ARTICLE
Last Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at the Chaminade Resort and Spa, the Santa Cruz County Chamber hosted a return of our Women’s Leadership Summit with a sold-out crowd of energetic and enthusiastic women who lit up the day with a buzz that could be felt and heard throughout Santa Cruz County. It was a day filled with excitement, intriguing conversations, laughs of joy with our two keynote speakers and the unique personal stories about leadership from a distinguished group of panelists and our EMCC, Lauren Seaver from KSBW 8 NBC. As we move through the last months of 2023, the Women’s Leadership Summit is a reminder of what the future holds — a striking story on its own. Risen from the ashes of women's events hosted by the Chamber, we have reignited the slow burning amber of the past to a full blaze of empowerment. In 2024, the Chamber will host another Women’s Leadership Summit and a series of smaller women's networking events to keep the buzz alive. Keep an eye on the Chamber’s website, santacruzchamber.org, for details of the 2024 Women’s Summit. Now, let's talk about this year’s summit. The day was packed full of memories as attendees walked into the Santa Cruz ballroom to mix, mingle and network with like-minded women. Each attendee came for their own reasons to listen and learn how inspiring women leaders in our community have taken on risks and challenges to achieve success in their professional careers. You could feel a real buzz about their own future that was generated last Thursday. The theme of the Summit was “Own Your Journey.” I often remind myself that finding success in your own journey begins with learning from others. Whether it is a teacher, coach, colleague at work, or someone who has taken the time to mentor you, those are inspiring moments that can change your life’s perspective. The Women’s Leadership Summit ignited a small spark of energy that turned into a blaze of women’s empowerment. Let’s hear from the attendees how they felt about the day. Katie Tollick, Sales Manager at the Dream Inn stated, “Thank you Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce for putting on the Women’s Leadership Summit today! It was such a privilege to attend this amazing event and listen to all the inspiring, hilarious and hard-working speakers tell their stories. You are all amazing.” Sara Bowman, 1st District Sales Recruiter for Farmers Insurance said. “I had an amazing time at the #Women's Leadership Summit hosted by the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce. A big thank you to Chris Maffia, Amy Cain Sousa, and the entire chamber team for putting together an event we won't forget!" “I also want to give a shout out to the insanely AWESOME women who spoke! Lauren Seaver, Deborah Lindsay, Yolande Wilburn, Erica Padilla-Chavez, MPA, Tricia Montalvo Timm, and Sage Lavine! All of you beautiful women were truly inspirational and thank you so much for sharing your stories. And to ALL the beautiful and strong women in business, may your brilliance continue to shine as you break barriers, inspire others, and conquer new heights. Here's to your unwavering determination and the positive impact you make on the world. Cheers!” Nathalie Fontanilla Oetzel, a Food & Beverage Marketing representative and another inspired attendee stated, "It was a pleasure meeting the amazing women at the #Women's Leadership Summit. Thank you Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event to bring us together - Erica Padilla-Chavez, MPA Tricia Montalvo Timm Sage Lavine Deborah Lindsay and sharing a table with Heather C. Heen Rachel Erickson, PMP Vanessa Viadero, MS Sarah Bowden. Time to put our learnings into practice. What do you stand for?” One of our inspiring keynote speakers, Tricia Montalvo Timm really brought home the message about this amazing day, "What an empowering day at the Women's Leadership Summit hosted by the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce. With ocean views as the backdrop and surrounded by hundreds of women (and a few brave men!), we shared our stories, gave leadership advice, and got to know each other. Thank you to Chris Maffia for being such an incredible role model to all women and for making your vision a reality. And thank you Amy Cain Sousa for delivering an amazing event! And the bonus was running into former Looker colleague Margaret Lawrence Rosas!!! Reminded me of how much I missed seeing and working with all of my Looker friends. #embrace the power of you #womenleaders” Nicole Coburn, 1st Assistant County Administrative Officer at Santa Cruz County and Chamber Board member stated, “The Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Leadership Summit was a fantastic event. It was inspiring and comforting to hear from so many accomplished and diverse leaders from around the county. The event strengthened my commitment to mentoring and supporting women, particularly those where the pay inequity is greatest.” And of course, one of our panelists, Deborah Lindsay, Executive Director with Environmental Volunteers, who came away with some of the most hilarious comments of the day stated, “I had the great honor of speaking at the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce event last week, at the #women's leadership summit with these amazing women! @LaurenSeaver from KSBW 8 NBC • Central Coast ABC • Estrella TV @YolandeWilburn, Director of Santa Cruz Public Libraries, and Erica Padilla-Chavez, MPA, CEO of the Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. We had an incredible conversation about our #successes and #things we wished we knew over our careers. And the attendees were awesome! Favorite quote I came up with (if I do say so myself)…”Instead of making the man the plan, I make myself the plan! I am the plan!” The 2023 Women’s Leadership Summit leaves an embolic mark of amazement, courage, inspiration and empowerment that women are the true fabric of our community yet so often overlooked and unappreciated. I can speak from my own personal experience as a young boy who was raised by a single mother who took on the highest levels of leadership roles in our hometown to inspire change, encourage community engagement and show that women can and will lead given the opportunity. I leave that full story for another time.
Last Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at the Chaminade Resort and Spa, the Santa Cruz County Chamber hosted a return of our Women’s Leadership Summit with a sold-out crowd of energetic and enthusiastic women who lit up the day with a buzz that could be felt and heard throughout Santa Cruz County. It was a day filled with excitement, intriguing conversations, laughs of joy with our two keynote speakers and the unique personal stories about leadership from a distinguished group of panelists and our EMCC, Lauren Seaver from KSBW 8 NBC.
As we move through the last months of 2023, the Women’s Leadership Summit is a reminder of what the future holds — a striking story on its own. Risen from the ashes of women's events hosted by the Chamber, we have reignited the slow burning amber of the past to a full blaze of empowerment. In 2024, the Chamber will host another Women’s Leadership Summit and a series of smaller women's networking events to keep the buzz alive. Keep an eye on the Chamber’s website, santacruzchamber.org, for details of the 2024 Women’s Summit.
Now, let's talk about this year’s summit. The day was packed full of memories as attendees walked into the Santa Cruz ballroom to mix, mingle and network with like-minded women. Each attendee came for their own reasons to listen and learn how inspiring women leaders in our community have taken on risks and challenges to achieve success in their professional careers. You could feel a real buzz about their own future that was generated last Thursday.
The theme of the Summit was “Own Your Journey.” I often remind myself that finding success in your own journey begins with learning from others. Whether it is a teacher, coach, colleague at work, or someone who has taken the time to mentor you, those are inspiring moments that can change your life’s perspective.
The Women’s Leadership Summit ignited a small spark of energy that turned into a blaze of women’s empowerment. Let’s hear from the attendees how they felt about the day. Katie Tollick, Sales Manager at the Dream Inn stated, “Thank you Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce for putting on the Women’s Leadership Summit today! It was such a privilege to attend this amazing event and listen to all the inspiring, hilarious and hard-working speakers tell their stories. You are all amazing.”
Sara Bowman, 1st District Sales Recruiter for Farmers Insurance said. “I had an amazing time at the #Women's Leadership Summit hosted by the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce. A big thank you to Chris Maffia, Amy Cain Sousa, and the entire chamber team for putting together an event we won't forget!"
“I also want to give a shout out to the insanely AWESOME women who spoke! Lauren Seaver, Deborah Lindsay, Yolande Wilburn, Erica Padilla-Chavez, MPA, Tricia Montalvo Timm, and Sage Lavine! All of you beautiful women were truly inspirational and thank you so much for sharing your stories. And to ALL the beautiful and strong women in business, may your brilliance continue to shine as you break barriers, inspire others, and conquer new heights. Here's to your unwavering determination and the positive impact you make on the world. Cheers!”
Nathalie Fontanilla Oetzel, a Food & Beverage Marketing representative and another inspired attendee stated, "It was a pleasure meeting the amazing women at the #Women's Leadership Summit. Thank you Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event to bring us together - Erica Padilla-Chavez, MPA Tricia Montalvo Timm Sage Lavine Deborah Lindsay and sharing a table with Heather C. Heen Rachel Erickson, PMP Vanessa Viadero, MS Sarah Bowden. Time to put our learnings into practice. What do you stand for?”
One of our inspiring keynote speakers, Tricia Montalvo Timm really brought home the message about this amazing day, "What an empowering day at the Women's Leadership Summit hosted by the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce. With ocean views as the backdrop and surrounded by hundreds of women (and a few brave men!), we shared our stories, gave leadership advice, and got to know each other. Thank you to Chris Maffia for being such an incredible role model to all women and for making your vision a reality. And thank you Amy Cain Sousa for delivering an amazing event! And the bonus was running into former Looker colleague Margaret Lawrence Rosas!!! Reminded me of how much I missed seeing and working with all of my Looker friends. #embrace the power of you #womenleaders”
Nicole Coburn, 1st Assistant County Administrative Officer at Santa Cruz County and Chamber Board member stated, “The Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Leadership Summit was a fantastic event. It was inspiring and comforting to hear from so many accomplished and diverse leaders from around the county. The event strengthened my commitment to mentoring and supporting women, particularly those where the pay inequity is greatest.”
And of course, one of our panelists, Deborah Lindsay, Executive Director with Environmental Volunteers, who came away with some of the most hilarious comments of the day stated, “I had the great honor of speaking at the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce event last week, at the #women's leadership summit with these amazing women! @LaurenSeaver from KSBW 8 NBC • Central Coast ABC • Estrella TV @YolandeWilburn, Director of Santa Cruz Public Libraries, and Erica Padilla-Chavez, MPA, CEO of the Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. We had an incredible conversation about our #successes and #things we wished we knew over our careers. And the attendees were awesome! Favorite quote I came up with (if I do say so myself)…”Instead of making the man the plan, I make myself the plan! I am the plan!”
The 2023 Women’s Leadership Summit leaves an embolic mark of amazement, courage, inspiration and empowerment that women are the true fabric of our community yet so often overlooked and unappreciated. I can speak from my own personal experience as a young boy who was raised by a single mother who took on the highest levels of leadership roles in our hometown to inspire change, encourage community engagement and show that women can and will lead given the opportunity. I leave that full story for another time.