Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of the Mountain Region for 2022. Covering Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico, this award highlights leaders across nearly all industries. These individuals are natural influencers that bring about positive shifts in workplace culture. They are exemplary leaders who consistently inspire others and are looked upon by their peers for sound judgment and advice.
Among this year’s awardees is Ana Brant, Vice President of Customer Experience & Loyalty for Wynn & Encore Las Vegas, a visionary brand strategist who regularly shares her unconventional yet thoughtful ideas in the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and the peer-reviewed Cornell Hospitality Quarterly. Awardee Ronda Conger, Vice President of CBH Homes, has flourished in a male dominated industry for 29 years and is spreading her knowledge and experience with four books. Also awarded is Cindie Quintana, Vice President of Development & Public Relations for TURN Community Services, who has increased the organization’s donations by 80% and won nominations for her employer as "Best of State in Disability Services" for the past two years.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of the Mountain Region for 2022.
1. Kate Moss
SVP & Market Executive, Bank of America
Kate Moss is a Senior Vice President and Market Executive for Bank of America. She first joined the organization in 2018 as a relationship manager. Moss develops and executes Bank of America’s local strategic plan across all lines of business. She also manages the local market's philanthropy, sponsorships and community relations; executes national initiatives; develops and coordinates leadership team communication, protocols and visibility. She influences business integration and robust employee engagement to deliver one company to clients and communities.
Prior to joining Bank of America, Moss served as an executive director for Susan. G. Komen Utah and before that she served as a marketing communications manager for YWCA Utah. Moss was briefly an adjunct professor for the University of Utah where she graduated with an MBA and undergraduate in sociology. She serves as a board member for the Salt Lake Chamber, with the United Way of Salt Lake and for the Women’s Business Center of Utah.
2. Kelly Schwager
VP of Global Communications, Oracle
Kelly Schwager joined Oracle in 2016 and currently serves as Vice President of Global Communications and an Ambassador for Oracle for Research. Kelly also serves as board chair for the Montana High Tech Business Alliance (MHTBA), a nonpartisan statewide association focused on creating more high-paying jobs in Montana. Montana's high-tech industry is poised for continued growth and is a sector growing 7x the Montana economy and bringing in $2.9 billion in annual revenue.
Previously, Kelly served as EVP and general manager for Edelman Silicon Valley, a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote, and protect their brands and reputations. Prior, Kelly served as SVP and chief marketing officer for Streetline where she led the company's go-to-market strategy. Streetline established itself as a global leader in the “Internet of Things" specifically focused on smart cities and connected cars. Kelly has also held various leadership roles with tech players including SAP, Symantec, VERITAS, and USWeb. Kelly holds a master’s degree in communication management from the University of Southern California and an undergraduate degree in public relations from Pepperdine University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in leadership and learning in organizations from Vanderbilt University.
6. Ellen Charnley
President, Marsh
As President of Marsh Captive Solutions, spanning 50 domiciles and 400 employees servicing more than 1,200 captives, Ellen Charnley has a lot on her plate. Her role is to ensure that the right brokers with relevant expertise are matched to the right clients. In the past year she has focused on training those brokers to equip them with the right tools for the job. On the client side, Charnley has also prioritized bringing innovative solutions and products to market, delivering benchmarking data and analysis to enable her clients to make informed decisions, and providing networking and educational opportunities.
Last year, Charnley hosted Marsh’s third annual captive lunch at RIMS to give clients a platform to discuss the latest trends and developments and meet with senior leadership. She also launched a set of captive owner forums throughout the year to listen to clients’ concerns and address their needs. In addition, she has worked directly with clients on everything from choosing domiciles to strategically reviewing their captive utilization. Charnley has spent the past 18 years with the company. She graduated from the University of Surrey with an undergraduate degree in hotel management.
9. Kate Whiteley
Vice President of Corporate Communications & Production, Caesars Entertainment
Kate Whiteley is Vice President of Corporate Communications and Production for Caesars Entertainment where she leads communication, media relations, and film and television production efforts across the company’s more than 50 resorts and casinos. She oversees the company’s Corporate Communications and Public Relations teams spearheading corporate messaging and communications strategy. She also leads the Production and Talent Relations team and Caesars Entertainment Studios, a 45,000 square-foot soundstage off the Las Vegas Strip. Under Whiteley’s leadership, the company produced its first network television show, “Vegas Chef Prize Fight” for the Food Network and hosted productions including “Hell’s Kitchen,” seasons 19 and 20, and “Love Island USA,” season 2.
Prior to joining the Caesars team, Whiteley spent over a decade in public relations at Kirvin Doak Communications, Nevada’s largest PR agency. Most recently she was a VP leading a team of 12 servicing some of the biggest names in Las Vegas including MGM Resorts, Cirque du Soleil, The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, and Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne Newton. With roots in journalism, having started her career as a television reporter and anchor, Whiteley is a passionate believer in the power of words and the importance of storytelling.
10. Cindie Quintana
VP of Development & Public Relations, TURN Community Services
Cindie Quintana, Vice President of Development & Public Relations for TURN Community Services, has been a development and public relations professional for over twenty years. Quintana has worked in the corporate and nonprofit sectors as a fundraising and public relations professional for most of her career. She has earned a reputation for tenacity, unparalleled professionalism, and a strong work ethic. She has a "soft spot" for philanthropic endeavors.
During her career, Quintana has raised millions in charitable fundraising to benefit programs and services for people with disabilities and the less fortunate. Her portfolio of donors includes banks, corporations, foundations, and individuals. Quintana has a knack for discovering talent in unusual places and building brands with her "fresh eyes" approach. Over the last four years at TURN Community Services, she has increased donations by 80% and won nominations for her employer as "Best of State in Disability Services" in 2021 & 2022.
A well-known Corporate and Political Public Relations & Marketing Strategist, Quintana is sought after for her solid political background in public relations expertise and has collaborated with many high-profile candidates seeking higher office, including political races for US President, US Senate, House of Representatives, Gubernatorial, and several county races, including District Attorney, Sheriff, and Attorney General. Quintana threw her hat into the political ring in 2020 and ran for the Utah House of Representatives in her district. Quintana is an advisory board member for Better Days 2020 and Kiwanis International.
11. Rachell Ekroos
Chief Executive Officer, University of Nevada - Las Vegas
Rachell Ekroos is recognized regionally, nationally, and internationally as a forensic nursing leader, particularly for her impact in the areas of clinical services for people affected by violence, multidisciplinary responses to violence, and ethics. Dr. Ekroos is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and a Distinguished Fellow of the International Association of Forensic Nurses. She is a respected nurse leader whose work is grounded in the core values of personal, professional, and organizational integrity, accountability, respect for persons, and moral courage.
Having served as a clinical forensic resource and consultant to numerous organizations and government entities, Dr. Ekroos contributes as an adviser or subject matter expert on local, regional, national, and international committees. Her areas of expertise include sexual violence, intimate partner violence, interpersonal violence, multidisciplinary response to violence, and ethics. In addition, she has specialized expertise in the areas of human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, and technology-enabled crimes against children.
Dr. Ekroos is committed to achieving excellence through innovative strategies and best practices. Through her analytical approach to solution development, she has enacted effective strategies across diverse business models including for-profit, nonprofit, academic, and government agencies. Dr. Ekroos maintains a continued commitment to advancing evidence-based practices across the multidisciplinary teams responding to violence or mass disaster and increasing access to services for populations affected by violence.
12. Mary Villarreal
Vice President of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Utah
Mary Ann Villarreal supports a dynamic academic community, working to continue the momentum of California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) in creating an institutional vision and environment that centers diversity and inclusion in the Cal State Fullerton experience. Since joining CSUF, Villarreal has led the development and implementation of major university initiatives such as the University Strategic Plan, the Mellon Mays Fellows program, and the President’s Commission on Equity and Inclusion. She also led the expansion of CSUF's Office of First Year Experience (OFYE). The OFYE now serves approximately 500 undeclared first-year students as they transition into higher education and is partnered with the Global Titan Experience to engage them in study abroad opportunities.
Villarreal is an award-winning author for her book Listening to Rosita: The Business of Tejana Music and Culture, 1930–1955. Currently, she serves on the AAC&U Board of Directors and American Historical Association Committee in Gender and Equity. She holds a PhD in history from Arizona State University and an AB from Mount Holyoke College.
View the complete list of awardees.
15. Ronda Conger
Vice President, CBH Homes
Some say she was raised by wolves, others claim truckers. No matter what her upbringing, this
superwoman has flourished in a male dominated industry for 29 years. As Vice President of CBH Homes, Idaho’s largest homebuilder, Ronda leads the CBH troops daily, and has overseen all areas of the company for the past 19 years. Her most recent accomplishment that tops Ronda’s list is being named 2021 NAHB Woman of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders.
Serving others is important to Ronda. As a businesswoman, professional speaker, and author, Ronda is on a mission to spread a movement with her four books: Better Human, Better Thinking, You Go First and her latest book Leading Through Extraordinary Times. She thanks the heavens each day for this incredible journey and is so very grateful for the opportunity to serve and love all those that she comes in contact with.
16. Colleen Boltman
General Manager & VP of Public Sector Strategic Operations, Magellan Health
At Magellan Health, Colleen Boltman has successfully supported business growth through state procurement processes and implementation of publicly funded programs. She currently serves as the General Manager and Vice President of Public Sector Strategic Operations. For the last 5 years, she focused on integrated care initiatives for Medicare, Medicaid, and Waiver populations to improve quality, access, and cost of care. Outcomes include reduced utilization of services in inpatient settings, increased community-based service utilization, and improvement in the use of evidence-based best practices.
In her current role, Colleen also leads operations for Medicaid programs and products to ensure client satisfaction and compliance in meeting clinical, quality, customer, and business financial targets and objectives. She partners with account managers in various states and cross-functional teams within the organization to improve operational efficiencies with a focus on compliance and cost-effectiveness. As an IT liaison, Colleen supports current and future clinical business needs through collaboration with IT development and Analytics teams. Prior to joining Magellan, Colleen managed hospital-based utilization management and case management staff in an integrated healthcare system. She has over 13 years of direct long-term care experience in nursing facilities as well as community-based care.
18. Aubry Padilla
Executive General Manager, Garcia Automotive Group
Aubry Padilla is the Executive General Manager for two of Garcia Automotive Group’s dealerships, its Subaru and Cadillac stores in her hometown of Albuquerque. She was named to the 2019 class of Automotive News’ 40 Under 40 dealership executives. Much of her focus is on developing future leaders in the automotive industry.
Prior to joining Garcia, Padilla was a finance manager with Lexus of Albuquerque. She graduated from the University of Redlands with an undergraduate degree in sociology and completed the General Manager Executive Program from NCM Institute.
20. Ana Brant
VP of Customer Experience & Loyalty, Wynn & Encore Las Vegas
Dr. Ana Brant is a visionary brand strategist, customer-centricity expert, researcher, lecturer, and published writer in the art and science of turning discerning, global customers into hard-core fans. Her unique talent takes a scalpel to the mindset and expectations of the world’s most affluent, powerful, and influential individuals. She elegantly dissects what makes them do what they do and want what they want. Starting with astute customer insights, Ana precisely defines the ideologies of particular consumer culture, predicts their consumption behavior, and then identifies organizational resources, strategy and execution plan that brands will require to achieve powerfully successful outcomes within this exclusive and unique target market.
As a member of the Fast Company Executive Board, Brant regularly shares her unconventional yet thoughtful ideas in the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and the peer-reviewed Cornell Hospitality Quarterly. Recipient of numerous industry awards, she has an unmatched understanding of brand power and influence within the luxury landscape and a dynamic, inspirational personality with which to bring her findings to life for any audience and format.
Born in Croatia, Ana holds dual citizenship and splits her time between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where serves as the VP of Customer Experience and Loyalty for Wynn & Encore. Earlier in her career, she oversaw guest experience for Dorchester Collection’s luxury hotels and has held various positions within The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and The Walt Disney World. Brant is also an adjunct professor at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, where she teaches luxury experience design. She has advised executives in private aviation, retail, luxury goods, and membership clubs.
Brant earned her Doctor of Business Administration degree at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. Her research focuses on the ideological consumption of UHNWI, consumer culture theories, consumption patterns, and resource-based organizational strategies. She is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology and a member of RIT’s Board of Trustees & Education Committee, where she received a master’s degree in Service Leadership and a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management. Certified with the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, her relentless intellectual curiosity led her to earn executive certifications in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Stanford University and the Customer-Focused Product & Service Design from Cornell University.
21. Eren Ozmen
President, Sierra Nevada
Eren Ozmen is Chairwoman and President of Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), the global aerospace and national security leader based in Sparks, Nevada. As sole owners of SNC since 1994, Eren and her husband, Fatih Ozmen, who is SNC’s CEO, are the driving force behind SNC’s remarkable journey from small high-tech startup to multi-billion-dollar global leader in space, aviation, national security and defense.
Entrepreneurial and humanitarian, Eren embodies an inspiring American Dream story. She came to the US to earn her MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). In 1994, the Ozmens acquired SNC when the company had just 20 employees and grew it to become the top woman-owned US Government A&D contractor and among The World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Space. Known for her tenacity and drive, Eren is actively involved in all key aspects of SNC’s business management to ensure the company has a solid foundation for continued growth and success. Under her leadership, Eren has steered SNC to expand in new and promising directions, including 20 strategic acquisitions.
22. Deborah Gibson
EVP & Director of Fiduciary Services of Enterprise Wealth Management, Zions Bancorporation
Debbie is an Executive Vice President and Director of Fiduciary Services of Enterprise Wealth Management for Zions Bancorporation. In addition to managing fiduciary professionals at Zions, Debbie’s responsibilities include the administration of complex multi-generation family relationships.
Active in the community, Debbie serves as a board member of Houston’s Ronald McDonald House, President of the Houston House Foundation, Trustee of Chapelwood Methodist Church and past President of the Houston Business and Estate Planning Council and Houston Estate and Financial Forum. She is committed to using her unique skill set to help her clients grow and protect their wealth by implementing asset management and estate plans to meet their families’ needs now and in the future.
24. Connie James
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Corporate Secretary, Light & Wonder
Connie James is Light & Wonder’s head checks and balances honcho as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary. In this role, Connie oversees the company’s global financial strategy and is responsible for executing financial best practices and maximizing shareholder value. She also oversees the finance, accounting, tax, treasury, facilities, IT and procurement functions of the company.
As a seasoned financial executive with nearly 20 years of gaming experience in financial and operational roles, she has a stellar track record of integrity and delivering successful business, cultural and financial transformations. Prior to joining the company, Connie served as the corporate VP of finance at Cargill. Previously, she spent nearly 10 years in a variety of leadership positions at Aristocrat Leisure Limited, including CFO of Global Land Based Gaming and CFO of Americas and Business Operations. During her time with Aristocrat, she was instrumental in driving record growth and evolving the business through social acquisitions. Connie also served as a Manager of Risk Services with Deloitte Australia. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an undergraduate degree in business administration in accounting from University of Nevada Las Vegas, Honors College. Connie also completed the Strategic Financial Leadership course at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
View the complete list of awardees.
25. Mairi Leining
CEO, The People’s Health Clinic
Dr. Mairi Leining is the Chief Executive Officer of The People’s Health Clinic (PHC), a national award-winning, free, community clinic that serves as an essential safety net for the uninsured residents of Summit and Wasatch Counties, Utah. Most PHC patients are undocumented residents who live below the 100 percent Federal Poverty Level and are not eligible for government subsidies. In 2021, the clinic provided over 13,000 patient encounters for community members in need. Dr. Leining is also an MPH candidate at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an adjunct assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Utah. She received her medical degree from Georgetown University and completed her residency training in internal medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School.
28. Nina Chavez
Vice President of Customer Experience, Flatiron Health
Nina Chavez is Vice President of Customer Experience at Flatiron Health. Nina leads the Flatiron Healthcare (HC) community oncology customer experience from go-live onward, encompassing the Implementation, Optimization, Strategic Partnerships and Projects and Account Management teams. She is a subject matter expert in value-based care and clinical practice transformation, and is responsible for creating and implementing solutions to help practices succeed in the dynamic oncology marketplace.
Nina joined Flatiron in 2020 with 16 years of practice experience at the New Mexico Cancer Center (NMCC). She provided leadership and change management to NMCC to promote quality, innovation and clinical excellence. Reporting to the CEO, she helped shape the practice’s strategic direction, to build a top-performing team of 150+ staff and 22+ physicians and APPs. With her team, Nina participated in the expansion of NMCC’s capabilities beyond medical and radiation oncology, creating a multispecialty center offering rheumatology, primary care, palliative care, clinical research and internal medicine to help attract the right patient and payer mix. In her previous role as Chief Operating Officer at NMCC, she served on the boards of the Association of Community Cancer Centers and the Coalition of Hematology and Oncology Practices. Additionally, she is a fellow with the American College of Medical Practice Executives. Nina graduated from University of Phoenix with an MBA and an undergraduate degree in business administration, management and operations.
30. Anyah Ellis
SVP of Business Development & Growth, Robert Coomer Group
Anyah Ellis is the Senior Vice President of Business Development & Growth of Robert Coomer Group, a nation-wide full-service mortgage loan provider. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Robert Coomer is ranked among the top producing mortgage originators in the nation by Scotsman Guide. Ellis has 13 years of experience. She began her career in 2009.
Before joining Robert Coomer Group, Ellis was a director of business development at Cardinal Financial Company, and before that, a marketing manager at Mann Mortgage Las Vegas. Earlier in her career, she worked with Horizon Realty Group as a marketing and operations manager. Ellis graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with an undergraduate degree in sociology.
32. Heather Carlson
Director of Digital Marketing Strategy and Interim Director of Annual Giving, Boise State University
Heather Carlson is the Director of Digital Marketing Strategy and Interim Director of Annual Giving for Boise State University. She serves as a thought leader and partner to university colleagues, providing training, resources, best practices and collaborative direction on digital strategy, content creation, and giving strategies. She is responsible for the management and implementation of the university's annual giving program focusing on a data-based strategy for new-donor acquisition and stewardship/cultivation of the current donor base.
Carlson is a Boise State University alumna with a BFA in graphic design/marketing and a MA in communication.
35. Amberly Pahut
Director of Community Relations & Executive Director of First Interstate BancSystem Foundation, First Interstate
Amberly Pahut is a Montana native and a graduate of Western Montana College. She earned her MBA in 2007 with a specialty in nonprofit management from Walden University. In 2011, Amberly joined the Billings Clinic Foundation after serving as the Executive Director of the University of Montana Western Foundation. In January 2022, Amberly joined the First Interstate Bank team as Director of Community Relations and Executive Director of the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation.
Amberly has received a great deal of satisfaction in helping donors fulfill their passions and interests through their giving. In 2015, she was awarded her Certified Fundraising Executive designation and has received recertification twice since. In addition to her work, she has served in leadership positions on the board of directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Montana Chapter and the Montana Healthcare Communications and Development Association. In November of 2019 she completed her Certified Specialist In Planned Giving through California State University Long Beach. In her free time she enjoys traveling with her husband Jared.
36. Trina Finley Ponce
Diversity and Inclusion Director, Boise Cascade Company
Trina Finley Ponce is the Diversity and Inclusion Director for Boise Cascade Company. She first joined the organization in 2021. As a leading manufacturer and distributor of building materials, Boise Cascade Company brings people, products and services together to build strong homes, businesses and communities that stand the test of time. Ponce is a diversity, equity, and inclusion leader with demonstrated success delivering results in strategic planning, initiatives, and program management. She is a DEI advocate with passion for increasing cross-cultural competency, fostering inclusion, and finding impactful solutions for recruiting, engaging, developing, and retaining diverse talent.
Prior to joining Boise Cascade Company, Ponce was a DEI program manager for HP. She served in the US Army Reserves as a commissioned officer for 16 years. Ponce graduated from Stanford University with an undergraduate degree in interpersonal relations and social psychology and from the University of Montana with an MBA.
41. Leah Hannum
Director of Government Funding Operations, Blue Cross of Idaho
As Director of Government Funding, Leah Hannum played a pivotal role in the planning, creation, oversight and strategic objectives of the risk adjustment department at Blue Cross of Idaho. She is responsible for overseeing activities related to Medicare and ACA risk adjustment programs in support of payment accuracy. With over 15 years’ experience in government programs, Leah’s current focus is to understand and connect the health plan’s risk adjustment accuracy needs with efficient provider workflows for improved patient outcomes. Hannum graduated from Boise State University with an undergraduate degree in psychology.
View the complete list of awardees.
42. Sabrina Borghoff
Senior Director of Business Development, Martin-Harris Construction
Sabrina Borghoff stands at the forefront of the fastest moving general contracting firm in Nevada, Martin-Harris Construction. With 10 years of experience working in commercial construction, she joined the MHC team as a strategic relationship developer in 2013. In her current role as Senior Director of Business Development, she is responsible for overseeing the business development team, identifying and engaging with new clients, and strengthening relationships with MHC’s long-standing partners. She serves as MHC’s primary liaison to local and national business organizations regarding economic development and leads MHC’s strategic growth planning process with a focus on creating short- and long-term strategies to align marketing, sales, and customer experience teams around a singular goal to drive sustainable profitability.
Sabrina’s innovative approach to business development cultivates long lasting, true collaborative partnerships for business unit leaders, ensuring the company revenue pipeline is diversified and sustainable. She has worked on a variety of market verticals, through various delivery methods, for public and private clients which have resulted in the successful delivery of projects in the industrial, multifamily, commercial, hospitality, and healthcare sectors.
Sabrina holds an associate degree in construction management from the College of Southern Nevada. She is a National Real Estate and Development Trends Forum Member of the NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, and an active member of the Southern Nevada, Northern Nevada, and Southern California NAIOP chapters, serving as chair for several committees over the years, and is an associate member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR). Sabrina has served as an Ambassador for the American Cancer’s Society for the past two years, ranked #1 in Nevada and #6 nationally.
43. Stephanie Cox
Director of Business Development , Enertis Applus+
Stephanie Cox is the Director of Business Development for Enertis Applus+, a global consulting & engineering firm for renewable energy projects and storage solutions. Her expertise lies in identifying strategic business opportunities as well as assessing and improving the company’s marketing and sales operations. Stephanie is responsible for developing and maintaining Enertis’ customer satisfaction and services, while building long-term relationships with clients, partners, and vendors.
Before joining Enertis, Stephanie was the manager of global business development at Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc., a zinc-based, energy storage manufacturing company. At Eos, she established the company’s Sales Channel Partner Program and created new revenue streams from C&I and Utility clientele. Prior to Eos, she spent eight years at AlsoEnergy, an edge-to-cloud portfolio management SaaS company for renewable energy projects. Stephanie’s initial roles included product management and sales before quickly being tasked with the management of global business development, centered around strategic partnerships. Hired as the ninth employee, she was fundamental in the rapid growth and revenue success that aided in the company’s transformation from a small shop, privately owned startup to one of the world’s leading renewable energy SaaS platforms. During her time at AlsoEnergy, the company brought on four acquisitions, project deployments in over 40 countries, and an international team that grew to 300+ employees. Stephanie credits the fast-paced operating environment of a startup, diverse leadership positions, and her knowledge in software, data acquisition hardware, and energy storage manufacturing for providing a well-rounded understanding of the renewable energy industry.
Stephanie holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in environmental science with a focus on renewable energy systems engineering and sustainability. Her passion for sustainability and energy drives her motivation to innovate and contribute to technological solutions that foster a carbon-free society, enable grid resiliency, and reduce waste issues on a global scale.
47. Mary Gurczynski
New Homes Sales Director, Krch Realty
Mary Gurczynski is the New Homes Sales Director of Krch Realty. She is a 20-year veteran of the real estate and mortgage finance industry. She is a native to the Northern Nevada Area with a passion for helping her community simplify the home buying process. Specializing in New Home Construction, First Time Homebuyers and Investor purchases, her accomplishments include the national top 10% sales leader 2010 to 2016, taking her talent to multiple leadership levels, and managing sales teams of more than 50 individuals.
Before joining Krch Realty, Gurczynski was a market manager at loanDepot. Earlier in her career, she worked with Wells Fargo as a sales manager. Gurczynski graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno.
48. Brittney Starnes
Director of Program Management Office, INW Group
Brittney Starnes began her professional career 12 years ago as an acknowledged leader with proven as a successful woman in business. Today, she leads as the Director, of Program Management for the INW Group. Best-in-class manufacturer across the spectrum of nutrition and wellness products, INW combines decades of groundbreaking biomedical research experience with a legacy of world-class production. Its unparalleled product development, marketing and sales solutions, and IP management are designed to drive the bottom line. The company offers a comprehensive suite of capabilities, including R&D, manufacturing, on-site laboratory testing, packaging, logistics, and more. Its mission is to provide Nutrition & Wellness products with the utmost quality, innovation, and customer care, and Starnes is an intricate part of driving the company’s success.
Starnes successfully started with the United States Air Force in 2010 as a Chief, Operations & Program Supervisor holding a variety of leadership roles at the Complex Headquarters in Program Management, Human Resources, Software Maintenance, Process Improvement, Strategy, and Contract Oversight, landing her multiple civilian awards. As an accomplished leader serving in various positions within the offices of the United States Department of Defense, she had the opportunity to spread her wings, landing her most recent position joining INW Group. Starnes has successfully applied her highest level of education and leadership skills, in successfully standing up, The LAB Studios, and Green Ridge LLC, as Director and CEO, allowing her to give back to her community in her spare time.
50. Julia Braun
Director of Global Nutrition, McDonald's
Julia Braun is the Director of Global Nutrition of McDonald's. As one of the most frequented restaurants in the world, McDonald’s recognizes the important role they have in feeding millions of people every day, and Julia is passionate about the responsibility that comes with being a leader. As Head of Global Nutrition, Julia monitors the latest nutrition science and regulations around food and nutrition and helps the company set strategies for new product development, product reformulation, and marketing practices. Over the last 16 years, she has worked closely with menu, marketing, and supplier partners to evolve and develop new menu choices that meet the varying needs of today’s and tomorrow’s customers. In her current role, Julia is responsible for leading the company’s Global Happy Meal Goals, which aim to improve the nutrition and ingredient profile of Happy Meals around the world, enhance nutrition transparency and ensure responsible marketing to youth.
Previously, Braun was a research assistant at Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. She earned an MPH in nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an undergraduate degree in health administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
View the complete list of awardees.