2023 Winners
San Diego Magazine Rising Star of the Year
Emily Hill | Assistant Dean of Marketing and Recruitment | University of San Diego, Knauss School of Business
San Diego Magazine Pioneer of the Year
Dilkhwaz Ahmed | Executive Director | License to Freedom
People’s Choice Awards
Art + Design Rising Star – Keychunté Hudson-Riley | Co-Founder & Principal Designer | My Key Interiors
Art + Design Pioneer – Lynne Arciero | Founder & CEO | REV Studio
Education Rising Star – Samantha Walker | Owner, Founder & CEO | CCC-SLP Speaking of Samantics & SLP Test Prep
Education Pioneer – Angelina Barrera | ESL Student Advocate Specialist | Southwestern College
Finance Rising Star – Kim Benson | Partner | Creative Capital Management Investments LLC
Finance Pioneer – Jennifer Barnes | CEO | Optima Office
Fitness + Wellness Rising Star – Danielle Vantini | Co-Founder & Co-CEO | PowerFuel Damas
Fitness + Wellness Pioneer – Stephanie Butterfield | Founder + CEO | Activate House
Food + Beverage Rising Star – Juliea Lannen | Owner + Manager | The Barkeep Co.
Food + Beverage Pioneer – Lara Worm | Founder, CEO, and Creative Director | Bivouac Ciderworks
Healthcare Rising Star – Sheila Krishna | MD | Coastal Pacific Dermatology
Healthcare Pioneer – Tania Hormozi | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Healthy Minds Counseling Services
Law + Legal Rising Star – Andrea Piontkovski | Immigration Attorney | Piontkovski Immigration Law Corporation
Law + Legal Pioneer #1 – Jonah Toleno | Of Counsel | Garcia Hong Law, APC
Law + Legal Pioneer #2 – Sandra Maas | President of the Board | Women’s Museum of California
Military + Public Service Rising Star – Colby Duncan | Criminalist | San Diego County Regional Crime Lab
Military + Public Service Pioneer – Emiley Stroud | Marketing Director | Marine Corps Community Services Miramar
Non-Profit Rising Star – Leticia Martinez Hermosillo | Director of Philanthropy | International Community Foundation
Non-Profit Pioneer – Bobbi Brink | Founder + Executive Director | Lions Tigers and Bears
Real Estate Rising Star – Chloe Ferrari | Founder + CEO | Urban Sands Vacation Rentals and Urban Sands Realty
Real Estate Pioneer – Amber Anderson | Luxury Real Estate Broker | Team Amber Anderson
Sports + Entertainment Rising Star – Jessica Roberts| Arts Supervisor II | City of Encinitas
Sports + Entertainment Pioneer – Patricia Mooney | Video Producer | Crystal Pyramid Productions
STEM Rising Star – Carolyn Southern | Director, Technology Business Application | RSM
STEM Pioneer – Rae Robertson Anderson | Professor, Department of Physics and Biophysics | University of San Diego
Tourism + Hospitality Rising Star – Erin Huffman | Co-Owner | Gaslamp Hostel
Tourism + Hospitality Pioneer – Maggie Espinosa | Travel Journalist | Travel with Maggie
Trade + Craft Rising Star – Lizbeth Medina | Design + Contractor Instructor | All Conditions Construction
Trade + Craft Pioneer – Carla Daniela | Owner | Tailor Love
It’s time for our annual Celebrating Women Event on November 2, 2023 presented by Copia Wealth Management & Insurance Services! This year however, it’s going to look a little different! The traditional networking reception and awards ceremony will be shifting into a night that truly honors all the incredible women San Diego encompasses.
This year will be the start of our very own Celebrating Women Summit, where women will have access to a panel discussion and Q&A with some of the city’s most influential females. Moderator + Panelists to be announced soon! There will be educational experiences, empowering takeaways, personal development activities, networking opportunities, art integrations, local women-owned retail pop up shops, photo moments, tasty bites, and plentiful drinks.It’s the perfect opportunity for you, your friends, family, and colleagues to come and experience a positive and impactful evening to remember.
Oh and we’ll be announcing the People’s Choice and San Diego Magazine honorees from our Celebrating Women Nominations…call it the cherry on top to this ice cream sundae of a night!
Date & Location
November 2, 2023
3:00p.m. – 7:00p.m.
UC San Diego’s Park & Market
1100 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101
Cost
Standard General Admission – $70
Nominee General Admission – $40
Dress Code
Business Attire
Event Schedule
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Welcome + Check-In
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. – People’s Choice Honorees Announced
3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Panel Discussion + Q&A
4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Outdoor Networking + Celebration + Food/Drink
6:00 p.m. – San Diego Magazine’s Pioneer and Rising Star of the Year Announced
Panel Speakers
Ghazala Sharieff, MD, BA | CMO Acute Care Operations and Clinical Excellence, Scripps Hospitals
Claudia Sandoval | Celebrity Chef on EstrellaTV and Master Chef Season 6 Contestant
Elisabeth Dawson | President and CEO, Copia Wealth Management & Insurance Services
Donna Deberry | CEO San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce and Inclusion and Equity Consultant
Nicolle Monico | Managing Digital Editor, San Diego Magazine
