SAVE THE DATE
April 28, 2024 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (PST)
Doors Open at 8:30 AM
Attire: Business Chic
LOCATION:
Sierra Lakes Golf Club
16600 Clubhouse Dr. Fontana, CA 92336
Event Overview
This event will recognize and honor the achievements and accomplishments of women who have made significant contributions in their profession, industry or enterprise. Please join us for this exclusive event as we celebrate extraordinary women of diversity who operate at the highest level of excellence in their businesses, careers, communities and organizations. These women lead by example with the spirit of excellence at the forefront of all that they do. Please share with us in honoring these incredible women leaders worthy of recognition. Nominations for the 2024 WOE Awards are now open. Nominate here.
Who Should Attend
Corporate business leaders, influential community leaders, women business owners (WBEs), MBEs, Veterans. LGBTQ and entrepreneurs who are looking to support, celebrate and encourage the NOW and NEXT generations of influencers.
EVENT COST
Ticket $95
Sponsor a Table $1,600
Benefits of sponsoring a table:
• Table for ten at awards brunch
• Sponsor name and logo prominently displayed on table
• Full page advertisement in program book
• Sponsorship designation with company name/logo listed in program book
• Name and logo displayed on event signage
• Acknowledgement on social media sites
• Name and logo included in WOE advertorial in the summer issue
of Diversity Professional “The Magazine”
2024 Sponsors
2024 Speakers
Samara Hakim
Sophie Gibson
Mayor Robertson
Deborah Robertson, Mayor of Rialto, embarked on her journey as a dedicated public servant when she was first elected mayor in 2012. Before her tenure, she contributed to the city’s leadership as a Council Member from 2000 to 2012. Her commitment to the city and its residents has been reaffirmed through her re-election every four years, demonstrating the trust and confidence the community places in her leadership.
Mayor Robertson’s tenure is marked by significant milestones that have propelled Rialto to national recognition. Notably, under her leadership, Rialto became a pioneer in adopting body-worn camera technology for police officers, through a groundbreaking federally funded pilot project. She also spearheaded a landmark public-private partnership for the city’s water and wastewater systems, facilitating critical infrastructure improvements without immediate financial burdens on residents. These initiatives, among others, highlight her innovative approach to governance and her commitment to sustainable development, economic growth, and environmental stewardship.
In 2014, Mayor Robertson’s efforts led to Rialto being recognized as the first e3p3 Model City, a testament to her commitment to environmental sustainability, economic development, and equity through public-private partnerships. Her leadership has not only advanced local initiatives but also gained her prestigious appointments, such as her role on the Environmental Protection Agency Local Government Advisory Committee in 2021, appointed by the Biden-Harris Administration. This role underscores her influence and dedication to addressing critical environmental challenges on a national scale.
Mayor Robertson’s extensive service also includes participation on various boards and committees, reflecting her broad impact across regional and national landscapes. Her roles range from Co-Chair of the Water Council for the US Conference of Mayors to serving on the Southern California Association of Governments. Under Mayor Robertson’s leadership, Rialto has seen substantial economic progress, navigating financial challenges to emerge as a city with a bright future. Initiatives such as Measure M have secured a stable revenue stream, supporting sustainable homeownership and fostering public-private partnerships that contribute to a greener, more resilient city. In recognition of her exemplary service, Mayor Robertson has received numerous awards and honors, including the Justice Earl Warren Outstanding Public Service Award and the Community Icon Award, which acknowledge her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the community.
Mayor Robertson’s career began in transportation, where she retired as the Deputy District Director of External Affairs for Caltrans, District 7. A proud native Californian, she holds degrees in Urban Planning and Public Administration from the University of California, San Diego, and the City University of New York, Bernard Baruch College, respectively. Since 1988, she has called Rialto home, cherishing it as “the Jewel of the Inland Empire.” Mayor Robertson’s extensive involvement with numerous committees and boards, including the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and the Southern California Association of Governments, underscores her multifaceted approach to governance, aiming to improve the quality of life for Rialto residents and contribute to the broader community’s well-being.
2024 Women of Excellence Honorees
Anita Ron
Women of Excellence Business Award
Anita Ron is President of BriteWorks, Inc., a minority-, women-owned corporation, established in 1996. Two decades later, the firm employs 200 associates who provide comprehensive commercial and industrial janitorial services throughout California. Ron credits her company’s success to a commitment to be customer service driven by consistently providing a clean, healthy environment for her clients. Her positive can-do attitude has positioned her company as a place where clients can obtain tailormade cleaning solutions, such as general cleaning, floor care, graffiti removal, pressure washing, and transit/bus cleaning. She is a graduate of the University of La Verne, participated in University of Stanford Latino Business Action Network Program, University of Southern California Multicultural Leadership Program, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Alumni, and University of California at Los Angeles Management Development Entrepreneur program.
Erika Johnson
Women of Excellence Distinguished Service Award
Erika Johnson, a long-time resident of San Bernardino County, has been serving her community since the inception of her mortgage lending career in 1986. She spent the first 20 years of her career developing strong relationships with lenders, underwriters, realtors, and other loan originators. As the mortgage industry evolved and regulatory changes became a fact of life, Johnson began positioning herself to open her own real estate and mortgage lending office and to eventually leave the corporate world behind. She spent the first year of business ownership studying and taking the necessary state exams to bring her dream to fruition. In December 2012, she became a broker and in July 2013, GG Real Estate Services’ doors were officially opened. As of April 2024, Johnson has grown her team to seven full-time agents. GG Real Estate Services continues to serve the Inland Empire and Southern California area while recently branching out to the states of Nevada, Georgia, and Florida.
Julia Leach
Women of Excellence Entrepreneur Award
Julia Leach is president and owner of cold brew coffee pioneer Toddy, LLC. She and the Toddy team work with cafes and roasters worldwide to help develop cold brew programs that highlight the nuances of the brewing method and inspire customers to fall in love with cold brew. Leach is passionate about the art and science of cold brewing and loves helping others learn how to brew an amazing cup. She is a frequent presenter at coffee conferences around the world. Prior to owning Toddy, Leach founded a boutique marketing agency called Clay Pot Creative. She started the company with a mission to help small businesses access agency-quality branding and marketing that they could afford. She had the privilege of helping small business owners from a broad range of industries and discovered a passion for business coaching and mentoring. Leach serves on the Board of Directors for the Specialty Coffee Association and volunteers as a business advisor and mentor for a handful of small businesses and organizations.
Kim Carson
Women of Excellence Impact Award
Kim Carson is currently CEO and founder of Parallax Futures, a nonprofit fellowship program that aims to inspire positive futures through a new kind of innovator called Conceptual Technologists. She founded Parallax Futures because she believes in the importance of multi-dimensional diversity in technology and is passionate about changing what leadership in AI looks like and how we can use emergent technology to build a better future and improve our humanity. Prior to Parallax Futures, Carson enjoyed a wide variety of leadership positions in both academia and the technology sector and is passionate about enabling teams of creatives, technology leaders, and innovators with the skills, mindset, and network to tackle the complex and evolving challenges of tomorrow. She was named Success Magazine’s 2023 Women of Influence Finalist and finalist for Black Tech Achievement Awards for Entrepreneur of the Year.
Janisse Quinones
Charmain Lewis
Women of Excellence Inspiration Award
Charmain Lewis has been passionate about bringing out the best in others her entire life. She began her career as an educator in the Baltimore City Public School System in 1999 and spent 15 years empowering and preparing students for academic success. In 2013, Lewis decided to utilize her communications background by starting a blog called Sisters in the Cities. This eventually paved the path to writing for Minority Business Enterprise Magazine and Diversity Professional. She is also associate director of digital engagement at Queens University of Charlotte. During her journey as an educator, communications specialist, wife, and mother of three sons, Lewis discovered the power of self-care and healing through yoga. Currently, she is an RYT-200 certified yoga instructor and has worked with Major League Baseball, Northwestern University, and the Blueprint Collective Nonprofit Organization in Memphis, Tennessee.
Jaymee Lomax
Women of Excellence Advocate Award
Jaymee Lomax is Vice President of WBEC-West, a regional partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)—a coalition of corporations, Women Business Enterprises, and regionally focused women’s business organizations. WBEC-West serves Arizona, Colorado, Southern California, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Hawaii, and Guam. Lomax is committed to supplier diversity and immensely proud to be a part of the WBEC-West team. She is responsible for impacting women-owned businesses in the community through education, networking, and community development, enhancing corporation and WBE relationships, outreach programs and creating business opportunities for WBEs. Lomax has shared her expertise and knowledge with the community by serving on executive boards and committees for diverse organizations. She is an award-winning diversity professional.
Agenda at a Glance
Invocation
Introductions and Welcome
Keynote Address
Recognition and Presentation of Awards
Closing Remarks
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