JILL MARLAN WINS THE 2013 ATHENA POWERLINK AWARD

JILL MARLAN WINS THE 2013 ATHENA POWERLINK AWARD

Athena Power Link is an advisory program designed to increase the growth and profitability of women-owned businesses.

Since 1999, the ATHENAPowerLink® Program has been helping women-owned businesses expand profitably through the use of professional advisory panels.

The proven mentoring process “links” a business with a volunteer panel of advisors recruited from the local community. The panel and business owner work together for one year to meet the specific objectives of the business owner. Business owners learn to network, access capital and implement best practices from these volunteer advisors.

The program began in 1992 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when two businesswomen recognized that female entrepreneurs often lack access to valuable advisors and mentors. The premise was simple – panels of volunteers willing to advise women business owners on important issues could help them achieve greater success.

Today, as ATHENAPowerLink® expands across the country, the program continues to help women grow their businesses. Learn more in this article about ATHENAPowerLink by ABC News.

ATHENAPowerLink Recipient 2013 – Jill Marlan, Peak Performance Physical Therapy

It was a bad break in college – literally – that led Jill Marlan to make a significant shift in her career plans. Jill was a scholarship basketball player at Wayne State when she fractured her ankle during her sophomore year. Until that point, Jill planned on a career as a veterinarian; however her injury forced a stint in physical therapy that caused her to consider PT as her career future. Her career transition included several years of formal education and training, learning the physical therapy business from the ground-up, and eventually the decision to go into business for herself.

Jill started Peak Performance Physical Therapy in 2011. Initial growth has been so successful that Jill and her team managed to surpass their five year goals for the business in just two years. A big part of the secret – great customer service.

A big part of the attraction to the ATHENAPowerLink program was the opportunity to network with other successful business people. Jill is hoping her mentoring team will help her implement strategies to double the size of her business over the next year. She would also like to open a second clinic in another community in the near future. Jill is also very proud of a company’s community outreach program, which includes a low-cost injury prevention program for communities and athletes. The goal of the program is to educate the community on ways to prevent injuries and live a healthier lifestyle. Half the revenue generated by the program goes back to the community.