The Salt Lake Chamber has announced that Sandi Sumner Hendry, founder and CEO of Minky Couture, will receive the 2026 ATHENA Leadership Award. This award is the organization’s highest recognition for women in business, and presented annually to an active member of the Salt Lake Chamber who demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in their profession, provides valuable service to improve the quality of life in their community and actively supports women in achieving their leadership potential.
“Sandi Sumner Hendry truly represents what this award is all about,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “Sandi started Minky Couture with a single blanket and grew it into a nationally recognized brand. Along the way, she created work for hundreds of talented women and built a company that gives back to families when they need it most. Our state’s economic strength depends on entrepreneurs like Sandi, who lift their communities as they grow their businesses. That is the Utah way, and Sandi embodies it. We are grateful for her leadership and honored to present her with the ATHENA Leadership Award.”
In addition to the ATHENA Leadership Award, six women will receive Pathfinder Awards at the conference. The Pathfinder Awards are presented annually to community leaders who create new paths promoting the development and recognition of women in business. The Pathfinder recipients this year include:
- Jill Borst, Head of the Salt Lake City Office, Goldman Sachs
- Carin Crowe, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area
- Abby Osborne, Vice President of Impact, Engagement and Enterprise Operations, Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Organizing Committee
- Victoria Petro, Salt Lake City Council Member, and Executive Director, Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Sally Steed, Vice President of Sales, Deseret News
- Heidi Woodbury, Senior Vice President for Advancement, University of Utah
The ATHENA Leadership Award will officially be presented to Hendry at the 50th annual Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon on November 11, 2026, at the Grand America Hotel. This year’s theme, “Momentum,” reflects the energy that drives progress, creates opportunity and carries impact forward. The conference will feature keynote speaker Nicole Robison, founder of Swig, whose session explores how a people-first culture and purposeful leadership turn everyday moments into lasting success. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Women’s Business Center of Utah, supporting programs and resources that help women start, grow and strengthen their businesses.
This year’s conference is sponsored by WCF Insurance. BW Productions, CHG Healthcare and Enbridge are the event sponsors. The closing keynote sponsors are Clyde Companies, Inc. and the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Intermountain Health, Mountain America Credit Union, Select Health, The Scout Guide Salt Lake and the University of Utah are exhibit hall sponsors. The women veterans sponsors are The Boeing Company, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation and Zions Bank.
For tickets and event information, click here.
Honoree Bios Below:
ATHENA Leadership Award:
Sandi Sumner Hendry, Founder and CEO, Minky Couture
Sandi Sumner Hendry is the founder and CEO of Minky Couture, the original luxury blanket company, founded in 2009. A graduate of Brigham Young University with degrees in education and business, Hendry spent 30 years as an elementary school teacher before transitioning into business development and human resources at Mountain View Title, a company she co-owned with her husband, Michael.
Hendry’s entrepreneurial journey began from a deeply personal experience. While her daughter was hospitalized, she asked for a “big baby blanket” for comfort. Unable to find anything that was both exceptionally soft and beautiful, Hendry created one herself using plush minky fabric. What started as a simple act of love quickly captured the attention of hospital staff and patients. She gave away dozens of blankets before selling them from the trunk of her car — launching what would become Minky Couture.
Today, Minky Couture has grown into a nationally recognized brand with seven Utah retail locations, a thriving e-commerce business and hundreds of talented Utah women who sew many of the company’s signature blankets from their homes. Over the past 17 years, the company has sold more than 8 million blankets and offers one of the industry’s largest selections of sizes, colors, textures and prints.
In 2018, Hendry pioneered the original HUGS blanket collection, designed with a unique stretch fabric that creates the feeling of being gently embraced. Her passion for bringing comfort to others extends beyond the products themselves. Through the Heart of Minky charitable initiative, every adult blanket purchased helps provide a Mini Minky blanket to a baby in a NICU. Today, the program donates more than 100,000 mini blankets each year to hospitals and families across the country.
Hendry and her husband, Michael, are the proud parents of eight children, grandparents to 26 grandchildren and great-grandparents to one. Whether spending time with family, traveling, boating, golfing or relaxing on the beaches of Florida, Hendry’s greatest joy has always been creating comfort, both at home and through the blankets that have become part of millions of families’ lives.
Pathfinder Awards:
Jill Borst, Head of the Salt Lake City Office, Goldman Sachs
Jill Borst is an advisory director of Goldman Sachs and head of the Salt Lake City office. She is a member of the Firmwide New Activity Committee. Previously, Borst was head of North America Interest Rate Products Sales and co-head of Global Repo Trading in the Global Markets Division. She previously served as chair of the Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Fixed Income Best Execution Subcommittee and also served as firmwide captain of the Princeton University Undergraduate Recruiting team.
Borst joined Goldman Sachs in 2000 as an analyst in the Derivatives Structuring and Marketing Group within the Investment Banking Division and moved to Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities Sales in 2002. She managed relationships with the firm’s largest financial institution clients, with a focus on portfolio investing and risk management strategies across macro markets. Borst was named managing director in 2009 and partner in 2012.
Borst earned a bachelor’s in economics, summa cum laude, from Princeton University and a certificate in finance from the Bendheim Center of Finance in 2000. She relocated to Utah with her family in 2022.
Carin Crowe, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area
Carin Crowe is the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area, where she has spent more than a decade helping families build strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable homeownership, critical home repairs, neighborhood revitalization and international service. She holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Houston, a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Quincy University and is a Certified International Human Rights Consultant.
Crowe believes that when we lift others, we all rise. She is passionate about mentoring young women, creating opportunities for people to discover their potential and building collaborative teams where everyone has a chance to lead and grow. Her leadership philosophy centers on making room for others, fostering meaningful partnerships and creating lasting community impact.
Under her leadership, Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area has been recognized as one of Utah’s Best Nonprofits to Work For (2025), one of America’s Most Admired Workplaces (2026) and achieved two of the four Women’s Leadership Institute pillars. Crowe was also named one of Utah’s Most Influential Women in 2025.
Beyond Habitat for Humanity, Crow serves as chair of Unsheltered Utah, mentors with Women Who Succeed, serves on the advisory board for the Utah Civic Housing Alliance, is vice chair of the ChamberWest Legislative Affairs Housing Committee and serves on Habitat for Humanity International’s Operations Oversight Board.
Outside of work, Crowe is a proud mom of four grown children, has one wonderful daughter-in-law and enjoys hiking, high adventure and traveling.
Abby Osborne, Vice President of Impact, Engagement and Enterprise Operations, Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Organizing Committee
Abby Osborne serves as vice president of impact, engagement and enterprise operations for the Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Organizing Committee. In this role, she leads the organization’s impact and legacy strategy, stakeholder engagement, government relations, communications and enterprise operations, helping ensure the Games create meaningful, lasting benefits for Utah and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
Before joining the Organizing Committee, Osborne served as Chief of Staff for the Utah House of Representatives, where she was the senior strategic advisor to the Speaker of the House and oversaw House operations, legislative staff and policy coordination. Throughout her public service career, she has built a reputation for bringing together leaders from government, business and community organizations to solve complex challenges and deliver results.
Previously, Osborne served as executive vice president of government affairs and public policy for the Salt Lake Chamber and spent 13 years with Granite Construction in project management and public affairs. In 2014, she founded the Utah Transportation Coalition, a statewide partnership dedicated to advancing transportation solutions and infrastructure investment.
Osborne is passionate about building partnerships that strengthen communities and believes the greatest legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be measured not by what happens during 17 days of competition, but by the opportunities created for generations to come. She lives in Bountiful, Utah, with her family.
Victoria Petro, Salt Lake City Council Member and Executive Director, Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Victoria Petro’s journey to public service is rooted in her deep love for Salt Lake City’s Westside and her commitment to creating a brighter future for District 1. First appointed to the Salt Lake City Council in November 2021, she quickly earned the trust of District 1 voters, who elected her to a full four-year term starting Jan. 3, 2022. Her colleagues recognized her leadership abilities, electing her as council vice chair in 2023 and council chair in 2024. Petro also represents the city on the Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District Board, Utah Inland Port Authority Board and Salt Lake City Airport Board, advocating for equitable, community-centered development.
District 1 neighborhoods include Rose Park, Jordan Meadows, Westpointe and a portion of Fairpark. Petro is proud to represent this vibrant and diverse community, rich in culture and opportunity. For nearly a decade, she has called District 1 home, raising her four children in the neighborhood.
Petro earned a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from East Carolina University, a master’s degree in musicology from Brandeis University, a master’s degree in international studies from North Carolina State University and a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. Her career has spanned nonprofit leadership and consulting, with a focus on creating actionable strategies to improve inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility across various settings.
As executive director of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Petro leads initiatives that support Hispanic-owned businesses, strengthen economic opportunity and foster strategic partnerships across Utah. With a passion for community development and inclusive leadership, Petro works to connect entrepreneurs, business leaders and policymakers to advance the Chamber’s mission of empowering Hispanic businesses and driving statewide economic growth. She is a dedicated advocate for collaboration, innovation and creating pathways for long-term success throughout Utah’s business community.
Petro works closely with neighbors and community councils across District 1 and neighboring District 2 to amplify Westside perspectives. Her goal is to create unity, sustainable growth and greater equity for the communities she loves and calls home. When she’s not working on council priorities, Petro enjoys spending time with her family and contributing to the artistic and cultural vibrancy of the Westside.
Sally Steed, Vice President of Sales, Deseret News
Sally Steed is an accomplished executive sales leader with more than 35 years of experience driving revenue growth, building strategic partnerships and leading high-performing sales organizations. She has a proven track record of building exceptional sales teams, developing top talent and creating a culture of collaboration, accountability and sustained success. Throughout her career, Steed has earned a reputation for developing lasting client relationships, identifying new business opportunities and delivering innovative marketing, sponsorship and business development solutions across a variety of Industries.
Prior to joining the Deseret News, Steed served as a regional sales director for Technics Musical Instruments, a division of Panasonic, where she led regional sales operations and cultivated strong dealer and distribution partnerships across the country. She brought this extensive leadership experience to the Deseret News, where she is now serving her 22nd year as vice president of sales. In this role, she leads strategic revenue initiatives and partners with organizations to create impactful collaborations that connect brands with engaged audiences. Her long-standing leadership, collaborative approach and commitment to excellence have made her a trusted advisor to clients, colleagues and community partners alike.
Steed pursued business education studies at Weber State University and completed professional sales training through the Matsushita Sales Institute, building a strong foundation in business, leadership and strategic sales. Passionate about fostering meaningful relationships and creating opportunities for growth, Steed is dedicated to strengthening Utah’s business community through strategic partnerships, mentorship and service.
Heidi Woodbury, Senior Vice President for Advancement, University of Utah
Heidi Woodbury is the senior vice president for advancement at the University of Utah, where she leads the University’s comprehensive advancement enterprise, including philanthropy, alumni relations, advancement services and donor engagement. Since joining the University’s executive leadership team in 2019, she has championed a collaborative, donor-centric approach to fundraising and organizational excellence. Woodbury led the successful completion of the University of Utah’s “Imagine New Heights” campaign, which surpassed its historic $2 billion goal, and spearheaded the implementation of the University’s One U advancement model – strengthening partnerships and enhancing the donor and alumni experience across campus.
A proud University of Utah graduate, Woodbury has devoted her 40-year career to advancing higher education. Prior to her current role, she served in several leadership positions at the David Eccles School of Business, culminating as assistant dean for external relations, where she expanded philanthropic support, deepened alumni engagement and helped establish transformative academic programs and facilities. Earlier in her career, she led public relations efforts for KUER. Widely respected for her collaborative leadership and relationship-building, Woodbury remains committed to creating opportunities that empower students, strengthen communities and advance the University of Utah’s mission.
A college degree was not originally part of Woodbury’s plan after high school. Fortunately, her high school academic counselor encouraged her to apply for the prestigious University of Utah Leadership Scholarship; this changed everything. She has since dedicated her life’s work to paying it forward and facilitating more opportunities for students at the University of Utah.
