This year's dinner promises to be the must attend event for Inland Empire businesswomen and the corporations that do business with them. Last year we celebrated our 10th anniversary. This year we look forward to recognizing more amazing women with awards and scholarships!

For the past 5 years, NAWBO-IE has sponsored the Amazing Women of the Inland Empire Awards Dinner, "Diamonds in Our Own Backyard", which honors exceptional women business owners, and community leaders. Amazing Women also provides a forum for affiliate organizations to honor one of their own members in one culminating event. Each year there are at least 4 main honorees representing women in such categories as Lifetime Achievement, Pioneering Woman, Rising Star and Woman Business Owner of the Year as well as the honorees from affiliate organizations.

Business Woman of the Year: Beverly Leach, Brooms and Brushes International
Beverly Leach is the owner and founder of Corona-based Brooms and Brushes International. Her motto is, "Persistence pays off," and she has demonstrated that truth over the past thirty years, moving from being a single mom of two young children to a successful business owner who has made a name for herself in the male-dominated food equipment manufacturing industry. The company's signature line includes over 20 styles of grill and pizza oven brushes for restaurants, but it also markets brooms, squeegees, and other brushes worldwide. Beverly has served as Chairwoman of the Government and Transportation Committee for the Corona Chamber of Commerce, is a past member of the Riverside Community College Foundation Board, and is a current board member of the Corona Police Department. Passionate about helping others, she gives advice to local businesswomen in addition to sharing her 200 teacup collection with churches and non-profits organizations. Beverly is also the proud mother of two successful daughters and three grandchildren.

Trailblazer: Kusum Kavia, Combustion Associates, Inc.
Kusum Kavia is co-owner and founder of Combustion Associates, Inc. (CAI), an engineering and manufacturing company in Corona, California that has been blazing a new trail for energy in California and around the world since 1989. CAI manufactures products which are environmentally friendly to help promote world prosperity. Over the years, this innovative company has won major awards from public organizations for their excellence in manufacturing, quality, and delivery performance. Among these are Recipient of 2008 Regional Minority Person of the Year Award, presented by U.S. Small Business Administration; Recipient of 2007 Vendor Excellence Award, presented by Defense Logistics Agency; U.S. Department of Defense Recipient of 2006 National, Regional, and District Exporter of the Year Awards, presented by U.S. Dept. of Commerce and U.S. Small Business Administration, and Recipient of 2005 Minority Manufacturer of the Year Award.

Community Bridge Builder: Cindy Roth, Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
Cindy Roth is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. She has been dedicated to the Chamber for nearly 30 years, and became President and the first woman to lead the organization in 1999. Ms. Roth most recently received the 2008 YWCA Women of Achievement Award and the Riverside Community Health Foundation's 2008 Excellence in Community Leadership Award. Some of the other awards she has received for her outstanding community leadership include the NAACP Roy Wilkins Award, the UCR Medallion presented by the Chancellor of the University of California, Riverside, the 2005 Spirit of Excellence Award from California Baptist University, the 2003 Woman of the Year Award presented by Former Assemblyman John Benoit, the 2000 Athena of the Inland Valleys Award, and the 1996 Community Service Award from the Rotary Club of Arlington.

Rising Star: Kathy Macias, Fernando's Auto Care
Kathy Macias opened her own Auto Repair Shop in downtown Riverside in early 2007. She and her husband Fernando were determined to turn the "male dominated" industry of auto repair on its head by marketing her business as a "female friendly establishment with a woman's touch." Kathy felt that women needed a place where they could go and know they were both understood and receiving honest and fair auto repair work. Fernando's Auto Care has been successful in this endeavor and has earned several recognitions and awards from Women Owned Business of the Year 2007, to Business of the Year 2008, and most recently, My Fox LA's Best Auto Repair Shop in Riverside County 2008.

ANITA: Ursula Mentjes, Potential Quest, Inc.
Ursula Mentjes is a Motivational Speaker, Author and Certified Sales Coach who specializes in NLP to help her clients double and triple their sales. Ursula honed her skills at an International Technical Training company, starting her career in sales in 1996 and advancing to the position of President in 2001 when the company's annual run rate was approximately $20,000,000.00. She was responsible for increasing sales by 90% in one year. Ursula is passionate about helping individuals and businesses reach their greatest sales goals, so in 2004 she founded Potential Quest, Inc., a Professional Sales Coaching and Training firm. She is also the author of Selling with Intention, the founder of Sales Coach Now, President of NAWBO-IE, founding member of BRC, a 2006 Graduate of Leadership California, Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards Finalist (2007) and she was named one of 951 Magazine's 51 to watch in 2008.

Legacy: Janet Steiner, Thoro Packaging
Janet Steiner has been President of Thoro Packaging since 1982. Held in high regard as a leader in the paperboard packaging industry, Jan is at the helm of one of the most innovative folding carton companies today. As a result of her enthusiasm, creativity, and "Can Do" attitude, Janet Steiner was the recipient of the National Association of Women Business Owners-IE's Business Woman of the Year Award in 2006. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Janet Steiner rarely takes the path. As a woman president in a predominantly male industry, she has spent the past 25 years leaving many a trail. Her favorite saying is, "If you don't make dust, you eat dust." Janet Steiner is here today, once again, making dust.

Marcy Decato of Soroptimist Corona

Angela Lineberger of American Business Women's Association

Tamara Schaefer of Business Resource Connection

Dr. Ana Nogales of AmPac Tri State CDC

2009 Mistress of Ceremonies is Martha Greene of Dough'Lectibles Bakery and The Eating Room

2009 Keynote Address will be delivered by Maria Contreras-Sweet of Promerica Bank

An Opportunity to Sponsor! An Opportunity to Advertise!

As a sponsor you will have several opportunities to showcase your support including printed materials and displays. We expect to once again have media coverage to spotlight the honorees and sponsors.

Click here to download sponsor details Click here to download advertising details

If you are ready to be part of this exciting event, call 626.676.4568 today. Our Corporate Partners Chair KL Moore is waiting to answer all of your questions. Prefer to email? bizstyle@klimagegroup.com