Women in Business awards
How the winners are chosen
The nominations include those submitted by our readers, previous honorees and our editorial department. The achievements and contributions of the nominees made the selection process difficult. Undoubtedly, many of this year's nominees will be named winners in the future. Winners were chosen based on many factors, including leadership roles in the organization, business-related innovations, vision and community involvement.
Award-winners
Winners since the awards started in 2001:2019
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
By category (2001–2010): Agriculture, Banking & Finance, Construction, Economic Development, Education, Employment/Human Resources, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Services, Health Care, Hospitality & Tourism, Insurance, Nonprofit, Professional Services, Real Estate, Senior Living, Special Award, Specialty Foods, Technology, Wine
2018
Diane Aqui, partner, Smith Dollar PC, Santa Rosa
Kim August, senior vice president and senior relationship manager of lending, Summit State Bank, Santa Rosa
Andrea Biagi Bailey, director of sales and operations, Biagi Bros., Napa
Karen Behnke, founder and CEO, Juice Beauty, San Rafael
Maryanne Harris, vice president and business development officer, Exchange Bank, Santa Rosa
Patricia Hiserote, D.O., family medicine physician and director of the Kaiser Permanente family medicine residency program, Kaiser Permanente, Santa Rosa
Analisa Hunt, CEO and co-owner, Datum Technologies, Santa Rosa
Channing Hussey, director of operations, Private Ocean Wealth Management, San Rafael
Julia Jackson, CEO, Grounded Summit
Tania Kelley, senior vice president and head of marketing, Hennessy Funds, Novato
Kate Kelly, director of public relations and marketing, Sonoma Clean Power, Santa Rosa
Lisa Lichty, CEO, Star Staffing, Petaluma
Demae Rubins, principal for the planning division, Summit Engineering, Inc., Santa Rosa
Liz Ruetsch, director of worldwide sales and services for EEsof, Keysight Technologies, Santa Rosa
Barbie Simpson, president and owner, Simpson Sheet Metal Inc., Santa Rosa
Lisa Ward, M.D., chief medical officer, Santa Rosa Community Health, Santa Rosa
Tracy Weitzenberg, communications and public relations manager, Redwood Credit Union, Santa Rosa
Wendy Young, executive director, Sonoma County Medical Association, Santa Rosa
2017
Robin Azevedo, CEO, McRoskey Mattress Company
Mary Lynn Bartholomew, area manager, Nelson
Sondra Bernstein, owner, Girl & The Fig; Girl & The Fig Caters, Fig Foundation
Nancy Corriveau, director of operations, Blentech Corporation, Santa Rosa
Michelle Crosbie, director, BPM LLP
Genie DelSecco, senior vice president and chief operations officer, Summit State Bank
Tiffany Devitt, chief information officer, CannaCraft, Inc.. Santa Rosa
Sherie Hickman, administrator, Novato Community Hospital
Judy James, director of government affairs for the North Bay region, Comcast Cable
Mishel Kaufman, senior vice president for risk management, Redwood Credit Union
Ann Lobdell Hudson, senior vice president and head of retail banking, Exchange Bank
Renee Mengali, principal, president, Mengali Accountancy, Inc.
Kim Stare Wallace, president, Dry Creek Vineyard
Elyse Weinstein, M.D., physician lead of The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) Physician Recruitment and co-chief of mental health, Kaiser Permanente
2016
Carrie Brown, owner, Jimtown Store, Healdsburg
Roni Brown, vice president and marketing director, Summit State Bank, Santa Rosa
Kristina Derkos, senior vice president of administration, Redwood Credit Union, Santa Rosa
Denise Dutra Maloney, director of business development, The Dutra Group, San Rafael
Katie Evans, vice president of operations, La Tortilla Factory, Santa Rosa
Anisya Fritz, proprietor, Lynmar Estates, Sebastopol
Jennifer 'Jenn' Fujii, founder and owner, Inspired Fitness Training Center, Sebastopol
Cheriene Griffith, operations manager, Chevoo, Healdsburg
Drea Helfer, president and compliance consultant, DH Wine Compliance, Santa Rosa
Madeleine Keegan O'Connell, CEO, YWCA Sonoma County, Santa Rosa
Shauna Lorenzen, vice president and controller, Exchange Bank, Santa Rosa
Karen Milman, M.D., Sonoma County health officer, Santa Rosa
Suzanne Nagorka, interior design director, TLCD Architecture, Santa Rosa
Teresa Nilsen, executive vice president and treasurer, Hennessy Funds, Novato
Judy Sakaki, Ph.D., president, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park
Julie Silk, environmental compliance program manager, Keysight Technologies, Santa Rosa
Regina Sullivan, M.D., MBA, CPE, medical director, maternal child health, obstetrics/gynecology, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, Santa Rosa
Marimar Torres, founder and proprietor, Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery, Sebastopol
Robin Wenzel, senior vice president and senior relationship manager, Wells Fargo Bank, North Coast Regional Commercial Banking, Santa Rosa
2015
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 Yandell 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., postdoctoral 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, M.D., 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
2014
Stephanie Barber Hess, partner in charge of the bankruptcy/creditors' rights and probate litigation groups, Friedemann Goldberg, LLP, Santa Rosa
Robyn Bentley, founder, Wine Country Consultants, St. Helena
Linda Bertauche, senior vice president, chief operating officer, Summit State Bank, Santa Rosa
Diane Berthinier, commercial regional vice president, Tri Counties Bank, Santa Rosa
Fabia Butler, vice president for community, public relations manager, Bank of Marin, Novato
Terri Dente, vice president for mission integration, St. Joseph Health–Sonoma County, Santa Rosa
Stacey Gilligan, tax manager, Burr Pilger Mayer, Santa Rosa
Letitia Hanke-Ryzhkov, founder, CEO and president, ARS Roofing, Gutters & Waterproofing, Santa Rosa
Margie Healy, vice president of communications, F. Korbel and Bros., Guerneville
Sandra LeDrew, chief commercial officer, Treasury Wine Estates Americas, Napa
Vicky Locey, R.N., chief operating and nursing officer, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, Santa Rosa
Mary Marcy, Ph.D., president, Dominican University of California, San Rafael
Louise Mason, senior vice president and senior credit officer, Exchange Bank, Santa Rosa
Cynthia Negri, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Redwood Credit Union, Santa Rosa
Linda Parks, president and ceo, Lixit Corp., Napa
Kathie Powell, ceo, Petaluma Health Center
Meredith Rennie, senior manager, Moss Adams, Santa Rosa
Ruth Skidmore, ceo, Northern California Medical Associates, Santa Rosa
Nicole Smartt, vice president and co-owner, Star Staffing, Petaluma
Julie Anne Smith, president and ceo, Raptor Pharmaceutical, Novato
Elena Whorton, president and co-founder, ProTransport-1, Cotati
Sarah Wotherspoon, senior adviser and principal, Private Ocean, San Rafael
2013
Jennifer Anderson, general manager, Parkpoint Health Clubs
Michelle Ausburn, senior manager, Burr Pilger Mayer, Inc. (BPM)
Sue Conley and Peggy Smith, co-founders, Cow Girl Creamery and Tomales Bay Foods
Rhonda Deringer, owner, Odyssey Development Co., agent, Keegan & Coppin
Shireen Donaldson, human resources vice president, Agilent Technologies
Ann Hancock, executive director and co-founder, Climate Protection Campaign
Amanda Howell, vice president and division director, Robert Half
Marla Jeffrey, president, Gusmer Enterprises, Inc.
Karissa Kruse, president, Sonoma County Winegrowers
Rebecca La Londe, MBA, B.S.N., area quality leader, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center
Andrea Learned, CFRE, vice president of development, St. Joseph Health, Sonoma County
Lisa Micheli, executive director, Pepperwood
Cecelia Miller-Brown, owner, Kresky Signs Inc.
Stacey Payne, director of marketing, La Tortilla Factory
Cara Peck, executive vice president and head of talent planning and development, Wells Fargo
Terri Stark, restaurateur, Stark Reality Restaurants, LLC
2012
Melissa Bradley, owner of bradley real estate
Debbie Fakalata, executive vice president and chief operating officer, First Community Bank
Rebecca Faust, founder and owner, Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services
Katherine Henderson, director of the osher lifelong learning institute, Dominican University of California
Terin Ignozzi, proprietor and winemaker at bryter estates
Willa Jefferson-Stokes, associate medical group administrator, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, San Rafael, Petaluma, Novato
Stacey Lawson, chief executive officer, Ygrene Energy Fund
Carol Levalley, owner of rustic bakery
Angela McReynolds, chief executive officer, Development Plus, Inc.
Jane Read, vice president of operations, Petaluma Valley Hospital
Pam Rubio, vice president at Wells Fargo Private Bank, St. Helena
Marie Scherf, senior manager and North Bay construction industry group leader, BPM Accountants and Consultants
Melissa Stackhouse, vice president of winemaking, J Vineyards & Winery, LLC
Mary Stompe, executive director, PEP Housing
Ruth Waltenspiel, owner, Timber Crest Farms
Wendy Whitson, attorney and managing director at Anderson, Zeigler, Disharoon, Gallagher & Gray
As of 2011, Women in Business award-winners were no longer categorized.
2007
Jennifer Bice, Redwood Hill Farm, Sebastopol
2006
Laura Chenel, Laura Chenel's Chevre, Sonoma
2010
Linda Kachiu, Director, Zainer Rinehart Clarke, Santa Rosa
2008
Christina Cook, Bank of Marin, Novato
2007
Kathy Pinkard, First Community Bank, Santa Rosa
2006
Kim Kaselionis, Circle Bank, Novato
2005
Jennifer Finger, Westamerica Bank, San Rafael
2004
Susan Horne, National Bank of the Redwoods, Redwood Merchant Services, Santa Rosa
2003
Kit Cole, Tamalpais Bank, Kit Cole Investment Advisory Services, San Rafael
2002
Christine Comaford Lynch, Artemis Ventures, Sausalito
2001
Debbie Meekins, Sonoma National Bank, Santa Rosa
2010
Carole Bionda, Vice president and general counsel, Nova Group, Napa
2009
Marlene Soiland, Soiland Management Co., Santa Rosa
2008
Monica Soiland, Midstate Construction, Petaluma
2007
Liz Ellis, Green Valley Consulting Engineers, Santa Rosa
2006
Christina Pratt, Trope Group, Santa Rosa
2005
Stacy Magill, Ghillotti Construction, Santa Rosa
2004
Carolina O'Hagin, O'Hagin's, Sebastopol
2003
Linda Novy, Gardeners' Guild, San Rafael
2002
Kathleen Patterson, Central Valley Builders Supply, St. Helena
2001
Leslie Murphy, W. Bradley Electric, Novato
2010
Cynthia Murray, President and chief executive officer, North Bay Leadership Council, Petaluma
2009
Kate King, Napa Chamber of Commerce, Napa
2007
Lisa Wittke Schaffner, Sonoma County Alliance, Santa Rosa
2006
Dorothy Lind Salmon, Napa Valley Economic Development, Napa
2009
Frances White, College of Marin, Kentfield
2010
Debra Miller, Vice president of human resources, St. Joseph Health System–Sonoma County, Santa Rosa
2006
Barb Martinez, Agilent Technologies, Santa Rosa
2005
Mary Chakurian, Spherion, Santa Rosa
2003
Kim McEachron, Medtronic AVE, Santa Rosa
2002
Victoria Perrault, Advanced Fibre Communications, Petaluma
2010
Brenda Gilchrist, Principal, The HR Matrix, Santa Rosa
2009
Elaine Petrocelli, Book Passage, Corte Madera
2008
Coreen Cordova, Coreen Cordova/Que Milagro, Kentfield
2007
Patty Garbarino, Marin Sanitary Service, San Rafael
2010
Elaine John, President and chief executive officer, St. Helena Hospital Foundation, Deer Park (St. Helena)
2009
Jill Magri, Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael
2008
Naomi Fuchs, Southwest Community Health Center, Santa Rosa
2007
Anne Hosfeld, Novato Community Hospital, Novato
2006
Shawndra Simpson, Palm Drive Hospital, Sebastopol
2005
Rhonda Fitzgerald, Queen of the Valley Hospital, Napa
2004
Judy Coffey, Kaiser Permanente, Santa Rosa
2003
Patricia Kendall, Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael
2002
Margaret Sabin, Marin General Hospital, Novato Community Hospital, Greenbrae
2001
JoAline Olson, St. Helena Hospital, California Specialty Hospital, Adventist Health/Redbud Community Hospital, Deer Park
2010
Catherine Bartolomei-Smith, Co-proprietor, Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, Forestville
2008
Elaine Bell, Elaine Bell Catering, Picnic People NorCal, Napa
2004
Brenda Rivers, Andavo Travel, Corte Madera
2006
Jill Paterson, Fireman's Fund, Novato
2005
Lisa Paul, Paul Hanson Insurance Partners, Mover's Choice, Napa
2004
Mary Fairow, NorthWest Insurance Agency, Santa Rosa
2003
Shirley Gordon, State Farm Insurance, Rohnert Park
2002
Lynne Wallace, Matsen Insurance Brokers, Santa Rosa
2001
Lynda Regan, Regan Holding Corp., Petaluma
2010
Denise Frey, Executive director and chief executive officer, YWCA of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa
2009
Cris Chater, Senior Access, San Rafael
2008
Karen Johnson, Charles M. Schulz Museum, Santa Rosa
2010
Rachel Dollar, Attorney and founding partner, Smith Dollar PC, Santa Rosa
2008
Teresa Cunningham, Gaw Van Male, Napa
2005
Susan Nelson, Brelje & Race Consulting Engineers, Santa Rosa
2003
Mary Dooley, Ozborndooli Architecture, Santa Rosa
2002
Karen Kryla, Motto Kryla Fisher, St. Helena
2001
Liz Pridmore, Alkar Human Resources, Napa
2006
Coralee Barkela, Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate, Santa Rosa
2004
Pat Provost, Century 21 Alliance, Santa Rosa
2003
Joan Woodard, Simons & Brecht, Santa Rosa
2002
Christine Peterson, Rivendale Homes, Santa Rosa
2001
Brenda Christopherson, Christopherson Homes, Santa Rosa
2009
Gabriella Ambrosi, Sequoia Senior Solutions, Petaluma
2007
Catherine Bergen, Tulocay and Company Inc., Napa
2009
Sally McCoy, CamelBak, Petaluma
2008
Janice Nicholson, i2i Systems, Santa Rosa
2007
Simi Ghiasvand, SenarioTek, Santa Rosa
2006
Debra Delaney, CCI, Novato
2005
Belinda Guadarrama, GC Micro, Petaluma
2004
Adrienne Graves, Santen, Napa
2003
Bettina Jetter, Mindjet, Larkspur
2002
Libby Harvey FitzGerald, Alpha Laboratories Division of Eurofins Scientific, Petaluma
2001
Paula George Tompkins, The SoftAd Group, Mill Valley
2010
Kathryn Lindstrom, General manager and chief financial officer, J Vineyards & Winery, south of Healdsburg
2008
Amelia Morán Ceja, Ceja Vineyards, Napa
2007
Carol Shelton, Carol Shelton Wines, Windsor
2006
Barbara Banke, Jackson Wine Estates, Santa Rosa
2005
Eileen Crane, Domaine Carneros, Napa
2004
Su Hua Newton, Newton Vineyard, St. Helena
2003
Michaela Rodeno, St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery, Rutherford
2002
Judy Jordan, J Wine Co., Healdsburg
2001
Jean Arnold, Jackson Family Farms, Santa Rosa
2003
Elissa Giambastiani, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, San Rafael