There's Power in the Collective
This Brainerd Lakes Chamber initiative is fueled by the collective strength, wisdom and voice of professional women. Our purpose is to build courage, confidence and connection—advancing women’s leadership and supporting the success of Lakes Area businesses and organizations.
The Collective Story
The Collective started with a simple idea: create intentional opportunities for the women who own, lead, and work within Lakes Area businesses and organizations to connect and grow together.
Inspired by the Lakes Area history of celebrating women’s leadership and shaped by the voices of local women today, The Collective is building experiences centered on courage, confidence, and connection. Because investing in women strengthens the businesses, organizations, and communities around them.
2026 ATHENA Awards: Sarah Kinkeade, Lori Scharenbroich, Sarah Smith, Pam Finch, Jessica Richau, Matt Kilian
Our Collective Values
We help women build confidence by challenging themselves, navigating the unexpected, and learning to trust their own abilities.
Providing women opportunities to try new things, share real stories of empowerment, resilience, and authenticity—to challenge yourself, stretch beyond what’s comfortable, and know you’re not doing it alone.
We create space to build meaningful relationships and trusted circles where women can be themselves.
Quarterly Events
You take the time. We make it count. We’ve designed quarterly events to be packed with intentionality, and authenticity from the moment you arrive.
Fueled by Courage
Join us for the launch of The Collective: Professional Women’s Network. Watch the Recap Video >
December Social
Join us for an evening gathering. Save the date. Learn More >
Coming Soon. February Quarterly Event
Join us for the launch of The Collective: Professional Women’s Network.
ATHENA Awards: Celebrate & Inspire
Nominations open in January 2027.
The Collective Experience
Purposeful programming that connects women and strengthens our Lakes Area businesses and organizations.
Get the opportunity to experience something new at quarterly events.
Find a sense of belonging with other women who "get it".
Hear real stories, honest experiences, and shared perspectives you can relate to.
Build genuine relationships with women who want to see you succeed.
Gain practical leadership tools and ideas you can put into action.
Discover what you’re capable of and leave feeling ready for what's next.
The Collective Committee
Meet The Collective Committee, leading the way and uplifting the community of women.
Sarah Kinkeade
Frandsen Bank & Trust
Jessica Richau
Curated Closet & Northland Sotheby's International Realty
Lori Scharenbroich
West Shore Marketing & Spaces
Sarah Smith
Smiles for Jake
Pam Finch
Red Ribbon Consulting
Jennifer Lowe
CRMC
Our Investors
WAVE is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors.
Anchor sponsors
buoy sponsors
Forty years after its beginnings, the Brainerd Lakes Chamber proudly relaunched the ATHENA Awards—honoring the legacy of past recipients and celebrating the 2026 recipients: Jill Casper and Lakes Area Grit & Grace.
The collective Voice
Hear what women are saying about the program.
The idea behind The Collective was to create something women in our community genuinely want to be part of. A place to make meaningful connections, learn from one another and build each other up. We have so many talented women here, and there’s real power in bringing them together.
Jessica RichauCommittee Member
What advice we’d give someone who needs a little courage to do the thing? Years ago at a Women in Motorsports event, I heard a woman say, “If you can see her, you can be her.”
That has always stuck with me because I didn’t have a “her” doing what I do now. Not because anyone told me I couldn’t. I just didn’t know this was an option.
Sara WalkerBrainerd International Raceway General Manager 
