Lynette Oliver, the founder of Back on Track Addiction Ministries in Hendersonville, is a visionary leader who demonstrates exceptional advocacy and leadership. She is actively changing people’s lives with the effort that she puts into helping individuals struggling with addiction by helping sustain a recovery support organization that not only addresses immediate needs, but the long-term restoration of lives. Her work combines a community thrift store that also supports ministry services that help create opportunities for program participants to gain work experience, rebuild confidence, and re-enter the workforce with dignity. Lynette is also an active community partner with several local service organizations like the Open Arms Pregnancy Center, Blue Ridge Health, and the Henderson County Foster Program, and a Community Partner with the Henderson County Drug Court. Lynette demonstrates the ATHENA Principle of Advocating Fiercely as she saw a need for some of Henderson County’s most vulnerable residents to recover and gain stability instead of falling through the cracks with the limited resources.

The keynote speaker was was Dr. Kelli R. Brown, chancellor of Western Carolina University. The award was announced by last year's recipient, Rebecca McCall, who referenced the movie "A League of Their Own." "My favorite line from the whole movie is, 'It's supposed to be hard. It's the hard that makes it good,'" she said. "I think that applies to all of us who work for others. It's very hard sometimes, but it's the hard that makes it good." 

Other nominees for the 2026 award included Andrea Martin, founder and owner of Meliora House of Design; Elizabeth Williams, executive director of Mountain Aging Partners; Kat Carlton, executive director of United Way of Henderson County; Kelly Hart, executive director of The Literacy Connection; Mandy Atkission, CEO of Trauma Intervention Programs, Inc.; and Stacy Bishop, executive director of Open Arms Pregnancy Center.