Printer-friendly version
By Janis Russell
November 2, 2014 (El Cajon)- The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce held its 12th Annual Women in Leadership Luncheon at the Town and Country Resort Hotel’s Conference Center on October 17th. The Chamber honored dynamic women who were leaders in their fields and their communities. These women had also demonstrated exemplary character, integrity, and outstanding leadership qualities.
The winners were Beth Margante from Sharp/Grossmont and Grossmont Hospital Foundation, Lee-Ann Kim (former 10 news anchor and now involved in the Pacific Arts Movement), Odie Goward from California Bank and Trust, Pam Meisner from the Water Conservation Garden, Lori Steele Contorer from Everyone Counts Inc, Sue Schaffner from Hostelling International USA, and Peggy Buffo from Aztec and Baron Insurance.
Nancy Dennison from Keller Williams and Sandy Pugilese from Sharp/Grossmont Hospital,introduced the nominees for the first ever Michele Tarbet Healthcare Award. Tarbet recently passed away of cancer, and she had been the CEO of Sharp/Grossmont. Margante had won in this category because of her contributions to the hospital.
For Arts/Culture/Media, the winner was Kim. Carol Le Beau, also a former 10 news anchor and the MC at the event, described her as “the most fun person in the 10 News team producing events year round… She’s just an awesome lady.”
Kim mentioned she’s from South Korea and “my biggest important job is to be a mom to my two sons.”
For the Business category, the winner was Goward, who has also been a board member on the East County Chamber, and volunteering at events like the Mother Goose Parade and the Salvation Army toy drive.
For education, Meisner was the winner, AKA ‘Ms. Smarty Plants’ and former ‘Ms. Frizzle’ at the San Diego Natural History Museum. She has more than 30 years teaching experience, has reached 55,000 adults/kids this year as ‘Ms. Smarty Plants’, and has been named SDG & E’s Eco Ambassador.
For Government/Defense, the winner was Lori Steele Contorer, founder and CEO of Everyone Counts Inc. She left her investment career. The mission is that every person in the world with the legal right to vote has the ability to do so with all their votes counting. She hopes to that her company will become the future Fortune 1000 company. She is on her way to do so after recently being on a Fortune 500 list.
For Hospitality, the winner was Sue Schaffner from Hostelling International USA, who has more than 25 years in the hospitality industry. She joined Hostelling in 2002 and had spent 10 years as the executive director at San Diego Council.
For the nonprofit category, the winner was Peggy Buffo from Aztec and Baron Insurance. She contributes to the Chamber’s board, helped organize downtown events for a couple nonprofits, and she also helps out the ACES foundation. She and ACES have been helping prepare a new animal shelter in El Cajon. Buffo also invited the public to a couple upcoming ACES fundraisers, including the “Jingle Paws Walk For Pets” on December 6.
To nominate a woman in the community for next year, email: sarahm@eastcountychamber.org or call the Chamber at (619) 440-6161.
For more information on the Aces’ fundraiser “Jingle Paws Walk For Pets”, visit: http://www.acesfoundation.org/jingle-paws-walk-for-pets/.
For more information about upcoming Chamber events, visit: http://business.eastcountychamber.org/events/.
Recent comments