LAYTON—The Davis Chamber of Commerce Women in Business held its annual ATHENA Award luncheon Feb. 24 to honor Julie Batchelor who was selected as this year’s recipient of the prestigious award. Batchelor was selected for her significant contributions to the community, professional excellence and her commitment to help other women be successful.

“When the ATHENA selection committee chose Julie Batchelor to be the ATHENA for 2026 I had to think about all that she has done for the chamber,” said Davis Chamber President/CEO, Angie Osguthorpe. “Beginning with Women in Business. She was the chair. She helped it grow and I’ve heard so many times how they used to have to address and mail every single invitation to every single event. That tells you how long ago that was. Julie was around at that time.” 

She’s been on every committee, the business alliance, leadership institute and the executive board, said Osguthorpe. “She’s coming back on the executive board for the second time.”

Julie embodies all of the attributes of ATHENA and also all of the eight principles in leadership, she said. “But the two I think of when I think of Julie is one – fierce advocacy. Do we advocate for women of all ages young all the way up? How do I know this? I’ve been the recipient of her fierce advocacy at times when she says, ‘Angie, why are there not women on this panel? Angie, we need more women and we need more females on our executive board.’”

Of all the things that she does in the community there is one that really stands out, said Osguthorpe. “If you know Julie you know that she adores her Gracie. That’s her miracle baby that she has and they were all hands on deck as she was growing up and in all of her sports and activities and everything.”

But Gracie flew the nest eventually, she said. “After she was gone a group needed a softball coach. The crazy thing about this is she didn’t know anybody in the group. They were an underserved population, not even in her city or anybody else she knew.”

Julie stepped up and said she would coach the team, Osguthorpe said. “This girl walks the walk. She whipped those girls into shape for sure.”

She never got paid, said Julie’s friend Chad Stander in a video made for the occasion. “She was doing all this as a volunteer. Taking time out of her day to coach kids.”

“I feel so grateful to have Julie Batchelor as a friend and as a great example in my life,” said Davis School District Board President Brigit Gerrard. “I’m so excited that you’re receiving this ATHENA award. Congratulations, you deserve it.”

“I’m so honored and humbled that my friends in this community would think that I’m worthy of this award,” said Batchelor. “I love Davis County. I love Layton.”

Batchelor said one thing she knows about the ATHENA award is that the honor is being a recipient of it. “I took that to heart.”

Everyone should work together to champion women, she said. “We can do that with ourselves and with each other. It doesn’t take anything away from the seasoned veterans that have been there. So if you’re going to go out and live your authentic life, go out and do it fiercely.”