[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 158 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2326-E2327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      HONORING THE TOP TEN BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL WOMEN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 9, 1999

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Robyn 
Black, Pilar De La Cruz, Jan Outlar-Edwards, Marvell French, Edna 
Garabedian, Valerie Rae Hannerman, Annette La Rue, Margaret Mims, Judy 
Sakaki, and Gloria Williams as the Top Ten Business Professional Women 
of the Year.
  Robyn A. Black is a Legislative Advocate at Aaron Read & Associates. 
Robyn is a fourth generation family farmer and has spent much of her 
life working on behalf of California agriculture. She believes in 
helping others ``find their voice'' in order to advocate their beliefs 
and effect change. Her tenure as Chair of the State's Industrial 
Welfare Commission under Governor Wilson taught her ``that you need to 
stand by your decisions when you believe you have done your best.''
  Pilar De La Cruz, RN, B.S.N. is Vice President, Ed Development/Human 
Resources at Community Medical Centers. Pilar is first, foremost, and 
proudly, a Registered Nurse, although she serves our community in many 
capacities. Pilar has been instrumental in founding the Jefferson Job 
Institute for Community Medical Centers, an entry-level job training 
program for low-income parents of school-age

[[Page E2327]]

children. Through this program parents gain self-confidence skills and 
pride which helps them obtain employment in the community. The program 
has grown to include two other schools and is one of the most 
successful programs in Fresno County for getting people back to work.
  Jan Outlar-Edwards, M.S. is Media Director of Gottschalks. Jan says 
that ``Real success is a collaborative effort.'' The success Jan has 
experienced in her profession is a direct result of collaboration with 
those who have traveled before and were kind enough to stop and take 
the time to teach her. She has spearheaded several programs such as 
``Coats for Kids'' and volunteers with the Fresno High Mentoring 
Program. Networking is one of Jan's passions.
  Marvell French is Senior Vice-President/Sales Administrator of 
Regency Bank. Marvell is president of the American Cancer Society, a 
member of the American Heart Association, Alcohol and Drug Abuse 
Council, and CARE Fresno, where she will oversee their annual fund-
raiser, the Police and Firefighter of the Year Annual Ball. Marvell's 
goal and commitment to her business and community is to make a 
difference and bring about positive change.
  Edna Garabedian is the Artistic Director at the Fresno International 
Grand Opera. Edna believes education is the core of human experience. 
Her most significant contribution has not been the furthering of her 
own career, but the educational enrichment of others. Her vision and 
more than four years of hard work have become reality in the creation 
of the Fresno International Grand Opera. Her work with F.I.G. has 
allowed Edna to work with at-risk youths in our community and inspire a 
sense of confidence and direction in their lives.
  Valerie Rae Hanneman is Director of Fiscal Services of Central 
California Legal Services. Valerie believes in giving people a helping 
hand, taking a chance on them, and applauding their success. She has 
made it a practice in her career to hire people who need a helping hand 
and encourages similar hiring throughout her organization. Valerie's 
philosophy carries over into her volunteer capacity with CARE Fresno 
where she is a lead site director. She directs and coordinates the 
program, but more importantly, interacts with the children.
  Annette La Rue is a Retired Judge. Throughout her career as an 
attorney and judge, Annette has encouraged women to ``take the next 
step'' in the law profession by starting their own practices and 
running for judgeships. Her years of service have resulted in many 
awards, including the Fresno County Bar Association Bernard E. Witkin 
Lifetime Achievement Award and the 1999 Outstanding Hastings Law School 
Alumnus of the Year. Annette is a founder of the Salvation Army 
Rosecrest home for women substance abusers, co-chairs the Rotary Club's 
environmental committee, and sits on the Fresno Philharmonic board.
  Margaret Mims is Deputy Sheriff Lieutenant of Fresno County Sheriff's 
Department. Margaret was hired in 1980 as the first female officer for 
the Kerman Police Department; Margaret is now the first woman Deputy 
Sheriff to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant. She has worked hard 
throughout her career to improve victim advocacy, and has been 
instrumental in integrating community-based organizations with law 
enforcement. Margaret worked to obtain a grant and initiated a program 
to place advocates in police agencies. Her idea of placing advocates in 
police agencies has been used as a model for rape counseling service 
agencies throughout California.
  Judy K. Sakaki, Ph.D., is Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean 
of Students at California State University, Fresno. Judy is the 
highest-ranking Asian-American woman administrator in the California 
State University system. As Vice President for Student Affairs at CSU, 
Fresno, she has been able to help students from diverse backgrounds 
succeed by creating services and programs which meet their needs. She 
is most proud of the help she provides students, encouraging them to 
talk with each other irrespective of racial or ethnic differences, to 
share their feelings of anger, helplessness, and hope.
  Gloria Williams is Vice President/Designated Nurse Executive at 
Valley Children's Hospital. Gloria has used her leadership abilities to 
effect innovative change in her profession and community. She was named 
as one of the Top Ten Nurses in the state by NurseWeek Magazine in 
1994, and this year was appointed to their Executive Advisory Board. 
She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Alternative 
Sentencing Program and is involved in overseeing screening activities 
that place people in rehabilitation programs as an alternative to 
prison time. Gloria currently leads a nursing task force to implement 
accelerated nursing degree programs and designs curriculum for classes 
at Fresno City College and CSU/Fresno.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to honor the Top Ten Business Professional Women 
of the Year for 1999. Each one of these women have gone above and 
beyond their professional jobs to provide services and create programs 
for the community. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing the Top 
Ten Business professional Women many more years of continued success.

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