Jul 1, 2013 | Business, Events, Joel Speaks, PPW Awards, Women
Alfredo J. Molina, Chairman and CEO, Molina Fine Jewelers: “My inner voice says that I’m here to make life better for others. I spend 80 percent of my time on charities including Teen Life Line, Childhelp and Gabriel’s Angels.”
On June 20th and June 21st, the seven 2013 Positively Powerful Woman Award recipients, previous Award recipients, media, committee members and friends got an experience of what it means to be one of the jewels whose lives are enriched and enlightened through Molina Fine Jewelers sponsorship.
The Positively Powerful Awards Presentation and the Molina Broach: We were honored to have Connie F. Wilson, Senior Vice President, and Mark Skarupa, Vice President as Awards presenters. One of the highlights of the Awards was their presentation of the Molina Broach designed by Molina Fine Jeweler’s artisans. Great care was taken with translating the Awards logo into a three-dimensional work of art.
The Molina Broach has sculptured hands surrounding a beautiful blue sapphire representative of the globe. The sapphire rests in the center of a cross. The blue sapphire is the perfect gem to select for this very special Broach. Sapphires are known as the stones of strength, wisdom and serenity. The blue sapphire is an especially good stone for those who are intent on finding spiritual truth. The rays of the star represent faith, hope, and destiny. After Mark Skarupa’s introduction and Connie Wilson’s surprise presentation of the Broach (and the Molina Unforgettable Perfume) to the 2013 Awards Recipients, the previous year’s Awardees couldn’t help but wonder whether they would be able to receive one, and who could blame them, the Positively Powerful Woman Broach is magnificent.
The Molina Fine Jewelers Positively Powerful Woman Broach
The Positively Powerful Reception: Through Mr. Molina’s generosity we were also treated to a reception the evening before the Awards in the impressive inner sanctum of the beautiful House of Molina, a landmark building on Camelback Road. Surrounded by exquisite jewelry in displays, we toasted the accomplishments of the many women servant-leaders attending, enjoyed delicious food, collaborated and connected with each other and our hosts. Mr. Molina wanted us to feel like empresses and we did. This was a first-ever reception for the Positively Powerful Woman Awards and will never be forgotten.
A mission of excellence and service: An organization’s mission defines the reason they exist and what is important to them. The Molina Mission is to be “The hallmark of excellence in the world of fine jewelry exceeding the expectations of our customers and potential customers by delivering an unforgettable experience, unparalleled service, exceptional jewels, magnificent craftsmanship, all with value beyond price, while acting on our commitment to enhance the welfare and interests of our local community.” The Positively Powerful Woman Awards recipients and committee experienced the benefits of this mission in action. Thank you Alfredo J. Molina and Molina team.
If you too would like a treat, visit the House of Molina, 3134 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85016 and/or visit their website. Mark Skarupa, Vice President, is a Certified Gemologist Appraiser and Registered jeweler with the American Gem Society and an expert authority on image consulting and the “Reflections” presentation. Connie J. Wilson, Senior Vice President is enormously Philanthropic. She is GIA Certified and an accredited jewelry professional. They, along with the other 40+ Molina Fine Jewelry personnel, embrace the values, vision and mission of Molina Fine Jewelers, which is “Molina Fine Jewelers believes that every individual is a precious jewel and it is Molina’s commitment and social responsibility to ensure that they become brilliant.”
2013 Award Recipients Jackie Thompson, Debbie Gaby, Karen Thorne (accepting for Patricia Hibbeler), Connie Wilson (Molina) Dr. Joel Martin (Awards Founder), Dr. RaShonda Flint, Attorney Marian Yim and Kimber Lanning. (Photo does not include Recipient Dean Shirley Mays)
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Jun 22, 2013 | Business, Diversity & Inclusion, Events, PPW Awards |
Chester (Chet) Yancey
Manager, ASU Diversity and Small Business Programs
Arizona State University, America’s largest university, had a big presence in the June 21st Positively Powerful Woman Awards.
Chester (Chet) Yancey, ASU, Positively Powerful Awards Sponsor & Presenter: When you are the Manager of Diversity and Small Business Programs for the largest university in the United States, Arizona State University, this position comes with complex challenges. And, award presenter Chester Chet Yancey serves “the American University” with an ease and a focus. Chet Yancey also serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Grand Canyon Minority Supplier Development Council. He presented A NEW POSITIVELY POWERFUL WOMAN LEADERSHIP AWARD for an area that is vitally important — STEM Leadership – Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics also a complex and challenging responsibility.
Chester Yancey’s Positively Powerful STEM Leadership Award introduction of Dr. RaShonda Flint, Director of TRIO SSS STEM, ASU included the following:
“Dr. RaShonda Flint, Ph.D. has been selected to receive the first Positively Powerful Woman Award for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Leadership. Dr. Flint is the director of the TRIO Student Support Services STEM program at ASU. Since becoming director, Dr. Flint has promoted academic success through the development and coordination of tutoring, advising, mentoring, programming, and workshops that support underrepresented students majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
Dr. RaShonda Flint
“Her program has had a 95% retention rate with 99% of participants achieving good academic standing and 60 students having graduated to date. The demand for more workers in STEM will continue to grow, and this Positively Powerful Woman Award will be in the forefront filling this gap.”
One of the traditions of Awards program is to introduce the VIPs who attend. This was a nearly impossible task with the many VIPs seated at Chet’s tables:
- Nichol Luoma, Director, Procurement
- Bettye Williams, Associated Director, Procurement
- Marilyn Mulhollan, Assist. Vice-President of Financial Services
- Joanne Wamsley, Sr. Assoc. Vice-President Financial/Deputy
- Polly Pinney , Executive Director
- Pollie Carter, Manager, Purchasing – Construction
- Diana Gallese, Director – Materials Management
- Melinda Helton, Director – Parking, Transit Services
- Elaine Rettger, Graphic Design Specialist
- Lily Tram, Associate Director – Financial Services
- Janene Welker, Program Manage – Asset Mgmt.
- Maureen King, Manager – Material Management
- Adrian Lesoing, Administrator Associate
- Pamela Sanchez, Sr. Program Coordinator
- Pamela William, President, WEBNC-West
- Diana Bono, Guest
- Rosemary Middleton, Guest
- Kristin Rondeau-Guardiola, Office Specialist
Center for the Study of Race and Democracy: Dr. Flint was nominated for the Positively Powerful Woman Award by the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy (CSRD), Arizona State University, Dr. Matthew Whittaker, Founding Director and ASU Foundation Professor of History, Deborah J. Cox, Project Specialist CSRD and Sarah Herrera, Program Specialist CSRD, Cassandra Blackwell, Guest.
Kenja Hassan, the assistant director of ASU for Arizona: Building Great Communities also attended the Awards. Kenja received a bachelor’s degree in religion from Princeton University and a master’s in religious studies from ASU, both with an emphasis on Navajo traditions.
The Positively Powerful Woman Awards were presented June 21, 2013 at the Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix. Dr. Joel Martin, Founder of the Awards and President, Triad West Inc.
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Apr 23, 2013 | Business, Diversity & Inclusion, Events, Women
This post comes courtesy of THE SPRING 2013 ISSUE OF MOSAIC: A SOUTHWEST AIRLINES COMMUNITY OUTREACH PUBLICATION
ARIZONA FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN (AFW) starts the new year with the announcement of a new CEO, Alisa Chatinsky. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, the mission of the Foundation is to promote innovative solutions to fulfill the unmet needs of Arizona’s women and children.
Last year, AFW donated $283,000 to women in need through grants to multiple direct-service organizations. In her leadership role, Alisa will focus on Live & Learn, a job training program to help domestic violence victims attain economic self sufficiency; Training Resources United to Stop Trafficking (TRUST) in Arizona to respond to sex trafficking of minors, as well as other projects to raise awareness and support women and children in Arizona.
Jackie Thompson, Southwest Airlines Community Affairs & Grassroots Manager is the newly appointed AFW chair. (Emphasis added.) “The entire board is excited to have Alisa’s enthusiasm and passion about improving the lives of women,” said Jackie. AFW works to assure the Safety, Health, and Economic security of every Arizona woman through public awareness, grant making, and research. We believe SHE Counts!
The organization was founded in 1995 by Marilyn Seymann and will be celebrating the 18th Annual Luncheon on May 17, 2013. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Goldie Hawn. Past recipients include First Lady Barbara Bush and Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright. Southwest Airlines has supported the Arizona Foundation for Women for more than five years and is proud to support an organization that changes lives, one family at a time.
For more information on the Arizona Foundation for Women Luncheon and to register, please click here.
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Feb 18, 2013 | Business, Events, Women |
Throughout 2013, the American Cancer Society is celebrating its 100th birthday. In Phoenix, this momentous occasion will be commemorated on May 4th, 2013 with the 52nd American Cancer Society Annual Picnic Under The Stars Gala.
On the lush green lawns of the Phoenix Country Club, co-chairs Deborah Bateman (National Bank of Arizona) and Joyce Santis (Sonora Quest Laboratories) will be welcoming more than 500 guests to an outdoor picnic including dinner, silent and live auctions, entertainment and dancing. There will also be the stories of survivors and an update on the battle to bring more birthdays to others.
Deborah Bateman, Executive Vice President, National Bank of Arizona & American Cancer Society Picnic Under the Stars Gala Co-Chair.
Says, Deborah Bateman, “We want to give people the opportunity to participate by attending, donating, volunteering!!! This is an important initiative that touches the lives of all people. There are many ways to get involved. Our committees are working tirelessly to make this an inclusive event that not only touches the heart but raises millions of dollars.”
President and CEO of Banner Health Peter Fine will receive recognition as the evening’s special honoree. Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Cancer Society and its lifesaving mission of eliminating cancer as a major health problem.
As the largest voluntary health organization in the United States, the American Cancer Society is passionately committed to saving lives from cancer. They are working to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays – a world where cancer never steals another year from anyone’s life. Thanks in part to this work, nearly 12 million cancer survivors and countless others who have avoided the disease will celebrate a birthday this year.
Day or night, if someone is need of help and support, the American Cancer Society is there with its 24-hour information line – 1-800-227-2345 – and information website –cancer.org – two free services to help people access cancer information, support and resources.
For more information on the event, volunteering, becoming a sponsor and/or purchasing tickets for the 52nd Annual Picnic Under The Stars Gala, please contact Maraka Mason at 602-586-7413, maraka.mason@cancer.org.
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May 23, 2012 | Business, Diversity & Inclusion, Events, PPW Awards, Women
Pamela Lam is the Vice President of Research and Development for Henkel Laundry and Home Care in North America, reporting directly to the President. She is an inventor who understand exceedingly well the importance of sustainability. This is especially significant given the global reach and products of Henkel, which operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in Laundry & Home Care, Cosmetics/Toiletries and Adhesive Technologies. In addition to her other corporate commitments, Pamela is a mentor and a contributor to her communities. It is for these reasons that she was selected to be the recipient of the 2012 Positively Powerful Woman Award for Corporate Leadership. She and five other Positively Powerful Women will be honored on Friday, June 22nd during a gala luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix. Here is a brief overview of Pamela’s many accomplishments.
As the Vice President of Research and Development for Laundry and Home Care in North America, Pamela has the product development responsibility for Henkel products with household names like Purex, Soft Scrub, Renuzit and Combat.
In addition, Pamela has the oversight of sustainability for all product categories at Henkel. (To read more about Henkel’s stand on sustainability, click here.) Pamela has been with Henkel for eight years. Prior to joining Henkel, she spent 16 years with Unilever in Research & Development. She has had the opportunity to work in all disciplines within R&D including an overseas assignment to China.
Pamela has numerous patents and a track record of delivering innovations. When I asked Pamela 
what patents she held, she said, “These patents are work related and can be dry and technical. Early in my career as scientist researcher, my patents were on molecules designs to deliver color safe bleach benefit. Later when I moved into product development, I invented and co-invented surfactants to deliver superior whiteness and a method to formulate products which are environmental friendly. I also have patents specific to pre-treating applications.”
From my consumer perspective, environmentally friendly products and color safe bleach are important inventions, albeit in different ways. Pamela also spent two and half years in purchasing and sourcing with a spend of greater than $750 million.
Pamela is a founding advisory member of the Asian American Professional Association at Henkel. She is an active member serving on the Scottsdale Workforce Development. She is an advocate for young talent development and has personally, formally and informally, mentored dozens of young professionals.
Travis Yarlagadda, “She is a very insightful mentor and has always challenged me to grow as a leader while providing invaluable guidance for the road ahead.”
Haiyan Ge, “Pam is passionate, charismatic, and confident. As a mentor, she always listens to me attentively, shares with me her own knowledge and experiences and encourages me to think out of the box.”
Pamela holds an MS degree in Chemistry from Steven Institute of Technology. She received her Supply Chain Professional Certification at ASU in 2010.
Ms. Lam and her family reside in Scottsdale, Arizona. Pamela was born in Vietnam and has had the pleasure of living in five cities and four countries so far. In her spare time, Pam likes to experiment with different ethnic foods and travel.
How did Pamela become successful? even though there were tremendous challenges in her journey from her birth in Vietnam to the C-Suite she now occupies, she overcame them.
Pamela Lam: I attribute it to my strong network system of friends, mentors and bosses, and a simple guiding principle of making a difference no matter what role I play. I never let money or title be the determining factors, not the primary ones anyway. I always approach a new role as a learning opportunity, with an open mind and a long term view. I also believe in giving back the good fortune I have received by mentoring and developing others. It is like a cycle of life you see. The people I interact with become part of the network.”
I had the joy of interviewing Pamela when she was nominated for the award by Jason Wong, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the NAAAP Phoenix Chapter and member NAAAP National Board of Directors. I hope that she will write a book some day, her journey would fill volumes, build bridges between cultures and empower millions.
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May 17, 2012 | Business, Coaches Corner, Coaching, Events, Women
“As I disengaged mys
elf from traditional work, I plunged into new endeavors which gave me a feeling of revitalization accompanied by a sense of an emerging ‘new self’. It was time to move from success of the past on to significance – a life of purpose and meaning. I opted for a new life-style and started on a road to new beginnings. The journey is priceless.”
This wise information comes from Barbara Atkins, author of “70 is the new 40”. (I for one am happy to know that I will have a chance to be 40 again.) Baby boomers are a significant part of the US population and coaches like us are finding fulfillment working with this generation:
This increasing median age is driven by the aging of the population born during the Baby Boom after World War II (1946 to 1964). About 30 percent of the population in 1994 were born during the Baby Boom. As this population ages, the median age will rise. People born during the Baby Boom will be between 36 and 54 years old at the turn of the century. In 2011, the first members of the Baby Boom (reached) age 65, and the Baby Boom will have decreased to 25 percent of the total population. Source; Census Bureau
Three Dog Night
Not all of them are rock and rollers having reunions. Many are finding new career paths and starting their own businesses. If this sounds like something for you, Barbara is having an event in AZ. It’s called appropriately enough: What’s Next For You? Discover what matters and do what you love! It will be on Wednesday, June 27 at 1:30 pm – for individuals that are already retired and at 6:30 pm – for individuals approaching retirement. It will be held at the City of Scottsdale Civic Center Library. 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, For info call 480.312.READ (7323). Before you attend Barbara’s event, visit the beautiful grounds and fountains of the Scottsdale City Hall. Visit the art galleries and other attractions. Walk slowly, enjoy the view.
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