The Marjaree Mason Center has announced the honorees for its 42nd Annual Top Ten Professional Women Awards, celebrating women who uplift the Central Valley.

These women, nominated by their peers, were selected based on their exemplary achievements, leadership, and commitment to making a positive impact.

A committee of four community judges reviewed and scored all candidates.

Those chosen will join an alumni class of women who have left a positive impact on the community over the last four decades.

They will be recognized on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center.

Keynote Speaker Rachel Baskin Survived and Thrived

The event, including a keynote address from Rachel Baskin is expected to bring together more than 1,500 people.

Baskin, a local deputy district attorney and domestic violence survivor, will share her personal journey in a conversation moderated by David Carr, a retired NFL quarterback and Fresno State standout.

The event, presented by CalViva Health, celebrates leadership and highlights the importance of standing together against domestic violence.

Tickets are $100 each and a table of 10 is $1,000. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available here.

The Marjaree Mason Center Honorees

Here is a look at the 10 honorees:

Dr. Jill Christine Friebele — pediatric orthopedic surgeon and the director of adaptive sports at Valley Children’s Healthcare.

Dr. Diane Lira — deputy superintendent at Fresno County Superintendent of Schools.

Amy Hance — general services director for the city of Clovis.

Jeffie Esparza Hickman — superintendent and principal of University High School.

Joanne Lai — licensed marriage and family therapist, CEO and founder of Spiral & Bloom Embodiment Sanctuary.

Kina McFadden — CEO of Eye Connect Dots.

Debbie Raven — president and CEO of the Valley Small Business Development Corp.

Dr. Marina Roytman — physician and clinical professor of medicine and liver program director at UCSF Fresno.

Lisa Urrizola-Cooper — Senior Deputy District Attorney for Fresno County.

Genesis Ortiz Wilson —Franchisee/Chief Operating Officer at Dutch Bros Cofree Fresno and partner in Trayla Properties.

Keynote Speakers Highlight Commitment to End Domestic Violence

In conversation with Carr, Baskin will share her experience with domestic violence and discuss the power of justice and healing — offering hope and courage to the community.

At 23, Baskin was a young mother trying to leave an emotionally and financially abusive marriage when her estranged husband launched a violent attack.

He shot Baskin’s brother in the head and slashed her mother’s throat. Similarly, he shot Baskin in the head and cut her throat. Miraculously, all three survived.

Weeks later, she returned to paralegal school, still injured.

She completed her degree while raising her daughter, attending court hearings for her case, and working full-time. She graduated in 2019.

Now, she serves the same system that helped protect her, prosecuting cases that mirror her own. Her message to others is simple: You are not alone, and there is a way forward.

Carr, a former No. 1 overall NFL draft by the Houston Texans, won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants. He is the offensive coordinator at Bakersfield Christian High School and an NFL Network analyst.