[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 180 (Tuesday, November 12, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1421-E1423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE 2019 WOMEN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 12, 2019

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2019 Women of 
the Year. The honorees represent some of the most outstanding and 
dedicated women in the 3rd Congressional District. Nominated by their 
peers, these women and the leadership they have provided are being 
recognized for playing an integral and crucial role in improving the 
lives of everyone in their communities.
  During the last 50 years women have made great strides in America. It 
used to be almost unheard of to see women as elected officials, CEOs, 
senior military officials, doctors or attorneys, but today many of our 
most successful leaders in the world are women. This progress has not 
come easy and many women before you have worked hard and strived to 
achieve the independence and rights you have today. I realize there is 
more work to be done to ensure that women have equal pay, flexible work 
schedules and affordable education. Each of the honorees will be a 
vital part of the future successes for women.
  2019's Women of the Year are:
  Lynn Rolston has used her creativity, determination, and skilled 
leadership to have a vast and visible impact on her community. She 
envisioned an economic rebirth for her rural community of Esparto, if 
only the right community stakeholders were gathered in the same space. 
Fueled by this vision for a brighter future, Lynn helped found the New 
Season Community Development Corporation to revitalize the core 
business community and to deliver a higher quality of life to her 
fellow residents of Esparto. Under Lynn's guidance, the New Season 
Community Development Corp. began rehabilitating unused properties and 
acquiring tenants for them. Lynn's eagerness to serve her community 
spread from community development to every facet of her life. Lynn 
revitalized the Esparto Regional Chamber of Commerce by injecting it 
with fresh new recruits from the newly strengthened Esparto business 
community. Furthermore, Lynn served on multiple Yolo County committees 
such as the Esparto Citizens Advisory Committee and the Recreation Task 
Force, where her efforts helped create the new Tuli Mem Park and 
Aquatic Center. Lynn Rolston is an example to us all on the positive 
effects one determined visionary can have on any community.
  Beth Rowe is an active member of the Vacaville community who 
continues to show support and encouragement for women throughout Solano 
County. Beth has been an active member of the local Soroptimist 
International club for over four years. In her time with Soroptimist, 
she has mentored countless girls and actively participated in providing 
scholarships and grants to single mothers and young students. Beth gave 
an empowering speech representing the Soroptimist International of 
Vacaville regarding the detrimental impact of the rape kit backlog in 
Solano County on the ability to bring justice to victims of sexual 
assault. Thanks to her speech, Soroptimist received a $10,000 grant 
from 100 Women Who Care which they used to pay for the testing of old 
rape kits at risk of expiration. Beth has also been a fierce advocate 
for Assembly Bill 1496, which would mandate the testing of untested 
rape kits, and is determined to see this bill become law. She draws her 
strength and desire to help others from her upbringing which shaped her 
into the advocate she is today. Beth is also a member of Saving Gracie, 
Angel Fund for Pets, and her local VFW Auxiliary and is passionate 
about helping families and veterans in her community. Beth is a 
passionate advocate for those in her community who have the most 
trouble getting their voices heard.
  Heather Sanderson is an active member of the Fairfield community who 
uses her time and talents to support and advocate for at-risk youth. 
She possesses the skills, commitment, and compassion to be an uplifting 
force for the entire Fairfield community. In her work as the Police 
Activities League Coordinator, she provides marginalized youths with 
after school programs, providing healthy food options, positive 
activities, and life changing opportunities. She has also introduced 
several programs to the community that focus on reducing violence and 
teaching younger generations how to navigate emotions such as fear, 
anger, and stress. She has developed valuable partnerships with 
community organizations to further the positive impact of the Police 
Activities League programs. Heather's generosity, kindness, and 
compassion make her an inspiration to all her peers. Her work has 
changed countless lives and left a lasting positive impact on her 
community.
  Cherie Schroeder is an exceptional and selfless community servant 
whose work has had an incredible impact on Solano and Yolo Counties. As 
the Director of the Foster and Kinship Care Education Program at 
Woodland Community College, Cherie is a tireless advocate for foster 
youth and consistently provides support and guidance for the most 
vulnerable among us. For over 34 years, Cherie has put her heart and 
soul into this work. Her work-ethic, compassion, and intellect have 
made her a wonderful rolemodel for all those she interacts with. In 
addition to her work as Director of the Foster and Kinship Care 
Education program, she is a longtime member of the Soroptimist 
International of Dixon. When she served as President, Cherie oversaw 
the development of the Young Woman of the Month program which 
recognized local women for their outstanding achievements within their 
community. Through this program, she mentored countless young women and 
ran a generous scholarship initiative. Cherie serves her community with 
unparalleled kindness and compassion and has touched the lives of many.
  Harmony Scopazzi is a vital and appreciated part of this community. 
She is dedicated to ensuring that every family in Yolo County is 
successful, happy, and healthy. For the past 13 years, Harmony has 
worked for Davis Community Meals and Housing as a Family Case Manager 
and Volunteer Coordinator. Harmony has selflessly devoted her time and 
energy to the mission of protecting

[[Page E1422]]

Yolo County families from food and housing insecurities and is a truly 
valued member of the agency. She is endlessly generous, caring, loving, 
and respectful and she will always go out of her way to help those 
around her. For the past five years, Harmony has served as a foster 
parent, opening her home to ensure that there is a safe and loving 
environment for any child in need. Her service as a foster parent is 
one of many ways in which she demonstrates her generosity, kindness, 
and drive to help others. Harmony has touched the lives of countless 
children throughout our community and her positive impact cannot be 
overstated.
  Julie Shuffield is a renowned entrepreneur, dedicated community 
servant, and strong advocate on behalf of women. Julie long ago 
discovered her abiding passion for infrastructure development, 
operation, and strategic planning. Julie has long maintained this 
passion for infrastructure and appreciated its role as the backbone to 
safety, resilience, and a high standard of living for our local 
communities. Her decades of experience, first as manager of External 
Affairs for California Independent System Operation, then as Director 
of Regulatory and Government Affairs, and now as Senior Consultant for 
Advantage Consulting, have seen her exercise this passion to ensure the 
highest quality infrastructure standards are met for every project in 
which she is involved. Her ability to respond with foresight, 
flexibility, and ingenuity to any and all challenges that come her way 
have allowed her to make significant contributions across many fields. 
As owner of her own S-corporation and partner at her consulting firm, 
Julie knows what it takes to thrive as a female entrepreneur. She used 
this knowledge to assist in launching a United States branch of the 
Hawthorne club to promote female executives in energy to C-suite and 
board positions. In the community, Julie serves as Chairperson of Casa 
de Esperanza, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, 
sexual assault, and human trafficking. Additionally, she has served as 
Co-Founder of Yuba-Sutter Back the Badge, a local law enforcement 
trauma and spousal support team, as well as being a Rotary Youth 
Leadership Awards counselor for over a decade. Through her career and 
volunteerism, Julie has made countless contributions to her local 
community.
  Cathy Speck has led a life of activism and perseverance, 
demonstrating at every turn her indominable spirit. Cathy has faced a 
great deal of hardship in her life, living with two debilitating 
diseases and watching much of her family do the same. Despite these 
challenges and more, she has consistently spread joy in her community 
through her music, art, writing, and infectious spirit. Cathy has also 
fought for righteous causes, acting as a fierce advocate for marriage 
equality and ALS awareness. In 2009, Cathy was diagnosed with 
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rare degenerative disease that 
has claimed four of her family members already. She takes part in many 
efforts to raise awareness about ALS, and as a columnist at the iPinion 
Syndicate, Cathy further raises awareness and support for those 
diagnosed with ALS, using compassion and humor to discuss a difficult 
topic. In addition to her work as an activist, Cathy is deeply invested 
in community building. For the past several years, she has organized a 
yearly Christmas caroling excursion to Courtyard Healthcare in Davis to 
foster friendships and bring smiles to long term patients. She is also 
a booster of the Dorothy Speck Memorial Basketball Tournament at Davis 
High School, the longest running girls' basketball tournament in the 
country. Cathy consistently demonstrates her unwavering commitment to 
use all that she can, from her activism to her artistic talents, to 
make her community a better place.

  Dee Tokiwa has dedicated her life to helping others in her community. 
Dee works as a nurse in oncology and bone marrow transplants at Sutter 
General Hospital, but this demanding career never stopped her from 
volunteering her time in her community. For several years, she has 
volunteered at Alamo Elementary School in Vacaville, where she has 
overseen numerous activities and events. She has spent countless days 
with the children during their recesses where she created new games, 
encouraged participation, cultivated compassion, and fostered 
understanding amongst the students. As an advocate for education and 
literacy, Dee took the time to organize the district-wide Novel 
Knowledge program. This competition for students between fourth and 
sixth grades quickly became an avenue for children to improve their 
reading and critical thinking skills. She also served as the 
chairperson for the annual Scholastic Book Fairs and planned a book 
drive fundraiser which received enough books to fill the school library 
and classrooms. She contributes to her community in many ways, living 
up to the Mother Teresa quote by which she lives, ``Not all OF US can 
do great things, but we can do small things with great love.'' She is a 
loving mother and devoted member of the community who exudes kindness, 
humility, and generosity.
  Tracy Tomasky is a fierce advocate for the rights of others who 
consistently works to build communities of respect and acceptance. 
Tracy serves as the co-chair of the Davis Phoenix Coalition, a 
nonprofit organization that works to build diverse and inclusive 
communities and advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ+ members of our 
community. Tracy is passionate about the work she does fighting for the 
rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, preventing of hate speech, and promoting 
immigrant rights. As the volunteer coordinator of the Davis Phoenix 
Coalition, she always comes prepared with a plan on how to best utilize 
the skills of the group and bring out the best of everyone's abilities 
to further the organization's mission. Tracy has a rare ability to 
bridge divides and bring communities together to deliver positive 
change through collaboration. Tracy's work on behalf of those who are 
underrepresented has made Davis into a safer and more inclusive 
community that is welcoming to all. Her tireless advocacy has had a 
widespread and lasting impact that cannot be overstated.
  Kim Travis has dedicated her career to guiding young athletes to 
reach for and achieve their goals. As the girls' volleyball coach at 
Pierce High School in Arbuckle, Kim has served as a wonderful role 
model to each of her students. She is a proactive coach who has worked 
hard to build a successful high school and club volleyball team. Her 
coaching style exercises team building by developing their skills and 
confidence, teaching her players that success comes from failure. Her 
role in the community is felt by all. She started a youth camp program 
for children between first and eighth grade, and for the past ten 
years, has dedicated her time on the boards of Arbuckle and West Side 
Little League. She also volunteers for Pierce Pride Foundation and 
Dynamix Club Volleyball where she actively fundraises for sports 
equipment and programs. More recently, Kim organized a volleyball 
tournament between two alumni high school teams in Colusa to remember 
and honor fallen Davis Police Officer and Pierce High School alumni, 
Natalie Corona, bringing her community together in a difficult time. 
Many have come to know Kim as a leader, teacher, and friend and she has 
touched the lives of countless young athletes whom she has mentored.
  Diane Vafis has lived for over 50 years in Colusa, where her love and 
kindness has touched the lives of countless people. Currently serving 
as the Co-Director of the after-school program operated by St. 
Stephen's Episcopal Church in Colusa, she has worked to provide after-
school tutoring to fourth graders for over 12 years. Diane takes extra 
care to create a healthy and nurturing environment for her students, 
personally picking up the children after school, providing craft 
sessions, and communicating closely with her students' teachers to 
maximize their success. Broadening the impact of her investments in 
local education, she became a vital member and treasurer of the Colusa 
County Alpha Kappa Chapter of Omega Nu, which provides academic 
scholarships to local high school graduates. In addition to cultivating 
after educational programs, Diane is the Civic Beautification Chair of 
the Garden Club of Colusa County, which is responsible for planting and 
maintaining gardens in public spaces such as libraries, post offices, 
and the courthouse. Diane demonstrates an unwavering dedication to 
serving her community and serves as a role model for everyone around 
her.
  With a wealth of business knowledge and a heart of service, Sarah 
Villec has become a staple in the Dixon community since first moving to 
California as a military spouse. She began her career with the Dixon 
Tribune in 1988 working long and hard hours to ensure the paper 
published a fair and balanced interpretation of the local news. 
Recognizing her leadership and management skills, the owners asked her 
to manage operations for the Benicia Herald, The Martinez News Gazette, 
and the Rio Vista River News Herald. Despite her long hours involved in 
her newspaper career, Sarah managed to find time to dedicate Countless 
hours to the Dixon community. She is involved with the local Chamber of 
Commerce, the Downtown Dixon Business Association and is the President 
of Dixon Family Services, a non-profit which helps families and 
individuals who are experiencing difficult times. Sarah Villec is a 
champion of women in business with a heart for public service. Strong 
in her mind and body, she continues to be involved in the local 
community and is an inspiration to those around her. On behalf of the 
citizens of Dixon and the people of the 3rd Congressional District, I 
extend my sincere appreciation to Sarah for her enthusiasm and 
dedication to her community and love for her family.
  Tina Viramontes' commitment and love for her community as a leader is 
reflected by her involvement in several campaigns and community events. 
She worked countless hours to help pass Measure V, a local measure 
which would improve the roads in the City of Clearlake. She's a staple 
in the local youth sports community where you will often find her 
volunteering her time by helping at events or

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providing rides to the parents of athletes who have no way to get to 
the games. As a community leader, Tina organized the 1st Annual Soapbox 
Derby, a family friendly event that inspires children and adults to 
create the fastest gravity-powered, or most creative vehicles, they can 
and race in front of cheering fans. This was especially important to 
Lake County in that it was simply a joyous occasion for the entire 
community after four straight years of disastrous fires. Tina 
Viramontes is a Deputy City Clerk for the City of Clearlake who has a 
heart for public service and a strong desire to help people. She greets 
everyone with a smile, a cheerful attitude, and helps them navigate 
through the various departments with professionalism and integrity. On 
behalf of the Clearlake community and the people of the 3rd 
Congressional District, I offer Tina Viramontes congratulations and my 
well wishes in her future endeavors.
  Dr. Vajra M. Watson has had immense influence the community during 
her career at UC Davis as the Director of Research and Policy for 
Equity. Her poise, work-ethic, and commitment to making the world a 
better place stands unmatched. Dr. Watson devotes her time to creating 
and expanding upon various academic and community-based programs. She 
digs in to solve problems on the ground, putting her renowned academic 
research to work. Just a few of the programs that she helped develop 
include Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS), the UC Davis Campus-wide 
Equity task Force, and the UC Davis Outreach Center. Dr. Watson has 
been an invaluable figure for the African American Community, creating 
and fighting for these life-altering programs. Her work supports the 
education and elevation of marginalized youths from disenfranchised 
communities. Her SAYS program has been instrumental in helping teachers 
learn to incorporate authenticity in the classroom environment to 
engage and enrich their students. In addition to her hands-on work in 
the community, she has contributed to the education canon of academia 
with a multitude of books and peer reviewed studies. Her book 
Transformative Schooling addresses many of the central aspects of our 
time as she delves into the structure and nuances of America's 
education structure, as well as the necessary action that must be 
taken. On behalf of the 3rd Congressional District, I offer Vajra M. 
Watson my sincere best wishes and continued success.
  Jeanine Werner has dedicated much of her life to improving the lives 
of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, or those that have 
physical and cognitive disabilities. Her empathy and drive started 
early in her life, leading her to begin working with these populations 
in high school. As she continued to develop her professional career, 
she never abandoned her original goal. After working with these 
populations as a classroom aid, she eventually took on the opportunity 
to work with adults and children known as ``Campers''. These 
``Campers'', who are attendees of Lion Camps for people with 
disabilities, undoubtably benefited from her kindness and commitment to 
improving the lives of those around her. Upon returning to Yuba City, 
Jeanine involved herself with Casa de Esperanza, a shelter for those 
suffering from abuse and violence. Jeanine then began work as a 
Counselor Advocate for the First Responder program. Shortly after, she 
was promoted to be Project Director for the program because of her 
skill and passion. During her time at Casa de Esperanza, Jeanine 
transformed several programs and projects through expansive training, 
education, and outreach efforts. Her desire to improve the lives of 
those around her continues to benefit our community. On behalf of the 
people of Yuba City and the 3rd Congressional District, I am pleased to 
congratulate Jeanine Werner as a 2019 Woman of the Year for her 
dedication, passion, kindness, and intellect.
  Kristina Wiley's dedication to helping others is unparalled. In her 
tireless work to improve her community, she has served as president of 
Soroptimist, a non-profit organization devoted to improving the lives 
of women and girls across the country. In addition, Kristina has raised 
money for charities and even traveled to Haiti to perform dental 
surgery for those in need. In her work in Dixon, Kristina has raised 
tens of thousands of dollars for breast cancer research, donated to the 
funeral funds of those in need and raised $47,000 for animal welfare. 
In addition to these great contributions, Kristina has devoted her time 
to mentoring children and even taken children in need under her wing 
while they get back on their feet. Kristina has also used her skills as 
a DDS in Haiti, traveling there 5 times in order to perform much-needed 
procedures on those who would otherwise not have access to dental care. 
Her involvement in the community has improved many lives and will 
continue to do so in the future.
  I congratulate each of them and commend them for their work. I am 
inspired by them and firmly believe when women succeed, America 
succeeds.

                          ____________________