Tribute to Women & Industry
Tribute to Women & Industry (TWIN)
Luncheon honors outstanding women and their companies
The YWCA of San Diego County is hosting its 32nd annual Tribute to Women & Industry (TWIN) Recognition Luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. on June 21 in the Grande Ballroom of the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. The event recognizes outstanding women professionals and the companies who support them, while also raising much-needed funds for the YWCA’s programs and services that support women, children, and families who are working to break the cycle of domestic violence and homelessness. This year’s keynote speaker is Linda Armstrong Kelly, motivational speaker, author and Mother of seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. Individual Tickets cost $150 and Tables of (8) cost $1,500 and can be purchased by calling Carol Ann Chambers at (619) 239-0355, Ext. 218. For more information, visit ywcasandiego.org.
The 2011 honorees:
Claudia F. Anzures
Claudia F. Anzures is the chief deputy county counsel for the county of San Diego and is responsible for managing attorneys who provide daily advice on legal issues related to land use, public works, contracting, leasing, construction and many other areas. Anzures personally advises the Board of Supervisors on all items appearing on its land use agenda. She is also the lead attorney on the current comprehensive general plan update, and one of her many achievements in this role has been her ability to distill complex legal concepts into very clear statements that were easily understood by all those involved in the project. Anzures is also recognized throughout the state for her expertise in all aspects of the Endangered Species Act. The County of San Diego provides health and social services and regional public safety programs to all 3 million residents of San Diego County and municipal services to the county’s unincorporated areas.
Susan Beat
Susan Beat is the senior vice president and manager within Commercial Treasury Services at Union Bank. Beat is responsible for managing the deposit and treasury services strategy to corporate and middle market companies located in the Orange County and San Diego region. Beat’s team, in conjunction with commercial banking relationship managers, manages over $1 billion in customer deposits in both regions. Beat provides strong directional guidance and passion to create excellent results in her work. In her spare time, Beat is a board member for the San Diego chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and donates her time to Promises2Kids, an organization that focuses on child abuse prevention. Union Bank N.A. is among the 25 largest banks in the U.S., based on assets. It is a full-service commercial bank providing a broad mix of financial services for both consumers and businesses.
Christine Collins
Christine Collins, director of human resources for Sempra Pipelines & Storage, is responsible for leading and managing the employee relations, staffing and organizational design and development functions within Sempra Pipelines & Storage’s business unit. Collins is also responsible for directing employee/leadership development, diversity, organization development, performance improvement consulting, strategic workforce planning, performance management and career development for Sempra Pipelines & Storage’s business unit. Collins is an active member and advocate of the Employee Diversity Council. Collins formerly served on the board of directors for the San Diego Children’s Choir, was a volunteer trainer for HR programs with Non-Profit Management Solutions. Sempra Pipelines & Storage owns and operates natural gas transmission pipelines and distribution companies in the U.S. and Mexico, with further development of strategically located storage facilities. Additionally, it owns two electric utilities in South America.
Shawn A. Covell
Shawn Covell leads Qualcomm’s global Wireless Reach initiative, a strategic program that brings wireless technology to underserved communities around the world. She is vice president of Wireless Reach and government affairs. The goal of Wireless Reach is to create projects that are sustainable, align with the company’s business objectives and strengthen economic and social development in communities. Covell took a few disparate projects and built what Wireless Reach is today — a strategic business initiative that is supported by Qualcomm executives. Covell hired a team of mostly women and encouraged them to execute their ideas. Covell believes in mentoring and giving her team the opportunity to shine. She coaches women on her team on how to be excellent and supportive managers who are open to new responsibilities. Qualcomm Inc. is the world leader in next-generation mobile technologies. For 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of wireless communications, connecting people more closely to information, entertainment and one another.
Emily Cutrer
Emily Cutrer is the provost and vice president of academic affairs for California State University San Marcos. As the university’s chief academic officer, Cutrer is responsible for ensuring the integrity and excellence of academic activities, as well as for providing guidance and support to the deans of the colleges, extended learning, graduate studies, instructional and information technology, the library, the director of the School of Nursing and the academic associate vice presidents. Since joining CSU San Marcos in 2006, Cutrer has overseen the beginning of a major restructuring of the Academic Affairs Division moving from three colleges and one school to four colleges. Due to Cutrer’s dedication and leadership, CSU San Marcos has seen an upward trend in retention and graduation rates. Since its founding over two decades ago, California State University San Marcos has prided itself on being fully engaged in the community, technologically sophisticated, and dedicated to teaching future generations through a relevant curriculum with a global perspective.
Shannon Elwell
Shannon Elwell is a key marketing and strategy leader in Oracle Corp.’s Systems Division, developing successful global product strategies. In her role as senior director of product management, Elwell leads a team responsible for strategy and delivery of a $2 billion+ server business. On an annual basis, Elwell’s team is responsible for launching, reinventing and growing new business and products by consistently delivering new strategic approaches, innovative marketing, brand-building and new product development. Elwell’s 15-year career at Oracle is highlighted by many outstanding accomplishments including, most recently, her ability to re-define the pricing and compensation models for all of the hardware systems group. Oracle Corp. delivers the world’s most complete, open, and integrated business software and hardware. Oracle Corp. can be found on the Web at oracle.com.
Pat Evans
Pat Evans is the assistant to the president and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corp. Although she has held her current position for nearly four years, Evans started in the corporation’s legal department almost 10 years ago. Evans works closely with the board of directors and she is always willing to help other administrative professionals in the corporation with skill and professional development. Evans is an extremely capable and conscientious contributor to the entire corporation, and she is known for her incredibly quick wit and her outstanding confidence. Evans serves as the president of the San Diego chapter for Executive Women International (EWI), an international nonprofit organization. The San Diego Convention Center Corp. exists to generate economic benefits for the greater San Diego region. It has generated over $18 billion in economic impact since 1989 and continues to support about 12,500 jobs countywide.
Lara Garner
Lara Garner is a senior associate and a valuable member of Fish & Richardson’s intellectual property and patent litigation team. In her role as a litigation associate, Garner manages complex matters involving highly technical issues. Drawing on her background as a mechanical designer before attending law school, Garner takes part in developing litigation strategies, interviewing and preparing experts, supervising other members of the litigation team, including junior associates and paralegals, and making significant contributions in every aspect of running a litigation matter from pre-lawsuit preparation through post trial motions and beyond. Garner has served as chairperson of Fish’s Litigation Associates Advisory Committee. Fish & Richardson is an intellectual property, technology and litigation law firm. In its nearly 133 years, Fish has left a distinctive footprint by creating technology history and serving the innovators of today and tomorrow.
Graciela S. Gilbert
Graciela Gilbert is the foreign investments accounting manager for Sempra Pipelines & Storage. She manages a team responsible for the accounting oversight of foreign investments located in Mexico, Chile and Peru. She is responsible for financial statements compliance of foreign holding companies located in the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark and Switzerland. Gilbert is a member of the board of South American Entities. Gilbert also led the implementation of the processes necessary to consolidate the financial information in connection with Sempra Pipelines & Storage’s recent acquisition of additional stakes in electric distribution companies located in Chile and Peru. Sempra Pipelines & Storage owns and operates natural gas transmission pipelines and distribution companies in the U.S. and Mexico. It owns two electric utilities in South America.
Latasha Gillespie
Latasha Gillespie manages human resources for the Turbomachinery Products Group, I.T. and Finance for Solar Turbines Inc. Prior to this, Gillespie served as the central human resources manager overseeing compensation and benefits for over three years. Gillespie provided excellent leadership for Solar Turbines Diversity Council over the past few years, moving many initiatives and the overall structure forward, including the formation of multiple teams to include: professional women engineers; K-12 education; college recruiting; and the college relations strategy. Gillespie also led the implementation of significant changes which involved communications and change management. Gillespie serves on the Minority Advisory Committee for Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Solar Turbines Inc. is a world leader in design, manufacture and service of industrial gas turbine engines in its size range.
Janice Graham
Janice Graham serves as the chief of staff to the Chief Administrative Officer of the county of San Diego. Reporting directly to CAO Walter F. Ekard, Janice works closely with the county’s executive team to implement policies directed by the Board of Supervisors and coordinates the day-to-day operations and functions of the Chief Administrative Office. Graham has over 28 years of experience in local government, public relations and legislative affairs. Graham has been instrumental in developing and implementing a number of key business processes, policies and initiatives that make the county of San Diego a fiscally sound, nimble and effective enterprise, even as most other public agencies struggle. The county of San Diego provides health and social services and regional public safety programs to all 3 million residents of San Diego County and municipal services to the County’s unincorporated areas.
Lauri Greenblatt Hines
Lauri Greenblatt Hines is a principal and co-founder of Promus Commercial. She has been involved in the management and leasing of income-producing commercial properties since 1984 and was dubbed by The Wall Street Transcript as one of “the nation’s foremost real estate authorities.” Greenblatt Hines co-founded the REstart program in 1998, a program dedicated to training disadvantaged individuals to work in the property management industry. Greenblatt Hines works tirelessly and passionately on behalf of REstart in a hands-on capacity to ensure REstart students have new-found tools and skills to be productive, employable members of society. She also serves as a community liaison, developing relationships with potential community partners. REstart provides participants training, mentoring, and job placement assistance in the field of property management. REstart – Bringing Families Home Again.
Dr. Kirsten Hanson
Dr. Kirsten Hanson serves as the senior director of Global Organization and Talent Development, a department of Oracle’s Global Human Resources. Hanson leads a team of experienced professionals from North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America on various organization development, leadership and talent initiatives for Oracle’s multiple lines of business. Hanson manages the Oracle Women’s Leadership (OWL) initiative globally, which includes an annual event at headquarters for 250 upper-level managers and the ongoing development of almost 50 OWL communities (of female employees) across the globe. Hanson led a team in the design and global implementation of a talent management initiative for Oracle’s president. Global Organization and Talent Development, a department within Oracle’s Human Resources, develops learning solutions that help Oracle executives cultivate high-performance organizations.
April F. Heinze
April Heinze, director of the county of San Diego’s Department of General Services, April F. Heinze is responsible for managing the facility, fleet and capital construction needs of the region’s fourth largest employer with facilities located throughout the San Diego region. Because this department provides essential services to all county departments, Heinze is a key member of the county executive team, working with officials across the organization to provide high-quality service as efficiently and effectively as possible.,Under her leadership, the department has won numerous awards and has been recognized for innovative and cost-effective programs by numerous associations. The county of San Diego provides health and social services and regional public safety programs to all 3 million residents of San Diego County and municipal services to the county’s unincorporated areas.
Marie Burke Kenny
Marie Burke Kenny, practice group leader for Luce Forward’s Labor and Employment practice, Marie Burke Kenny has a number of managerial duties. Her responsibilities include strategic marketing of the group throughout California, interacting with firm management to ensure the group is profitable and overseeing performance and professional development of associate attorneys. She is also accountable for significant revenue generation and is trusted by firm management to provide legal counsel on internal matters as needed. Kenny is also a talented public speaker and is frequently requested to present employment law seminars to various professional organizations. Luce Forward is a full-service California law firm. The firm’s attorneys work closely with a broad spectrum of clients to help them achieve their objectives and efficiently resolve complex legal issues.
Pamela Kurtzhals, M.D.
Dr. Pamela Kurtzhals is a board-certified surgeon and the head of Scripps Division of General Surgery. She is also an integral member of the Scripps Breast Care Center in La Jolla and Rancho Bernardo and is dedicated to breast surgery. During the last eight years, Kurtzhals’ main focus has been on management of high-risk patients to breast cancer. Kurtzhals is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. She is also a community council member for the American Cancer Society and supports and volunteers for its San Diego chapter in community awareness and fundraising events. Kurtzhals loves spending time with her husband and three sons and they all enjoy watching movies together. Founded in 1924, Scripps Health is a $2.3 billion nonprofit health system that treats half-a-million patients annually.
Jennifer Lichtenheim
Jennifer Lichtenheim is currently the director of Sony’s distribution sales channel which consists of a staff of 24 members and an annual sales volume of $850 million. Lichtenheim’s role at Sony plays a major part in Sony’s ability to bring inventory to more than 1,500 Sony dealers throughout the United States. She is responsible for developing business plans, driving revenue targets and mentoring employees for further career growth of their own. Lichtenheim has received multiple top awards from Sony for proving herself as a high-performing salesperson, sales manager, and now director. Lichtenheim also participates in a volunteer program that Sony supports called YCS (Youth Consultation Service), which is a nonprofit organization that helps at-risk children. Sony Electronics is a leading provider of audio/video electronics and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets.
Stacy Lombardo
Stacy Lombardo is a senior vice president and director of operations for Torrey Pines Bank. Lombardo is responsible for the strategic oversight of the bank’s operating procedures, as well as for advising the bank’s executive management team on issues that affect the bank’s ability to operate soundly. These duties encompass supporting the bank’s operations throughout California,as well as coordinating with affiliate banks in Arizona and Nevada. With over 20 years of banking experience and expertise, Lombardo was an integral part of the bank’s 2003 management team responsible for launching a new financial institution. She provides oversight and leadership to a team of over 75 employees. Torrey Pines Bank is a California-chartered commercial bank, providing commercial and financial services to small and middle market businesses and personal banking services.
Jacque Martin
Jacque Martin is an account executive with Adcentive Group, a division of Brown & Bigelow. As Account Executive, Martin takes a consultative approach in working with companies, large agencies and organizations to create unique branded items through logo and promotional products. As a top producer, Martin achieved Eagle status with Adcentive Group in January 2011. Martin joined Connected Women of Influence as a charter member in July,2008. In July 2010, Martin was appointed to serve on the advisory board of Connected Women of Influence. Martin’s community and civic activities are extensive as are her leadership roles in associations and organizations. For six years, Martin served on the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce. Connected Women of Influence is an exclusive, private membership organization dedicated to the advancement and support of business-to-business executive and professional women.
Sandra McCullough
Sandra McCullough is the vice president of patient care systems in the Information Systems department at Sharp HealthCare. McCullough began her career at Sharp 27 years ago in 1981 as a registered nurse. McCullough is responsible for Sharp’s clinical information systems. McCullough led the effort to implement the Cerner electronic medical records system throughout Sharp’s seven hospitals. There are few health systems that have completed the journey to an electronic medical records system, and the success of Sharp HealthCare in this area can be directly attributed to McCullough’s efforts. McCullough is an active member of the San Diego Organization for Healthcare Leaders. Sharp HealthCare is a nonprofit integrated regional health care delivery system based in San Diego.
Susan Mitchell
Susan Mitchell’s primary job responsibilities as the executive director of middle schools for the Sweetwater Union High School District include district-wide leadership in planning and improving the instructional program in all classrooms; bilingual cross-cultural curriculum development; coordinating with administrators, teachers and parent groups in the development of a comprehensive educational plan so that all students can achieve; as well as leadership in the arrangement of scheduling of professional development opportunities for teachers. Mitchell believes that every student can learn if they are given the right amount of time and support. Award-winning programs and student excellence are the hallmarks of the Sweetwater Union High School District.
Michelle M. Mueller
Michelle Mueller, vice president of external affairs for SDG&E, provides direction and oversight for the management of regional public affairs, community relations, charitable contributions and media and employee communications. Mueller and her volunteer teams have raised over $100,000 for employee-directed nonprofits. Mueller is part of an employee team that goes out across the company to educate employees on skin cancer prevention, identification and treatment. The team was recognized with a top company safety award. Mueller mentors employees at a wide variety of levels in the company, “paying it forward” from those who have coached her in the past. SDG&E provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.5 million consumers in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
Paige Norris
Paige Norris’ main responsibilities as director of human resources at NBC San Diego are to drive key human resources initiatives across the organization, including staffing, performance management, compensation planning, succession planning, training and development, rewards and recognition, organizational effectiveness, employee relations and communication. Norris has provided strategic Human Resources leadership in recent years by collaborating with employees to align resources, enact growth strategies and enable a positive and diverse workforce. Norris is an active member in the Society for Human Resource Management and the American Society for Training and Development. NBC San Diego produces local news and information, as well as the most visited broadcast station Eebsite, NBCSanDiego.com.
Virginia S. Oliver
Virginia S. Oliver, director of financial reporting for Sempra Energy, manages a department of 12, mostly CPAs, in the annual and quarterly periodic Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reporting process for four separate registrants, including the monthly consolidation of financial information for all business units. Oliver leads the team that brings to completion Sempra Energy’s financial statement filings with the SEC, which is critical to the success of a public company and its investors. More specifically, Oliver oversaw the project to combine the annual and quarterly reporting of the company’s four registrants into one document, at the same time rewriting the documents in plain English. This made the documents more transparent for financial statement users and simplified the review process for management. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company.
Jenni Prisk
Jenni Prisk, president of Prisk Communication, has been a trainer, coach and motivational speaker with Prisk Communication since 1990. In this capacity, Prisk is responsible for all business development, marketing, PR and execution of services across the United States. Prisk came to San Diego from New Zealand in 1983 with her husband, and without a work permit. While applying for the permit, Prisk volunteered at the County Mental Health Association, the VA Hospital, The Old Globe Theatre and at UCSD. She continues to volunteer today. Utilizing her training, coaching and speaking skills, Prisk mentored a Section 8 housing resident to gain the confidence to acquire a writing job. Prisk developed and taught an ongoing class in public speaking to developmentally disabled adults. Jenni Prisk founded Prisk Communication in 1990. The mission of Prisk Communication is to provide comprehensive and outstanding training and coaching in public speaking and communications skills.
Noreen Rosica
Noreen Rosica is a human resources manager for Sony. Rosica’s primary job responsibilities include interacting with senior business unit leaders, management teams and employees with respect to the human resources activity in support of business group objectives. Her responsibilities extend to all sales operations groups, including Sony Direct. Rosica is the primary contact for all employee relations issues. She has twice supported Sony’s efforts to make the Consumer Sales Team more efficient with structural changes and she has chaired and redefined the role of chairman of the Inside Representative Task Force. Rosica is also a member of the Society of Human Resources Management. Headquartered in San Diego, Sony Electronics is a leading provider of audio/video electronics and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets.
Carol Salem, M.D.
Dr. Carol Salem is the medical director of the Scripps Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery Program, a system-wide service that offers patients innovative options for cardiothoracic, urologic, gynecologic, otolaryngologic and general surgeries. Salem is the chairman of the Scripps Robotic Surgery Clinical Advisory Council. She also heads the system-wide Robotics Joint Operating Committee, which reviews and decides next steps for finances, case numbers, expansion and marketing of the program. On top of her leadership duties, Salem is a prolific surgeon who has performed more than 650 surgical procedures since coming to Scripps. She specializes in the treatment of prostate cancer and other urologic malignancies. Founded in 1924, Scripps Health is a $2.3 billion nonprofit health system that treats half-a-million patients annually.
Kelley Simon
Kelley Simon has been a senior manager with Deloitte & Touche LLP for five years. She specializes in tax-exempt federal and state information and business tax filings, research and consultation. Simon has performed tax compliance and consulting work for more than 60 public charity and private foundation clients. Simon serves on a management team that created a center of excellence group in Hyderabad, India, and provides oversight and training to Deloitte Tax professionals. Simon’s community involvement activities have included Junior Achievement, MS Bike Rides and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk. Simon also enjoys biking, soccer, hiking and travel in her spare time. Deloitte & Touche works in four key business areas — audit, financial advisory, tax and consulting.
Lilian Vanvieldt
Lilian Vanvieldt is the senior vice president of Alliant Insurance Services and manages a $22 million premium book of business. She is most proud of her 98 percent client retention renewal rate. Vanvieldt leads her brokerage revenue group and is a mentor to emerging brokers. In addition, Vanvieldt serves as the practice leader for Alliant’s public schools programs. She has been instrumental in designing and creating policies, procedures and Memorandum of Coverages specifically for schools. Vanvieldt has been a featured speaker and presenter at several industry and client functions. She was named 2009 runner-up for Public Entity Broker of the Year by Risk and Insurance Magazine and was one of the 2010 Alliant Public Entities Brokers of the Year. Alliant Insurance Services Inc. is the nation’s largest specialty insurance brokerage firm with a San Diego history that dates to 1925.
Bess Wakeman
Bess Wakeman, executive vice president at Jones Lang LaSalle, works with commercial building owners to lease and/or sell their properties. Wakeman brings a strategic, proactive approach to the commercial properties she markets so that the owners can focus on continuous financial growth. Wakeman works collaboratively with her clients, so that they benefit from her insights and expertise in the area of landlord representation. Wakeman helped build Jones Lang LaSalle’s Landlord Leasing Team in San Diego, which began with no brokers and no clients in the local market. In just 18 months, the landlord division has grown to a nine-person team. Jones Lang LaSalle is a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate.
Julie Wenzel
Julie Wenzel is a consumer sales representative on Sony’s Regional Sales Team. On multiple occasions throughout Wenzel’s past six years at Sony, she has expanded Sony’s category presence within her accounts. In all cases this was beyond the scope of her category responsibility, and always for the benefit of elevating the Sony brand and growing revenue. Wenzel is a leader among her team and has spearheaded multiple projects and then shared the results and success with others. In addition to working to expand Sony’s brand presence through her customers and customer experience, she has also lent her time to multiple committees and community affairs activities, most of which are in support of women’s issues and children at risk. Headquartered in San Diego, Sony Electronics is a leading provider of audio/video electronics and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets.
Dr. Gabriele Wienhausen
Dr. Gabriele Wienhausen, associate dean for education in the Division of Biological Sciences at UCSD, provides leadership and innovation to the educational mission of the division, including undergraduate and graduate education, experiential learning programs for students and outreach programs for executives, K-12 students and the general public. Wienhausen’s current trajectory is the continuation of the impact she also had as founding provost of Sixth College. She is a proactive, scientifically knowledgeable individual with a deep commitment to improving the quality of teaching and learning. Wienhausen is responsible for increasing the effectiveness of the faculty’s teaching, and promoting the needs of an outstandingly diverse faculty and student body.
Sherry J. Yarbrough
Sherry J. Yarbrough currently serves as the executive director of the Associated Builders and Contractors San Diego (ABC San Diego) Apprenticeship Training Trust. Yarbrough has devoted her professional life to education, allowing others to better their lives. She administers and oversees this award-winning, nationally recognized, accredited training program for merit-shop state and federally registered apprentices. Yarbrough and her staff run what is essentially a specialized career vocational training program with the community colleges as their partner. Yarbrough has received much recognition within the construction industry and is a Certified Master Trainer by the National Center for Construction & Research. Associated Builders and Contractors is a national association representing merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 75 chapters across the United States.
