nonprofits are invited to apply by Friday, April 3, to be the 2026 benefitting organization at https://bit.ly/ATHENABeneficiary.

ATHENA Leadership Award Luncheon sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Riley Borchgardt, Director of Special Events, at 936.538.7111 or rileyb@conroe.org. To purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/ATHENALeadership2025.

###

Photo caption: Elizabeth Smart is the keynote speaker at the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Leadership Award Luncheon, presented by Better Bookkeepers. The event is scheduled for Friday, July 24, at 11:30 a.m. at Hyatt Regency Conroe.