Women's Leadership and Networking Day Speaker Spotlight : Susanne Whatley

Susanne Whatley is a News Anchor at KPCC.

Whatley has a long history in Southern California and network news. She came to KPCC after anchoring at all-news KFWB and talk powerhouse KFI, and hosting public affairs shows for KOST.

After graduating from USC and circling the globe with a backpack for a year, she began her career as a general-assignment field reporter covering courts, crime, quakes, fires, floods, and politics for KRTH and as an L.A. correspondent for national radio networks including the Associated Press. She served over a decade as the Hollywood correspondent for the A.P.'s "Portfolio" news magazine, interviewing hundreds of film and TV stars, directors and writers. She also hosted weekly live reports for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and stations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Her honors include Golden Mikes and APTRA awards for Best Newscast and Best News Writing. Additional awards from those and other professional organizations include first place in spot news, documentary, entertainment and feature reporting and use of feature sound.

In 2009 she jumped into television and currently hosts "Healthline", a weekly cable interview show.
Whatley was born and raised in the Pasadena area and enjoys a deep appreciation of the region's people, places and peculiarities. She is an orange belt in Shaolin Kempo karate, and at peace with the fact her young daughters will always outrank her in the sport.

To hear Ms. Whatley  and other wonderful accomplished women speak at our Women's Leadership and Networking Day on May 29th, register today at http://www.ywca.org/WLND2015. You can also visit our website for more information on the day's events.

Women's Leadership and Networking Day Speaker Spotlight : Marla Bleavins

Marla Bleavins is the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer for the Port of Los Angeles, the number one container port in the nation and the highest-rated U.S. seaport.

Appointed in January 2015, she manages the Port’s financial affairs and oversees the Accounting, Contracts and Purchasing, Financial Management, Debt and Treasury, Risk Management, Internal Management Audit, and Human Resources divisions.

Bleavins brings to the post an outstanding, results-oriented public finance track record with extensive
knowledge of the City of Los Angeles and its financial structures. Prior to her appointment to the Port, Bleavins most recently served as Assistant General Manager for Finance and Administration at the City of Los Angeles Department of Convention and Tourism Development. Prior to that, she served as Project Manager and Debt and Treasury Manager at Los Angeles World Airports. She began her career at the City of Los Angeles as a Budget Analyst and then as a Finance Specialist in the Office of the City Administrative Officer. During her tenure with the City, Bleavins managed close to $6 billion in bond financings that funded capital projects at Los Angeles International Airport and throughout the City.

Bleavins holds a Bachelor of Arts in public policy and political science from Stanford University. She earned her Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

To hear Ms. Bleavins  and other wonderful accomplished women speak at our Women's Leadership and Networking Day on May 29th, register today at http://www.ywca.org/WLND2015. You can also visit our website for more information on the day's events.

Women's Leadership and Networking Day Spotlight : Ana Guerrero

Ana Guerrero is a first generation Mexican-American and the daughter of migrant farmworkers. She began her career in Northern California with the Sonoma County Organizing Project where she organized low- and middle-income families around job creation and affordable housing issues. She came to Los Angeles in 1995 tobecome the lead organizer of the United Neighborhoods Organization (UNO). While there, Ms. Guerrero led a campaign that helped more than 5,000 immigrants become naturalized, politically active citizens. She also provided technical assistance to community-based organizations through the Center for Community Change.

Ana Guerrero has worked with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti since 2001 when he was elected to CityCouncil. She was appointed as his Council Office Chief of Staff in 2008, after serving as his District Director and Deputy Chief of Staff. As Garcetti's top aide during his Council Presidency, she worked closely with the City's leadership to negotiate unprecedented budget and pension reforms.

She now serves as Mayor Garcetti's Chief of Staff. In this capacity, she is the primary driver of his agenda to improve neighborhoods, create jobs and make City Hall work better, and directs all aspects of the Office of the Mayor

Ms. Guerrero is a wife and mother of three children. She stays active in community organizing by serving on the boards of the Center for Community Change and the Needmor Family Fund.

To hear Ms. Guerrero  and other wonderful accomplished women speak at our Women's Leadership and Networking Day on May 29th, register today at http://www.ywca.org/WLND2015. You can also visit our website for more information on the day's events.

Women's Leadership and Networking Day Spotlight : Azucena Maldonado

Azucena Maldonado is on a mission to transform women’s lives through golf. She founded the Latina Golfers Association (LGA) in 2008 to introduce Latinas of all ages to golf for their professional development, personalenjoyment, and to promote a healthy lifestyle. The LGA teaches women how to utilize golf as a business tool. What started as a passion and love of the game quickly turned into a movement with over 1,200 Southern California Latinas having participated in the LGA’s golf clinics, lessons, events, and tournaments. Ms. Maldonado teaches women how to break gender and cultural barriers through golf. She has shared her secrets of how to be welcomed into the elite “boys club” and break the glass ceiling with a golf ball. She has also organized golf clinics throughout the country for various Latino/a organizations including the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Televisa’s Hispana Leadership Summit.
Recognized as a leader in the industry, Azucena Maldonado has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Business, PGA of America and the Southern California Golf Association’s FORE magazine, NBC Latino, New Latina, La Opinion, and Latina Style Magazine. Sharing golf and the benefits surrounding the game with the Latino community is at the root of her passion, and her efforts have been recognized and validated by the nation’s premiere golf institution, the PGA of America.

To hear Ms. Maldonado and other wonderful accomplished women speak at our Women's Leadership and Networking Day on May 29th, register today at http://www.ywca.org/WLND2015. You can also visit our website for more information on the day's events.

Women's Leadership and Networking Day Spotlight: Nicole Abboud

Nicole Abboud is an attorney practicing Fashion Law in Los Angeles. She works with fashion designers and companies to set up their business entities and protect their brands. Nicole graduated from Cal State Los Angeles with her B.A. in Political Science in 2008 and from Southwestern Law School in 2011.  She has been named a Pasadena Top Attorney for 3 years in a row by Pasadena Magazine. Nicole remains heavily involved in her law school’s young alumni organization and the Arab American Lawyers Association of Southern California.

When she’s not lawyering, you can find Nicole chatting with awesome millennial attorneys on her podcast, The Gen Why Lawyer Podcast. Nicole’s guests range from attorneys who are finding great success in their legal careers to attorneys who have decided to pursue alternative non-legal careers to find happiness. Through her podcast, Nicole hopes to inspire professionals to shake off their fear of being unconventional and embrace their unique voice. In her downtime, Nicole trains for half marathons, volunteers at legal clinics and other community organizations, and hangs out at her local public library.

To hear Ms. Abboud and other wonderful accomplished women speak at our Women's Leadership and Networking Day on May 29th, register today at http://www.ywca.org/WLND2015. You can also visit our website for more information on the day's events.

Women's Leadership and Networking Day Spotlight : Deborah Deras

Deborah Deras, MS CRC, is a charismatic and engaging inspirational speaker, author, and Latina influencer and social media marketing consultant. With over 15 years experience speaking to audiences around the globe, she is a highly sought after inspirational speaker, trainer, and coach. She is known as one of the top ten Latina speakers in the nation. Ms. Deras has facilitated trainings, keynote speaking engagements, and board retreats for Fortune 500 companies such as JP Morgan, Kaiser Permanente, Macy's, State Farm, NASA, JPL, General Electric, British Petroleum, and many other associations, colleges, and universities.

Ms. Deras has also facilitated leadership training for the US Navy, Marine Corp, and Air Force in California and Arizona. She served as a regional spokesperson for Verizon Wireless presenting workshops to Hispanic professionals on the best apps to help grow their businesses. She has also served as an emcee for Verizon’s premiere awards event featuring Eva Longoria. She is committed to empowering professionals and small business owners with the life skills, resources, and marketing strategies to achieve their goals and improve economic development by creating job opportunities. Her efforts have been recognized with awards from New York Life and the National Latina Business Women’s Association for her contribution to develop Latina leaders. She has been a featured expert in Latina and Catalina Magazines on the topic of speaking and life coaching.

Ms. Deras’ book, “Confessions of an Adrenaline Addict: How to Achieve More with Less Effort” contains powerful strategies to increase productivity and to thrive in the workplace. She also is the creator of Meditation for Success, giving busy professionals the tools to be more effective, productive and innovative. She resides in sunny Santa Monica, California, but her second home is Miami, Florida.


To hear Ms Deras and other wonderful accomplished women speak at our Women's Leadership and Networking Day on May 29th, please register at http://www.ywca.org/WLND2015. You can also visit our website for more information on the day's events.