Solano women zoomed to the top

Women’s History Month Celebration continues

Elease Cheek knows there were — and are — those who think a woman can’t run a construction company.

For six-plus years, however, she’s been president and CEO of Important Details, Inc. Only those with a hard head would think this motivated woman would never wear a hard hat.

Fortunately, one of the four featured participants in the March 18 Solano County Women’s History Month presentation always had family support.

“My mom used to tell me, ‘You’re the hardest working person I know,'” recalled Cheek, “excited and honored” to be an invited guest to the third Zoom event in a series featuring four women leaders of Solano County.

Presented by The Solano Commission for Women and Girls, the panel discussion features the speakers discussing successes and challenges, plus a trivia game.

Other participants include: Deanna Cantrell, the first female chief of police in San Luis Obispo; Cynthia Garcia, Solano Superior Court Collaborative Courts Manager; and K. Patrice Williams, chief marketing strategist and CEO of BrandGOV Outreach.

Niah Madigan, a Benicia High School sophomore, hosts the presentation, with assistance from Ana Petero.

The event “identifies that we have some really amazing, dynamic women leaders here in Solano County,” said Cheek, with events such as the March 18 Zoom giving the accomplished women public exposure.

“You don’t always know about them unless you’re interacting with them,” said Cheek, whose stellar credentials include being president of the Solano County Black Chamber of Commerce, trustee for the Solano County Board of Education, District 5, Solano County Commission for Women and Girls, and retired Human Resource Manager at the University of California at San Francisco.

Cheek said she hopes to inspire local girls by “telling my story and giving them direction, resources and hope. I can mentor them and build their confidence.”

Born in New Jersey, Cheek was 18 months when the family moved to San Francisco where she lived for 23 years.

Beyond family, “I’ve always been inspired by Oprah Winfrey and Angelia Davis,” said Cheek, pondering a future of at first working with computers “that shifted into wanting to be a nurse and that quickly shifted to be an attorney. I think I put all those things together. I think what I do is the summary of them all. I wanted to do something where I’m serving people; where I’m helping people.”

It’s about perseverance and confidence, Cheek said.

Take her near quartercentury at USF. She started as a cashier in food service and her last job was director of human resources, “even if I was told ‘You won’t be promoted,’ and there were times I wasn’t promoted, but it didn’t stop me,” Cheek said.

Great strides have been made for girls and women, Cheek acknowledges, but emphasizes that women still only make about 70 cents for every dollar a man makes for the same job.

However, “I think things are rapidly changing,” she said. “I think women’s voices are being loudly heard. We’re looking at things differently now.”

Cheek said it didn’t surprise

her when she was named president of the Solano County Black Chamber of Commerce.

“Actually, I dreamed about it,” she said, remembering nights staying up late studying while working two jobs.

Yes, she said, that president position — whether with the Black Chamber or her own construction company — “was destined to come. I think I would eventually be president of something. It draws to my leadership within.”

Watching Kamala Harris become the first person of color and first woman vice president was inspiring, Cheeksaid.

“I was very, very proud of her. I was excited for both her and (President

Joe) Biden. I thought they would be a great team,” Cheek said. “I felt a sense of pride.”

Who knows, perhaps it paved the way for Harris — or another Black woman — to someday be president of the United States. Maybe even Cheek.

“That’s the big question,” she said. “She paved the way for possibly anything. If you set your mind to it, it’s possible.”

If nothing else, perhaps someday a run at mayor of Vallejo?

“Who knows?” Cheek said.

For more information, visit SolanoCommissionWomenGirls.com.