Claudine Adams and Sarah Klein Honored as ATHENA Award Recipients

Claudine Adams, Founder/CEO of Bravura Information Technology Systems, Inc., received the 2022 ATHENA Leadership Award, and Sarah Klein, Director of Front-End Operations for Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland, received the 2022 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award on March 4 at the Richlin Ballroom in Edgewood, Maryland.

Presented by Harford Mutual Insurance Group, the ATHENA Leadership Award Breakfast is hosted each year by the Harford Community College Foundation. The award is intended to recognize leaders who demonstrate excellence in assisting women in leadership, professional accomplishment, and service to the community.

Adams has over 30 years' experience as an executive and program manager. She is Board Chair for both the Northern Maryland Technology Council (first woman Board Chair in its 29-year history) and Harford County Education Foundation (first woman Board Chair in its 17-year history). She is founder and president of the Brave Ones, promoting small businesses in Harford County and the Washington area.

Klein became an essential grocery employee during the pandemic almost overnight as she worked to keep employees and customers of Klein’s ShopRite stores safe and healthy. She assisted customers with placing online shopping orders and curbside pickup. After her father’s tragic passing, Sarah stepped in to chair the Good Scout Awards for the Boy Scouts of America. That event took place the same week she was a celebrity dance performer at the Maryland Center for the Arts fundraising gala. She served on the John Carroll School Gala Committee and helped raise $100,000 for the Andrew P. Klein Peace and Justice Grant.

The breakfast event proceeds fund ATHENA Leadership Scholarships. This year five scholarships were awarded to deserving Harford Community College students as well as one Emerging Leadership Program Scholarship. The Emerging Leadership Program Scholarship recipient, Olivia Borkowski-Johnson, addressed the audience detailing her positive experiences at Harford Community College and the impact that learning leadership skills has had on her education.

Harford Mutual Insurance Group was the Presenting Sponsor of the ATHENA Leadership Award. The Daily Record sponsored the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award. New this year, the event featured a Women’s Business Expo sponsored by M&T Bank. The Platinum Sponsors were Ascension Saint Agnes, Bravura Information Technology Systems, Inc., Chesapeake Bank of Maryland, Jones Junction, and Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland. Gold Sponsors were APGFCU, Chesapeake Employers Insurance Company, Harford Bank, The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region, and Towson University in Northeastern Maryland. Silver Sponsors were AUSA MG Harry Greene Chapter, Elegant Restoration, Inc., Freedom Federal Credit Union, Harford County Chamber of Commerce, Harford County Government, Harford County Public Library, and Maryland Center for the Arts. Bronze Sponsors were Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. XI Delta Omega Chapter, Beacon Staffing Associates, City of Havre de Grace, Delegate Steve Johnson, Harford Family House, Harford County Education Foundation, Laurel Bush Family Dentistry, The Greater Bel Air Community Foundation, Inc., The John Carroll School, Stacey & Eric Rebbert, and TENAX Technologies, LLC. The In-Kind Sponsor was Flowers by Bauers and Greenhouses. Media Sponsors were HarfordTV and I95 Business.

ATHENA Recipients

Claudine Adams (right), Founder/CEO of Bravura Information Technology Systems, Inc., received the 2022 ATHENA Leadership Award, and Sarah Klein (left), Director of Front-End Operations for Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland, received the 2022 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award on March 4 at the Richlin Ballroom in Edgewood, Maryland.