2010 Speakers
Sandy Abrams
Roundtable: 5 Things You Need to Know About Starting Your Biz
Sandy Abrams is the founder and CEO of Moisture Jamzz, Inc. (www.moisturejamzz.com) Founded in 1993 around her signature moisturizing glove product, Moisture Jamzz has counted among its clients Bath & Body Works; the Estée Lauder Company (Origins and Aveda);H2O PLUS; Crabtree & Evelyn; Bare Escentuals; Bed, Bath, & Beyond; Linens ’n Things; Stroud’s; Williams-Sonoma’s Chambers Catalog; Bloomingdale’s; and QVC. Moisture Jamzz products can be found in some of the finest spas, resorts, skin-care salons, and beauty supply stores throughout the world. Her products have been featured by editors in many of the top lifestyle publications such as In Style, The New York Times, Glamour, Shape, Cosmo, Redbook, Modern Bride, and Beauty Launchpad.
Started in a corner of her one-bedroom Los Angeles apartment, Sandy built Moisture Jamzz, Inc. from scratch into a company grossing millions without a business degree. Today, it is still a privately held corporation that Sandy runs with her husband. Sandy’s new book Your Idea, Inc. (Adams Media, Dec. 2009) is a step by step guidebook to help first time entrepreneurs follow in her footsteps. www.YourIdeaInc.com
Alka Arora, Ph.D.
Panel on Resilience: Eco Fashion Show and Networking
Dr. Alka Arora is the director of the UCSB Women’s Center, a campus unit devoted to student development, gender equity, violence prevention, and social transformation. Alka holds a Ph.D. in women studies from the University of Washington, where her research focused on societal discourses related to feminism, religion and spirituality. She has teaching experience in the areas of feminist theory, transnational feminism, and gender and spirituality.
Alka also holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Southern California (class of 1996). She made a career shift from mathematics to women studies upon deciding that fostering gender equality was the greater and more urgent challenge of our times. Alka is passionate about the social evolution that can take place when diverse groups of people come together with a shared purpose.
The Media: Women’s Images & Trends
Janice Karman Bagdasarian is an American film producer, record producer, singer, and voice artist. She is the co-owner of Bagdasarian Productions with her husband Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. The focus of the company is on creating albums and cartoons. Currently she has a movie in the theaters; Alvin and the Chipmunks:The Squeakquel.
Panel on Leadership: NAWBO-California
Current Statewide President of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO-CALIFORNIA 2008-09) and member of the California Utilities Diversity Council (CUDC), Betsy is President and Co-Founder of Berkhemer Clayton Inc., retained executive search firm for 15 years, headquartered in downtown Los Angeles. Her firm specializes in senior level executive positions in PR, communications and marketing.
Helping small business now on RADIO, co-hosts Betsy Berkhemer and Renee Fraser provide tips for success to entrepreneurs every weekday on KNX and KFWB NewsRadio called “2MinutesWith”, and online at www.2minuteswith.com. On Sunday afternoons, they are on KFWB-980AM from 1 to 2 p.m. with “2Minutes&More with Betsy and Renee”. In 2006, NAWBO-Los Angeles honored Betsy for “Lifetime Achievement” and she is past chair of the NAWBO-LA Enterprise Institute Foundation.
Vivian Clecak
Roundtable: Domestic Violence Prevention
Vivian Clecak has been focusing on issues of women's leadership for the past thirty years. Starting with her experiences as a licensed clinical social worker and director of a mental health clinic, she developed workshops on Nurturing the Nurturer and Dealing with Transition. In the past five years Vivian has developed a coaching practice for women leaders. She has pioneered groups for women leaders to connect and support each other.
In l981, Vivian cofounded Human Options: Alternatives to Domestic Violence. As founding CEO, she has led the organization from a grassroots group to a multiservice agency. She has developed innovative prevention programs in the schools. Vivian is a graduate of Stanford University and UCLA.
VICTORIA COLLIGAN
Panel on Leadership, Founder, Ladies Who Launch
Victoria Colligan is a serial visionary and seasoned businesswoman whose insight, savvy and understanding of female entrepreneurship have been acknowledged and requested by experts world-wide. As the founder of Ladies Who Launch, the first new media company to provide resources, inspiration and community to women entrepreneurs, Victoria created a platform that blends feminine sensibility with business as it relates to lifestyle, creativity and the bottom line.
She holds a combined JD/MBA from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and a BA with honors from Brown University.
Ellie Corigliano, Ph.D.
Roundtable: Gut-Brain Health Connection: How to Heal Your Second Brain for Optimal Mental Power
Dr. Corigliano is the founder of Bionysis (Biological Nutritional Systems), which is designed to integrate scientific research with clinical application for targeted nutritional intervention. She works with patients and their medical practitioner in diagnostics through suggested testing complimented with lifestyle consultation in diet, supplementation, exercise regime, sleep patterns, and the interplay of mental, emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing for complete health.
Dr. Corigliano is also a lecturer at UCSB where she received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry. Additionally, she is a mentor for Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) where she mentors on women’s issues concerning career pursuits in science. She also mentors on issues of establishing a family and raising children while pursuing a career.
Dr. Nina Craft, Ph.D., M.B.A. aka Dr. Neen, the Think It, Do It!® Queen
Goals…
Dr. Nina Craft, Ph.D., M.B.A., aka Dr. Neen, the Think it, Do It! Queen, is an award winning business owner, an international speaker, author, trainer, mentor, as well as a radio and television guest, she is the CEO of VisionFocus, a business training and life-balance education company. VisionFocus specializes in providing systems for emerging leaders of leaders to experience a holistic goal achievement process.
A pioneer in the field of Social Entrepreneurship, Dr. Neen, has been empowering women, youth and communities for over 20 years with her Think it, Do It!® message. Her current mission is to help 100,000 women business owners in the United States to manifest THEIR mission, enabling these Manifesting Mavens to develop into an unlimited, international legion of support for women abroad.
Stefana Dada
Entertainmen: Performer, Singer, Songwriter
STEFANA entertains and enlightens thousands at concerts, festivals & events throughout the country. Highlight performances for which STEFANA has been a featured artist include such legendary venues and events as: “The Knitting Factory” (Hollywood, CA); ”SOhO Dinner & Concert Club” (Santa Barbara, CA); the annual “Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach” (Long Beach, CA) and “Showtime @ The Apollo on Tour 2003” (Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts – Cerritos, CA) to name a few.
Appealing to cross-cultural / multigenerational audiences, STEFANA delivers positive, soul stirring songs with a passion and truth that reaches soul deep. Visit Stefana at sonicbids or MySpace.
Cathy Daugherty
The National Health Care Bills
Cathy Daugherty, is former President, NAWBO-Orange County, CA, and a Partner at Trademark Insurance, one of the top Employee Benefits Agencies in California, specializing in all forms of Business Insurance. Cathy has served on the board of the Association of Health Underwriters for 10 years, lobbying legislators in Washington DC and Sacramento regarding the Health Insurance industry. Daugherty was named "Member of the Year" for NAWBO- OC in 2003 & served on the Orange County chapter in various leadership capacities. Cathy Daugherty is on the Board of The Make a Wish Foundation for Orange County & Inland Empire, plus a Wishgranter. She serves on the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Dr. Anita Davis-Defoe
International Leadership Lessons
Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe is a leadership and gender expert and President/CEO of The Afia Development Corp. Dr. DeFoe is the author of Follow Her Lead: Leadership Lessons for Women as They Journey From the Backroom to the Boardroom; A Woman’s Guide to Soulful Living: Seven Keys to Life and Work Success and a novel Tropical Escapes. As the life coach for SHE Caribbean magazine, Anita encourages women to aspire to their highest potential in every area of life and is the creator of the Caribbean Woman’s Network to mobilize entrepreneurs in the region.
Margo Day ~ Panel on Leadership
Vice President for Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partners in the West Region for Microsoft Corporation
Margo is responsible for the marketing and sale of Microsoft products and services to small and medium-sized business customers in the Western United States. In addition, she is responsible for ensuring the overall health of the Microsoft partner ecosystem, as well as deepening managed partner relationships in the region.
In her previous role, Margo served as Vice President of the U.S. Partner Group for five years, where she was responsible for partner strategy, management and program execution for Microsoft’s US partner ecosystem.
Before joining Microsoft in 2001, Margo was Executive Vice President at SoftQuad Software, Ltd., and Vice President and Managing Director of Go2Net. She also spent seven years at Lotus Development Corporation, in the positions of Senior Director for North American SMB Sales and Field Marketing, Director of Enterprise Sales, and Director of U.S. Business Partner Sales. Margo brings more than 25 years of technology management expertise in business development, partnership development, sales and marketing to Microsoft’s West Region.
Martha De Laurentiis
Filmmaker – De Laurentiis Productions
Martha De Laurentiis started her career as an assistant auditor on the NBC mini-series The Dain Curse, soon after graduating from college. Producer Frank Marshall recognized her talents and hired her for Warriors. She met legendary film producer Dino De Laurentiis in 1980 and they were married in 1990. Firestarter marked her arrival as an associate producer, and the experience led to producing more films, such as Stephen King's Cat's Eye, Raw Deal, Maximum Overdrive and Bedroom Window. Together with Dino, she produced more than 20 films including Michael Cimino's Desperate Hours, the critically acclaimed Bound, starring Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon, Breakdown, starring Kurt Russell, U-571 starring Matthew
McConaughey, and most recently, Hannibal, the blockbuster screen version of the Thomas Harris novel, directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by David Mamet and Steven Zaillian and starring Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore.
Mimi Donaldson
“America’s Cheerleader” – Keynote Speaker
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
When Mimi speaks, people listen. And they laugh… even if they
weren’t expecting to.
Again and again, audiences light up when hearing Mimi speak about – and provide some eye-opening techniques for living skillful communications. The results: they’re much more productive in both their professional and personal relationships. Her new book: Necessary Roughness: New Rules for the Contact Sport of Life.
For over twenty years, Mimi has captivated audiences from the Fortune 100 to the just plain fortunate. She’s won acclaim for her rousing keynote speeches, for her compelling workshops, and for her in-house training programs.
Panel on Resilience, Chair of the Board, California Women’s Foundation
Kathryn Downing is an executive and life transition coach and consultant. In these roles, she draws on the knowledge and perspectives gained from more than 30 years of leadership experience in the business world, as well as in non-profits and as an individual who has made significant career and personal transitions. As a business executive, her focus was on leading the financial turnaround and cultural transformation of professional publishing companies including the Los Angeles Times as its Publisher, President and CEO. Her specialty was in leading organizations through profound change and transformation.
Kathryn currently serves as Chair of the Board of The Women’s Foundation of California, and is on the board of The Trusteeship, the Southern California chapter of the International Women’s Forum. She has a J.D. from Stanford University School of Law and a B.A. in economics from Lewis & Clark College in Portland Oregon.
President, Exploring Solutions Past - The Maya Forest Alliance
Director, ISBER/MesoAmerican Research Center UCSB
Anabel Ford, a distinguished Maya archaeologist, has decoded the ancient Maya landscape. Living in the forest and relying on its bounty, Ford gained admiration for the local knowledge of the Maya forest garden. She discovered El Pilar, a major Maya city linking Belize and Guatemala, where you can see the archaeological discovery of the site and appreciate traditional knowledge of the people living in the region today. El Pilar promises to be the first cultural and natural Peace Park of the world. She brings her extensive field experience and broad inquisitive mind to demysterify the Maya.
Katie Goodman
Humor and Your Life
Katie Goodman is an actress, writer and director, workshop facilitator, and creativity consultant. The single thread that weaves all of these elements together is Creativity. She is a contributor to O, The Oprah Magazine, as well as the author of a new book entitled, Improvisation For The Spirit: Live A More Creative, Spontaneous and Courageous Life Using the Tools of Improv Comedy.
She is the creator, actor, co-author, and director of her internationally touring women’s sketch comedy troupe Broad Comedy which she writes with her husband, Soren Kisiel. She is also the co-artistic director of the Equinox Theatre Company and Camp Equinox.
Erin Graffy
Roundtable: How To Santa Barbara
Erin Graffy grew up in Santa Barbara and has written eight books, on topics ranging from local history, multiple personality disorder, to a workbook text on marketing. Her work has frequently appeared in Santa Barbara Magazine, Commerce and other regional papers and magazines.
Ms Graffy is also author of the local bestseller “How to Santa Barbara: The Insider’s Exposé,” and “How to Santa Barbara: The Advanced Course.” As a social commentator on the unique Santa Barbara scene, she has been quoted literally worldwide.
Louis Hollis
Roundtable Discussion “Soul Speaks”
For 30 years, Lois gained significant experience as a nurse in various fields of medicine, such as open heart surgery, trauma, neurosurgery, gastroenterology, and nephrology. She has gained the respect and admiration of her colleagues
and patients by propelling her career into both research and consulting. Among her many achievements, Lois helped establish one of the first hemodialysis units in the country.
Despite her many accomplishments, Lois suffered from incapacitating migraines and depression, consequently Lois entered the world of holistic health. By stepping out of her comfort zone, Lois also discovered that her emotional health was intricately woven into her physical health.
From college students struggling to find their way to middle-aged women struggling with severe depression and private pain, Lois has helped hundreds of individuals feel truly alive. www.soulspeaks.net
Deborah Hutchison
Gutsy Gals Panel
Deborah Hutchison’s personal and professional journey through life has been most eclectic. She has taken risks, defied conventional thinking, suffered setbacks, succeeded, and failed. Today, Deborah is putting her energy into actualizing Gutsy Gals Inspire Me™, a new venture that showcases risk takers—unsung women who drive their destiny—by celebrating their courage through story-in-film, books, newsletters, and merchandise. Are you a Gutsy Gal?
The powerful energies of Tash, Bitter Water Clan, Navajo Nation and elena, Maori / Samoan from Aotearoa (New Zealand) unite to produce rich and melodic musical sounds. Drawing from their prosperous indigenous ancestral lineage, their harmonic voices resonate to leave their audiences spellbound. After several years of solo careers Tash and elena have recently joined forces to unite and unleash their magic and exuberant presence on stage. Their lyrics speak of life’s passions, empowerment to women, indigenous people and connection with Mother Earth. Their attendance woven together creates a fabric of collective healing and a consciousness for our planet. After several years of solo careers, Tash and Elena have recently joined forces to unite and unlease their magic and exuberant presence on stage. www.indigiefemme.com
Watch them live in concert.
Jeremy Frank
Sing For Hope Performer
Pianist
(Los Angeles Opera, Wolf Trap Opera Company, Seattle Opera)
Aaron Ganz
Sing For Hope Performer
Actor & XRT Artistic Director
(American Repertory Theatre, Utah Shakespearean Festival, Moscow Art Theatre)
Lori Leyden, PhD
The Grace Process
Lori Leyden is a former psychotherapist and currently facilitates healing with a spiritual practice for heart-centered living. With over 25 years experience in the fields of spiritual growth, psychotherapy and business, Lori holds a PhD in Health & Human Services, and an MBA in Management. She is the Founder and President of The Grace Process International, dedicated to trauma healing and reconciliation for orphan genocide survivors. Dr. Leyden is the author of The Stress Management Handbook: Strategies for Health and Inner Peace available in English, Spanish, Arabic and Korean. www.TheGraceProcess.com and www.CreateGlobalHealing.org
Roundtable
Jullie Lopp was raised in Minnesota, taught Language Arts in California, worked in public relations and advertising, and enjoyed a minor career in theater, radio, and TV. She is currently the owner of JoMax Property Management Co. and founder of Grandma’s Enterprises, specializing in candy manufacturing in high-volume tourist retail stores. She currently lives in Santa Barbara, CA, where she consults and provides workshops dealing with Internships for men and women in mid- and later life.
The Media: Women’s Images & Trends, Womens Radio
In 1969 at the age of 25, Ms. Lynch was the first woman to begin an advertising agency single-handedly in the South. By 1977, she had been listed twice in The World’s Who’s Who of Women and most recently in the International Who’s Who and Strathmore’s Who’s Who. In 1996, she began WomensRadio to “give women a greater voice!”
WomensRadio, a converging medium, had its beginning on the Web as a rich, content Website for women leaders (www.WomensRadio.com). In 2001, her company also began WomensCalendar (www.WomensCalendar.org).
Today it is the largest databank of women’s events in the world. In 2003, a stronger branding program was implemented with a site and logo redesign and the launch of the SpeakerSpot, a dynamic speaker referral program was launched. In 2005, the company launched AudioAcrobat®, a unique, easy, and inexpensive, Web-based, audio and video production, streaming and podcasting service. (www.AudioAcrobat.com).
This year, the company will be launching an all-new and very interactive WomensRadio site, as well as the WR Channel, a syndicated 24/7 talk and music Web radio for women! Ms. Lynch is a frequent speaker on the value of opening the media to women’s voices and creating new communication bridges for the future. She can be contacted in at 888 658 4635x225 or by email at Pat@WomensRadio.com.
Panel on Resilience, Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Sara Miller McCune, is the Executive Chairman of SAGE Publications, Inc. (the Newbury Park, California based book and journal publishing house), as well as President of the McCune Foundation, based in Ventura. In 1965, she founded SAGE Publications in New York City, and moved the company to California in mid-1966, serving as its President for 18 years, prior to becoming SAGE’s Chairman in 1984. Ms. McCune also serves as a Director of two of SAGE’s most notable affiliates –SAGE Publications Ltd (London), and Corwin Press – a leading publisher for educational administrators and teachers. SAGE Publications India Private Ltd and SAGE Publications Asia-Pacific are other affiliates – founded in 1981 and 2006, respectively. In 2007, Ms. McCune founded and currently serves as President of the Miller-McCune Center for Research, Media and Public Policy in Santa Barbara, California. The April/May first issue of the Miller-McCune magazine was published in 2008, with its on-line counterpart (miller-mccune.com) debuting at the end of March 2008.
Ms. McCune is one of California’s top business and philanthropic leaders.
Daniel Montenegro
Sing For Hope Performer
Tenor
(San Francisco Opera, LA Opera, LA Philharmonic)
Geeta Novotny
Sing For Hope Performer
Mezzo-Soprano
(Los Angeles Opera, Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera House)
Roundtable: The Transition to a Global Sustainable Society: An Integral Engineering Approach
Mignonne Profant
Mistress of Ceremonies
Sing For Hope Performer
Mignonne Profant is a singer, actress and business owner who is equally comfortable with the worlds of musical theater, cabaret, board rooms and bank statements. She has appeared with such celebrities as Dom DeLuise, Nell Carter, and Ann Blythe. As a vocalist specializing in French songs and music of the 1940’s, she performs regularly for private and corporate events. For the past 11 years she has been part owner of Killer Entertainment, an Orange County company specializing in customized interactive entertainment, and has managed several long running public shows as well as producing countless corporate events, creating period specific costumes and props for a stable of over 40 actors. Prior to that Ms. Profant was a member of Opera Pacific’s outreach program, and she was part of Opera Pacific’s renowned chorus on the main stage as well as choreographer for three productions. A career highlight was choreographing Die Fledermaus for director Charles Nelson Reilly.
A Magna Cum Laude graduate of UCLA with a degree in Communications, Mignonne is also a co-founder of the John E. Profant Foundation for the Arts.
Mikki Reilly, CSCS
Roundtable “Fitness Transform”
A certified fitness trainer since 1992, Mikki Reilly brings her experience as a competitive bodybuilder to her personal training business. She competed in the prestigious NPC's Excalibur and Iron Maiden Body Building Championships taking fourth place her first time out. Mikki Reilly was featured in C Magazine as one of the top ten body gurus of California. An Alum of Women’s Economic Ventures, Patty DeDominic sought her out when she needed help to get in better shape. Mikki has been published in SB Fitness Magazine; in Med Fit, a personal training trade journal; and in the Balance Bar Newsletter. She also served on the Balance Health Science Advisory Board and on Metrx's Worlds Best Personal Trainer Advisory Staff. And, she was featured in The Complete Guide to Fiscal Fitness/The Business Guide for Personal Trainers published by the ISSA.
Mikki is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with a Masters of Fitness Sciences from International Sports Sciences Association. Reilly was presented the ISSA Distinguished Achievement Award which signified placement in the top 1% of 15,000 certified trainers worldwide.
Amy Resnick
You & Your Money in 2010
Amy Resnick is the Editor-in-Chief of The Bond Buyer, the only daily newspaper committed to serving the municipal bond industry. She previously held the positions of Managing Editor, National Tax Reporter and State and Local Government Reporter for The Bond Buyer. In the latter position, she covered Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, along with federal policies on welfare reform and other aspects of devolution as they affected state and local finance. Before joining The Bond Buyer, Resnick was a reporter for The Fairfax Journal covering local government, schools, and state politics. Resnick attended the University of Michigan, where she was a Knight Wallace Journalism Fellow, and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism; and she is a fellow alum of the Harvard University Program, along with Patty DeDominic, of Women & Power, Leadership for a New Era.
Roundtable
Community leader and women's advocate, Susan Rose knows how to make a difference. The California State Legislature has honored Susan for her activities on behalf of women. The Santa Barbara County Human Relations Commission recognized her for her work to improve community relations, and the Central Coast Commission for Seniors named her the Public Official of the Year. In 2005, the Santa Barbara County Democratic Women recognized Susan as the Democratic Woman of the year. In 2006, the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission honored her with their annual Leadership in the Arts Award.
Susan Rose recently served two terms as a member of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Prior to that she held executive positions in city and county government and directed a local non-profit agency. During her eight years as an elected official she led efforts to create initiatives for affordable housing and homelessness, to improve the quality of life for women and families, and to ensure the environmental health of her community.
Susan Rose served as the appointed Executive Director of the Los Angeles City Commission on the Status of Women and lead legislative advocacy, educational conferences, and multi-lingual publications providing resource information about services for women. She helped create a strong Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy in the Workplace and facilitated the development of a City-wide Child Care Policy, one of the first of its kind in the nation.
In 1988, she was a founding member of the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee and recently served on the Board of California Women Lead (CWL). Over the years, Susan has helped lead trainings on applying for boards and commissions, writing campaign plans, grassroots organizing, fundraising techniques and policy development.
Currently, Susan Rose is Vice-Chair of the Santa Barbara Human Rights Watch Committee and on the board of the local Planned Parenthood Action Fund. She is a member of the Santa Barbara Advisory Boards of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and she was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of Antioch University Santa Barbara.
Mary Schnack
Communications Expert, CEO Mary Schnack Media Services, Inc.
Mary Schnack has been in the Public Relations field for more than 25 years. Based in Sedona, Arizona, Mary Schnack Media Services, Inc. represents corporations, small businesses and non-profit organizations. Mary has established international business alliances in Kenya, China, Iceland, Bermuda and Italy. She has done speaking and training throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, Mexico, the Middle East and Russia. She annually conducts two-day communication seminars for multi-national corporations and women business owners in Kenya. Mary has worked throughout the world for humanitarian aid organizations, such as ADRA, World Vision and International Medical Corps. She conducts business communication seminars at conferences throughout the world. Mary started Up from the Dust: Supporting the global growth of women microenterprises which sells items made by women microenterprises in developing countries, including China, Afghanistan, Egypt, Guatemala, Kenya, South Africa and Ghana. She helps the women secure U.S. retail outlets for the sale of their items.
A social entrepreneur and an expert at Crisis Communications, Mary is also co-founder of the International Women’s Festivals.
Mayor, Santa Barbara
Helene Schneider was elected as the Santa Barbara Mayor in November 2009. Prior to then, she served on the Santa Barbara City Council as was first elected to that position in November 2003 and re-elected in November 2007. Before her elected office, Helene was appointed as a Commissioner for the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara. Her professional background is in human resource management and she currently works as a trainer for HRxpress, a local human resources consulting firm.
Helene has been involved in the community in many areas, including the non-profit community as Director of Human Resources for the local Planned Parenthood affiliate, as a board member and past president of the Santa Barbara Human Resources Association and participated in the Santa Barbara Foundation’s Katherine Harvey Fellowship.
Her involvement in the local political arena started through her membership in the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee, where she served as President in 1999 – 2000 and was on the Board of Directors for seven years.
Helene serves on the statewide Environmental Quality Policy committee for the League of California Cities, and is also the League’s 2nd Vice President of its Channel Counties Division. She also serves on the Governing Board of the Santa Barbara Countywide 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. As Mayor, Helene represents the City of Santa Barbara on the Santa Barbara Association of Governments (SBCAG), the Air Pollution Control District (APCD), the South Coast Gang Task Force, Joint City/County Affordable Housing Task Force, Sister Cities program, Co-Chairs the South Coast of Santa Barbara County Homeless Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Lower Mission Creek Restoration Committee and Council Committees on Sustainability and Commuter Rail.
Gingger Shankar
Sing For Hope Performer
Double Violinist, Singer, and Composer
(Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Madison Square Garden)
Sing for Hope
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Sing for Hope Board Member Founded by opera singers with a desire to lift their voices for social change, Sing for Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that mobilizes a corps of more than 500 professional artists (from classical musicians to ballet dancers to Broadway performers) in three volunteer service programs:
• Informance Arts ~ Educational outreach initiatives for underserved children
• Healing Arts ~ Soothing in-hospital performances that complement the healing process
• Gala Arts ~ Specially designed benefit concerts that raise awareness and funds for vital humanitarian causes
Each Sing for Hope project is defined by the volunteerism of top-tier professional artists and our belief in thetransformative power of the performing arts.
“What Sing for Hope does is wonderfully simple. It maintains a roster of compassionate, world-class artists who donate time and talent to the humanitarian causes that inspire them.”
- Dr. Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Sing for Hope Board Member
To learn more, please visit us online.
Dr. Karen L. Smith
Know Your Power
Dr. Karen Smith serves as Professor and Lead Instructor for the Hospitality, Restaurant and Tourism programs, which are part of the Kinesiology, Health, and Nutrition (KHAN) department at MiraCosta College.
Karen previously taught at New York City College of Technology and as an adjunct faculty member at New York University and was Vice President of a national not-for-profit that trained women to own their own businesses, the District Chief of Staff for California Senator William Campbell, and an on-air broadcast journalist. For several years Karen managed training and flight service programs for Pan American World Airways while based in New York City. In this capacity, she managed airline and hotel activities for flight service employees at Pan Am's Inter Continental Hotels throughout the world.
Degrees earned by Dr. Smith include a B.S. in Public Administration from University of LaVerne; an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University; a Master's of Philosophy in Public Policy and a Doctorate in Political Science from the Graduate School of the City University of New York.
International Panel, Founder and Executive Director, Global Organization for Leadership and Diversity (GOLD)
Hiroko oversees program development and is responsible for all aspects of operating the organization. Prior to forming GOLD, Hiroko was Director, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank of California (DKCAL). During her tenure at DKCAL, she was the first and only woman board director. Her extensive banking experience includes management in finance, investment, domestic and international operations, product development, compliance and information technology.
With a proven corporate management record, Hiroko has also assumed leadership roles in professional and civic organizations. Among her honors, include: “Outstanding Business Woman of the Year” by the Los Angeles Chapter of Women in Business, and an “Affiliated Member of the Year” by the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Hiroko was named a semi-finalist for the 2009 International Women of Influence Awards™ by Global Exec Women.
Hiroko is a founding member and director of Global Enhancement of Women's Executive Leadership (GEWEL), a sister organization of GOLD, in Japan. GEWEL, a non-profit organization, is committed to supporting Japanese businesswomen to expand and develop their leadership abilities. A native of Tokyo, Japan, Hiroko received her Bachelor of Arts degree at Whittier College and a diploma from the Graduate School of Banking at the Bank Administration Institute and the University of Wisconsin. She holds a Certified Financial Planner designation.
Alan Arthur Tratner
Going Green
Alan Arthur Tratner, a former Professor of Environment and Energy, participated in the first International United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm Sweden; was a staff member of Environmental Quality Magazine; helped establish Earth Day; and founded the Environmental Education Group Foundation with Nobel prize winner Dennis Gabor.
In the 1990's Alan became director of the Green Business Conference of the ECO EXPOs; created the Eco Inventors and Eco Entrepreneurs Workshops, and the New Environmental Technologies Exhibits. Alan also created the Young Eco Inventors Contest for kids. He founded the Green2Gold workshops and Incubators for sustainable enterprises to foster new renewable energy technologies and green products/services. Alan has served on numerous boards and committees and projects in the public and private sector, including being the southern California director of the Sun Day—the international solar energy event appointed by the Governor of California and Mayor of Los Angeles.
International Panel: Glocal – International Opportunities in Your Backyard
Born in Grand Cayman, Catherine Tyson is a proud mother of 3 fabulous children who have inspired her debut work of being Somebody’s Mama. She has a Master’s degree in Social Work and is a trained Counselor whose life work has been with vulnerable individuals around the globe. She is currently a Human Services Manager in the Cayman Islands.
Ms. Tyson is part of a team of professionals and qualified international and local facilitators with Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce who lead seminars, conferences and customized in-house courses for self-development and designed to improve staff morale and increase productivity. She also manages a program for vulnerable children and facilitates trips that allow them to be exposed to opportunities that they are financially unable to do on their own.
Amongst other things, Catherine co-hosts a radio talk show “Talk Today” on one of Cayman’s radio stations – FM 89.9 Radio Cayman at 12:30 P.M. weekdays.
Roundtable: Social Media & Networks, Owner of Dowitcher Designs
Official Women’s Festival Web Designer extraordinaire, Amber works with clients on strategic web planning and development to create an on-brand web presence and complimentary marketing materials, and to establish and monitor search engine marketing campaigns. She’s an expert in search engine optimization, web design and development, user interface design, information architecture, publication design, editing and small business entrepreneurship.
She continues to work in the publishing world and handles a variety of copy-writing and editing projects. She is co-editor of AfroGEEKS: Beyond the Digital Divide and Managing Editor of the academic journal, Screening Noir. In addition to running Dowitcher Designs, she works as a web development counselor for webmarketingtherapy.com and teaches web design at UCSB Extension.
Jean Weidemann, PhD
MicroLending and You
Jean Weidemann has been a leader in women’s empowerment and micro lending for 25 years in 30 countries on 5 continents. She is President of the Weidemann Foundation for global poverty alleviation. In 1986 she founded Weidemann Associates, Inc. an international economic consulting firm and was President until 2000. She has worked for the United Nations, U.S. Congress, U.S. State Department, World Bank and Univ. of Wisconsin, and authored more than 40 books/publications. Dr. Weidemann is listed in Who’s Who and helped found 2 global women’s organizations with 30,000 members.
Judi Weisbart
Social Entrepreneur, Peace Activist & Artist
Judi Weisbart has held a number of creative positions in her career. She organized a number of large community events including Anne Frank in the World Exhibition, Henrietta Marie Slave Ship Exhibit and International Women’s Day 2003. Judi is a senior consultant for Adizes Institute and has worked in Mexico training corporate women in career development. She is the former Program and Development Director for Women’s Economic Ventures, Development Director for the Anti Defamation League and the Executive Producer for the Patricia Henley Foundation. She co-founded Fund It.ORG, a grassroots funding source, helping non profits to receive monies through online products and services and was the owner of a successful interior design business for 10 years. Ms. Weisbart’s passion is to create a world of justice, peace and prosperity for all, by helping women and children to master the skills needed for personal, professional and economic success. Ms. Weisbart is a jewel in Santa Barbara and a blessing to all who know her.
Denita Willoughby
V.P. External Affairs in Los Angeles
Ms. Willoughby leads AT&T’s local government affairs activities in the Greater Los Angeles Area and oversees all local policy and philanthropic initiatives. Ms. Willoughby previously served as V.P. of TV Programming, responsible for acquiring content for AT&T’s new television venture, known as U-Verse. U-verse is a $6 billion investment and an amazing new service from AT&T which combines high speed internet, built-in wireless networking, and packages of up to over 300 TV channels, high definition TV service, built-in digital video recording, and other options.
An accomplished executive, whose leadership experiences include roles at SBC, Morgan Stanley and IBM, Ms Willoughby has an engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a MBA from Harvard University. She also hosts the AT&T Women’s Mentoring Circle, is a board member on the Los Angeles Police Foundation, L.A. Urban League, Central City Association and Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. She was previously selected by the New Leaders Organization to be the recipient of its Trail Blazer’s Award and selected by AT&T’s Community Network as Mentor of the Year.
She also enjoys yoga, biking, and skiing. Ms. Willoughby lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Anthony and two sons, Michael and Ryan.