CAL-STATE SAN BERNARDINO TO BE SITE OF AWARDS DINNER & CONFERENCE FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS, COLLEGE STUDENTS & TEEN GIRLS!

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- More than 300 women and teens are expected to gather at the university to meet and exchange ideas for advancing the role of women in the workplace, and to recognize those women who have been successful in their careers. The event is being organized by Women in Focus FORUM, a mentoring network for women in business, college students and teen girls 13-17.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.(PRWEB) October 13 2002-- The achievements of outstanding Inland Empire and other California women professionals will be recognized, while younger women will have the opportunity to meet those established in their careers and forge mentoring relationships at the fourth annual Women in Focus FORUM 2003 Conference and Gala Awards on Oct. 17 and 18 at Cal State San Bernardino Commons Center.

More than 300 women and teens are expected to gather at the university to meet and exchange ideas for advancing the role of women in the workplace, and to recognize those women who have been successful in their careers.

The event is being organized by Women in Focus FORUM, a mentoring network for women in business, college students and teen girls 13-17, and chaired by Jonnetta Chambers, of Chambers Communications and Training Techniques, LLC in Rialto, with assistance from the universitys Womens Resource Center and Cross Cultural Center, among other sponsors.

The weekend will begin with the awards dinner at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, in the University Commons. Awards will be given to women and teens in several categories, including leadership, community service, advocacy and academic excellence. U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, Rialto Mayor Grace Vargas, Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, Barstow Mayor Lawrence E. Dale, and Blythe Mayor Robert Crain have offered their support to additionally commendate all awardees.

2003 Award Recipients are as follows:

BLYTHE, CA - Ms. Madeline Muntz, M.S., Chief Deputy Warden, Chuckawalla Valley State Prison; 2003 Woman of Leadership: Organizational Influence and Employee Impact

WOODLAND HILLS, CA - Dr. Cynthia Ann Telles, Ph.D., Board Vice Chair, The California Endowment; 2003 Woman of Community Service and Advocacy: Excellence in Executive Nonprofit Service

LOS ANGELES, CA - Dr. Bettye Davis Walker, President and Co-Founder, African-American Male Achievers Network, Inc./International Science Discovery Learning Ctr.; 2003 Woman of Community Service and Advocacy: Research, Education and Re-Engineering of Global Communities

PERRIS, CA - Ms. Bessie Ann Watkins, Author, Poetess, Researcher, Educator and African-American; Expert Historian; 2003 Woman of Wisdom: Pioneering Historical Facts; Inculturating and Penetrating Future Comprehension and Usage

BARSTOW, CA - Ms. Brytani Brooks, Vice-President, Serenity Young Women's Club; GATE Student; Rotary Club Intl Member; 2003 Teen of Leadership: Academic Excellence and Social Influence

GLENDALE, CA - Ms. Devon Guthrie, Founder and Facilitator, "A Kid Taking Music to Kids," a music outreach program promoting music education to various schools in California; St. Lucy's Priory High School Student; 2003 Teen of Community Service: Advocacy in Performing Arts

RIALTO, CA - Ms. Nancy Sehsah, Student Board of Education Member, Rialto Unified School District; 2003 Teen of Promise and Potential: Educational Leadership and Change

Amy Donovan, business columnist of the San Bernardino Sun Newspaper, covering local business, international trade and workplace trends will be the mistress of the ceremony, with motivational author and poet Dameon Wroe performing excerpts of his poetry in honor of awardees.Addressing the dinners attendees is Anita Starks, President of S & A Search Associates & Consultants, and Janet Honn-Alex, director of CSUSBs Womens Resource and Adult Re-Entry centers. Younger and seasoned women alike will have the opportunity to meet those established in their careers and forge mentoring relationships during both days of the event.

OCTOBER 18th EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE

The conference will begin at 8 a.m., also at the University Commons. Dr. Letitia Wright, host of The Wright Place," which airs in over 70 communities, 20 area cable television channels, with more than 5 million viewers, will be the mistress of the ceremony. Sherea VeJauan, a Los Angeles-based recording artist, will perform songs of inspiration.

Workshops will address topics such as non-verbal communication, how to get your book published, employer-employee behavioral-based interviewing skills, why people get hired, fired and promoted, health care savings, relationship building, self-esteem, etiquette, networking, leadership, getting into college and successfully finishing your degree, and entrepreneurial vs. intrapreneurial strategies.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS scheduled to appear during the conference include:

John Futch, director of CSUSBs Cross Cultural Center;

Dr. Betty Spence, CEO of the National Association for Female Executives (New York, NY), the 125,000+ member professional women's network in which Women in Focus FORUM is affiliated;

Rudy Garcia-Tolson, National Spokesperson for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, a Fontana youngster who has overcome the loss of his legs and has set national triathlete records with the use of prosthetic legs and personal endurance;

Millie McGhee, CEO of Young Talented Achievers, once an illiterate youth, now successful author and multipreneur.

WORKSHOP LEADERS scheduled to share their knowledge and expertise are:

Ken Masco, Business Systems Management

Heather Wieshlow, Turning Point

Monica Jackson, Written Expressions Enterprise, Inc.

Qiana Charles, CSUSB College of Extended Learning

Deborah Lewis, D. Lewis & Company

Dan Logue, Logue & Associates

Sidney & Veronica Hewitt, CARE ENTREE

The event ends with two grand raffles - for adults and teens - totaling 100+ items/services, valued at over $2,500.

SPONSORING the event are Cal-State University, San Bernardino Cross Cultural Center & Women Resource Center, the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), S & A Search Associates & Consultants, Written Expressions Enterprise, Inc., Vanessa Brown's Inland Empire Community Cultural Calendar, Chambers Communications & Training Techniques, LLC and The Wright Place Regional Television Show.

COST TO ATTEND:

GALA AWARDS: $50

CONFERENCE: $59 General | $29 Teens;

PARKING: $1.50 per vehicle at Cal-State San Bernardino

SAVE UP TO $4: Donate canned/boxed goods at the conference to be distributed to needy families during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Receive $1 per can in cash!

For more information, contact Jonnetta Chambers, Event Chair, at (909) 873-5055 or E-Mail 2003Chair@wifforum.com.

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