Springfield Chamber Honors 2026 ATHENA and Virginia Fry Rising Star Award Recipients
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Springfield, MO – The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has announced Sandy Howard as the 2026 ATHENA Award recipient and Lauren Korbal as the 2026 Virginia Fry Rising Star Award recipient. These honors recognize outstanding women leaders who demonstrate professional excellence, meaningful community service and a strong commitment to mentoring and supporting others.
The ATHENA Award celebrates a distinguished leader whose career achievements and community impact have opened doors for others. The Virginia Fry Rising Star Award recognizes an emerging leader who exemplifies those same qualities and is making a significant impact early in her career.
Sandy Howard, 2026 ATHENA Award Recipient
A collaborative and inclusive leader, Howard has focused her community service on creating frameworks for action that result in tangible solutions to local challenges. Through the Junior League of Springfield, she was a founding leader in establishing Isabel’s House, a 24/7 crisis nursery providing free, temporary care for children and helping prevent child abuse by supporting families facing crises such as homelessness, domestic violence, or medical emergencies. Her civic leadership spans numerous nonprofit organizations, including the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, Springfield Innovation Inc., Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, United Way of the Ozarks, and the statewide Children’s Services Commission. Throughout her career in the technology and public affairs sectors, Howard has demonstrated a unique ability to convene the right people around meaningful initiatives, developing sound processes that ensure measurable outcomes while elevating emerging professionals and creating opportunities.
Lauren Korbal, 2026 Virginia Fry Rising Star Award Recipient
Korbal began her banki
ng career as a teller in 2010 and has steadily advanced into leadership through dedication, integrity, and a passion for serving others. Throughout her career, she has built high-performing teams, developed future leaders, and strengthened community relationships. Her prior service on The Kitchen Foundation Board and The Kitchen Board of Trustees reflects her commitment to making a meaningful difference beyond the workplace.
ng career as a teller in 2010 and has steadily advanced into leadership through dedication, integrity, and a passion for serving others. Throughout her career, she has built high-performing teams, developed future leaders, and strengthened community relationships. Her prior service on The Kitchen Foundation Board and The Kitchen Board of Trustees reflects her commitment to making a meaningful difference beyond the workplace.Both recipients were nominated by the public and selected from among dozens of nominees by an independent panel of judges. They will be honored at the Chamber’s ATHENA Award Luncheon on March 18 at White River Conference Center.
“Our 2026 recipients exemplify the leadership, service, and commitment to others that define the ATHENA and Virginia Fry Rising Star awards,” said Chamber President Matt Morrow. “Sandy and Lauren have each made a meaningful impact through their professional excellence, mentorship, and dedication to strengthening our community. We are proud to recognize their achievements and the example they set for future leaders.”
