Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Marjaree Mason Center Unveils Top 10 Women Honorees
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 6 years ago on
August 7, 2019

Share

Marjaree Mason Center has announced the honorees for its 36th Annual Top Ten Professional Women and Leading Business Awards.
Ten women and one local business made the list unveiled by the center, Fresno County’s only dedicated provider of domestic violence shelter and support services.
The honorees include Lindsay Callahan, president and CEO of United Way of Fresno and Madera Counties; Tara Lynn Gray, president and CEO of Fresno Metro Black Chamber; and Brandi Orth, Fresno County clerk and registrar of voters.
The insurance firm DiBuduo & DeFendis also is being honored for its support of women and women’s issues.

Keynote Speaker a Longtime Policy Advocate

The awards event, scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 15, at Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center, is expected to attract about 1,500 to celebrate the honorees while also raising awareness of domestic violence. Each of the winners has excelled professionally, served as a role model, and given back to their communities.
The event’s keynote speaker is Rosie Hildalgo, a veteran public interest attorney and national policy advocate who has worked to end domestic violence for more than 25 years. Hildalgo is senior director of public policy for Casa de Esperanza: National Latin Network for Healthy Families and Communities.
NFL Vice President Troy Vincent, who was announced as the keynote in February, canceled because of a scheduling conflict.
Each of the honorees was nominated by a community member. Nominations were reviewed by a committee of judges who are Fresno County community members and business professionals. After the judges’ review of criteria for each candidate, average rankings were processed.
Tickets for the awards event are $60 for individuals or $600 for a table of 10.

2019 Top Ten Professional Women

  • Raine Bumatay, principal, Fresno Adult School, Fresno Unified School District
  • Lindsay Callahan, president and CEO, United Way of Fresno and Madera Counties
  • Nené Casares, board president, Central California Women’s Conference
  • Kathryn Catania, Ed.D., deputy superintendent of educational services, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
  • Tara Lynn Gray, president and CEO, Fresno Metro Black Chamber, Fresno Metro Black Chamber Foundation
  • Beverly Hayden-Pugh, senior vice president, chief nursing officer, and chief transformation officer, Valley Children’s Healthcare
  • Kamaljit Kaur, community organizer, Jakara Movement
  • Amanda Nicholson, Ph.D., BCBA-D, founder and CEO, Swan Consulting
  • Brandi Orth, Fresno County clerk and registrar of voters
  • Raj Sodhi-Layne, vice president and branch manager, California Bank and Trust

2019 Leading Business

  • DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers, LLC. Matt DeFendis and Mike DeFendis, principals

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

UP NEXT

Arias Dodges Questions About His False Fresno ICE Raid Claim

Inside Trump’s Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration Raids

7 hours ago

Trump Approval Steady at 42%, Support Weakens for His Immigration Policy, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

7 hours ago

Madera County Wildfire Prompts Evacuation Warnings, Road Closures

A wildfire burning near Raymond Road and Avenue 16 in Madera County has prompted evacuation warnings and road closures, authorities said Mon...

5 hours ago

A wildfire near Raymond Road and Avenue 16 in Madera County has prompted evacuation warnings and road closures as officials urge residents to prepare to leave if threatened on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Madera County SO)
5 hours ago

Madera County Wildfire Prompts Evacuation Warnings, Road Closures

Sanger police are searching for Kaylani Thompson, 17, who went missing Saturday, June 14, 2025, after leaving her home and was last seen getting into a white sedan. (Sanger PD)
5 hours ago

Sanger Police Seek Public’s Help to Find Missing Teen

A view of the cityscape in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
6 hours ago

Trump Says Everyone Should Immediately Evacuate Tehran

7 hours ago

Inside Trump’s Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration Raids

President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
7 hours ago

Trump Approval Steady at 42%, Support Weakens for His Immigration Policy, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

A person was rescued from a Fresno canal Monday, June 16, 2025, near Dakota and Ninth Street, marking the third such incident in recent days, officials said. (Fresno FD)
7 hours ago

Person Rescued from Fresno Canal, Third Incident in Recent Days

7 hours ago

Arias Dodges Questions About His False Fresno ICE Raid Claim

9 hours ago

Iranian State TV Halts Live Broadcast After Israeli Strike

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend