[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4844]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING MS. SYLVIA VILLA-SERRANO

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 24, 2017

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. 
Sylvia Villa-Serrano whom I have named the 2017 Woman of the Year in 
Contra Costa County, California. Ms. Villa-Serrano is a civic leader in 
our community who supports the small business community and youth and 
seniors.
  A native of San Francisco, California, Ms. Villa-Serrano has lived in 
Hercules, California since 1989. She led a successful three decade long 
career in financial services with Wells Fargo Bank, and in her 
retirement, Ms. Villa-Serrano has dedicated her time and skills to 
supporting organizations and coordinating fundraising for worthy causes 
in our community.
  Ms. Villa-Serrano has been a true champion for small businesses in 
our community. She has been active with the Hercules Chamber of 
Commerce since 2009 and organized the city's first ever Business and 
Consumer Expo. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the 
Bay Front Chamber of Commerce, an organization which she founded to 
bring together the Pinole, Hercules and Rodeo Chambers of Commerce for 
coordinated development and business programs.
  Ms. Villa-Serrano also supports a number of noteworthy organizations 
that address the needs of seniors and youth in Hercules. She has been a 
member of the Hercules Lions Club for 15 years where she organizes 
vision screenings for seniors and an annual Lions Holiday Luncheon for 
disaster relief fundraising. Ms. Villa-Serrano was also instrumental in 
raising $50,000 to build the Children's Garden at the Hercules Library 
to encourage kids to learn and love reading.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Villa-Serrano has been a true champion for small 
businesses and many valuable causes in our Contra Costa community. 
Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor her here today.

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