WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON COMING IN OCTOBER

Holocaust survivor Rose Schindler is keynote speaker at event Oct. 22

The 19th annual Women In Leadership Luncheon, honoring those who make a difference in their communities across San Diego County, is back in person this year.

Hosted by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, based out of El Cajon, the annual event moved online last year because of COVID-19 concerns. Past winners — 100 in all — were honored at the 2020 virtual luncheon.

This year’s event is set for Friday, Oct. 22, at Viejas Resort & Casino. Holocaust survivor Rose Schindler will be the keynote speaker.

Schindler, a Czechoslovakia native, will talk about how as a 14-yearold, she was deported to Auschwitz along with her parents, aunt, five sisters and two brothers. Schindler is involved in The Butterfly Project, whose mission is to educate students about the Holocaust. She is the former president of the New Life Club, a local San Diego organization of Holocaust survivors.

More than 400 people are expected to attend the luncheon that celebrates women for what Chamber President and CEO Rick Wilson says is “their outstanding leadership, exemplary character and integrity in the community, as well as their efforts to empower other women to succeed and prosper in life and business.”

San Diego County women are nominated during the first part of the year by friends or colleagues who apply to the East County Chamber on their behalf. A special Chamber committee chooses the winners, typically six or seven women per year, who are then publicly named at the event.

Kristine Costa, chairperson of the luncheon, said she still feels “incredibly honored” at being nominated several times over the years and also of being named an award winner in 2017. Costa said the event is an opportunity for women and the men who support them to “get together, celebrate and be recognized.”

This year’s nominees include Dr. Juliana Barnes, president of Cuyamaca College; Bobbi Brink, founder and director of Lions Tigers & Bears; Grossmont Healthcare District director Virginia Hall; Lemon Grove City Council member Liana Lebaron; Santee School District Board member Elana Levenscraig;

Anna Marie Piconi Snyder of the East County Homeless Task Force; and San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan.

Awardees the last time the event was held in person in 2019 included then-san Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, Santee City Manager Marlene Best and Dilkhwaz Ahmed, executive director of License to Freedom.

Tickets are available at $95 through the Chamber at eastcountychamber.org; by emailing events@eastcountychamber.org or calling (619) 440-6161.