At the Town & County Hotel-Mission Valley, hundreds attended the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce’s (ECCOC) for its The Will to Succeed 11th Annual Women in Leadership Luncheon. With 33 nominees in the fields of art, media & culture, business, education, healthcare, hospitality and non-profits, six women were chosen as recipients of the 2013 Women in Leadership Award.
At the Town & County Hotel-Mission Valley, hundreds attended the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce’s (ECCOC) for its The Will to Succeed 11th Annual Women in Leadership Luncheon. With 33 nominees in the fields of art, media & culture, business, education, healthcare, hospitality and non-profits, six women were chosen as recipients of the 2013 Women in Leadership Award.
With Carol Lebeau, retired news anchor and women’s health advocate as Mistress of Ceremonies and San Diego’s coveted Deborah Scott, executive chef & partner of The Cohn Restaurant Group as the keynote speaker, the luncheon celebrated the “exemplary character and integrity along with outstanding leadership ability” of the nominees.
Dr. Christina Back, General Atomics program leader, physics, business category recipient is a physicist with 23 years of experience from fusion energy research to high energy density physics. Recently, Back is recognized in her work in producing advanced materials for nuclear reactors that are more accident tolerant in make nuclear reactors safer.
With more than 30 years of experience in the commercial business sector and since leading Junior Achievement since 1999, Joanne Pastula, Junior Achievement of Greater San Diego County received the award in Education &Academia. Since her beginning with Junior Achievement, she raised its revenue from $300,000 to $2 million. She expanded student participation from 15,000 to 50,000, teaching students the basics of business and free enterprise.
In the Healthcare category, Marce Hanna, American Board of Home Care, director of education, received the award. Hanna is a licensed clinical social worker and helped people with special needs for 25 years.
She has become an international expert and speaker in intergenerational programming, which is replicated across the U.S. and Europe.
Jo Marie Diamond, President & CEO of the East County Economic Development Council (ECEDC) received the Non-profit Women in Leadership award. Diamond was recognized for the Economic Development Workforce and Regional Infrastructure initiatives from local to state projects, and leading the organization in investigating to maximize the aerotropolis plans for Gillespie Field.
For the first time in the newly added Hospitality category, Namara Mercer, San Diego Hotel Motel Association executive director, received the award.
Mercer has worked with the Association since 2005, is executive director for the Mission Bay Lessee’s Association. Growing up in a tourism town, Mercer is a strong advocate for the tourism industry.
The recipient for the Art, Culture and Media Leadership award was, Pamela Bensoussan, Chula Vista Councilmember since 2008.
A certified and accredited art and antique appraiser, she has advanced art programs in the region by supporting and hosting juried art shows, engaging local artists for a major collection for the city of Chula Vista Centennial, developing art and culture events in the region bringing local artists and the community together.
