Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of San Diego for 2022. This year’s awardees are celebrated for their contributions to their organizations and their personal accomplishments along the way. The city of San Diego, known as America’s Finest City, has historically been home for remarkable women. Clara Shortridge Foltz, the first female attorney in California, and Dr. Charlotte Baker, the city’s first female obstetrician and former president of San Diego’s Equal Suffrage Association, are classic examples of San Diego women who broke barriers, making way for the leaders of today. This year’s awardees have followed in their footsteps trailblazing within their industries to spark progress and change.

Among this year’s awardees is Mahasa Zahirnia, Chief Engineer and Artificial Intelligence Lead of Northrop Grumman, who leads the organization in developing advanced technologies to support some of the world's most advanced products; Patty Gray, Vice President of Global Vendor Management for Westcon-Comstor, who has earned a reputation as a dynamic and accomplished global head with expertise in building strategies to establish sales and realize growth; and Alison Fleury, Senior Vice President of Business Development of Sharp HealthCare, who is entrusted with the organization's strategic planning, long-term financial planning, and financing initiatives.

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While this year’s awardees span across a variety of industries, they are all equally committed to the organizations they serve. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of San Diego for 2022.

1. Jaclyn Smith
Senior Vice President & Senior Wealth Planner, Wells Fargo

Jaclyn Smith is the Senior Vice President and Senior Wealth Planner of Wells Fargo. She first joined the company in 2017. Founded in 1852, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 8,050 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet and mobile banking, and has offices in 38 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States.

Previously, Smith was a senior associate attorney for trusts, estates, and probate at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP and before that, an associate attorney for family wealth and tax planning at Hopkins & Carley. Earlier in her career she worked with Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP as a law clerk. Smith earned a JD from Whittier Law School and an undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of California, Davis.

2. Mahasa Zahirnia
Chief Engineer & AI Lead, Northrop Grumman

Mahasa Zahirnia is the Chief Engineer and Artificial Intelligence Lead of Northrop Grumman. Northrop Grumman is a pioneering company. They design, develop, build, and support some of the world's most advanced products, from cutting-edge aircraft and next-generation spacecraft to unrivaled cyber security systems and all-seeing radars.

Zahirnia is a widely respected technology leader with over 30 years of experience in the areas of program management, system engineering, cyber and Artificial Intelligence. She has published articles in the field of AI and has several patents pending. Zahirnia helps organizations develop advanced technologies and has received several awards for her innovation and cognitive designs from DoD and the private sector. She is a board member of AI4 and AI Data Analytics Network and Intelligent Automation. She is a technical advisor to several universities and engineering organizations such as INCOSE. Zahirnia received her undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and her master’s degree in management with honors. She has received NGC 2019 Woman of the Year Award, 2022 San Diego Outstanding Engineer of the Year Award, and DoD Top 10 AI influencers. She has held positions at Booz Allen, Captiva Software, Cubic, Sony, and Solar Turbines.

3. Angela Alldredge
Senior Vice President, Citi Private Bank

Angela Alldredge is a Senior Vice President with Citi Private Bank. Citi Private Bank is dedicated to serving worldly and wealthy individuals, and their families with private banking services around the world. Their clients have business, investment, real estate, and family interests in multiple geographic regions, requiring a customized private banking approach that’s entirely connected. Their global client service enables their wealth experts across geographies to unite and form one dedicated team around their clients’ global needs. Citi Private Bank serves more than 1,400 global family offices worldwide, not only helping them invest, borrow, manage cash and plan, but also advising them on industry best practices. Alldredge has 26 years in the financial services industry. She began her career in 1996.

Before joining Citi Private Bank, Alldredge was an SVP and private client advisor at US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management and before that, a VP and market manager at HSBC Retail Banking and Wealth Management. Earlier in her career she worked with Bank of America as an SVP and premier relationship manager.

4. Susie Armstrong
Senior Vice President of Engineering, Qualcomm

Susie Armstrong is the Senior Vice President of Engineering of Qualcomm. She first joined the company in 1994. Qualcomm is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Diego, California. They create semiconductors, software, and services related to wireless technology. At Qualcomm, Armstrong brings an engineering and product background in Government Affairs work in worldwide public policy, including intellectual property protection, cyber security, STEM and STEM diversity.

Prior to joining Qualcomm, Armstrong worked for 10 years at the Xerox Systems Development Department and the Xerox Webster Research Center, holding a variety of software engineering positions implementing data protocols, contributing to IEEE standards, and doing advanced development in high-speed data networking. Armstrong earned an undergraduate degree in computer science from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo.

5. Lori Schneider
Vice President & General Manager, Collins Aerospace

Lori Schneider is a Vice President and General Manager for Aerostructures Programs with Collins Aerospace. Collins Aerospace specializes in aerostructures, avionics, interiors, mechanical systems, mission systems, and power and control systems that serve customers across the commercial, regional, business aviation and military sectors. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the business has 71,000 employees across more than 300 locations of four businesses that form Raytheon Technologies Corporation. Schneider has 26 years of experience. She began her career in 1996.

Before joining Collins Aerospace, Schneider was a program manager and senior director at Boeing. Earlier in her career she worked with Lucent Technologies - Bell Laboratories as a technical staff member. Schneider graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with an Executive MBA, from Princeton University with an MS in electrical engineering, from the University of Florida with an MS in materials science engineering, and from Florida State University with undergraduate degrees in chemistry and biochemistry.

6. Michelle Balatero
Assistant Vice President, Advisor Diversity & Inclusion, LPL Financial

Michelle Balatero serves as the Assistant Vice President of Advisor Diversity & Inclusion at LPL Financial. LPL Financial is one of the top independent broker/dealers in the nation and a leading provider of investment and business solutions for independent financial advisors. She is responsible for championing strategic efforts to push the needle forward in advancing the representation and supporting the business growth and evolving needs of underrepresented financial advisors.

With her upbringing as a military child and spouse, Balatero got her start in 2010 as a financial advisor serving military families and has since served in a spectrum of roles within the financial services industry including relationship management, compliance, and sales before transitioning to diversity and inclusion in 2021. By experiencing her own challenges of being a financial advisor and seeing very little representation and mentorship opportunities for minority women, Balatero has grown a passion and drive for helping advisors overcome their barriers to growth and to provide a positive impact on diverse investor communities. She has spearheaded multiple diversity and inclusion initiatives that include providing access to financial tools and resources in a foreign language and cultivating an inclusive environment for advisors to connect and amplify their stories. Balatero holds an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Maryland Global Campus and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNING™ designation, a standard of excellence and the most recognized designation in financial planning.

7. Patty Gray
Vice President of Global Vendor Management, Westcon-Comstor

Patty Gray began her professional career 36 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Global Vendor Management for Westcon-Comstor. Westcon-Comstor is a global technology provider and specialist distributor, operating in more than 70 countries. It delivers business value and opportunity by connecting the world’s leading IT vendors with a channel of technology resellers, systems integrators, and service providers. Westcon-Comstor combines industry insight, technical know-how, and more than 30 years of distribution experience to deliver value and accelerate vendor and partner business success.

In 1986, Gray served as a VP with Avnet Technology Solutions. From there, she went on to Blue Coat Systems (acquired by Symantec) as area VP of enterprise sales for the Western region, her most recent position prior to joining Westcon-Comstor. Gray graduated from Arizona State University with an undergraduate degree in global supply chain and business economics.

8. Cirina Catania
President & Founder, The Catania Group

Cirina Catania is the President and Founder of The Catania Group. She founded the company in 1989. Catania Studio is a multidisciplinary agency that pursues dynamic results, favoring interactive communications. This means that each need of its clients is dimensioned in order to promote concrete results, be it in the projection of the brand, be it in the promotion of sales of its products and/or services. Founded in 1994, initially to serve clients in the communication and marketing areas, Catania Studio is dedicated to "construction of images" of public figures and entrepreneurs. As time goes by, the market demands have summoned the agency to meet all formal communication demands that involve the relationships of companies with their public including propaganda, publicity and journalism.

Previously, Catania was a showrunner and supervising producer at Digital Production BuZZ and before that a writer at Technorati Media. Earlier in her career she worked with MGM/UA as a director of national publicity in the theatrical division. Catania earned an undergraduate degree in business and journalism from the University of Utah and an undergraduate degree in music and performing arts from the Queens University of Charlotte.

9. Alison Fleury
Senior Vice President of Business Development, Sharp HealthCare

Alison Fleury is the Senior Vice President of Business Development of Sharp HealthCare. Sharp HealthCare is a not-for-profit health care system based in San Diego, California, with four acute care hospitals, three specialty hospitals, three medical groups, and a health plan. They provide medical services in virtually all fields of medicine, including primary care, heart care, cancer, orthopedics, stroke/neurology, women’s health, rehabilitation, robotic surgery, bariatric surgery, chemical dependency, and behavioral health. At the heart of the organization are more than 20,000 nurses, staff, affiliated physicians, and volunteers who are on a journey to make health care better for their patients and families. Fleury has nearly 37 years of experience. She began her career in 1985.

Prior to her current position, Fleury was a CEO with the organization. Earlier in her career she worked with Deloitte as a manager. Fleury graduated from San Diego State University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.

10. Whitney Hodges
Partner, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton

Whitney Hodges is a Partner of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton. Sheppard Mullin is a full service Global 100 law firm. From their 15 offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, they offer global solutions to their clients around the world, providing seamless representation in multiple jurisdictions. Global companies turn to Sheppard Mullin to handle a full range of corporate and technology matters, high stakes litigation, and complex financial transactions. In the US, the firm's clients include half of the Fortune 100 companies. Hodges has nearly 13 years of experience. She began her career in 2009.

Before joining Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, Hodges was a law clerk at Advantage Sales & Marketing. Earlier in her career she worked with Beckett Cantley as a research assistant. Hodges graduated from USC Gould School of Law with a JD and from the University of Southern California with an undergraduate degree in history and communication.

11. Wende Oliverio
Senior Vice President of Finance, PriceSmart

Wende Oliverio began her professional career 30 years ago. Today, she is the Senior Vice President of Finance of PriceSmart. PriceSmart is the original membership club and the largest in Central America, Colombia, and the Caribbean, working with its members and suppliers to provide low unit prices on a hand-picked selection of high-quality items and services in a reliable, safe, and fun shopping experience. With over 47 clubs in 13 countries, PriceSmart serves more than 3 million members. Additionally, PriceSmart works in conjunction with Price Philanthropies, to support their local communities in the countries in which they operate, with programs such as Aprender y Crecer, under which they provide school supplies and resources to students, teachers, and local schools.

Oliverio first got her start in 1992 as a manager of finance at Procter & Gamble. From there, she went on to ConAgra, before eventually rising to become the VP of finance and IT at WD-40, her most recent position prior to joining PriceSmart. Oliverio graduated from Indiana University with an MBA and from Purdue University with an undergraduate degree in finance and economics.

12. Jami Debrango-Palumbo
Senior Vice President of Client Services & Operations, Foundation Medicine

Jami Debrango-Palumbo began her professional career nearly 34 years ago. Today, she is the Senior Vice President of Client Services and Operations for Foundation Medicine. Foundation Medicine is a molecular information company dedicated to a transformation in cancer care in which treatment is informed by a deep understanding of the genomic changes that contribute to each patient's unique cancer. The company offers a full suite of comprehensive genomic profiling assays to identify the molecular alterations in a patient’s cancer and match them with relevant targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and clinical trials. Foundation Medicine’s molecular information platform aims to improve day-to-day care for patients by serving the needs of clinicians, academic researchers, and drug developers to help advance the science of molecular medicine in cancer.

Debrango-Palumbo first got her start in 1988 in management commercial operations at Limited Brands-Division of Express World Brands. From there, she went on to IDEC USA, before eventually rising to become a VP and global head of sequencing operations at Roche, her most recent position prior to joining Foundation Medicine. Debrango-Palumbo graduated from UC San Diego - Rady School of Management with an Executive MBA and from The College of Saint Rose with an undergraduate degree.

13. Shannon Lackey
SVP & Chief Merchandising Officer, Excelligence Learning Corp

Shannon Lackey is an exceptional leader with over 15 years of experience driving retail growth. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer with Excelligence Learning Corp. Excelligence is one of the world's leading innovative companies providing educational classroom services and solutions to the global early childhood education market. Lackey is responsible for developing and driving merchandising and product development strategy for several of the company’s distribution channels. Through her team, she leads multiple business units including merchandising, product development, sourcing, and inventory management.

Prior to joining Excelligence, Lackey was the VP of merchandising at Hollar (acquired by Five Below) and before that a merchandising director for Petco. She first got her start as an assistant buyer with Burlington Coat Factory. Lackey earned an undergraduate degree in business marketing from the University of Pittsburgh.

14. Pamela Wong
EVP and Chief Legal Officer, Myriad Genetics

Pamela Wong is the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Myriad Genetics. Myriad Genetics is a leading genetic testing and precision medicine company dedicated to advancing health and well-being for all, empowering individuals with vital genetic insights and enabling healthcare providers to better detect, treat and prevent disease. Myriad discovers and commercializes genetic tests that determine the risk of developing disease, accurately diagnose disease, assess the risk of disease progression, and guide treatment decisions across medical specialties where critical genetic insights can significantly improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. Wong has 26 years of experience. She began her career in 1996.

Before joining Myriad Genetics, Wong was an assistant general counsel at Quest Diagnostics and before that, a partner in intellectual property at Baker & McKenzie LLP. Earlier in her career she worked with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. Wong graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law with an JD, from Florida State University with a PhD in chemistry, and from the University of California, Berkeley with an undergraduate degree in chemistry.

15. Allegra Heyligers
Head of Distribution Enablement, Allspring Global Investments

Allegra Heyligers is the Head of Distribution Enablement at Allspring Global Investments. Allspring is a company committed to thoughtful investing, purposeful planning, and the desire to elevate investing to be worth more. In her role, Heyligers is responsible for initiatives aligned to support global distribution efforts, including investment insights and thought leadership, institutional client service, client materials and the integrated distribution analytics, and data strategy.

Heyligers joined Allspring from its predecessor firm, Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM). Prior to this, she was a managing director and head of client engagement at Strategic Insight. Earlier, she was a chief operating officer of U.S. and Canada defined contribution and head of retirement strategy at BlackRock. She began her career in transition management at Barclays Global Investors. Heyligers earned an undergraduate degree in communications, graduating cum laude, from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is an executive board member of the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association.

16. Laura Macneel
Vice President of Legal Affairs, Aya Healthcare

Laura Macneel began her professional career over 14 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Legal Affairs of Aya Healthcare. Aya Healthcare creates exceptional experiences for their clinicians, their corporate employees, and the healthcare facilities they serve. For healthcare facilities, Aya delivers a robust suite of software and services to manage the procurement of contingent labor. Aya’s platform provides access to one of the largest sources of contract clinicians in the country which improves efficiency, increases quality, and reduces costs for healthcare systems. For travel nurses, Aya delivers the best experience in the industry and allows access to the widest base of travel assignments in the country.

Macneel first got her start in 2007 as an associate attorney at Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP. She graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law with a JD and from Duke University with an undergraduate degree in economics.

17. Michelle Jackson
Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, Alliant International University

Michelle Jackson is the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs of Alliant International University. She first joined the university in 2013. Alliant is a private university accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), offering graduate study in psychology, education, business management, law and forensic studies, and bachelor’s degree programs in several fields. In her current role, Jackson oversees the Office of International Student Services, Intake Officer of Accessibility, Student Assistance Programming and is the lead investigator on bias/discrimination complaints. She has over 15 years of experience in higher education, serving students from all walks of life equally.

Jackson has served various roles interacting with students in the capacity of a student advisor, senior director of student advising, student government staff advisor, campus director of San Diego. She has earned a master’s degree in business administration, master’s degree in psychology, and a doctoral candidate in leadership.

18. Julie Bryant
CEO & Founder, Rancho BioSciences
Julie Bryant

Julie Bryant is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Rancho BioSciences, on a mission to save lives through data. Rancho BioSciences is an international fee for service data curation company with analysis and developer services. Their customers include pharma, foundations, government, and biotech companies. Rancho BioSciences is celebrating its 10-year anniversary and is experiencing exponential growth. Their strong culture code attracts the best scientists and developers that want to make a difference.

Over the years Bryant has built strong teams in GenenGo and later sold to Thomson Reuters. She was also involved in the acquisition of FreedomVoice by GoDaddy. She is on the advisory board of Rady Children's Hospital and the Brain Trust Committee at John Wayne Cancer Institute. Bryant is a graduate of Coventry University.

19. Susan Welsh
SVP of Pharmacovigilance and Chief Safety Officer, Mirati Therapeutics

Susan Welsh is the Senior Vice President of Pharmacovigilance and Chief Safety Officer of Mirati Therapeutics. Mirati Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company whose mission is to discover, design, and deliver breakthrough therapies to transform the lives of patients with cancer and their loved ones. The company is relentlessly focused on bringing forward therapies that address areas of high unmet medical need, including lung cancer, and advancing a pipeline of novel therapeutics targeting the genetic and immunological drivers of cancer. Unified for patients, Mirati's vision is to unlock the science behind the promise of a life beyond cancer.

Before joining Mirati Therapeutics, Welsh was a chief safety officer at CSL Behring and before that, a chief safety officer at Sanofi. Earlier in her career she worked with Snowdon Pharmaceuticals as their CEO. Welsh graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with an MBA, from Washington University in St. Louis with a master’s degree in information management, and from the University of Leeds with undergraduate degrees in medicine, surgery, and psychology.

20. Morgan Wolf
VP of Clinical Operations, LaserAway

Morgan Wolf began her professional career over 12 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Clinical Operations of LaserAway. LaserAway is the nation’s leader in aesthetic dermatology. It has committed over a decade to helping people of all skin types discover their best skin ever, with over 3 million treatments performed and new locations opening every month. It uses state-of-the-art technology for maximum results. Its clinics are supervised by 20 board-certified dermatologists, and its treatments are implemented by registered nurses, nurse practitioners and physician associates who undergo one of the most comprehensive training programs in the business. LaserAway has over 80 locations across the country and specializes in laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation, body contouring, and injectables including Botox and dermal fillers.

Wolf first got her start in 2009 as a registered nurse at Berkshire Allergy and Asthma Center Inc. Wolf graduated from the University of San Diego with a Doctor of Nursing Practice and from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania with an undergraduate degree in nursing.

21. Mary Fisher
CEO, Colorescience

Mary Fisher is the Chair, Chief Executive Officer, and Board Director at Colorescience. Colorescience is a former division of SkinMedica Inc. where Fisher previously served as Chief Executive Officer from 2008 until 2012. She led the successful sale of the company to Allergan, Inc. for $350 million with the potential for another $25 million contingent on certain sales milestones.

Fisher has spent more than 30 years in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, including management and leadership positions at Acorda Therapeutics, Cephalon, Immunex, and Boehringer Ingelheim. She also serves on the board of directors of Sientra and Dermata Therapeutics. Fisher was honored as Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year for San Diego, California, and received the EY Venture Capital Award of Excellence. She was also recently named a finalist for Most Admired CEO by the San Diego Business Journal.

22. Basak Kaya
VP of Revenue Cycle Management, Vituity

Basak Kaya is the Vice President of Revenue Cycle Management of Vituity. She first joined the company in 2020. Vituity is an entrepreneurial, physician-owned partnership that looks for innovative ways to improve patient outcomes. The organization began in the garage of a California physician, who along with a few other doctors traveled by bicycle to local hospitals to provide specialty medical services. Since that time, nearly a half-century ago, Vituity has become one of the largest providers of acute care management and healthcare solutions in the country. The organization’s 4,200 doctors and clinicians provide multi-specialty care to more than 400 hospitals and healthcare facilities in 14 states. Their latest innovation is implementing cloud communications.

Previously, Kaya was a system director of revenue integrity, analytics, audit, and training at Sharp HealthCare and before that a director of management and operations at Wipfli LLP. Earlier in her career she worked with GSK as an analyst of international marketing. Kaya earned an MBA from The George Washington University School of Business and an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Virginia.

23. Victoria Switzer
Chief Operating Officer, Gomez Trial Attorneys

Victoria Switzer is the Chief Operating Officer of Gomez Trial Attorneys. Gomez Trial Attorneys is the largest plaintiffs'​ trial firm located in San Diego. They are a team of San Diego personal injury attorneys and handle cases ranging from catastrophic injury to wrongful death and several others including insurance disputes, elder abuse, and business disputes. In addition to their San Diego personal injury and wrongful death practices, they also work tirelessly for children's rights. Several children's rights lawyers work at the firm, and they protect rights with regards to physical harm, psychological abuse, and bullying. Switzer has nearly 12 years in the legal services industry. She began her career in 2010.

Before joining Gomez Trial Attorneys, Switzer was an accounting specialist at Dye Precision, Inc. Switzer graduated from San Diego Miramar College with an undergraduate degree in social sciences.

24. Suzy Cruden
VP of Marketing & Business Strategy, McCarthy Building Companies

Suzy Cruden is the Vice President of Marketing and Business Strategy of McCarthy Building Companies. She first joined the company in 2015 as a VP of business development. McCarthy builds healthcare, educational, advanced manufacturing & technology, scientific research, aviation, parking, hospitality/entertainment, retail, and more. As one of the oldest American-owned construction companies with offices nationally, knowing how to build from early in the design phase through completion is a tradition that will continue as they endeavor to advance the value of their expertise and deliver the highest quality, job-site safety and ultimately, the best final project costs.

Cruden earned an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, San Diego.

25. Perla Torres
Chief Human Resources Officer, Center for Community Solutions

Perla Torres is the Chief Human Resources Officer at the Center for Community Solutions (CCS), a non-profit organization that is a regional leader in the intervention and prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault. Since her arrival at CCS in 2018, she has led human resources initiatives in support of an organizational commitment to diversity, leadership development, and implementation of policies and tools for a growing workforce. She has a 17-year track record of human resources success in identifying growth opportunities, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives, overseeing contract and legal compliance, and fostering professional development. Torres is the epitome of hard work, accountability, and commitment. She was raised in an underserved community in South San Diego by her parents, who immigrated from Mexico and instilled in her a sense of responsibility that guides her professional success to this day.

Torres first got her start in payroll and quickly rose to an entry level option in human resources. While enjoying her new position in HR and felt she found her calling, she knew a college degree was essential to her professional growth. She went on to National University where she earned an undergraduate degree in organizational leadership and a master’s degree in human resource management.

26. Sallie Giblin
President, Lockton Companies

Sallie Giblin is the President of Lockton Companies. She first joined the company in 2006 as an executive vice president. Lockton Companies is the world's largest privately held insurance brokerage firm, providing insurance, risk management, employee benefits, and retirement services. In addition to its Kansas City, Missouri headquarters, Lockton operates more than 100+ locations in 125 countries and currently employs more than 8,500 people worldwide. Lockton brings the resources and talent of a global company that empowers its people to put clients first. The result is a group of highly experienced insurance brokers and advisers who work together to provide exceptional service and solutions. Their mission is to be the worldwide value and service leader in insurance brokerage, employee benefits, and risk management.

Previously, Giblin was a director of membership development at San Diego Human Resource Forum and before that, a director of membership development at The National Hot Rod Association for San Diego. Earlier in her career she worked with Barney & Barney as an account executive of employee benefits. Giblin earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

27. Allyson Markey
Founder, The Forum

Allyson Markey is the Founder of The Forum. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Diego, California, The Forum is an agency designed specifically for small to mid-sized companies seeking assistance with everything from digital marketing services to PR strategy. Its global team’s expertise, combined with cutting-edge technology and a hands-on approach, means that their clients get focused marketing and public relations support at a highly competitive cost. The Forum has the tools, processes, and relationships to make sure their client’s story is told to the right people at the right time.

Previously, Markey was a content manager at AbacusNext, and before that, a social campaign manager at Save San Diego High. Earlier in her career she worked with Kleinfelder as an environmental geologist. Markey earned an undergraduate degree in geology from the University of California, Davis and an undergraduate degree in biology from Palomar College.

28. Anne Sandan
Vice President of HR, ViaCyte

Anne Sandan began her professional career 32 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Human Resources of ViaCyte. ViaCyte is a privately held regenerative medicine company developing novel cell replacement therapies as potential long-term diabetes treatments to achieve glucose control targets and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and diabetes-related complications. ViaCyte’s product candidates are based on direct differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into PEC-01 pancreatic islet progenitor cells, which are then implanted in durable and retrievable cell delivery devices. ViaCyte demonstrated that when effectively engrafted, PEC-01 cells can mature into glucose-responsive insulin producing cells in patients with type 1 diabetes. To accelerate and expand its efforts, ViaCyte has established collaborative partnerships with leading companies including CRISPR Therapeutics and W.L. Gore & Associates.

Sandan first got her start in 1990 as a senior auditor at Arthur Andersen LLP. From there, she went on to The Welk Group, before eventually rising to become a director of accounting compliance at Carl Zeiss Vision (formerly SOLA International). Sandan graduated from the University of San Diego with an undergraduate degree in business administration.

29. Kerri Simmons
Vice President of Performance Solutions, Infopro Learning

Kerri Simmons is the Vice President of Performance Solutions of Infopro Learning. Infopro Learning, a leading provider in corporate training and human capital transformation, helps organizations create an exceptional employee and customer experience through custom training solutions. For more than 25 years, the company has designed and implemented engaging learning experiences that attract, develop, and retain talent across the entire employee lifecycle. With offices around the world, Infopro Learning’s technology platforms and governance models support organizations to improve business performance, at a reduced cost. Simmons has over 34 years of experience. She began her career in 1988.

Before joining Infopro Learning, Simmons was a director of solution architecture at SweetRush. Earlier in her career she worked with the United States Air Force as a meteorologist. Simmons graduated from San Diego State University with an MS in instructional technology and an undergraduate degree in applied communication.

30. Erin Clark
Founder & CEO, ClarkRN

Erin Clark began her professional career 15 years ago. Today, she is the Founder and CEO of ClarkRN. ClarkRN partners with firms and organizations involved in the design and implementation of cutting edge, efficient, and holistic healthcare environments. It brings knowledge and experience to ensure the designs are developed and tested against the current trends in healthcare delivery including lean methodologies, evidence-based design, high reliability, the flows of healthcare, and others. ClarkRN works on a contractual basis and is used when needed both onsite and offsite throughout the course of a project. It has a team of subject matter experts in various nursing and ancillary fields that are pulled in as needed to ensure all aspects of a project are looked at through the eyes of the experts.

Clark first got her start in 2007 as a registered nurse and community health worker at Peace Corps. From there, she went on to UCSF Medical Center, before eventually rising to become the director of transition planning at HTS, her most recent position prior to founding ClarkRN. Clark graduated from the University of California, San Francisco with an MS in nursing and health systems leadership, and from Seton Hall University with an undergraduate degree in nursing.

31. Adela de la Torre
President, San Diego State University

Adela de la Torre began her professional career 31 years ago. Today, she is the President of San Diego State University. Founded in 1897, San Diego State University is a major public research institution that provides transformative experiences for its more than 36,000 students. SDSU, ranks as the number one California State University in federal research support, is a long-standing Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and resides on Kumeyaay land. The university is known for offering transformational research, international experiences, sustainability and entrepreneurship initiatives, internships and mentoring, and a broad range of student life and leadership opportunities. SDSU is committed to excellence and known for its efforts advancing diversity and inclusion.

De la Torre first got her start in 1991 as a chairperson of the Chicano/Latino studies at First Company. From there, she went on to California State University, before eventually rising to vice chancellor of student affairs and campus diversity at the University of California, Davis, her most recent position prior to joining San Diego State University. De la Torre graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a PhD and MS in agricultural and resource economics, and an undergraduate degree in political economy of natural resources.

32. Aparajita Chourasia
Vice President of Biology, BioTheryX

Aparajita Chourasia is the Vice President of Biology for BioTheryX. BioTheryX is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from cancer and inflammatory and immunological diseases through the discovery, development, and commercialization of targeted protein degradation therapies. They leverage their proprietary PRODEGY technology platform and differentiated targeted protein degradation approach to design small molecules that regulate protein homeostasis. BioTheryX believes their approach is applicable to a broad range of diseases and has the ability to address protein targets that have historically been considered undruggable. Their initial programs are focused on oncology indications with high unmet medical need. Chourasia has 14 years in the biotechnology industry. She began her career in 2008.

Before joining BioTheryX, Chourasia was a scientist in discovery biology at Celgene and before that, a scientist at Veridex LLC. Earlier in her career she worked with Brigham and Women's Hospital as a research assistant. Chourasia graduated from the University of Chicago with a PhD in cancer biology and an MS in translational science, and from the University of Illinois Chicago with an MS in biochemistry and molecular biology.

33. Rebecca Taylor
Vice President of Operations, Equabli

Rebecca Taylor is the Vice President of Operations of Equabli. She first joined the company in 2021. Equabli is a fintech company dedicated to rethinking debt recovery through innovative technology, insightful analytics, and a wealth of expertise. Its comprehensive, fully managed platform consolidates, simplifies, and optimizes the debt recovery process for creditors and consumers. With a single connection, Equabli becomes an extension of a business, providing complete end-to-end management of debt recoveries through an intelligent, highly integrated ecosystem of multi-channel solutions. Taylor has over 22 years of professional work experience in the financial services, retail sales, and legal industries working with Fortune 100 and 500 companies.

Taylor has held positions in HR, operations, and business development throughout her career. These positions have provided her with the unique opportunity to lead global change management, operational strategy, process improvement, compliance, and mergers and acquisitions initiatives for the organizations she has worked for while having a seat on both the business and human resources sides of the house. Taylor also has vast experience developing and managing cross-functional global teams and is recognized as a strategic thought partner and driver of organizational change. She is also the co-owner and managing partner of RCS Global Services, a boutique HR Consulting firm, and she also serves on the Viejas Grande Estates Board and on various Receivables Management Association International (RMAi). She is a High Honors graduate from the University of California, Berkeley with dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science.

34. Lauren Hirota
Corporate Counsel, Pathways Management Group

Lauren Hirota is the Corporate Counsel of Pathways Management Group. Pathways Management Group (PMG) is a non-profit organization that manages a network of programs and services designed to get students excited about their education again and prepared for their future. PMG managed schools provide one-on-one attention and guidance, individualized learning plans, and a focus on social-emotional growth to allow students to find personal and academic success in high school and beyond. They proudly serve communities throughout Illinois, Tennessee, Arizona, Louisiana, and Idaho.

Hirota earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy and political science from San Diego State University and a JD in law from the University of the Pacific - McGeorge School of Law.

35. Windus Brinkkord
SVP of Wealth Planning, Trilogy Financial

Windus Brinkkord began her professional career over 19 years ago. Today, she is the Senior Vice President of Wealth Planning of Trilogy Financial. Established in 1999, Trilogy Financial is a forward-thinking company that offers objective, independent financial planning services. Privately owned, Trilogy offers its services nationwide, with multiple branches from coast to coast. Their strong work ethic and pursuit of excellence has earned their representatives and the company itself, top awards in a variety of venues from a multitude of industry-related perspectives to some of the most important community-related interests.

Brinkkord graduated from the University of San Diego with an undergraduate degree in international relations.

36. Liesl Bernard
Chief Executive Officer, CannabizTeam

Liesl Bernard began her professional career 33 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Executive Officer of CannabizTeam. Founded in 2016, CannabizTeam is the world’s largest cannabis-focused executive search and staffing firm providing services for the top cannabis and CBD businesses in the U.S. and Canada. CannabizTeam takes the time to learn the beliefs, values, culture, and goals of each client. By achieving a comprehensive understanding of each client, CannabizTeam can match them with ideal candidates and help them achieve sustainable success. Through an extensive global reach and unparalleled business relationships, CannabizTeam and their temporary and consulting arm, CannabizTemp, place over 1,000 candidates a year.

Bernard first got her start in 1989 as an audit senior at KPMG. From there, she went on to Moss Adams, before eventually rising to become a managing director of executive search at Robert Half, her most recent position prior to joining CannabizTeam. Bernard graduated from the University of Cape Town with an undergraduate degree in accounting and information systems.

37. Erin Bijas
Vice President & Account Director, Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness

Erin Bijas is the Vice President and Account Director of Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness. She first joined the company in 2020. Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness is a health and wellness agency that moves consumers and healthcare professionals emotionally to seek greater well-being and help build strong brands. Their employees are drawn together by a burning desire to care about those they work with every day, their brands and brand teams, and the healthcare professionals and consumers they reach out to online, on-air, in print and in-office. Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness is a part of one the largest communications networks in its industry.

Previously, Bijas was an account director at Rescue - The Behavior Change Agency and before that, an account director at Publicis Life Brands Medicus. Earlier in her career she worked with MWW Group as a senior account executive. Bijas earned an undergraduate degree in public communication and Spanish from American University.

38. Rae P. Revelle
President & Creative Director, Ray Norris Design

Rae P. Revelle is the award-winning President, Creative Director, and Visionary of her firm - Ray Norris Design. Ray Norris Design is an international multi-discipline design consulting firm specializing in creating world-class interiors. Their customer-centric approach ensures that their interiors fully actualize the needs of their discerning clientele and their expectations are exceeded. They adopt a similar philosophy for all of their projects, namely to design spaces that align form and function yet challenge the status quo. Ray Norris Design’s mission is to showcase each client's individuality through a confident mix of design thinking, history, and attention to detail. They firmly believe no element of the design process is too great or too small. From design conceptualization to furnishings and accessories they provide concierge-level service wholly focused on their client's complete satisfaction. Rae began her design career in 2012 with the opening Ray Norris Design and has over 9 years of design experience.

Before founding Ray Norris Design, Rae’s holds an extensive background in Accounting and Acquisition Management. Working for some of the top 10 defense contracting companies. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture & Design from the Academy of Art University. As a firm believer in the transformative ability design can play in one’s life, Rae launched the Ray Norris Design Foundation in early 2015 dedicated to the betterment of design students globally. Rae is a member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and an honoree of the nation’s Top 20 African American Interior Designers.

39. Julia Cain
Vice President of Operations, M2 Ingredients

Julia Cain is the Vice President of Operations of M2 Ingredients. Founded in 2010, M2 Ingredients is a leading producer of certified 100% organic, whole food mushroom powders with the full spectrum of bioactive compounds to support daily health, sports performance, recovery, and cognition. Their cutting-edge innovation in product development is made possible by their team’s extensive technical expertise and their proprietary growing methodology. The certified 100% organic mushrooms are grown, dried, milled, and packaged in their cGMP certified state-of-the-art in-door farm in Carlsbad, California. Cain has over 19 years of experience. She began her career in 2002.

Before joining M2 Ingredients, Cain was a director of engineering at Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits and before that a value stream manager at TE Connectivity. Earlier in her career she worked with Eltron Research as a research scientist. Cain graduated from the University of California, San Diego - Rady School of Management with an MBA, and from Virginia Commonwealth University with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering.

40. Maleka Ali
Founder & President, Arc-Serv

Maleka Ali is the Founder and President of Arc-Serv, a woman-owned consulting firm with expertise in anti-money laundering, combating the financing of terrorism, and sanctions compliance. She has developed the company to provide education/training, guidance, and consulting services on risk mitigation, auditing, and regulatory compliance to financial institutions and fintech companies. She has over 35 years of experience serving over 750 financial institutions as a subject matter expert in BSA/AML compliance and operations.

Before founding Arc-Serv, Ali was an early employee of a highly successful BSA/AML startup, where she helped grow the company into an industry leader. She has participated as a task force member in several mergers, acquisitions, and system conversions and has developed and implemented anti-money laundering programs at many financial institutions. Ali is a founding member of several ACAMs chapters in Southern California, where she has served as a co-chair and program director. Additionally, she was the founder of an Anti-Money Laundering system school located in Austin, Texas. Ali has blazed a trail for other women in an otherwise male-dominated industry and has mentored many who attribute her leadership and enthusiasm as a prime example for pursuing and following their own aspirational career journeys.

41. Jean O'Neill
Vice President, Appgate

Jean O'Neill began her professional career over 17 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Appgate. Appgate brings together a set of differentiated cloud- and hybrid-ready security and analytics products and services. These include Appgate SDP, the industry’s leading Software-Defined Perimeter solution, the Consumer Access suite of Risk-Based Authentication and Digital Threat Protection capabilities and the company’s Immunity range of offense-oriented software and adversary simulation services. Today, these products secure more than 1,000 organizations across 40 countries.

O'Neill first got her start in 2005 as a partner account manager at c360. From there, she went on to Rackspace Managed Hosting, before eventually rising to become a VP at Involta, her most recent position prior to joining Appgate. O'Neill graduated from Kennesaw State University with an undergraduate degree in communications.

42. Dessi Day
Partner, Greene & Roberts

Dessislava (Dessi) Day is a Partner at the law firm of Greene & Roberts LLP in San Diego, California. She represents employers in wage and hour class actions, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, trade secrete disputes, and advises clients on California HR compliance, leaves of absence, accommodations, compensation, and employee separation matters. Over the years, Day has led a community of over 1200 employment and labor law attorneys throughout the U.S. and Canada, presently serving as the chair of the DRI Employment and Labor Law Committee. Day is also a past Chair of the San Diego County Bar Association Litigation Section.

A native of Bulgaria, Day relocated to the United States in her early 20’s to pursue her legal studies and obtained a law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law where she served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of International Law and Commercial Transactions and was a member of the Moot Court Team of the UNC Trial Law Academy. She received her undergraduate degree in political science and management with honors from Guilford College.

43. Julia Ortega
VP of iHope Genetic Health, Genetic Alliance

Julia Ortega is the Vice President of iHope Genetic Health of Genetic Alliance. She first joined the company in 2022. Genetic Alliance is the world’s leading nonprofit health advocacy organization committed to transforming health through genetics and promoting an environment of openness centered on the health of individuals, families, and communities. Genetic Alliance’s network includes more than 1,000 disease-specific advocacy organizations, as well as thousands of universities, private companies, government agencies, and public policy organizations. The network is a dynamic and growing open space for shared resources, creative tools, and innovative programs.

Previously, Ortega was a director of scientific research and programs at Illumina and before that, a head of alliance management at Human Longevity, Inc. Earlier in her career she worked with Duke HIV Treatment Center as a clinical trials coordinator of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group. Ortega earned a master’s degree in health science from Duke University School of Medicine, and an undergraduate degree in English from Spelman College.

44. Jennifer Ramos
Founder & CEO, JR3 Consulting Group

Jennifer Ramos began her professional career over 18 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of JR3 Consulting Group. JR3 Consulting Group was founded with the intent to help business owners find financial freedom. Ramos has also been a successful business owner with over 20 years of ownership and experience in the health care and senior care industries, having owned and operated home care agencies in both California and Colorado.

Ramos is a California Licensed Business Broker with M & A Business Advisors, the Leader in Business Sales & Acquisitions. She has earned the designation of Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) from the Exit Planning Institute (EPI). Ramos graduated from San Diego State University with an undergraduate degree in social work and psychology.

45. Isabel Sauerbrey
SVP of Information Technology & Operations, Roswell Biotechnologies

Isabel Sauerbrey began her professional career 24 years ago. Today, she is the Senior Vice President of Information Technology and Operations of Roswell Biotechnologies. Roswell Biotechnologies is digitizing biology through molecular electronics to elucidate, diagnose, and treat disease. The company has developed the world's first molecular electronics chip, the Roswell ME Chip, by integrating single molecules into standard semiconductor chip technology to deliver a powerful biosensor that converges all omics on one platform. The Roswell ME Chip reads a multitude of molecules including enzymes, DNA, RNA, proteins, and small molecules - and for the first time, provides direct real-time electrical detection of single-molecule events on-chip.

Sauerbrey first got her start in 1998 as a senior manager of IT and operations at Motorola. From there, she went on to San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau as VP of IT and operations, her most recent position prior to joining Roswell Biotechnologies. Sauerbrey graduated from the University of San Diego with a master’s degree in executive leadership and an undergraduate degree in business administration.

46. Joann Yao
VP of Marketing, ImpediMed

Joann Yao is the Vice President of Marketing of ImpediMed. She first joined the company in 2019. ImpediMed is the world leader in the development and distribution of medical devices employing bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) technologies for use in the noninvasive clinical assessment and monitoring of fluid status. ImpediMed’s primary product range consists of a number of medical devices that aid surgeons, oncologists, therapists and radiation oncologists in the clinical assessment of patients for the potential onset of secondary lymphoedema.

Previously, Yao was a senior director of global marketing at REVA Medical, Inc. and before that, a consultant at Inspyr Therapeutics. Earlier in her career she worked with Susan E. Atkins & Associates as an account executive. Yao earned an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management and an undergraduate degree in bioengineering from UC San Diego.

47. Wendy Pizarro
Chief Legal & Diversity Officer & Corporate Secretary, Calidi Biotherapeutics

Wendy Pizarro is the Chief Legal Officer, Chief Diversity Officer, and Corporate Secretary of Calidi Biotherapeutics. Calidi Biotherapeutics is a talented, seasoned group of world-class executives, doctors, and scientists producing revolutionary work. It is a clinical-stage biotechnology company at the forefront of oncolytic virus-based immunotherapies for cancer. Calidi Biotherapeutics has developed a novel cell-based delivery system shown to overcome the host immune defense mechanisms, amplify the oncolytic viruses, and instantly modify the tumor microenvironment leading to effective virus expansion and optimal tumor cell targeting. Pizarro has over 9 years of experience. She began her career in 2013.

Pizarro graduated from Harvard Law School with a JD, from the University of Oxford with an MS in modern history, and from Yale University with an MA in political science and an undergraduate degree in political science and government.

48. Elizabeth Uslander
Founder, Voyages

Elizabeth Uslander is a counselor and conscious entrepreneur dedicated to facilitating transformation and empowerment in the fields of Grief, End of Life, Family and Spirituality. She is the founder of Voyages, an international counseling practice in which she works closely with clients to heal the wounds of a lifetime as they navigate major transitions. She co-founded Empowered Endings™, established to teach about and further social paradigm shifts in End of Life Care, and the Aid in Dying Foundation, a non-profit organization offering access to End of Life resources to those in need.

Uslander earned her Bachelor of Arts with honors from Georgetown University, her Master of Theological Studies from Wesley Theological Seminary, and her Master of Social Work with honors from the University of Southern California. She was ordained in the ecumenical Universal Life Ministry.

49. Deborah Stumm
SVP of Sales & Marketing, Bonkers Toys

Deborah Stumm is the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Bonkers Toys. Since the company’s inception in 2015, Bonkers Toys has been at the forefront of digital media and signed licenses for some of the hottest YouTube influencers and most popular gaming apps. In 2017, Bonkers Toys recognized the massive potential of internet game sensation, slither.io™, and secured the worldwide toy license. With over 35 billion game plays to date, fans have clamored to get their hands on the toys and collectibles. In 2018 the company had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with the most popular YouTuber on the planet, Ryan’s World™, in partnership with pocket.watch™. Bonkers Toys was the very first licensee and launched the Ryan’s World toy line into the stratosphere. Stumm has 26 years of experience. She began her career in 1996.

Before joining Bonkers Toys, Stumm was a founder and CEO at Party Plan-It, Inc. Before that, she was a VP of sales at Jakks Pacific. Earlier in her career she worked with HP as a national account manager. Stumm graduated from the University of California with an undergraduate degree in communication and media studies.

50. Katherine Field
Vice President, Strategies 360

Katherine Field began her professional career nearly 19 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Strategies 360. Strategies 360 is one of the country’s leading strategic positioning firms. With offices in ten western states and Washington, DC, they are experts at negotiating the political landscape, crafting content, building coalitions, and targeting communications. They create the environment for their clients’ business and public policy successes. Strategies 360 offers customized solutions and a full-service approach to public policy, marketing, communications, creative services, research and polling, federal and state lobbying, and business strategy.

Field first got her start in 2003 as a district director at San Diego and Imperial County under U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. From there, she went on to Monarch School as senior director of external relations, her most recent position prior to joining Strategies 360. Field graduated from San Diego State University with an undergraduate degree in political science.