2010 TWIN Awards will be presented at June 18 luncheon

Trisha Meili shares a common bond with the victims of violence who are served by the YWCA of San Diego County. She’s an assault and rape victim who has written a book about her 1989 attack in New York — “I am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility.”

Meili will be the featured speaker at the YWCA’s annual Tribute to Women & Industry Awards luncheon program on June 18 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel and Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego. Last year, TWIN honored 70 women and their employers and raised $110,340. This year, some 35 women will be honored. Proceeds will go to the YWCA for its programs and services that help women, children and families affected by domestic violence and homelessness. Tickets are $150 per person. (To purchase tickets, visit ywcasandiego.org or call 619-239-0355, Ext. 218.)

“Surviving a major trauma that nearly took her life, Trisha demonstrates first-hand the capacity of the human body and spirit to heal,” says the YWCA in advance of her appearance. “Sharing her inspirational message of what it means to come back from nearly losing everything, Trisha offers lessons on how to manage unpredictable change, whether personal, professional, or economic, to overcome life’s obstacles and get back on the road to life.”

Also appearing at the luncheon will be Mary Murphy, a ballroom dancer and judge on the television show “So You Think You Can Dance.” TV personality Carol LeBeau will emcee the event.

Among the women who will be honored on June 18 are the following:

Pamela Mills

For four years, Pamela Mills has worked as San Diego Gas & Electric’s regulatory policy manager, responsible for crafting regulatory policies that align with SDG&E’s company vision. As such, Mills assembled and led SDG&E’s Smart Grid team. She participated in the development of a $28 million Department of Energy grant for the development of smart grid technologies. The utility company selected Mills to participate in the Build on Strengths (BOS) program, designed to hone participants’ business know-how and allow them to rub elbows with SDG&E’s senior management. Outside of work, Mills has sat on the board of directors for a number of organizations, including the Energy Bar Association. She works as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and Big Brother Big Sisters.

Linda Kavanagh

Some 2,100 Cox Communications employees across San Diego County rely on Linda Kavanagh’s dedication to their well-being. As Cox Communications’ director of people services, Kavanagh oversees human relation procedures and practices that impact Cox’s employee population. Kavanagh also serves as community resource adviser on Cox’s Diversity Council, responsible for developing community outreach goals and programs.  She is one of Cox’s official mentors for female managers. Kavanagh is a graduate of the Women in Cable Telecommunications Rising Leaders Program and belongs to the local and national chapters of Women in Cable and Telecommunications, Society for Human Resources Management and The Cable and Telecommunications Human Resources Association.

Kathi Lencioni
As senior vice president and CEO of Sharp Mesa Vista and Vista Pacifica Hospitals, Kathi Lencioni oversees the growth and operations of the company, which encompasses everything from insuring quality patient care to setting financial objectives. She has expanded the hospitals’ business by taking control of East County’s behavioral health operations that were previously headed by Scripps. Lencioni has also worked to raise behavioral health awareness in San Diego County. In her spare time, she mentors young health care professionals through the San Diego Association of Healthcare Leaders. Lencioni also sits on the board of directors for Mountain Healthcare Services of Rural East County.

Gail Ives
Gail Ives, senior vice president and manager in Commercial Treasury Services at Union Bank, is responsible for deposit and treasury services for local Business Banking companies whose sales are between $5 million and $10 million. Ives’s team leaders and deposit managers are spread throughout California to allow her to support more than 300 branches. The bank credits Ives for her key role in the restructuring of branch small business and business banking segment models. Ives belongs to a number of local organizations including the California Alumni Association, the Thursday Club and the San Diego Yacht Club.

Dawn Andrews
In her position as managing attorney of labor and employment for Sempra Energy, Dawn Andrews defends Sempra and its subsidiaries in employment litigation and labor arbitrations and supervises the senior counsel in labor and employment. Passionate about diversity, Andrews founded the Sempra Energy legal department’s Diversity Committee in 2008 and has served as chairperson ever since. Due to her influence as chairperson, Sempra became one of the few corporate participants in the pilot program for the San Diego County Bar Association’s Diversity Fellowship Program. Andrews herself was a founding planning committee member for the fellowship program.

Judi Kernery
Judi Kernery has been with Goodrich Corp. for 22 years, currently working as the company’s quality manager for Boeing programs, focusing specifically on the 787 nacelle program. A key player on the 787 VS General Leadership Team throughout product development, Kernery will continue to be a key player as the product transitions to in-production, the company said. Kernery headed the 787 VS corrective actions, which reinforced Goodrich’s working relationship with Boeing.  Under her leadership, a recent 787 Program Quality Review with the Boeing Supplier Quality team gained the best rating to date on the 787 program.

Iris Villela
Iris Villela, a Six Sigma Black Belt III with Solar Turbines Inc., headed the Bigfoot strategy team in developing a lean and green implementation plan for Eurotec/Zatec, a Europe-based Re-man facility. Now that Villela has seen the Bigfoot plan through the approval process, she will take on the role of project manager for the Zatec implementation. As such, she will set project schedules and tasks for the full design of Zatec’s new facility — addressing everything from environmental permits and building design to workforce hiring and start-up activities.  Outside of work, Villela is a chair member of Solar WINS affinity group and will be the presenter at WINS two upcoming group meetings.

Gloria Penner
The YWCA has chosen Gloria Penner to receive its “2010 Spirit of Commitment Award,” which honors her for her spirit, dedication and leadership in San Diego. Penner is the host of KPBS Radio’s weekly “Editors Roundtable” and “San Diego Week.” She joined KPBS Television in 1969 as director of community relations, subsequently overseeing production of television programs. Her awards include seven Emmys, five Golden Mikes, two Gracies from the American Federation of Women in Radio and Television, The San Diego Press Club’s Harold Keen Award for excellence in journalism, the John Swett Award from the California Teachers Association, and many honors from the Society for Professional Journalists and the San Diego Bar Association. An annual Gloria Penner Award for Civic Service was established in 2003 by the League of Women Voters of San Diego County, and Penner was the first recipient.

2010 Twin Honorees

Dawn M. Andrews, Sempra Energy
Sarah J. Beckman, Shea Homes LP
Diana Bergen,  University of Californa, San Diego
Callie A. Bjurstrom, Luce Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP
Rae Felice Boganey, MD, Kaiser Permanente San Diego
Lori Burnell, R.N., Scripps Mercy Hospital
Kristin Caltrider, Quidel Corporation
Zoe Chavez, General Dynamics NASSCO
Gail Ives, Union Bank, N.A.
Linda Kavanagh, Cox Communications
Leslie Kelley, Pardee Homes
Judi Kemery, Goodrich Corporation
Kathi Lencioni, Sharp Mesa Vista and Vista Pacifica Hospitals
Lori Luthnow, San Diego Family Justice Center
Kerstin Lynam, Veterans Medical Research Foundation
Mardeen Mattix, San Diego Convention Center Corporation
Pamela Mills, SDG&E
Misty A. Moore, Jones Lang LaSalle
Robin Munro, Prairie Schwartz Heidel LLP
Michele O’Malia, Rick Engineering Company
Kathleen Pacurar, San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine
Sage Pierce, NBC 7/39
Dianne Ratzel, United Through Reading
Danette Roberts, Kaiser Permanente San Diego
Lisa Root, General Dynamics NASSCO
Rita Sierra Beyers, Sweetwater Union High School District
Susan Smith, MJE Marketing Services
Debra Sterling Roy, BAE Systems
Lisa M. Stocks, Lifesharing – A Donate Life Organization (UCSD Medical Center)
Lisa Thakur, CPA, MBA, FHFMA, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla
Iris Villela, Solar Turbines Incorporated
Crystal L. Watkins, Torrey Pines Bank
Mary Wells, Alliant Insurance Services Inc.
Becky Wu, Luth Research