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.

Women's Leadership and Networking Day Spotlight : Linda LoRe

In her 20-year-career as a CEO of world-renowned brands, Linda LoRe is recognized as one of the top brand strategists in the world. Her extensive experience includes building consumer companies from the ground up, revitalizing storied brands, and breathing new life into consumer favorites. She has been a prominent leader in some of the country’s most successful corporations, including Avon Products, Proctor & Gamble, May Corporation (now Macy’s), Giorgio Beverly Hills, and Frederick’s of Hollywood. She is presently the CEO for InJoy Global, a company devoted to turning the workplace back into an engaged and profitable place of business.

Ms. LoRe became President and CEO of Frederick’s of Hollywood in August 1999, and immediately revitalized and re-launched the iconic Frederick’s brand. Soon after her arrival, she oversaw Frederick’s reorganization and brand turn-around, securing the company’s strongest growth period in more than 10 years. Prior to joining Frederick’s, she was President and CEO of Giorgio Beverly Hills. Ms. LoRe spent eleven years building Giorgio Beverly Hills into one of the world’s premier luxury brands, with sales exceeding $325 million. She made a name for herself in the world of branding when Giorgio successfully launched some of the industry’s top fragrances, including Giorgio, Giorgio Red, Wings, and Hugo by Hugo Boss.
Ms. LoRe serves on the Board of Directors of the Trusteeship of the International Women’s Forum, The Women’s Leadership Board for the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the Board of Advisors for the Fashion Institute of Design Merchandising (FIDM), the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Enterprise Institute, and the Executive Woman’s Alliance (EWA). She is also the< founding Board Member of the Youth Mentoring Connection, which serves at-risk youth in Southern California.

Ms. LoRe has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2012 George Award from Pepperdine University, 2009 Visionary Award for Youth Mentoring, 2003 Woman of Accomplishment for B’nai Zion, the 2002 NAWBO Women’s Hall of Fame Award.  In addition, Ms. LoRe is a member of both The Committee 200, an organization comprised of female decision makers for multi-million dollar companies, and the Trusteeship of the International Women’s Forum. Ms. LoRe earned her Presidential MBA from Pepperdine University.

To hear Ms. LoRe 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 days events.

Women's Leadership and Networking Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Cinthya Martinez

626-296-8433

cmartinez@ywca-pasadena.org

YWCA PASADENA TO HOST 4TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP & NETWORKING DAY

(April 27, 2015) On Friday, May 29, 2015, the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley will host its 4^th Annual Women’s Leadership & Networking Day.  This exciting event will be held at the Pasadena Senior Center, located at 85 East Holly Street, Pasadena CA 91103. This informative day-long workshop highlights women who make a difference in public policy, civil rights, education, health, science, finance, business and marketing, and other fields that impact our community.

Each year we build a network of successful women and celebrate what it means to be a female leader in the workforce and the community. This year we will be celebrating what it means to achieve #LikeAGirl. This year’s special guest speakers will be discussing diverse topics ranging from intellectual property, business development, campaign management, career coaching, brand marketing, and more.

Guest speakers include: Linda LoRe – Co-Founder of Injoy Global; Ana Guerrero – Chief of Staff to Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti; Azucena Maldonado – Founder of Latina Golfers Association; Nicole Abboud – The GenWhy Lawyers Podcast;Marla Bleavins – CFO & Deputy Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles; and Deborah Deras – Principal of Synergy Unlimited. The event also features Susanne Whatley of KPCC 89.3 FM as emcee.

This workshop gives women the opportunity to network, share advice about career fields, and further their personal and professional development through breakout activities, question and answer sessions, and unique presentations about career women. 

“We are excited to have such an amazing group of successful and enthusiastic women participating at the event. The Women’s Leadership & Networking Day welcomes women at all ages and stages of their careers, whether they are students, mid-career, or retirees,” said Jessica Kubel, Associate Director of the YWCA Pasadena.

Tickets for the event are $85. Tickets include breakfast and lunch served by KMR Gourmet Catering, featuring Chef Mario Rivas. The event will run from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, with a networking mixer immediately to follow. Tickets are available for purchase at www.ywca.org/WLND2015, or by contacting Cinthya Martinez at 626.296.8433.

Thank you to our committed sponsors: The Gas Company, Bella Sol the Salon, PCL Construction, Law Office of Angeline Chen, New York Life, Ellen's Silkscreening, Massage Envy, Pasadena Magazine, Pasadena Now, and the Pasadena Senior Center.

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About the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley: The YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley began over 107 years ago to meet the needs of young women in Pasadena. Its programs address the mission of the national organization, “eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.” More information about the YWCA is available at www.ywca-pasadena.org