April 25, 2006, CONCORD, NH— The law firm of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, P.A. is proud to announce that environmental law attorney Claudia C. Damon has received the 7th Annual New Hampshire Athena Award presented by the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce.
The Athena award celebrates the potential of all women as valued members and leaders of the community and recognizes those who support them. Viable candidates for this honor must assist women in reaching their full leadership potential; demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession; and provide valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community.
Having started her own career of law 32 years ago, at a time when there was a dearth of female professional mentors available to her, Claudia has committed herself to serving as an advisor and role model for professional women, both inside and outside of her law firm. Making it her mission to help other women find their own individual balance of career demands and family, she has also mentored women in their commitment to community service, career goals, and communication skills.
“Claudia takes on roles that make a difference at many critical points in the lives of women, advocating for their success while showing tremendous respect for others,” said Tim Sink, President of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce. “This is the kind of leadership we are proud to commend with the Athena award,” he added.
Claudia has worked tirelessly to further the provision of childcare services to working women. For years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Merrimack Valley Day Care Services, Inc. in Concord, eventually becoming President. During that time, she was also part of an ad hoc group whose members assisted professional women in obtaining information about child care resources. Claudia later chaired a committee for the Greater Manchester YMCA that analyzed the need for, and obtained the Board’s support of, child care services located at the organization’s facility.
Not limiting her influence to helping working mothers, Claudia also served on the Board of Directors of the Girls Club of Manchester, Inc, from 1975 to 1980, as Board member and Vice President. Serving girls from preschool through their high school years, the mission of the Girls Club was to help girls be mentally and physically well-prepared for all the challenges of their lives, and to take charge of conditions in their lives and communities.
In perhaps her most fulfilling civic role, at the end of 2005, Claudia completed her third three-year term elected by the public on the Concord Board of Education and her fourth year as President, elected by her fellow Board members.
In addition to being recognized as Lawyer of the Year in 1997 by the Manchester Bar Association, Claudia has actively served the business and legal community throughout her career. She is an incorporator of the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association, and is a founding member of the Hillsborough County Women’s Bar Association, among many other positions in service to her community.
Claudia graduated from Wellesley College in 1967, received her M.A. from Boston University in 1968, and received her J.D. from Boston University in 1974.
About the McLane Law Firm
Founded in 1919, the McLane Law Firm has grown to the largest full-service law firm in the state of New Hampshire, with offices in Manchester, Concord and Portsmouth. Driven by the firm’s depth of sophisticated legal expertise and an unwavering commitment to client service, McLane has built collaborative and lasting relationships with a broad spectrum of domestic and international clients.