Speakers - The Central California Women's Conference (2024)

Corporal Meredith Alexander

Situational Awareness Take 2
Time: TBD
Session TBD (Room: TBD)

Corporal Meredith Alexander is an Indiana native and graduated from Indiana University. She has worked for the Indiana University Police Department and Enterprise, Alabama Police Department. She is currently assigned to patrol at the Clovis Police Department. Meredith is a Crisis Negotiator, Field Training Officer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Honor Guard Member and Peer Support Member.

Lynne Ashbeck, MA, MS, RD

Morning Warm Up
Time: 8:30 AM
Theatre

A respected civic leader, Lynne is currently serving in her sixth term on the Clovis City Council and is currently the Mayor. She was first elected in 2001, served as Mayor from 2003 – 2005 and again from 2013 – 2015, only the third woman to serve as Clovis Mayor in the City’s 111-year history. Lynne is known for her ability to find common ground among divergent views and the commitment to engage citizens in the city’s work, establishing the Clovis Citizen’s Academy and co-founding the Clovis Youth Commission to involve youth in their community.

Lynne Ashbeck is the Senior Vice President and Chief Community Impact Officer for Valley Children’s Healthcare. In her role, Lynne works with physicians, hospital staff and community leaders to formulate strategies designed to improve the health outcomes of children and their families in their neighborhoods, schools and community health settings. Lynne’s work at Valley Children’s---including the establishment of the Center for Community Health---reflects her career-long efforts to improve the lives of the most vulnerable among us.

Lynne has had professional experiences in healthcare, agriculture, and higher education over her career. She has also served as a Senior Mediator/Facilitator with the Center for Collaborative Policy, California State University, Sacramento.

Lynne completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at Fresno State and is a Registered Dietitian. She completed a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking from Fresno Pacific University in May 2012.

Lynne is involved in many community, regional and State organizations and has received numerous awards and recognitions for her service and leadership.

Armen Bacon

Daring to Breathe - Long Story Short: Writing Saved My Life!
Time: TBD
Session; Room: TBD

Armen Bacon writes (and lives) with uncensored passion, heart and sense of urgency. Her words stir the soul and have been praised as "pulling us all a little closer to each other."
She made her authorial debut with the powerful memoir, "Griefland - An Intimate Portrait of Love, Loss and Unlikely Friendship," a story of two women whose words and astonishing friendship helped them survive the ultimate loss. Her second book, "My Name is Armen - A Life in Column Inches," contains a decade's worth of essays on family, friends, love and loss. Her third book, "My Name is Armen - Outside the Lines," takes readers beyond the margins of everyday life - always circling back, returning home - celebrating the resilience of the human spirit.
Armen's newest book, titled "Daring to Breathe: Stories of Living with the Foreverness of Grief," is an anthology of 28 modern day survival stories, and breathes new life into how humans navigate life after loss - ultimately offering a chorus of hope underscoring the resilience of the human spirit. Audience members will be inspired, encouraged, engaged and enlightened as Bacon candidly shares book-writing strategies, struggles and insights and why our stories matter.

Rachel Baskin

Morning Session
Time: 8:30 AM
Theatre

Rachel Baskin is a dedicated Deputy District Attorney in Fresno County, where she pursues justice for victims of crime with a deeply personal commitment. Born and raised in the Central Valley, Rachel began her professional journey as a Paralegal. Her path to the DA’s office was marked by profound personal resilience, having survived a harrowing domestic violence incident at the hands of her ex-husband. As a single mother, Rachel courageously rebuilt her life, driven by the desire to provide a better future for her daughter.

Rachel earned her undergraduate degree in Business from Fresno Pacific University before pursuing her Juris Doctorate at San Joaquin College of Law, graduating in 2019. She joined the Fresno County District Attorney's Office in 2021, where she has prosecuted a range of cases, including misdemeanors, juvenile delinquency, and felonies. Her own experiences as a survivor of crime fuel her passion for her work, ensuring that every victim receives the justice they deserve.

Rachel’s journey is a testament to her unwavering determination and strength. She dedicates her time to inspiring others, sharing her story of survival to encourage resilience and self-belief. Through her work and personal outreach, Rachel embodies the message that triumph over adversity is possible and that believing in oneself is the key to overcoming life’s greatest challenges.

Dr. Kathleen Behr

Aging Gracefully with Aesthetics
Time: TBD
Room: TBD

Dr. Kathleen Behr is a renowned Board-Certified dermatologic surgeon specializing in aesthetic dermatology, laser therapy, and Mohs micrographic surgery. She obtained her medical degree in 1990 and completed a residency in dermatology from 1992-1995 at UCLA. Dr. Behr was chosen to be chief resident during her last year of residency. She then completed fellowships in Mohs micrographic surgery and cosmetic surgery at UCLA. After finishing, she continued as an assistant clinical professor at UCLA, where she received the Victor Newcomer award for teaching residents. In 2001, Dr. Behr moved her family to Fresno.

In 2003, Dr. Behr opened her own dermatology practice in Fresno. Prioritizing providing patients with the highest standard of care brought on rapid growth for her practice. After only four years she expanded to a larger office and the opening of Behr Laser & Skin Care Center soon followed. With a caring staff and the latest education and technology, she ensures that her patients have access to the latest treatment options available.

Dr. Behr is known for her Evening of Beauty events that is held annually to educate patients and offer special promotions. These events grew to hosting 1700 patients in one day! In order to manage the size of this event, she started online gift cards available throughout the week of Evening of Beauty.

Throughout her career, Dr. Behr has received numerous honors and awards. She is a published author, a national trainer, and lecturer, and performs clinical research. She is a key opinion leader in the aesthetic dermatology field. Dr. Behr is often in the news and quoted in magazines due to her expertise. She is recognized as one of New Beauty’s Top Beauty Doctors (2015-2023). Her office has received Allergan Top 25 status in the country for 2016, 2017, and 2020. In 2023, her office has received Allergan Top 50 status in the country and Top 10 Location in California. Most of all, Dr. Behr is proud of the care she has given and the long-lasting relationships she has developed with many of her patients.

In Dr. Behr’s spare time she loves to spend time outside with her husband Bob, her children, and her dogs. You can either find her in the summer at her cabin in Shaver Lake where she enjoys being out on the boat and wake surfing. During the colder months she will be found skiing and spending time at her condo in Salt Lake City. She loves to give back to her community of Fresno. In 2023, she ran for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Visionary of the Year and raised over 300k for research into blood cancers and providing a better quality of life for patients and their families.

Interim Chief Mindy Casto

Morning Warm Up
Time: 8:30 AM
Theatre

Interim Chief Mindy Casto has been with the Fresno Police Department since 1992 when she started her career as a police Explorer while in high school. As a product of community policing, she went on to become a cadet and was promoted to police officer after graduating #1 from the Fresno City College police academy class #72. Interim Chief Casto spent several years on patrol in various districts and served as a detective and companion officer.

After promoting to sergeant in 2003, she served in patrol, as an Internal Affairs investigator and supervised the Accountability and Compliance section as well as the Domestic Violence Unit. As a lieutenant, Interim Chief Casto has served as the Internal Affairs Commander. As a captain, she led the Northeast and Central policing districts, and served as the Investigations Division Administrative Commander, where she was responsible for MAGEC, as well as the Street Violence, Special Investigations and Family Justice Bureaus. Interim Chief Casto has served on the Fresno Police Officers’ Association Legal Defense board of trustees and as an elected board member for the association. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police and POST Executive Development Course.

Interim Chief Casto sits on the board of directors for the Marjaree Mason Center, Fresno Police Chaplaincy and Fresno Police Officers’ Foundation. Upon promotion to Deputy Chief in 2022, Interim Chief Casto was assigned to the Support Division, which includes Traffic, 911 Center, K9, Skywatch, SWAT, EOD, Student Resource Officers, Crisis Negotiators, Crime Scene Investigations and more. Interim Chief Casto is fully committed to making Fresno one of the safest large cities in the nation and the Fresno Police Department the best department to work for in California.

Sheree Cain-Jones

Stop waiting and start running!
Time: TBD
Room TBD

Sheree Cain-Jones is a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and life executive coach to high performers, executives, and entrepreneurs dealing with mindsets that limit their results. Growing up in poverty and a home filled with alcohol, domestic, and drug abuse, Sheree struggled with her self-confidence, self-esteem, intrinsic value, and worth. She became pregnant in high school, dropped out, and her life was in an out-of-control cycle. She ended up attending an alternative high school for at-risk students. Had it not been for her teachers' relentless pursuit to see her graduate, she would have been lost forever.

After enduring a domestic abuse relationship, she realized she had the internal power to take back her story and control the narrative of her life. She lived as a single mother, got married to an amazing man, and finally decided to get serious about her education when she was 24 years old. Sheree went back to college, obtained her nursing degree and a master's in project management, and is currently in a doctoral program to help executives solve high-level problems. She has been leading and encouraging women to silence the internal narrative and the voice of the internal imposter that says, "You're not good enough." She knows what it takes to set goals, achieve them, and keep showing up even when it hurts. She also believes that you have the fortitude to take the greatest pain of your life, flip it, and make it become your greatest power! She has been featured on the Tough Mom Podcast, The Meaning Project with clinical therapist Dr. Daniel Franz, and The Resilience Podcast and as a featured speaker at various events.

Through her life experiences, She has learned that our mindset is the only thing stopping many of us from achieving our dreams. Her deep desire is to see every woman she encounters understand her calling, obtain clarity, and confidently walk toward their vision. In her free time, Sheree is with her family, cultivating meaningful relationships, or developing herself into the woman she was always meant to be.

Charah Coleman

Conversation on Debt
Time: TBD
Session TBD

Charah Coleman is an integrative wellness practitioner, educator, and organizer in California. She creates transformative spaces in economic justice, liberating healing modalities, applied compassion, and the intersection at which they meet.

Charah is the Founder of Sound for the People, a sound therapy company that creates spaces of rest and peace to counter systemic traumas.

She is also an award-winning behavioral finance expert and Stanford certified Educator of Applied Compassion. Charah has been publicly recognized for her work in economic justice and financial empowerment within the Central Valley, having founded financial wellness centers at two public universities in California.

Ms. Coleman prides herself on creating spaces where people feel heard, liberated, and empowered.

Charah is also passionate about protecting the environment and its wildlife. She believes that we are on this earth to display compassion and better the communities around us.

Lourdes M. DelRosso, MD, PhD

The Transformative Power of Healthy Sleep in Women
Time: TBD
Session TBD (Room: TBD)

Lourdes DelRosso, MD, Ph.D., MS is an Inspire Health sleep medicine physician and UCSF Professor of Family and Community Medicine at UCSF Fresno. She is also serves as Medical Director of Inspire Health Sleep Medicine where patients can make an appointment to see her.

As a child in Peru, Dr. DelRosso knew she was destined to become a physician and work with families and communities focusing on public health, social issues, and mental health. Dr. DelRosso has spent her professional career expanding the boundaries of global sleep health. She has been involved in Haiti as part of the 2010 earthquake relief program and was the director of a 2020 World Sleep Day initiative to improve children’s sleep in a community in Haiti.

She earned her medical degree at the University of Miami; completed a residency in family medicine at Kaiser Permanente, through UC Irvine, a sleep medicine fellowship at Louisiana State University, and earned a master’s degree in medical education at the University of Pennsylvania and the Valencia International University in Spain. Dr. DelRosso earned her Ph.D. at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom.

Dr. DelRosso has traveled to the Dominican Republic with the Global Outreach team of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to train community health workers. In California, she has trained community health workers in an early intervention program for children 5 years and younger. Dr. DelRosso has also been active in global sleep initiatives, such as the 2019 Latin American Symposium on Diversity and Inclusion, the 2020 Symposium on Global Sleep Medicine, and in recent years as the co-chair of the World Sleep Day committee.

She is dedicated entirely to the field of pediatric sleep medicine, including education, clinical care, and research. Dr. DelRosso is involved nationally in the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and internationally in sleep medicine courses in Latin America.

Dr. DelRosso’s area of research focuses on restless sleep and restless legs syndrome. She leads an international task force to establish the diagnostic criteria for restless sleep disorder. Dr. DelRosso is the lead author of “Pediatric Sleep Pearls” and editor of “Sleep Neurology: A comprehensive guide to basic and clinical aspects.”

Active in the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Dr. DelRosso chairs the International Members Taskforce and is part of the AASM Scoring Manual Editorial Team.

Education and Training
Doctor of Philosophy – University of Portsmouth – Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Master of Science – Valencia International University – Valencia, Spain
Master of Science – University of Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, PA
Sleep Medicine Fellowship – Louisiana State University Health – New Orleans, LA
Family Medicine Residency – University of California, Irvine – Kaiser Permanente – Irvine, CA
Intern, Family Medicine – University of California, Irvine – Kaiser Permanente – Irvine, CA
Doctor of Medicine – University of Miami – Miami, FL
Bachelor of Science – Barry University – Miami, FL

Licensure & Certifications
American Board of Family Medicine
American Board of Family Medicine – Sleep Medicine
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
International Pediatric Sleep Association
Narcolepsy Network
University of Washington Explore and Focus Committee

Renée M. Dineen

Authentic Inaction: Undoing the Doing in a Do Crazy World
Time: TBD
Session: TBD

Renée Dineen is the president and founder of RMD Coaching & Consulting, a boutique firm that specializes in leadership and team performance and organizational health. She is also a TEDx speaker, a best-selling author, and an international thought leader who combines her expertise in organizational psychology, group dynamics, and integral coaching to deliver impactful and lasting results.

Renée has over 25 years of global executive experience leading large-scale transformations at the team and organizational level. She continues to work with clients across diverse industries and sectors that included a 5-year expatriate assignment in Switzerland. Renée's professional mission is to minimize organizational and individual suffering by empowering leaders and teams to navigate risk, change, and growth with confidence and resilience, while at the same time, fueling the soul of the cultures and people they shape.

Renée is passionate about understanding human nature and inspiring others to live authentically and courageously. She is the creator of the SoulFULL Living Institute, a coaching and consulting platform that helps individuals and organizations live with greater purpose, joy, and grace. In February 2020, Renée took her own story to the TedX stage. Her talk titled ‘Authentic Inaction™: Undoing the Doing in a Do Crazy World’ is an account of her trials and tribulations as a “doing addict” and workaholic. Her talk has reached over 600K views and supports her mission to revolutionize the way we work, play & relate to one another and our purpose.

Analiese Domingos, LCSW

How to Raise Emotionally Resilient Kids
Time: TBD
Session TBD (Room: TBD)

As moms, we all want our kids to be successful! But what does success really look like? For me, it’s about raising children who can adapt to new situations, manage stress effectively, and maintain positive relationships filled with authentic connection. At the foundation of these abilities is emotional resilience, a skill that equips our children to navigate life’s challenges with determination and self-compassion.

In this candid and insightful presentation, we will examine the essential elements of raising emotionally resilient children and prepare you to:
- Learn how to navigate the delicate balance of empathy and boundaries, allowing children to feel understood without dismissing their feelings while maintaining structure and clear expectations for acceptable behavior.
-Explore the power of vulnerability and repair in modeling healthy emotional expression for our children, creating a nurturing environment where they feel seen and heard.
-Discover the transformative impact of prioritizing connection over compliance in parent-child relationships.

Through practical examples and strategies, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how consistency in these areas can profoundly shape a child's emotional experience and create a safe and supportive environment for emotional growth.

But let's not shy away from the tough stuff! We'll embrace the messy realities of parenting and how our own unresolved issues and triggers can cloud our judgment and reactions. Together, we'll explore how embracing our own vulnerabilities and committing to personal growth can empower us to parent with intention and create an environment where emotional resilience thrives!

Alexandra Franco

Sparkle at Home
Time: 3:15
Session 3-03

Alexandra Franco, owner of Elegantly Organized believes organizing is not only about beautifying a space but also about bringing peace and calm within a home. Color coding is her love language, making closets and playrooms her favorite spaces to organize. However, she doesn't let clients forget that even a junk drawer can be beautiful.

A true California girl at heart. She returned home in 2014 after living abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland for eight years, where she earned her Master of Arts in Business Management.Alexandra met her husband in Oakland, California, and they now have two beautiful daughters, Saylor and Isla. When not organizing you can find her enjoying local fare in the Historic Fresno high area or treasure hunting at an Antique store.

Alexandra is excited to continue helping others in her community create functional and elegant spaces.

Li Lisa Ge, MD

TBD
Time: TBD
Session TBD(Room: TBD)

Li Lisa Ge, M.D. is board certified in medical oncology, hematology and internal medicine, with nearly 20 years of dedicated experience in the field of oncology. She started her medical journey with residency at Lenox Hill Hospital's Internal Medicine program, affiliated with New York University Medical Center in New York City. Following this, she honed her skills further by completing a Hematology & Oncology Fellowship at the State University of New York Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island, NY, where she also earned a master's degree in molecular and cell biology.

Dr. Carole Goldsmith

TBD
Time: 1:30pm
Session TBD)

Dr. Goldsmith is the newest Chancellor of State Center Community College District and previously served as President of Fresno City College from August 2016 to December 2021. During her tenure as president she collaborated with faculty and staff in the redesign of the college organizational structure to better foster equity and efficiency. Under her leadership, FCC accomplished a consecutive 3-year record-breaking graduation rate, comprehensive strategic planning cycle, and has implemented new practices to improve transparency. Dr. Goldsmith guided the college through a successful accreditation review, which resulted in the reaffirmation of accreditation. Recently, she facilitated college and community discussions that culminated in nearly $17M in Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program funds for the development of the new West Fresno Campus.

Prior to joining SCCCD, Dr. Goldsmith served as President of West Hills College Coalinga and held the office of Vice Chancellor of Educational Services and Workforce Development during her 13-year tenure with West Hills Community College District in rural West Fresno County.

Dr. Goldsmith has lived in Fresno County for nearly four decades and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from CSU, Fresno, a master’s degree in educational administration from National University, and a doctorate in higher education leadership from the joint doctorate program at CSU, Fresno and UC Davis. Dr. Goldsmith has two adult children and lives in Fresno with her wife, Melissa, a local real estate professional. Dr. Goldsmith enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her dogs.

Jane Hammond

TBD
Time: TBD
Session TBD

Jane Hammond, PA-C received her Physician Assistant degree from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. She has over 20 years of experience in internal and integrative medicine. A longtime member of the North American Menopause Society and the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, Jane lectures frequently on Menopause, Sex and Stress.

With extensive education and training in hormone and pellet therapy, she incorporates traditional and alternative therapies into her practice, treating the whole person to address each patient’s individual hormonal, nutritional, physical and emotional well-being.

Over the years, Jane has noticed a common thread in the stories patients have shared about how physical changes directly affected their lives. Hormonal changes, vagin*l dryness and pain, decreased libido and stress can frustrate and impact intimacy. She began looking for easily accessible solutions to enhance intimacy and remove the physical barriers to good sex.

Her extensive experience working with compounded medications, led Jane to design the Orovana product line to decrease pain, enhance relaxation, and promote the love, joy and closeness of pleasurable intimacy. Orovana products are geared toward maintaining and benefiting sexual health throughout the entire adult lifespan.

Betsy A. Hays

Handled(ish): Productivity for the Imperfect
Time: TBD
Session TBD(Room: TBD)

Betsy A. Hays is an educator, author, podcaster and speaker. She is also the lead public relations and advertising professor in the Department of Media, Communications and Journalism (MCJ) at Fresno State, where she has been teaching since 1999. A self-proclaimed happiness and productivity nerd, Betsy voraciously consumes books, blogs and podcasts on these topics. She loves to try all of the things she learns and then incorporates the winners into her work. Betsy is the co-author of three non-fiction books, including Win & Wow: Public Relations Secrets for Everyday Success, and she recently published her first children's book, Samantha and Jackie's Bedtime Toolbox. Her podcast is available anywhere you listen to podcasts or you can watch it on YouTube -- Handled(ish): Productivity for the Imperfect.

For more than 30 years, Betsy has been involved in the public relations profession via her work as a practitioner and as an educator. She frequently conducts seminars and workshops to assist businesses and organizations with productivity, effective communication, presentation skills, networking, and personal and professional branding.

Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn or via her website.

Misty Herr

Morning Session
Time: 8:30 AM
Theatre

Misty was born on March 5, 1975, in a small Prisoner of War camp in Laos during the final phases of the Vietnam War. Her father was involved in the CIA’s secret operations in Laos. The eldest of six siblings, Misty's early life was marked by turmoil. Shortly after the war, her family attempted to resume farming, but her father was soon taken for "re-education" by the government—a fate from which many never returned. Fearing for their safety, the family fled to a refugee camp in Thailand, where they spent a year.

In 1980, at age five, Misty and her family relocated to the United States, initially settling in Garden Grove, California, before moving to Fresno. With no formal education and an inability to speak English, her parents chose Fresno for its agricultural opportunities, hoping to provide a better future for their children. It was here that Misty’s passion for education was nurtured through the support of teachers and mentors in the Fresno Unified School District. This early influence inspired her to pursue a career in education.

Misty attended Fresno State University, earning a BA in Liberal Studies and a master’s in administration and supervision. She started her educational career teaching grades two through six and progressed to become the first Hmong Vice Principal and, subsequently, the first Hmong Woman Principal in the United States. In 2011, she was appointed Instructional Superintendent for School Leadership in Fresno, overseeing educational programs and staff development across the district. In 2021, Misty was selected as the Deputy Superintendent of Fresno Unified School District and served in that role until 2024 when she was appointed as Interim Superintendent.

In the Deputy Superintendent role, Misty was responsible for student achievement, analyzing performance data, and leading district improvements in curriculum, assessments, and community relations. She is deeply involved in community service, serving on several boards and mentoring students throughout Fresno. Her contributions to education have been recognized with multiple awards, including the 2019 California Woman of the Year for Outstanding Service in Education and the 2022 Marjaree Mason Top Ten Woman Award.

Misty’s calling is to do educational missionary work, transforming the lives of children and families. She understands her decisions directly influence the paths of the young minds she interacts with daily. Investing in and inspiring hope in our youth is profoundly powerful and necessary for success. Misty believes in the transformative power of education and is committed to inspiring hope and potential in the next generation.

Pearl Ma, M.D., FACS, FASMBS, DABS-FPMS, DIPLOMATE OF ABOM

Breaking Free: Treating Obesity as a Disease and Letting Go of Guilt
Time: 3:15 PM
Session 3-02 (Room: TBD)

Dr. Pearl Ma is a born-and-raised Iowa native, who moved to California and completed her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine at the University of California, Davis. Through her undergraduate studies at UC Davis, she found her passion in helping underserved and marginalized patients. She did her general surgery residency and fellowship training in advanced GI (minimally invasive) and bariatric surgery at the University of California, San Francisco-Fresno program. Dr. Ma performs general surgery and specializes in bariatric and revisional bariatric surgery for complications or weight recurrence.

She has a passion for teaching and a research interest, with publications in revisional bariatric surgery and multiple book chapters. She is a fellow of ASMBS (FASMBS) and FACS, has a focus practice designation in metabolic and bariatric surgery, and is obesity medicine certified. Her goal is to serve the Central Valley and continue educating the local physicians and surgeons in cutting-edge surgical techniques and compassionate patient care. Dr. Ma teaches UCSF residents as an assistant clinical professor of surgery and fellows at ALSA MIS bariatric fellowship. She is serving as co-chair for the diversity and inclusion committee for ASMBS, sub-committee chair of the ASMBS surgical mentoring program, and on the ASMBS program committee, bariatric surgical training committee, state and local chapters committee, the SAGES metabolic and bariatric surgery committee and consultant for the national surgery testing standards for focus practice designation certification in bariatric surgery. Dr. Ma does peer reviews of manuscripts for major bariatric research journals.

Dr. Pearl Ma is the current president of the California/Nevada chapter of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. She is passionate about treating obesity as a chronic disease and abolishing stigmas associated with obesity.

Dr. Ma has been honored with multiple UCSF-Fresno Resident Excellence in Teaching Awards, Leon S. Peters Foundation Resident of the Year Award, ASMBS Distinguished Service Award and the Treatment of Obesity and Research (TREO) Foundation 2023 Rising Star Award for demonstrating an outstanding job in patient care, research project success and community advocacy. Recently, she started her running journey and loves spending her free time at Disneyland with her husband and two mischievous young children.

Rae Pardini Matson

The Modern Working Mom: Balancing Family and Business Growth
Time: TBD
Session TBD

Rae Pardini Matson is the CEO and Founder of RPM Public Relations and the newly established MUMZIE Media, a modern lifestyle media company – the first of its kind for California's Central Valley. She lived in Los Angeles for years, gaining experience in media on a global scale with Sony Pictures, People Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and more. That experience, combined with the drive to create a flexible workplace for like-minded creative professionals in her native Central Valley, inspired the creation of her media-centric concepts. Rae leads her team and mission every day as a proud working mother of three children, which led her to found the Mother Upload (#motherupload) – a group empowering and celebrating local moms in the workforce – and create an unforgettable experience for mothers to truly treat themselves at the bi-annual event, Mom's Time Out. She has a natural instinct for connecting people, a creative mind, and the poise and personability to keep clients coming back for more.

Isidra Mencos

Love Yourself: Find Your Spark
Time: TBD
Session TBD

Isidra Mencos is the author of Promenade of Desire—A Barcelona Memoir. Born and raised in Barcelona, she spent her twenties freeing herself from the oppression created by Franco’s dictatorship. In 1992 she moved to the US to study and start a new life and career.

Isidra holds a Ph.D. in Spanish and Latin American contemporary literature from UC Berkeley, where she taught Spanish language, literature, and creative writing for 12 years. She also worked as a writer and editor for Spanish-speaking media, editing a custom magazine that reached 5 million households and writing over 500 articles for Jorge Ramos, the most renowned Hispanic journalist in the US. Pivoting again, Isidra became Editorial Director of the Americas for BabyCenter, the leading digital resource in the U.S. for parents and parents-to-be. She managed teams in the U.S., Spain, Latin America, and Canada in creating evidence-based, culturally relevant content and digital tools.

In 2016 she left her job to focus on writing. Isidra lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Speaker

Isidra Mencos

Rhonda Murphy

Enhance your well-being by discovering the power of Health and Fitness
Time: 1:30pm
Session 2-04 (Room: K)

For over 36 years, Rhonda Murphy has been the top certified Personal Trainer in Central Valley. Rhonda uses her knowledge and experience as a personal trainer, motivational speaker, and worksite wellness coach specializing in active aging to go above and beyond for her community. Rhonda has been the Fitness Expert for the number one morning show ABC 30 KFSN for the past 25 years; you can join her every Wednesday at 5:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. for her exercise segment Workout Wednesday.

RhoFit Personal Training
686 E Bullard St 102
Fresno, Ca. 93710
559-431-3600

Sarah Oliveira

Sparkle at Home
Time: 3:15 PM
Session 3-03 Room A-1

Sarah Oliveira is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the real estate and construction industries. She began her career as a real estate agent in Southern California after college. IN 2005, Sarah joined her family’s business, Wathen Homes, where she played a pivotal role as a broker and project manager for the semi-custom home division.

In 2019, Sarah was honored to work with De Young Homes, serving as a project manager for the ‘Extreme Makeover Home Edition’. Her dedication and expertise in the field were further recognized when she became the first female to achieve the Lifetime Director award from the Fresno Building Industry Association (BIA) in 2021, after serving on the board for 10 years.

Expanding her expertise, Sarah obtained her General Contractor’s license in 2020, and has since been running her own successful general contracting and construction business where she has built 3 City of Clovis ‘Cottage homes’ and completed multiple remodels. As a Trust and Probate specialist, Sarah has found her passion of helping families make going through trusts and probates a little less stressful by using both her real estate and construction background. Sarah learned many things from the family business, but Quality of construction is the number one factor in her business that is her non-negotiable. She is honored to be speaking at the WC and on a panel of incredible women.

Cece Quinn

Sparkle at Home
Time: 3:15 PM
Session 3-03 (Room: TBD)

Diane Kawagoe, PhD
Psychologist, Behavioral Medicine

Cece Quinn is the founder and creative force behind Casa Quinn, an interiors and antique business based in Fresno. Launched in 2020, Casa Quinn embodies its tagline of “Good Times & Vintage Finds,” a perfect reflection of Cece’s passion for crafting soulful, comfortable spaces that lean heavily on vintage and antique items.

Before diving into the world of vintage treasures and interior decorating, Cece honed her skills in PR and marketing as a copywriter and brand strategist. This background now enriches her approach to creating distinctive and personalized homes that tell a story.

In addition to her work with interior design clients, Cece proudly features a curated selection of her finds at Chesterfield's Antiques in Fresno. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys the lively chaos of family life with a supportive husband and two young daughters.

Amanda Reeve, MD, Ob-Gyn

Real talk about menopause – It’s getting hot in here!
Time: 10:15 AM
Session 1-02 (Salon D)

Amanda Reeve, MD, began her medical training far from home on the east coast in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Hahnemann University. After medical school, she moved north to New Jersey to complete her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey; Robert Wood Johnson. As she finished her training, she wanted to start a family and decided to come closer to home. Being from San Luis Obispo, CA, Fresno seemed very close. She began working at Kaiser Permanente in 1999 and has been here ever since.

Dr. Reeve says that Kaiser Permanente has given her the ability to care for a broad range of patients and feels fortunate to be the chief of Ob-Gyn and Women’s Health Liaison. In these roles, she has been able to implement local programs to advance the health care opportunities of women at Kaiser Permanente in Fresno, and also in the community.

As the lead gynecological surgeon at KP Fresno, Dr. Reeve and has been working to improve and advance minimally invasive surgery. The facility has been performing one hundred percent of our hysterectomies using minimally surgery for several years which has made huge impact on care. The ability to perform minimally invasive procedures allows women to have less pain and shorter recovery times if they should need surgery.

Dr. Reeve’s guiding philosophy in patient care is to treat others as she would hope to be treated herself, to listen attentively and to involve my patients in their own health decisions. She believes that an educated, invested and involved patient allows her to better care for them, but also to better care for themselves.

Dr. Reeve has two children with her wonderful husband that she met at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. She enjoys working out, gardening, and traveling.

Theresa Rose

Brand Elevation for Women: Crystallize Your Brilliance on a co*cktail Napkin
Time: TBD
Session TBD (Room: TBD)

Theresa Rose is a Brand and Business Crystallizer, Strategic Co-Creator, two-time TEDx Speaker, and Certified Speaking professional who helps others get co*cktail napkin clarity on their Brilliance. Her background includes roles in senior management of Marketing and Product Development for a Fortune 100 enterprise where she was responsible for over $100M in annual revenue for call center products as well as the Head of Thought Leadership for a global executive network where she not only led a council of world-class speakers, authors, coaches, consultants, trainers, and influencers, but also led business development efforts as top sales producer.

Theresa is an award-winning author of several books including Mindful Performance: How To Powerfully Impact Profitability, Productivity, and Purpose, and Your Daily Dose of Mojo: 365 Days of Mindful Living and Working. She has a degree in Business Management from Eckerd College, loves binge-watching The Great British Baking Show, and still has her Most Enthusiastic Award from Mr. Moseman’s second grade class.

Yvonne Sanchez

Financial Planning for Women: See what is possible
Time: TBD
Session TBD

Yvonne R. Sanchez, C(k)P®, CFP®, CPFA®, CRPC™, CRPS™, has a Bachelor's
degree in business management from Fresno Pacific University and is a Certified
Financial Planner™, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner
Board of Standards, Inc.

Andrea Van Groningen

Sparkle at Home
Time: 3:15 PM
Session 3-03 Room A-1

Andrea Van Groningen is the Founder of The Avenue Home Staging and Shoppe at the Avenue located at Pavilion West. Andrea brings her 10+ years of interiors experience to the Central Valley. A wife, mom of 6, and an entrepreneur of multiple businesses with an eye for design.

Sandra Vicente

Zero Barriers to Business (Session in Spanish)
Time: 3:15 PM
Session 3-03 (Room: TBD)

Sandra Vicente, Market President for BMO Bank covering the Central Valley, has a deep-seated dedication to helping small business owners, influenced by her upbringing as the daughter of entrepreneurs. With over 22 years in banking, she has partnered with local nonprofits to bring education, resources, and capital to rural and underserved communities. Sandra served as the first and only Chairwoman for the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation and remains a board member. She also currently a board member for Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board, an organization that promotes a connection between local business and skilled workers. She leverages her extensive knowledge of the banking industry to assist small businesses in becoming more efficient, sustainable, and achieving sustainable growth.