North Bay Business Journal

Women in Business panel members explore careers

The Business Journal’s 10th annual Women in Business awards gala included an engaging panel discussion with four previous winners around the challenges and successes they faced in their careers.

Introduced by event emcee Marcy Smothers, owner of Smothers Winery and Remick Ridge Vineyards and co-host of the national culinary radio show, Food Guy & Marc, the participants were:

Women in Business 2010: 10 years of honoring women business leaders

Savvy women business leaders have been beating the odds for decades in the North Bay, rising past glass ceilings and making their mark in all segments of the business community.

Women in Business 2010 winner video remarks and profiles

North Bay Business Journal’s Women in Business: Leaders, Innovators, Visionaries now has honored 89 exceptional women business leaders since 2001. This year’s winners are fitting for a 10th anniversary — 10 notable women selected from nearly 60 nominees.

Women in Business 2010: Professional Services: Rachel Dollar

SANTA ROSA — Rachel Dollar, attorney, certified mortgage banker, certified financial crimes investigator and founding partner of the law firm Smith Dollar, was just 17 when she first took a job in a law office.

Women in Business 2010: Hospitality & Tourism: Catherine Bartolomei-Smith: video remarks

FORESTVILLE – The fall of 2008 left a painful impression on most as the financial crisis came to a head. For Catherine Bartolomei-Smith, co-owner of the internationally recognized Farmhouse Inn, Restaurant & Spa, it represents the most stressful months of her life. But when asked how she was able to complete a major renovation and expansion in this economy, she said the timing was perfect.

Women in Business 2010: Construction: Carol Bionda: video remarks

NAPA – As a Department of Defense contractor, Nova Group Inc. must fulfill a host of “best value” criteria requirements to win federal projects. Because of Nova’s track record with high volumes of small business subcontracting, the company consistently receives top ratings from the federal government. This has translated into a distinct competitive advantage for Nova Group that founder and President Ron Federick attributes directly to the efforts of Carol Bionda, the company’s vice president and general counsel.

Women in Business 2010: Economic Development: Cynthia Murray: video remarks

PETALUMA – Receiving the Women in Business Award in 2010 on the 10th anniversary of these awards seems somehow appropriate for Cynthia Murray, CEO and president of the North Bay Leadership Council, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. As the current leader and visionary of that organization, Ms. Murray is fluent in thinking in terms of decades.

Women in Business 2010: Nonprofit: Denise Frey: video remarks

SANTA ROSA – One of the ugly realities of tough economic times is that domestic violence tends to spike, a phenomenon that YWCA of Sonoma Executive Director and CEO Denise Frey is all too familiar with. At the same time, economic downturn also leads inevitably to funding cuts and a decline in charitable giving in the nonprofit world.

Celebrating 10 years of Women in Business

The Business Journal celebrated 10 years of honoring Women in Business Thursday.

Women in Business 2010: Professional Services: Rachel Dollar: video remarks

SANTA ROSA – Rachel Dollar, attorney, certified mortgage banker, certified financial crimes investigator and founding partner of the law firm Smith Dollar, was just 17 when she first took a job in a law office.

Women in Business 2010: Financial Services: Linda Kachiu: video remarks

SANTA ROSA — Taking time out of her busy schedule as a partner at the accounting firm Zainer Rinehart Clarke in Santa Rosa, Linda Kachiu puts a good deal of effort into supporting the arts.

Women in Business 2010: Wine: Kathryn Lindstrom: video remarks

HEALDSBURG – Passion and pragmatism drew Kathryn Lindstrom to apply her lifelong love of mathematics to navigating a number of luxury-tier wineries through their turbulent organizational and economic times over the past two decades.

Women in Business 2010: Human Resources: Debra Miller: video remarks

SANTA ROSA – As vice president of human resources at St. Joseph Health System, Debra Miller oversees and coordinates a vast array of employees at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, which serves as the region’s level II trauma center, and at other sites – from skilled specialists performing high-stakes surgeries to the employees responsible for day-to-day operations that help patient care run as smoothly as possible.

Women in Business 2010: Health Care: Elaine John: video remarks

ST. HELENA — St. Helena Hospital opened its state-of-the-art Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center and Trinchero Surgery Center in 2009 as a result of robust community support marshaled by the St. Helena Hospital Foundation.

Women in Business 2010: Entrepreneurship: Brenda Gilchrist: video remarks

SANTA ROSA — Brenda Gilchrist said she’s always had an interest in psychology and helping people. The best outlet for this goal, she found, was to start her own business and continuously take risks.

Women in Business 2010: Entrepreneurship: Brenda Gilchrist

SANTA ROSA — Brenda Gilchrist said she’s always had an interest in psychology and helping people. The best outlet for this goal, she found, was to start her own business and continuously take risks.

Women in Business 2010: Health Care: Elaine John

ST. HELENA — St. Helena Hospital opened its state-of-the-art Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center and Trinchero Surgery Center in 2009 as a result of robust community support marshaled by the St. Helena Hospital Foundation.

Women in Business 2010: Human Resources: Debra Miller

SANTA ROSA — As vice president of human resources at St. Joseph Health System, Debra Miller oversees and coordinates a vast array of employees at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, which serves as the region’s level II trauma center, and at other sites – from skilled specialists performing high-stakes surgeries to the employees responsible for day-to-day operations that help patient care run as smoothly as possible.

Women in Business 2010: Wine: Kathryn Lindstrom

HEALDSBURG — Passion and pragmatism drew Kathryn Lindstrom to apply her lifelong love of mathematics to navigating a number of luxury-tier wineries through their turbulent organizational and economic times over the past two decades.

Women in Business 2010: Financial Services: Linda Kachiu

SANTA ROSA — Taking time out of her busy schedule as a partner at the accounting firm Zainer Rinehart Clarke in Santa Rosa, Linda Kachiu puts a good deal of effort into supporting the arts.