EMBA Student Kira Klatchko Honored with Palm Springs ATHENA Award

Drucker School’s Executive MBA student Kira Klatchko will be honored with the ATHENA Award on December 14 in Palm Springs. She is one of the four women awarded by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce for demonstrating excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession and providing valuable community service.

“We would like to congratulate Kira on being the recipient of the Athena Award.  She is most deserving, and we are very proud of her accomplishments and honored that she is part of the Drucker School,” said Jackee Engles, of the Executive Management Program at the Drucker School.

Klatchko will receive the Athena Young Professional Award for her outstanding accomplishments as an attorney and contributions to the Palm Springs community. She is a senior associate at Best, Best, & Krieger and specializes in state and federal appeals from all areas of civil practice. In 2009 she was on the list of Super Lawyers Rising Stars for Southern California. Well known for her community service, Klatchko sits on the Board of Directors for Desert Foundation of Academics, Indian Wells Athena Awards, Angel View Crippled Children’s Foundation and several other community-based organizations. She is a graduate of Palm Springs High School, has served four years as attorney coach for the school’s Mock Trial team, and still continues to be a huge supporter of the team.

Presented annually by chambers of commerce’s around the nation, the ATHENA Award is a distinguished honor which pays tribute to women who demonstrate excellence and creativity in their business and in the community at large. In addition, they actively assist women in realizing their full leadership potential. The other three winners of the 2010 Palm Springs ATHENA Award are: Martha Edgmon, executive assistant to the Mayor and City Council of Palm Springs; Patty Delgado Service, owner of Las Casuelas Terraza; and Jackie Lee Houston, a long-time Palm Springs philanthropist and a business owner.

The 2010 Palm Springs ATHENA Awards ceremony will be hosted by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, and will take place at the Renaissance Palm Springs. “These four remarkable women truly exemplify the highest level of achievement when it comes to excellence in business, community service and serving as role models for future generations of women leaders,” according to Mayor Steve Pougnet. “Palm Springs is extraordinarily lucky to have Martha, Patty, Jackie Lee and Kira looking out for us and I want to thank them for their tremendous contributions to the City of Palm Springs,” said Pougnet.