ABOUT OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER
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ABOUT OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Andrea Bastiani Archibald
Ph.D. and Developmental Psychologist
Andrea Bastiani Archibald, Ph.D., is an applied developmental
psychologist, nonprofit executive, and mission-driven leader who
has dedicated her career to helping youth and those who support
them better their lives and create positive social change.
Andrea is currently serving as both a psychologist and strategic
advisor to three different technology start-ups: Tribal Planet, Inc.,
T.A.G. (The Anxiety Game), and U-Pledge, as well The Grace
Children’s Foundation. She is also Principal at Chance Impact,
a consultancy that partners with organizations, corporations, and
communities to create more equitable and inclusive cultures.
Earlier, Andrea was an executive at Girl Scouts of the USA
(GSUSA) for over 10 years, where she led the Research Institute
and used such insights to advance the interests and needs of girls,
drive the organization’s national strategy, and the development of
new partnerships.
Recognized as a thought leader and engaging public speaker,
Andrea’s interviews and insights on child development, diversity,
equity and inclusion, and female leadership have appeared in
top-tier media including The Today Show, Good Morning America,
Fox News, CNN, NPR, AP, Fast Company, Parents Magazine,
BuzzFeed and Mashable.
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021
ABOUT OUR CEO
Vikki Shepp
CEO of Girl Scouts of Orange County
A collaborative trailblazer, lifelong Girl Scout, and champion of girls’
and women’s causes, Vikki Shepp brings deep understanding of
the youth leadership field and evolving needs of today’s girls to her
role as CEO of Girl Scouts of Orange County.
Over her decade-long career with Girl Scouts of Orange County,
Vikki has held numerous leadership positions, including Director
of Volunteer Management, Vice President of Fund Development,
and Vice President of Mission Operations. She previously held
leadership positions with several other non-profit organizations.
A creative and collaborative leader, Vikki is focused on ensuring
transformative leadership development experiences for nearly
18,000 Girl Scouts across Orange County. With an annual
budget of approximately $11 million, 150 staff members including
seasonal staff, and 12,000 adult members and active volunteers
representing every OC zip code, Vikki leads her team in helping
girls develop the vital skills they need to live their best lives.
Growing up in Seal Beach, Vikki earned the Girl Scout First
Class Award (now the Girl Scout Gold Award), the highest award
a Girl Scout can earn. Vikki is pursuing a doctorate (Ed.D) in
Organizational Change and Leadership. She holds a Master of
Arts in Humanities and Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from
California State University, Dominguez Hills and is a Certified
Volunteer Administrator, holding a certificate in Executive Non-
Profit Leadership (NHSA). Vikki frequently speaks to organizations
about the power of volunteer leadership.
Vikki is on a quest to ensure that every girl has the life-changing
opportunities that Girl Scouts provides to prepare for a lifetime of
leadership. Leading by example, she is guiding a vibrant, forward-
looking leadership development organization-- 30,000 girls and
adults who believe that every girl can change the world.
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021
ABOUT OUR PANELISTS
Anne Bretana, Gensler
Principal | Co-Managing Director
As Co-Managing Director of the Gensler Newport Beach office,
Anne has more than 25 years of experience in the Architectural
Design industry and is recognized for her leadership ability to
create thoughtful and innovative workplace environments. She has
experience across a wide range of industries including financial
services, technology, professional services, and corporate campuses.
Her clients include world-class companies such as Rutan & Tucker,
Trammell Crow Company, Allergan, PIMCO, and Broadcom. Anne
also serves as a People & Strategy leader for Gensler’s Southwest
Region and is passionate about mentorship as a tool to engage
and inspire the next generation of talent. Her personal focus and
source of excitement has always been people including her clients,
her colleagues, and the community around her. Anne earned her
Bachelor of Arts at the University of Kentucky.
Our culture combines the unique strengths and contributions of every person for the
greater good. We are deeply invested in the health, well-being, and job satisfaction
of all team members, and our People First philosophy is centered on Diversity,
Empowerment, Community, Respect, Impact, and Growth.
Successful Womxn at Gensler (SWAG) provides a safe place where women of all ages
and career stages can support and confide to better navigate and advance personal
success. SWAG engages participants through seminars, workshops, lectures, events,
and more. SWAG recently launched its Mentorship Pod program with plans to expand it
nationwide and across the globe. Mentorship Pods connect senior, mid-level, and junior
staff in curated groups for 360-degree feedback and career advice.
gParents is a network and social group for parents at Gensler that is open to all
employees and provides resources to support participants as they juggle parenthood and
their careers. gConnect is Gensler’s 12-month talent development program for the firm’s
next-generation leaders. The program targets high potential candidates, regardless of
gender or other dimensions of diversity, and covers diverse business areas.
https://www.gensler.com/doc/gensler-diversity-report-2020-2021
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021
ABOUT OUR PANELISTS
Patti A. Harvey, Kaiser Permanente
Senior Vice President for Quality, Regulatory, and Continuing Care of Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals (KFHP/H), Southern California
A 21-year Kaiser Permanente employee, Patti Harvey, RN was
appointed as senior vice president for Quality, Regulatory, and
Continuing Care of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals
(KFHP/H), Southern California, one of the largest non-profit health care
systems in the country, consisting of tens of thousands of staff who care
for 4.5 million Kaiser Permanente members. Patti has served in this role
since July 2018 and is responsible for the quality systems and oversight
for 15 hospitals, contract hospitals involving Regulatory Agencies,
Patient Safety, and Clinical Risk Management. She also oversees the
continuum of care which includes all touch points for our members to
receive care, ensuring quality care delivery, providing the safest place to
give care and receive care, and pursuing a person-centered experience.
Patti earned her master’s degree in public health from the University of
California, Los Angeles, and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from West
Texas A&M University. She is a member of the board of directors for
Mercy Healthcare System’s Quality Committee, as well as a member
of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, Association of
California Nursing Leaders, American Public Health Association, and
UCLA Health Policy Management Alumni Association.
At Kaiser Permanente, we believe in equal access to high-quality health care for all,
and being the best place to work regardless of ethnicity, race, color, national origin,
ancestry, creed, religion, language, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
marital status, health status, physical or mental disability, or identification with any
other persons or groups.
We are committed to an inclusive, diverse workplace that provides an environment
of equity for all who work here and for the people and the communities we serve.
Women Empowered at Kaiser Permanente (WE@KP) inspires and empowers KP
employees to actively develop professionally and personally through workforce,
community programs, and resources, with a focus on the unique aspects of women.
https://www.kaiserpermanentejobs.org/diversity-and-inclusion/
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021
ABOUT OUR PANELISTS
Mara Pagotto, Western Digital
Global Vice-President for Enterprise People Strategy,
Development and Culture
Mara Pagotto is Global Vice-President for Enterprise People
Strategy, Development, and Culture at Western Digital.
Headquartered in San Jose, Western Digital is a globally leading
innovative data infrastructure company that helps customers
capture, preserve, access, and transform data. Her company-wide
responsibilities include leadership and people development, people
analytics, talent management, succession planning, and employee
engagement. In addition, she has been actively involved in shaping,
promoting, and activating a transformational culture renovation
impacting over 65,000 employees worldwide. Previously, Mara
served as Chief Human Resources Officer at Billabong International
Limited, as Senior Vice-President and Chief People Officer at
Intrawest, and as Vice-President of Human Resources at American
Express World Headquarters. Mara started her career in accounting
and finance. She is a graduate of Queen’s University at Kingston in
Canada and the Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies at
Cornell ILR School in New York.
We thrive on the power and potential of diversity and believe that the most effective
way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from
within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for
our employees, company, customers, and world around us. We are committed to an
inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging,
respect and contribution.
We have several female affinity groups within Western Digital, including WIN
(Women’s Interests Network) and Women in IT. Globally, we offer Advancing
Women in Leadership, an annual program that supports high potential females. We
additionally offer regional programs in support of women in STEM and focus our talent
acquisition around cultivating a pipeline of women in STEM. We participate in targeted
forums (Grace Hopper, Women in Tech Summit, WIT, etc.) to build awareness of
career opportunities at Western Digital.
https://www.westerndigital.com/company/diversity-inclusion/numbers
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021
ABOUT OUR PANELISTS
Reshma Peck, Experian
Senior Vice President, Marketing, Integrated Marketing,
Experian North America
Reshma Pack is responsible for brand, segment, and product
marketing for Business-to-Business financial services businesses
at Experian. She leads a diverse team in multiple disciplines
of marketing to identify market segments and develop value
propositions, market insights and thought leadership; generate
awareness and demand; build client affinity; and power the
sales teams focused on driving revenue. She also champions
key employee initiatives that reflect the dynamic culture across
Experian. Previously, Reshma led marketing, brand management,
business strategy and sales in financial services, consumer
packaged goods and the entertainment industries, including The
Walt Disney Company and Henkel (The Dial Corporation). Reshma
received both a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor
of Science in Business Administration from Bowling Green State
University.
At Experian, we believe we are stronger and serve our global clients better when
we create meaningful opportunities that support and promote diversity and inclusion
throughout our organization.
Women in Experian (“WiE”) is a companywide program focused on championing and
cultivating women leaders. We seek to inspire, empower, and elevate each woman
at Experian while inviting our male colleagues to join the conversation to collaborate
and help Experian retain and attract diverse talent. WiE is rooted in mentorship,
networking, education, and leadership. Its impact shines through in the many
conversations we have with our colleagues about how WiE programs are enhancing
their jobs, influencing their career trajectories, and enriching their lives.
https://www.experian.com/blogs/news/2021/03/02/power-of-you-report/
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021
ABOUT OUR GIRL SCOUT HOSTS & MODERATORS
Marysol Cázarez, Panel Moderator
Girl Scout Ambassador, Age 18, Santa Ana, Troop 3433
Marysol Cázarez is in her senior year at Rosary Academy. Her
Girl Scout Gold Award project addresses the issue of early literacy
intervention amongst blind and visually impaired children and
helping them to ignite a passion for reading and learning. She is
creating a Sensory Story Mobile for parents to take home stories
and for teachers to share in class. She is planning to attend Loyola
Marymount University and major in English or Political Science with a
minor in Spanish.
Kirsten Okamoto, Panel Moderator
Girl Scout Ambassador, Age 18, Los Alamitos, Troop 572
Kirsten Okamoto is in her senior year at Sato Academy High School
and is a Gold Award Girl Scout. For her Girl Scout Gold Award
project, Kirsten developed curriculum with information on seal and
sea lion conservation and rescue because of the annual increase of
mammal stranding due to warming oceans and growing pollution.
She also coordinated a collection drive for supplies needed by the
Pacific Marine Mammal Center. Kirsten’s career goal is to be a
mechanical engineer.
Sabine Lerner, Girl Scout Host
Girl Scout Ambassador, Age 18, Tustin, Troop 3460
Sabine Lerner is in her senior year at Tustin High School.
She is a Gold Award Girl Scout and currently serves as a Girl
Representative to the Girl Scouts of Orange County Board of
Directors. Sabine’s Gold Award project established clubs at
elementary schools in her community that invited kids to participate
in hands-on scientific experiments and grow a passion for science.
Sabine recently joined a delegation of Girl Scouts from across
the nation, speaking to the U.N. Commission on the Status of
Women about gender equality. She is planning to attend California
Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and will major in
Comparative Ethnic Studies.
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021
FEATURED GIRL SCOUT STORIES
Jacqueline Lembesis
Girl Scout Alum, Age 18, Yorba Linda
Jacqueline Lembesis is a freshman at California State University,
Fullerton and plans to become a Child Life Specialist. She is a Gold
Award Girl Scout whose project addressed mental health education
at her high school. Working with school faculty, staff, and school
board leadership, she created posters and cards to educate students
and make them aware of resources available to them.
Anh Voong
Girl Scout Ambassador, Age 18, Anaheim, Troop 1279
Anh Voong is in her senior year at Oxford Academy and is a Gold
Award Girl Scout. She is a member of Lien Doan Chi Lang, a troop
that honors Vietnamese heritage and traditions. Anh’s Gold Award
project promoted cultural awareness. She created a Children’s
Cultural Awareness program at Haskett Library to educate children
about worldwide cultures. She plans to attend University of
California, Irvine and become a pediatrician.
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021
ABOUT OUR SPOTLIGHT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Wendy Aid is the Director of Sales at Cox Business for the Orange Coast
market, which includes Orange County, Palos Verdes, and Santa Barbara.
Wendy is responsible for leading a high caliber sales organization focused
on delivering customized cloud communications and security solutions to
businesses. In her role, Wendy focuses on supporting a culture of innovation
and sustainable business growth.
Prior to serving the Orange Coast market, Wendy had a long track record
of success across sales and customer experience in the San Diego market.
During her tenure she oversaw business retention, strategic planning,
negotiations, relationship building, sales development, coaching, budgeting,
community involvement, and internal collaboration efforts. Wendy also
spearheaded the sales and support partnerships for Government, Education
Presented by: and Healthcare entities.
Wendy joined Cox with over 20 years of sales leadership experience across
several organizations in California including XO Communications, PacWest,
and MCI/WorldCom. Throughout her career she has focused on creating
opportunities to develop women in the workplace by prioritizing personal
development, mentorship, and work-life integration.
Wendy is the proud mother of two boys and enjoys hiking, camping and
family trips to the beach.
Kathy Bonney is responsible for the operation and administration of
Clearinghouse CDFI. She oversees Human Resources, CSR, technology,
and compliance. She also manages investor relations, including
shareholders, creditors, and New Markets Tax Credits participants. Kathy
earned a Master’s Certification in Human Resources from Cornell University
and a Master Certificate in Business Management from Master Class
Management.
Kathy is the engine that makes the organization run, expertly navigating
from one department to the next while ensuring deadlines are met. She is
the embodiment of tireless work and its resulting success. Kathy is a “get-it-
done” person who expects hard work and leads by example. She is a force
to be reckoned with and deserves great recognition for her leadership and
Presented by: contribution to Clearinghouse CDFI.
“Kathy Bonney has played an integral role in our growth and success over
the past 17 years. With many responsibilities, demonstrating strong initiative
and drive, she has certainly earned this recognition. Clearinghouse CDFI is
truly fortunate to have Kathy’s unique perspective and strong presence on
our executive team.” – Douglas J. Bystry, Clearinghouse CDFI President/
CEO
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021
ABOUT OUR SPOTLIGHT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Selina Campbell is the Director, Outside Plant Construction at Cox
Communications. In this role, Selina leads the network construction upgrade
activities across Cox’s California markets. She is responsible for overseeing
the construction and field engineering activities in support of the company’s
plan to extend fiber optic cables throughout their footprint.
Selina has built a distinguished career in telecommunications with roles
overseeing the Fulfillment Operations and Call Center Operations teams for
multiple providers on the east coast.
Over the years, Selina has done an extensive amount of work helping to
drive women to live and work to their fullest potential in both the workplace
and the community. She has promoted and encouraged numerous women to
Presented by: work in roles that stretched them and capitalized on their strengths.
Selina has assigned projects to women and positioned them to help grow and
develop their leadership skills. An example of this is when she saw potential
in a young lady on her team who had been overlooked by previous leaders.
She assigned projects to this emerging leader that pushed her out of her
comfort zone and helped other executive leaders see the talent and value
the young lady brought to the team. Selina recommended this woman for
other opportunities within the organization. As a result, the young lady was
promoted to several roles and eventually became an executive leader at a
global telecommunications company.
Cox is proud to celebrate leaders like Selina, who believe in and are
committed to helping others become the best they can be.
Stacy Deeble-Reynolds has dedicated her life to the advancement of
women in leadership. Starting in her early years as a college student, Stacy
took courses in women’s studies and has applied what she learned in her
various leadership roles. For more than 15 years, working at the Orange
County Department of Education, Stacy has taken numerous female
colleagues under her wing and mentored them in understanding the culture
at the Orange County Department of Education and what it means to be a
public servant. Stacy is the “go to” on our team for a listening ear, assisting
in navigating challenges and co-designing solutions, creative thinking,
and assisting our female colleagues as they navigate their careers inside
our organization or those seeking leadership opportunities outside. She
is relentless in ensuring that all voices are heard and valued and leads
Presented by: our efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion. Not only is she a leader in our
organization, she is well respected and admired by the Orange County
Health Care Agency and various other organizations in Orange County for
her leadership in prevention, mental health and wellness, and social and
emotional learning. Anyone who works with Stacy knows that she is not only
a colleague, but also a lifelong mentor and friend.
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021ABOUT OUR SPOTLIGHT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Celina Doka is a partner in KPMG’s Orange County office and leads KPMG’s
Asset Management practice in Southern California. For more than 35 years,
she has provided audit and accounting services for a wide variety of publicly
held and privately held investment management and real estate industry
clients, including investment advisors, funds of funds, real estate investment
trusts, operating partnerships, home builders, land developers, construction/
engineering firms, and institutional real estate owners and advisors.
Celina was instrumental in establishing the Orange County Chapter of KNOW
(KPMG Network of Women) and is one of the chapter’s co-leaders. She was
promoted to partner at a time when the “Big 8” accounting firms did not have
many female partners or leaders, and since then has committed to increasing
the number of women in KPMG and in leadership positions through
Presented by: countless hours spent mentoring women at all levels throughout the firm, and
championing their careers and promotions.
Outside of KPMG, Celina is a member and former chair of the Advisory
Board for UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business, Program in Real Estate
Management. She is also a Board Member of Human Options and proud
supporter of the United Way’s Women’s Philanthropy Fund.
KPMG is proud to nominate Celina to be honored and takes this opportunity
to thank Celina for all of her support and leadership during her many years
with KPMG.
Shannon Eusey is the co-founder and CEO of Beacon Pointe and a
member of Beacon Pointe’s Investment Committee. For Shannon, the
success of Beacon Pointe is not measured by the number of assets the firm
manages, but rather the goals and accomplishments the firm’s clients are
able to achieve. Beacon Pointe focuses on providing comprehensive wealth
management services and solutions to its clients and the community. In an
industry lacking gender diversity, Shannon’s firm has become an exemplary
company in both its gender diversity and mission to empower women in
wealth. Under Shannon’s guidance, Beacon Pointe is 50% female, with an
equally diverse leadership team and women holding senior or executive
positions in all departments. A prior Girl Scout herself, Shannon is co-founder
and CEO of Beacon Pointe and a member of Beacon Pointe’s Investment
Presented by: Committee. She also co-founded the firm’s Women’s Advisory Institute (WAI),
challenging the financial services industry to bring women to the table in
personal finance. WAI acts as a forum for women to share knowledge, ask
questions in a supportive environment, and fosters exploration on how to best
serve and assist the financial needs and educational growth of women of
all ages. WAI provides a full range of financial and investment tools, as well
as sophisticated investment management and advisory services to women.
WAI goes beyond providing financial advice; it also helps women in their
pursuit of wealth management careers. This program is available nationwide
with Beacon Pointe representatives in all regional offices, supporting women
employees, clients, and students in both professional and life success.
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021ABOUT OUR SPOTLIGHT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Ruby Gill, DNP, MBA/HCM, RN, NE-BC, is a Chief Nurse Executive at
Kaiser Permanente.
As a Kaiser Permanente veteran for more than 20 years, Ruby Gill, Chief
Nurse Executive, brings a wealth of organizational knowledge, passion for
excellence, and strength of interdisciplinary relationships. In her current role,
she provides oversight of all nursing practice and leadership to more than
900 nurses in the pursuit of providing exceptional care.
In her tenure at Kaiser Permanente, Ruby has been recognized for
her relentless drive toward achieving exemplary patient care and work
environment outcomes. She inspires the commitment and innovation of the
entire care team to continue to progress toward our organizational vision and
Presented by: goals. Through Ruby’s leadership, Kaiser Permanente Irvine Medical Center
has achieved Magnet® designation, along with several other recognitions for
delivering high quality care.
Ruby earned her Associates in Nursing from Mount Saint Mary’s College,
her Bachelors of Science in Nursing and Masters of Business Administration/
Health Care Management from the University of Phoenix, and Doctor of
Nursing Practice from American Sentinel University. In addition to her degree
attainment, Ruby completed an Executive Leadership program through the
Harvard Business School and earned the American Nurses Credentialing
Center Nurse Executive Board Certification.
Emily Grant is the epitome of a leader, with a successful career, dedication
to non-profits throughout Orange County, and the loving passion for her
family, espically her young son, Owen. Emily’s dedication to her family led
to an early diagnosis of Autism for Owen, which in turn led her on a lifelong
quest for early intervention breakthroughs and helping other families. In her
own words, Emily explains, “Sharing his story has connected me with parents
around the globe and created this virtual space/community for our family to
support other families that are early in their journey. If we’ve helped even one
other child by sharing our experience, then opening up was completely worth
it.” It is stories like those of Emily and Owen that remind us everyday we are
growing “stronger, smarter and kinder” and that when we come together to
help one another, we can accomplish much more. Thank you Emily for your
Presented by: continued dedication to our communities and your loving heart.
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021ABOUT OUR SPOTLIGHT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Darla Holland, MD has led the Orange County Medical Association as
its President, leading the physicians of Orange County and working to
improve the health of all Orange County Residents. She has served as the
Assistant Regional Medical Director for Value Demonstration for Kaiser
Permanente in Southern California. She also served as the Physician Market
Lead for National Accounts and met regularly with Kaiser Permanente’s
National Customers. In addition, she represented Kaiser Permanente on
the National Health Leadership Council, an advisory group to the National
Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. An internist by training, she
attended Medical School at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and
completed Internal Medicine Residencies at the University of Maryland and
the Boston VA Medical Center. Darla maintains a Primary Care practice in
Presented by: Anaheim, California, has served as a faculty member for the Family Medicine
Residency at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Anaheim, and served as the
Regional Credentials Committee Chair for Kaiser Permanente Southern
California. She is a Delegate to the California Medical Association House of
Delegates and serves as the Vice Chair of its Council on Medical Services.
Dr. Holland is a lifetime Girl Scout, having led troops from Brownies through
Seniors and supporting eight of her Girl Scouts in their efforts to ultimately
achieve their Gold Awards. She is a supporter of Mitzvah Meals, an
organization that provides meals to the homeless and to local shelters and
is becoming a Court Appointed Special Advociate. Dr. Holland is married to
a retired urologist, has two adult children, and is a baseball and hockey fan,
enthusiastically supporting the Angels and the Anaheim Ducks.
Mandi Morgan has a heart for assisting others to be the person they dream
of becoming. She pours into women’s lives by her faithful volunteering
and teaching of Christian Education with the OC Unified School District.
Every week during the school year, Mandi dedicates time to mentor young
elementary, junior high, and high school girls to equip them with valuable life
skills.
She also models how to show up for others by continually investing time into
her community and those she loves. Mandi has volunteered for McCarthy
Building Teen Leadership Educational events that improve job opportunities
for women in construction by creating diversity awareness in a predominantly
male industry. She invests in the youth community by executing Dale
Carnegie Teen programs for Girls Inc. and Vitalink. These programs build
Presented by: confident identities and help girls navigate gender, economic, and social
barriers as they grow into strong, educated, independent, thriving women.
Mandi has facilitated seminars/speaking engagements that enhance women’s
leadership strength and communication skills for National Association of
Women in Construction, Anaheim’s Economic Department for Women
Entrepreneurs, and Score’s Annual Women Business Owners Conference.
Mandi’s passionate drive to serve others, combined with her never-ending
energy/enthusiasm, make her a vital asset to our organization. Mandi
represents a trailblazing role model for other successful women to follow. We
are blessed to have her on our team!
Dale Carnegie of Orange County is delighted to spotlight our own Mandi
Morgan. Thank you, Mandi, for all that you do to impact the world around
you!
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021ABOUT OUR SPOTLIGHT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Anya Ostry is an award-winning global transaction advisor at CBRE’s only
hub team based in Southern California, focused solely on multi-market
portfolios and occupier representations. She specializes in analyzing portfolio
costs, monitoring and seeking opportunities and transaction goals, and is
constantly developing strategic solutions for her Fortune 500 clients in key
markets across the U.S.
Anya is dedicated to making a positive impact in Orange County and
currently serves as a board member of CSU Fullerton’s Mihaylo College
of Business & Economics Executive Council and is a member of the Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County. She’s also a board member of
CoreNet Global’s Southern California Chapter and member of NAIOP’s
Southern California Chapter. During the global pandemic that turned many
Presented by: industries on their heads, Anya hosted multiple virtual coffee sessions and
chats with her peers and clients to offer support and guidance on topics that
impacted their businesses.
Anya has received many awards for her success in commercial real estate,
including:
- CoStar Power Broker of the Year, 2018
- Transwestern West Region Young Professional of the Year, 2012
- Irvine Company Broker of the Year, 2016
- Irvine Company Broker of the Quarter, Q2 2016
- CoreNet Global, Southern California Chapter – Young Leader of the Year, 2016
Vanessa Page is the Branch Manager of the Laguna Niguel office for
MUFG Union Bank. She has been in the banking industry for 12 years and
eight of those with MUFG Union Bank. Vanessa is also one of the Regional
Community Engagement representatives in Orange County. She is involved
in the community and a great example for other women to follow.
Vanessa has volunteered with Girl Scouts in the past, teaching financial
education. Recently, she helped adapt one of the FDIC Money Smart
modules to teach budgeting and money management to Junior High School
girls. Vanessa says, “It is important for me to change the mindset of young
women to understand that they can make a difference in this world. If they
work hard and dedicate themselves, they can achieve any goals they have
set to reach. I am in a role that used to be seen as a male only position, but
Presented by: that narrow mindset has broadened, and more opportunities have opened up,
regardless of gender or biases.”
Vanessa has been married for 10 years and has a four-year old daughter.
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021ABOUT OUR SPOTLIGHT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Erin Pheasant is the current president of U.S. Bank’s Orange County
Employee Development Network (or “EDN”), an internal employee-led
business affinity group that promotes personal and career development, with
a strong emphasis on volunteerism and service to the community.
Under Erin’s leadership, she and her fellow EDN board members have
brought U.S. Bank’s Community Possible outreach and community
engagement program to life, continuing to support numerous nonprofit
organizations - including the Girl Scouts - with their time and talent, even as
the pandemic required a swift pivot from in-person to virtual volunteerism.
One recent story exemplifies Erin’s leadership throughout the uncertainties
of the past year, including her ability to engage others in doing good. When
Presented by: it became clear that a planned in-person event for local elementary students
would be cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, Erin quickly mobilized the
EDN to assemble and distribute backpacks to the students - all of whom
were now learning online from home. In addition to filling the backpacks with
both educational and fun items, she recruited a cadre of bankers to create
personalized notes of encouragement for each of the approximately 60 fifth
graders who received them.
Erin’s competent and caring leadership continues to have a positive impact,
not only on the women - and men - at U.S. Bank, but in our Orange County
community as well.
Chiarina Piazza PhD, MeD, RN is the Associate Dean of Nursing at West
Coast University. She is a mother, educator, and former school nurse who
has seen firsthand the indelible effect words and actions have on girls during
childhood and women during their professional growth.
Knowing that role models can make a difference between students and
colleagues choosing to persist through challenges, Dr. Piazza ensures that
whomever she works with feels heard, seen and that she can be part of any
solution to whatever challenge they present. As a proud Filipina-American
and Orange County resident, Dr. Piazza dedicates herself to ensuring that
her students and colleagues are committed to supporting and celebrating the
diverse communities of Orange County.
Presented by: Dr. Piazza is a registered nurse, university dean, and educator. She serves
as a School Nurses of California Foundation board member and previously
served as an OC Human Relations commissioner.
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021ABOUT OUR SPOTLIGHT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Nicole Provansal is the Director of Corporate and Community Partnerships
for Angels Baseball. In her work with the Angels, Nicole seeks partnerships
with other businesses in order to maximize the reach and community impact
of Angels Baseball, its Foundation, and the philanthropic entities of the
Angels’ partners.
A graduate of Chapman University, Nicole began her career in Advancement
with Chapman before transitioning to the Angels in Corporate Partnership
sales in 2010. Given her vision for strengthening communities through
collaboration, Nicole has since expanded her role to oversee all Corporate
and Community Partnerships.
She is responsible for the Angels community outreach activities, such as
Presented by: Adopt-A-School program, Rally Readers, Community Ticket Program, and
player hospital visits. Nicole is an impactful community leader and example
of someone who is focused on helping others prepare for a lifetime of
leadership.
Alyssa Scholz brings over two decades of diversified design experience
focusing on healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics and medical
office buildings. As a Principal and Global Leader for Healthcare at Gensler,
she leads teams to emphasize on the value that spaces provide to improve
the user experience. Key to her success has been her commitment and
dedication to people. As a woman in design and construction, Alyssa
understands the importance of mentoring the next generation and be a
positive influence on her teams, the firm, and the industry.
Alyssa’s passion and motivation are consistently recognized by her clients as
a differentiator. She feels that the human experience assesses the impact of
socio-cultural, political, environmental, and other external influences — and
seeks to communicate the best design solutions. She has fostered strong
Presented by: client relationships and worked on successful projects with Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center, Hoag Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, Scripps Health and
many others.
As a frequent speaker at healthcare and industry conferences, Alyssa
focuses her messaging on creating a positive culture and building authentic
relationships with clients. She leads with a mindset to empower those around
her, as well as serve as a coach and mentor on how they can be their best
selves in everything they do without compromising their values.
Alyssa is also highly involved in the community and has been working with
non-profit healthcare organizations for 25+ years. She currently plays an
active role within the Illumination Foundation, creating philanthropic synergy
through design and construction partnerships.
VOICE FOR GIRLS 2021ABOUT OUR SPOTLIGHT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Commie Stevens designed Beacon Pointe’s approach to financial and
estate planning, what is known today as allWEALTH®. She works closely
with individuals and their families to best utilize their wealth to meet their
lifetime and legacy goals. Commie is a founding member of the Beacon
Pointe Women’s Advisory Institute and co-authored Your Dollars, Our Sense:
A Fun and Simple Guide to Money Matters, an international best-selling book
that has ranked #1 in six different business/finance categories.
Commie is also instrumental in putting together educational content for
families and young women alike, helping to convey the importance of
personal money management and long-term investment planning.
Commie is passionate about financial education and regularly speaks on a
Presented by: host of financial and estate planning topics. She has been a guest lecturer
at The Paul Merage School of Business at UCI and Stanford University. She
has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report,
The Street, Financial Advisor IQ, The National Financial Educators Council,
The Journal of Practical Estate Planning, and The University of California,
Irvine’s Wealth Management Frontier Journal. Commie has served as the
Governance Chair for Hi Hopes Identity Discover Foundation. She earned
her Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law, her BA in
Economics from the University of California at Irvine, is a member of the
State Bar of California, and an Investment Advisor Representative.
Jennifer Tellers is the branch manager of the Naples banking office in Long
Beach. She has been in the Banking industry for 25 years and has spent her
last 20 years with MUFG Union Bank. Jennifer’s favorite part of her job is the
positive impact she has in her community.
She currently serves as the MUFG Union Bank’s Regional Community
Representative, as well as the National Corporate Social Responsibility
Liaison for MUFG Union Bank’s Women’s Resource Group (WIN). In 2018,
Jennifer was recognized as the MUFG Union Bank Volunteer of the Year.
She also serves on the board of directors for Dramatic Results, a non-profit
focused on the importance of STEM education for individuals in low-income
communities.
Presented by: Prior to Covid-19, Jennifer was involved with Girl Scouts hosting tours for
troops of the Banking office to learn more about financial literacy. Jennifer
is glad to see that the Banking industry, while dominated by men, has
changed during her tenure with MUFG Union Bank. She reports to a female
Supervisor, and her Supervisor reports to a female Manager. She loves to
encourage young women reach for her dreams.
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