Heather Burton has been chosen as the recipient of the 2026 Athena Award, sponsored by Illinois Women in Leadership.
IWIL held an awards ceremony at Erin’s Pavilion in Southwind Park on July 23 to recognize the six nominees for this year’s award and announce the recipient.
Heather Burton is president and Chief Executive Officer of Central Counties Health Centers. CCHC is an outpatient medical, dental and behavioral health center serving anyone that walks through the door without regard to insurance status or ability to pay. Heather continuously seeks opportunities to increase patient care and access for the underserved, most recently adding telepsychiatry to the robust service lines already in existence at the health center. Years ago, Burton spearheaded a physical expansion to the existing structure, adding 14,000 feet of additional space for the opportunity for the health center to add laboratory services, on-site pharmacy, and a redesigned pediatric wing.
Burton is also a certified personal trainer and is currently working on her Women’s Coaching Certification. She serves on the National Association of Community Health Centers board of directors, the Illinois Primary Health Care Association board of directors and the board for Central Illinois Service Access.
Burton previously served on the board for the Auburn Public Library for six years, serving as president for three of those years. She has volunteered as a practice partner and coach for Girls on the Run. In addition, Burton is a member of Illinois Women in Leadership where she has served in many capacities as part of committees and boards.
Burton was nominated for the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit Director of the Year in both 2017 and 2019. She was also the recipient of Springfield Business Journal’s Women of Influence award in 2019.
Burton’s nominator said, “Heather has a unique ability to recognize the strengths in other women and empower them to fully utilize those strengths, helping them grow into the best version of themselves.”
Other nominees were Cindee Fassero, Dr. Nikki Hernandez, Monica Zanetti Reed, Angie Sowle and Sarah Wilks.