San Diego Magazine Women of the Year Awards

Celebrating Women 2019 – San Diego, CA

Five Local Female Powerhouses Honored – 2019 Women of the Year

The annual awards ceremony, presented by Wells Fargo, returned to the architecturally renowned urban venue in downtown, where 600 of the city’s most inspiring female leaders, movers and shakers, and entrepreneurs were celebrated. Throughout the night, we recognized the finalists and honored five local female powerhouses across various industries who were given awards in the following categories: Woman of the Year, Industry Leader, Military Service, Nonprofit Visionary, and Rising Star. Below is the list of winners:

Woman of the Year: Verna Griffin-Tabor, Center for Community Solutions
Industry Leader: Jeri Miuccio, San Diego Fire Department
Military Service: Sarah Schaffer, United States Marine Corps and Law Offices of Sarah T. Schaffer, APC
Nonprofit Visionary: Katie Sawyer, San Diego Women’s Foundation
Rising Star: Elizabeth Banker, Shore Solutions

The event had live entertainment, complimentary professional headshots provided by Ultimate Software, pop-up shops, bites and sips, and an inspiring keynote by Dr. Alicia Gwynn.

Sponsors and partners for Celebrating Women include Wells Fargo, Sony Electronics, Ultimate Software, Orangetheory Fitness, Scripps Health, Topo Chico, KYLA , Mike Hess Brewing, Kashi, Out of the Ordinary Group Adventures, Control Entertainment, Yes Way Rosé, Redfearn and Associates, Getaround, I Love A Clean San Diego, and The Wild Thyme Company Catering and Events.

Photos by Kambria Fischer Photography

NOTE: Sarah T. Schaffer serves as a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserves acting as a Staff Judge Advocate for the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.

San Diego Magazine’s Celebrating Women 182 Finalists

Abreail Leoncio – United States Navy
Aida Cardenas – Building Skills Partnership
Allison Gharst – Queen Bee Market
Amber Yoo – SKY Facial Plastic Surgery
Amy Bernal – Aira
Amy Butler – Thermo Fisher Scientific
Amy Koman – Padres Pedal The Cause
Andrea Petrovanie-Green – Naval Medical Center San Diego
Andrea Faulkner Williams – Tubby Todd Bath Co
Angel Stancer – San Diego Workforce Partnership
Angela Brannon-Baptiste – It’s All About The Kids Foundation Anita Jones-Mueller – Healthy Dining
Ann Kinsey Schu – Blanchard, Krasner & French
Anna Keeve – Plant Based Pop Up
Anna Johnson – Blessed Wedding Inc.
Anna Crowe – Crowe PR
Anneke Stender – TAG
Ashley Rallos – Printivity
Barbara Beran – Beck Ellman Heald
Becky Petitt – UC San Diego
Bernadine Locsin – San Diego Regional EDC
Betzy Lynch – Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center
Brandi Cropper – General Dynamics NASSCO/Junior League of San Diego
Bree Bornstein – Bree Bornstein Group
Bridget Daly – Frenchie Bulldog
Brooke LeVasseur – AristaMD
Candice Eley – San Diego Tourism Authority
Carla Vallone – Portavoce PR
Carolina Bravo-Karimi – Wilson Turner Kosmo
Catherine Sy, Dr. Luib – Luib Health Center
Chanelle Hawken – Cox Communications
Charisse Quesada – R3 Strategic Support Group, Inc.
Chelsea Coleman – The Rose Wine Bar
Cheryl Goodman – SONY Electronics
Christine Edwards – Gap Intelligence
Christine Basiliere – Sharp Healthcare
Cindy Gompper-Graves – South County Economic Development Council
Cindy Miles – Grossmon-Cuyamaca Community College District
Courtney Prato – Vistage Worldwide, Inc.
Cristin Smith – Saffron & Sage Crystal Howard – Project Cornerstone, Inc.
Daisy Galeana – Solar Turbines
Dalcia Bricie Paramo – Shore Solutions, Inc.
Dana Zimbric – Classics 4 Kids
Dana Jensen – Visceral
Dana Toppel – Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Danielle C. Humphries – Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP
Dawn Thompson – ImprovingBirth.org
Dawn Barry – LunaPBC
Deborah Scott – Cohn Restaurant Group
Desiree Perez – San Diego Padres
Dina Rulli – Classy
Elektra Fike-Data – Tree San Diego
Elizabeth Pietrzak – PeopleReady Skilled Trades
♥ Elizabeth Banker – Shore Solutions
Emily Green Lake – Sisters Pizza/Junior League of San Diego
Erin Hunt – California Wolf Center
Erin Polek – Qualcomm Incorporated
Erin Stafford – Aya Healthcare
Eya Touglo – Fulfilling Destiny
Fernanda Coelho – Match Your Need
Francine Maigue – California State Assembly, 80th District
Han Tran – Shank & Bone, Ebisu Sushi & Bar, ArchWork Cosmetic Tattoo
Heather Dueitt – Point Loma Credit Union
Heather Reuter – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI)
Heather Rosing – Klinedinst PC
Hoa Audette – Town Centre Dental Group
Holly Smithson – Athena
Jackie Mazur – Guide My Finances
Jackie Angel – Carrier Johnson + CULTURE
Jamie Hampton – Mixte Communications
Janie Hoffman – Mamma Chia
Jean Walcher – J. Walcher Communications
Jeanne McAlister – McAlister Institute
Jenelle, Dr. Kim – JBK Wellness Labs
Jennie Brooks – Booz Allen Hamilton
Jennifer Davies – San Diego Tourism Authority
Jennifer Borba von Stauffenberg – Olive Creative Strategies
Jenny Livits – Pink Lagoon’
♥ Jeri Miuccio – San Diego Fire Department
Jessica Geiszler – San Diego County Parks and Rec
Jill Bankston – County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation
Juanita Brooks – Fish & Richardson
Julia Friedman – Women’s Museum of California
Julianna Barnes – Cuyamaca College
Julianne Markow – Voice of San Diego
Julie Jones – Brierton, Jones & Jones LLP
Julie Ducharme – Synergy Learning Institute
Karen Tora – Distroller USA
Kathy David – IT TechPros, Inc.
Katie Burke – B_Inspired
Katie Howland – Millie’s Bookshelf
Katie Croskrey – Alzheimer’s Association
♥ Katie Sawyer – San Diego Women’s Foundation
Kathy Patoff – Union Bank
Katy Temple – Katy Temple Media Coaching/ KFMB Stations
Kellie Dooley – Queen Bee Market
Kelly DuFord – DuFord Law, LLP
Kerri Fox – The New Children’s Museum
Ketra Carter – Downtown San Diego Partnership
Kim Benson – Creative Capital Management Investments LLC
Kim Perell – Amobee
Kimberlee Centera – TerraPro Solutions
Kimberly Herrell – Schubach Aviation
Kristine Custodio-Suero – Butterfield Schechter LLP
Laura Johnson – You & Yours Distilling Co.
Laura Fox Holloway – Sharp HealthCare
Lauran Madden – BlueNalu
Lesley Cohn – Cohn Restaurant Group
Lindsay Pfeffer – I-Ortho
Lisa Levin – Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego
Lupita Morales – Fresh Start Surgical Gifts
Lynne Talley – Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego
Marcy Honnold Morrison – Passion Purpose Academy and Careers With Wings
Maria Disla – Pure Indoor Cycling
Marisa Janine-Page – Caldarelli Hejmanoski Page & Leer LLP
Marta Karczewicz – Qualcomm
Mary Jean Anderson – Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air
Mary Jo Highland – Hope for a Cure Foundation
Melissa Young – MY Studio ID
Mia Mian – Vteams
Mia Roseberry – Wounded Warrior Homes
Michaelene Sullivan – Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Michelle Rose Gilman – Fusion Academy, and The Well-Heeled Warrior
Michelle Jacko – Core Compliance & Legal Services
Michelle Martin – Travara
Michelle Moore – 7 Stitches
Michiko Araki Kelley – SONY Electronics
Monica Mo – WellSeek, Inc
Nahid Farhoud – Nahid’s Global Events
Nancy Maldonado – The Chicano Federation of San Diego County
Nancy Gannon Hornberger – SAY San Diego
Nancy Sasaki – United Way of San Diego County
Neisha Hernandez – Neisha’s Dance & Music Academy
Ngan Kim – US Navy
Nikki Carlson – ChicExecs
Parvati Ryan – San Diego Community College District
Pat Salas – SBHIS Insurance Services, Inc
Patricia Mooney – Crystal Pyramid Productions
Patricia Alvarez de los Cobos – Energy Communications Corporations
Peyton Robertson – Bay Bird Inc
Rachel Durna – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI)
Rita Albert – ConnectMed International
Roanna Canete – Coronado’s Gluten Free Pantry
Robin Toft – Toft Group Executive Search
Roxy & Pheobe – Pandr Design Co.
Ryan Landinguin – RP Therapy Group
Sandra Brown – UC San Diego
Sara France – Sara France
Sara Vaz – Nordson
Sarah Panis – Gritty Movement
♥ Sarah Schaffer – Law Offices of Sarah T. Schaffer, A.P.C
Sarah Pope – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI)
Sarah Williams – DPR
Shawn Duffy – Viasat
Sofia Salgado – MANA de San Diego
Stacy Cannon – Gensler
Stephanie Ortiz – Gigi’s Playhouse of San Diego
Susan Briggs – San Diego Half Marathon
Susan Ellis – SVG Helping Hands
Susan Tousi – Illumina
Susanne de la Flor – Litivate Reporting + Trial Services
Tamela Barnhart – Barnhart-Reese Construction
Tammy Blackburn – SDSU Alumni, University Relations and Development
Tanya Buzzanga – San Diego State University and Scripps Mercy Hospital
Tara Hammond – Sullivan Solar Power
Taylor Schwuchow – Lakehouse Hotel and Resort
Teresa Stivers – Walden Family Services
Teresa Campbell – San Diego County Credit Union
Terilyn Burg – StandUp For Kids
Tiffany LaBruno – Gafcon, Inc.
Tonya Mantooth – San Diego International Film Foundation
Traci Wilkerson Steckel – Traci’s Paws
Valerie Barros – EDF Renewables N.A.
♥ Verna Griffin-Tabor – Center for Community Solutions
Vicki Eddy – Community Volunteer
Vickie Turner – Wilson Turner Vosmo
Victoria Canedy – Arriva Translations
Victoria Hyzer – TrendSource, Inc.
Vivian Sun – TuSimple
Wynter Deagle – Troutman Sanders
Xiomara Arroyo – Wells Fargo Bank
Yasmeen Ahmad – Teradata
Zeynep Ilgaz – Confirm BioSciences