The first winner of the Livingston ATHENA Leadership Award of the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Lake Trust Credit Union is Kelly Genei, dean of undergraduate studies at Cleary University.
Genei, who was raised in Hartland and graduated from Hartland High School, lives in Brighton and works at Cleary University’s Livingston Campus in Howell.
“Dean Genei’s career and community impact reflect the very essence of the ATHENA Leadership Award: professional excellence, community service, and a fierce dedication to lifting others,” said Douglas Stein, Cleary provost and executive vice president. “It was her leadership, mentorship and initiative that earned her the position of Dean in just under four short years working at Cleary as an associate professor.”
“She is a dynamic leader with innovative vision and drive for accomplishment; someone who has demonstrated a successful record of championing a strong, vibrant and relevant undergraduate educational experience for our students at Cleary.”
In addition to her work as Dean, Genei built an international award-winning DECA team at Cleary. She was a DECA leader and award recipient at Hartland High School and at Northwood University in Midland where she earned her triple-major degree. Genei took over Cleary’s program as its advisor in her first year at Cleary and DECA’s second year of inception at Cleary.
In the first year of her leadership, five students reached the finals at the international level and three captured grand awards – two were women and the only two females from Michigan to win. Under her leadership, the DECA team consistently captures international awards.
In her time as a student life coordinator and DECA member, Cleary graduate Chelsea Hendra said she witnessed “the positive impact” Genei had on the school, DECA and students.
“She always is first to step forward to make the student experience better,” Hendra said. “It was her guidance and mentorship that led me to winning DECA awards at the international level, and when I needed advice as a student life coordinator, Kelly was the first person I turned to.”
Hendra is now an entrepreneur. Shortly after graduation, she started her own business – CHXNGEMXXERS.
Hendra is from Australia, and she didn’t know all of the legal steps involved in setting up an LLC; Genei walked her through them all. “Kelly always has been happy to give me the resources to place me on the path to success,” Hendra said.
Genei spent countless nights and weekends creating the Lake Trust Entrepreneur Institute online business program to help support small business growth and success.
“Kelly has strengthened Cleary University’s academic programs and inspired those around her through her mentorship, innovation, and commitment to students,” said Cleary President Alan Drimmer. “She not only has elevated the undergraduate experience at Cleary but has also empowered countless students and colleagues to achieve their full potential. Kelly leads with authenticity, courage, and collaboration, and we are tremendously proud to see her recognized as the inaugural recipient of this distinguished award.”
Outside of Cleary, Genei is a small business consultant through her company – Genei Consulting Group. She blends academic insight with real‑world experiences to help owner‑operators streamline processes, navigate family dynamics, and embrace emerging technology challenges and opportunities. Her goal remains steadfast: to deliver right sized solutions to small businesses that build capability, not dependency.
She also was president of GO Enterprises, LLC, in Brighton for seven years, an industrial plastics recycling, toll grinding, warehousing and waste stream management and container management services and consulting company. GO Enterprises is a Certified WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise). The company focuses on complete respect for the ecological environment. Genei successfully led operations, managed partnerships with major automotive clients and opened doors for women in male-dominated industries.
For the last few years, she has dedicated her time as a volunteer for the Livingston County Animal Shelter, and has served on the City of Brighton’s Zoning Board of Appeals, lending her business expertise to help shape community development and ensure balanced, sustainable growth.
Next year, Genei will earn her doctorate degree in business from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a focus on entrepreneurship. She has completed certifications in People Analytics, Operations Analytics and Customer Analytics – all from Wharton University of Pennsylvania. She obtained a Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma Green Belt Certification in 2012 from the University of Michigan. She also is a Prezi Certified Educator.
Just one year after she joined Cleary University as an adjunct professor, Genei received the Vince Linder Teaching Excellence Award. Students and staff choose the recipient of this prestigious honor, which recognizes a faculty member who maintains a culture of excellence and cares deeply about helping students succeed.
In every role, she champions others—especially women—to lead with strength, authenticity, and purpose. She is a mentor, an innovator, and a courageous advocate for inclusive leadership.
She embodies the spirit of the ATHENA Leadership Award through her unwavering professional excellence in academia and her deep commitment to Livingston County. Above all, Genei mirrors ATHENA’s core value of empowering and inspiring fellow women to reach their full leadership potential.
“ATHENA is about more than honoring one person – it’s about cultivating a culture of leadership and mentorship that empowers women at every stage of their journey,” says Janelle Smith, president of the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Livingston ATHENA Chapter was launched earlier this year by the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation. It is part of ATHENA International, a global organization founded more than 40 years ago with its purpose to support, develop and honor women leaders across the world.
ATHENA Leadership Award recipient Dean Genei will be honored at the inaugural Livingston ATHENA Awards event from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Oct. 20, at Lake Trust Credit Union
