25 North Bay leaders named for annual Women in Business awards

Winners were selected based on leadership roles in the organization, business-related innovations, vision, community involvement and other factors.|

Bankers, educators, health providers, marketers, executives and business owners - the occupations of winners in the Business Journal’s 16th annual Women in Business Awards are as diverse as the places where they work and contribute, like Benicia, Napa, Novato, Sonoma, and Santa Rosa.

This year, 52 women, each with distinguished professional and community accomplishments, were nominated for the honor. The 25 winners were selected based on many factors, including leadership roles in the organization, business-related innovations, vision and community involvement.

This year the Business Journal expanded the field of potential nominees, encouraging nominations in the fields of science and engineering. Those who received recognition for contributions in those areas are:

• Kaelly Farnham, marketing programs manager, Keysight Technologies, Santa Rosa.

• Gina Giacone, associate, Summit Engineering Inc., Santa Rosa.

• Julie Mangada, Ph.D., post-doctoral fellow, The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato.

“The Business Journal is very proud to be able to recognize these 25 outstanding professionals for their accomplishments and commitment to community,” said Publisher Brad Bollinger. “These recipients, and nearly 170 before them, hold a special place at the Journal and it is our privilege to honor them.”

The recipients will be recognized June 29 at the Business Journal’s Women in Business Awards dinner gala at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek in Santa Rosa. Presented by the Business Journal, the gala is underwritten by Wells Fargo. Presenting sponsors are Anderson Ziegler, Sonoma State University, BPM accounting and consulting, Exchange Bank and Smith Dollar.

Keynote speaker for the event will be Helen Russell, co-founder of San Rafael-based Equator Coffees & Teas. Named with partner Brooke McDonnell as the SBA national Small Business Persons of the Year, Russell will talk about Equator’s growth and commitment to employees, farmers and the environment. Russell and McDonnell are the first LGBT business owners to receive the national SBA honor.

The recipients selected by the Journal editorial staff as women business leaders, innovators and visionaries for 2016 are:

Hali Croner, president and chief executive officer, The Croner Company, Kentfield

Laurie Daw, partner, Grassi & Associates, Napa

Stephanie DeMasi, owner and partner, FlyWine/Juslyn Vineyard, Napa

Sarah Dove, director, SBE Career Center, Sonoma State University School of Business & Economics, Rohnert Park

Ramona Faith, chief executive officer, Petaluma Health Care District, Petaluma

Kaelly Farnham, marketing programs manager, Keysight Technologies, Santa Rosa

Gina Giacone, associate, Summit Engineering Inc., Santa Rosa

Tani Girton, chief financial officer, Bank of Marin, Novato

Susan Griffin-Black, co-founder and co-chief executive officer, EO Products, San Rafael

Alicia Hamilton, vice president, sales and marketing, Yandell Truckaway, SCW Warehouses, Benicia

Kelley Hartman, senior vice president, Nelson Staffing, Santa Rosa

Katie Hawkins, regional sales manager, Marmot Mountain LLC, Rohnert Park

Suzanne Landeros, chief financial officer, Masterworks Electronics, Rohnert Park

Julie Mangada, Ph.D., post-doctoral fellow, The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato

Kelly Mather, president and chief executive officer, Sonoma Valley Hospital, Sonoma

Robin McKenzie, senior vice president of marketing and communications, Redwood Credit Union, Santa Rosa

Toni Moheng, corporate tax practice director, Burr Pilger Mayer Inc., Santa Rosa

Rae Paulson, assurance senior manager, Moss Adams LLP, Santa Rosa

Heidi Rickerd-Rizzo, principal and founder, Terra Firma Global Partners, Sebastopol

Lori Selleck, MD, internal medicine physician and assistant physician-in-chief for health promotion, Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael

Brandy Seppi, chief credit officer, Summit State Bank, Santa Rosa

Tara Sharp, chief marketing officer, Sonic, Santa Rosa

Lynn Stauffer, dean of school of science and technology, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park

Terry Wheatley, executive vice president for sales and marketing, Vintage Wine Estates, Santa Rosa

Lori Zaret, senior vice president and chief human resource officer, Exchange Bank, Santa Rosa

Tickets are $85 per person, and $850 for a table of eight. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner and awards from 6–8:30 p.m. Preregister at nbbj.news/wib16.

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