CHAMPAIGN — The latest winner of the Athena Award got her career rolling by scheduling a log rolling.

But Cindy Somers' career didn't turn out to be the one she expected.

Somers, the owner of the Spherion Staffing franchises in Champaign and Decatur, got her undergraduate degree from Indiana University in recreation programming, planning and management.

Her first job out of school was planning special events for the Great Lakes Naval Training Center.

For the big Fourth of July celebration there, she booked the Marshall Tucker Band and brought in some log rollers, who performed in a tank.

Interesting as the job was, Somers discovered she had to work extra jobs to make ends meet. She worked at Gap, even did some waitressing.

So when her dad encouraged her to return to Champaign and join him in his staffing business, she agreed.

"I think I had a 10-year plan," Somers said. "I would go back for 10 years, then do something else."

But she eventually found she enjoyed putting people to work.

"I love what I do. It's rewarding. We find people jobs. We have an impact on their lives," she said.

Last year, the area Spherion franchises found employment for about 900 people, she said.

Today, Somers is scheduled to receive the 2012 Athena Award sponsored by the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and Barham Benefit Group.

The award — to be given at a luncheon at the Champaign Country Club — is presented annually to someone who helps women reach their leadership potential, demonstrates professional excellence and offers community service.

Somers, 43, of Champaign has been active in the United Way of Champaign County and the Champaign-Urbana One-to-One Mentoring Program, among other organizations.

She credits her parents, Penn and Barb Nelson, for putting her on the volunteer path.

"Both Mom and Dad volunteered when they came to the community," she said. "I had strong examples."

Cindy Somers was a mentor for two sisters in the One-to-One program and has stayed in touch with them, even though they're now 22 and 21.

She just stepped down from the United Way's board of directors, but was recently named to the committee searching for a new executive director for the Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club.

Somers is also active in Junior Achievement of East Central Illinois and has been involved with a variety of organizations including Champaign West Rotary Club and the Junior Women's Club.

She joined her dad's business — then known as Norrell Services — in 1992 as staffing supervisor. She became office manager in 1996 and franchise partner in 1999. In 2000, the office changed from Norrell to Spherion, and in 2012, Somers became full owner.

Even as a teenager, she had worked as a temp there. Her most unusual job: serving as one of Santa's elves at Market Place Mall.

She met her husband, Mike Somers, shortly after returning to Champaign. Appropriately, they met while volunteering at the Taste of Champaign festival.

They were selling tickets, and Mike, a banker, lectured Cindy on the importance of making sure the dollar bills were turned the same direction.

Today the Somers family operates in a small geographic footprint. Cindy's business is located at the Business and Technology Center on Devonshire Drive; Mike works at BankChampaign, just down the street; and their children, 10-year-old Justin and 7-year-old Lainey, attend Bottenfield School, around the corner. The Somers live in that same south Champaign neighborhood.

Sandra Alsop, who nominated Somers for the Athena Award, has worked with her for 16 years.

"Cindy takes great pride in the fact that the women who stayed on her staff have tenure of up to 15 years-plus," Alsop said. "Our loyalty is a result of her investment in all of us."

For her part, Somers said work at Spherion is very much a team effort.

What's next on her plate? She's helping plan the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation gala April 14 at the Illinois Terminal. Log rolling is not on the program.