Monterey County Women - Fall 2016

LOCAL WOMEN LEADERS

CREATING A MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY

Through arts, education, culture, commerce, science, public policy

Extraordinary People.
Exceptional Care.

Our Team – Committed to Your Health and Wellness.

svmh.com/careers

2 MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016

A TRIBUTE TO MONTEREY COUNTY WOMEN 6 Nancy Kotowski

Editor’s Note Commitment to Kids, to Community,
to Creating Opportunities
Lisa Crawford Watson
Editor Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy
Kotowski champions every child as if each were her own
W Dear Readers,
elcome to the fall issue of Monterey 9 Bonnie Irwin
County Women, our quarterly magazine
designed to showcase women of Love of Language, Literature,
Monterey County who make a difference and Learning
in our community. Certainly many more
women are worthy of inclusion than we are able to recog- CSU Monterey Bay Provost Dr. Bonnie Irwin shares
nize. By introducing a theme for each issue, we intend to her passion for education
highlight some of the women dedicated to that particular
pursuit. 10 Judith Peterson
With the fall season rapidly approaching and the weather
getting warmer, many of us are heading “Back to School.” Rising to the Challenge
For this issue, we have chosen to honor a few local women
who hold significant positions in education. Salinas High School Principal Judith Peterson devel-
We begin with Dr. Nancy Kotowski, whose passion for ops future movers and shakers of the Salinas Valley
helping kids grow into happy, healthy productive adults has
fueled her life’s work in which she is currently serving her 11 Meg Bradley
third term as Monterey County Superintendent of Schools.
For 31 years, Nora Lee, who has just retired as head of Strong Sense of Self
school for Chartwell School in Seaside, shared her lifelong
love of reading, and helped build a school that believes “Not Layperson Meg Bradley takes the helm
all great minds think alike.” Meg Bradley, who became head at Santa Catalina School
of school at Santa Catalina School just last month, is the first
layperson appointed to the top position at the renowned 12 Nora Lee
private school. English teacher Judith Peterson never in-
tended to go into administration, but the principal of Salinas Learning How to Help Others
High School now believes there is no better role. As provost Learn How to Read
at CSU Monterey Bay, Dr. Bonnie Irwin’s vision aligns with
the university mission to value service through high-quality Chartwell Head of School Nora Lee spent 30 years
education, to better serve the diverse people of this area. sharing her love of literature
We also are introducing two recurring columns. “Lead-
ing Ladies,” which premiers with Supervisor Elect for the 15 Kellie Morgantini
5th district of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors
Mary Adams, focuses on a woman in local politics. “Balanc- Balancing Act
ing Act,” which features a woman who excels in more than
one field, profiles rancher-lawyer-singer Kellie Morgantini. Kellie Morgantini creates balance by practicing law
We hope you will find Monterey County Women inspiring, and performing music
entertaining and resourceful.

Lisa Crawford Watson
Team 16 Mary Adams
Table of Contents
Still Carrying the Banner

Supervisor-elect Mary Adams is guided by a sense
of service

PUBLISHER SALES TEAM

Gary Omernick Tanya Mayer Mike O’Bleness

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Jessica Dixon Elizabeth McBride

Dana Arvig Rachel Martinez On the cover
AD SUPPORT MANAGER
EDITOR Dr. Nancy Kotowski
Lorraine Roque Photo by Randy Tunnell
Lisa Crawford Watson
ADVERTISING COORDINATORS MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016 3
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Danielle Landaker Peg Dillehay
Rick Gebin Roberta Little

[email protected] | montereyherald.com/advertise | 831.726.4343

Nicole Truszkowski

A veteran real estate broker with
19 years of experience, Nicole
brings a fresh approach &
incredible skill set to service her
clients. Whether working with
buyers or sellers, Nicole knows
that quality communicaion is
a key to building lasting client
relationships. Nicole considers
it an honor to be not only your
realtor, but part of your trusted
circle of advisors.

831.238.7449

[email protected]
www.EstatesofCarmel.com

CalBRE#: 01240204

Monterey Peninsula
Real Estate Specialist

Local knowledge you can trust
from a Monterey Peninsula native!,
whether buying or selling.

Julie Vivolo Davis

831-594-7283

CalBRE #00930161

www.julievdavis.com
[email protected]

Building a Community one home at a time.

Julie has been working in the service industry and real
estate for over 30 years... she’s on the Economic
Development Commission, Board of Directors for the
PG Chamber and serves on the Local
Government Affairs Committee for
MCAR... plus has owned a local favorite
chowder house restaurant for 25 years.

4 MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016

M P C CONTEREY ENINSULA HAMBER OF OMMERCE
2011 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Local, Long-Distance and
International Moving

Full Service and Do-lt-Yourself Options

Trained and Uniformed Personnel

Agents for United Van Lines

Owned and Operated by the
Cardinale Family since 1972

Call for a free estimate Roseann Cardinale Orlebeck

11360 Commercial Parkway, Castroville, CA
[email protected]

Don’t make a move without us!
(831) 632-4100

CardinaleMoving.com

Arleen Hardenstein Consistent Top Producer on the

the local’s expert living & working Monterey Peninsula
on the monterey peninsula
If you are looking
831.915.8989 for a trusted,

[email protected] experienced and
dedicated real
CalBRE#: 01710953 estate source that

goes the
“extra mile” in
making your real
estate dreams a
reality, please call:

Monika Campbell

at 831.917.8208

[email protected] | MonikaCampbell.com | BRE #01370848

MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016 5

Children are our
most precious
resource.”

NANCY KOTOWSKI

6 MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016

A TRIBUTE TO MONTEREY COUNTY WOMEN

Women of Vision

Commitment to Kids, to Community,
to Creating Opportunities

Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy
Kotowski champions every child as if each were her own

Photo by Randy Tunnell M aybe because she is the By Lisa Crawford Watson
eldest of four siblings or
Nancy Kotowski perhaps in spite of it, Dr. grades. Yet, after five years as principal, she
Nancy Kotowski absolutely decided she wanted to serve children from
Back to School loves children and youth. a broader base and from a world perspec-
Her greatest joy is to watch kids develop tive. She joined the Peace Corps and went
“It was my job their interests and talents as they grow into to Cameroon, Africa.
to hold happy, healthy, productive adults. It is this
passion that has informed and fueled her “While serving the Peace Corps, I learned
the mirror, life’s work in education, through which she as much from people as I taught them, and
so they could is currently serving her third term as Mon- grew to understand people in a deeper
see their great terey County Superintendent of Schools. way. While in Cameroon,” she says, “I was
“My underlying belief,” says Dr. Kotowski, an ambassador for my country, and when I
potential” “is that children are our most precious returned to the United States, I became an
resource. And it takes all of us, working to- ambassador for Cameroon.”
gether, to ensure children are getting their
greatest opportunities for success.” Upon her return from Africa, Dr. Kotowski
Born and raised in Illinois, Dr. Kotowski served one more year as principal in Illinois
got an early grasp on the value of educa- and then came to California to accept a full
tion. She earned her bachelor of science fellowship to pursue her PhD from USC.
degree from the University of Dayton, her Upon completion, she moved to Monterey
Master’s degree from Northwestern Uni- County and, within one year, was appointed
versity, and her PhD from the University of assistant superintendent of schools over 24
Southern California (USC). school districts, serving 77,000 children.
While she was teaching middle school in
Illinois, her students published a newspaper “I consider them mine,” she says.
in which they voted for favorite teachers in After serving 14 years with Monterey
different categories. Dr. Kotowski won for County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Wil-
most strict and most helpful. liam Barr, Dr. Kotowski found herself faced
“I’ll take that from middle schoolers,” she with an opportunity when he retired.
says. “They need both wiggle room and “I had never thought of myself as some-
boundaries. I love all children, but this is my one who would run for office,” she says, “but
favorite age. This is a time when kids are my career had become this ever-expanding
on a shaky bridge between childhood and reaching out of arms around children and
adulthood, so they are trying on so many youth. I had fallen in love with the families
different personas to see what fits. It was of this community, and I greatly respected
my job to hold the mirror, so they could see the work Bill had done. So, I ran for office.”
their great potential.” Dr. Kotowski, who works six or seven days
While teaching, Dr. Kotowski experi- a week, rarely calls it work. She considers it
enced, at the end of each school year, a her calling.
sense of loss as her students departed her “The beauty of this job,” she says, “is that
classroom. Once she became the school I have a direct line of sight to classrooms,
principal, she enjoyed a longer relationship teachers, children. Being elected creates a
with students as they moved through the sacred trust of commitment to the people
of this county. I consider this a very impor-
tant relationship and responsibility. I know
I’m making a difference.”

MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016 7

theJones group

www.Jonesgrouprealestate.com Coast & Country real estate

Betty Pribula Laurel Jaques Peggy Jones Sandy Yagyu Christine Monteith
Broker/REALTOR REALTOR Broker Assoc/REALTOR
Broker Assoc/REALTOR REALTOR

loCal, Independent and delIverIng BIg results Call: 6831. 55.5050

8 MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016

A TRIBUTE TO MONTEREY COUNTY WOMEN

Women of Vision

Love of Language, Literature
and Learning

CSU Monterey Bay Provost Dr. Bonnie Irwin shares her
passion for education

Photo by Joan Iguban Galiguis B orn in Chicago and raised in By Lisa Crawford Watson
Northern Illinois till she was
Bonnie Irwin 12, Dr. Bonnie Irwin spent the rest she studied in Costa Rica and in Brazil,
of her growing-up years in the which helped her combine her love for
Back to School hills of Los Gatos, from where, on reading with her love of language.
a clear day, she could see Monterey. She of-
“Mygnouaml isbaelrw-oanyes ten imagined what it would be like to live in “When I learned I could study literature
the success that magical coastal community. But, when in languages other than English,” she says,
it came time to go to work, the UC Berkeley “I found it really exciting. I thought I might
of the students” graduate, armed with three degrees in com- go into international relations, but once I
parative literature, followed the job market discovered I could get paid for reading and
back to Illinois. writing, I went into education.”
Once the academician decided she
wanted to serve as the provost or vice presi- At Eastern Illinois University, Dr. Irwin
dent of academic affairs at a university, and started as an assistant professor and then
found that CSU Monterey Bay (CSUMB) had moved up through the ranks, becoming a
an opening, in 2014, Dr. Irwin finally found full professor, then dean of the honors col-
her way to the city by the bay. lege, and then dean of arts and humanities.
“What I found,” says Dr. Irwin, “is that
CSUMB is an institution that has the same “This is the first administrative job I’ve
values as mine, evidenced in the things we had,” says Dr. Irwin, “where I don’t also teach.
do and the students we serve. And, I was What I miss most about my life as a faculty
excited to come back to California.” member, is teaching. I like the interaction
As the top administrator for all academic with students. In my administrative role,
functions on campus – the deans, depart- filled with meetings and spread sheets,
ments, colleges, academic support areas, I miss not having contact with what the
and budgetary affairs, Dr. Irwin’s vision university is all about, the students.”
aligns with the University mission to pro-
mote service through high-quality educa- Dr. Irwin loved sharing her passion for
tion, serve the diverse people of this area, literature and mythology to students who
particularly the under-served, and commit had never been exposed to it, and seeing
to multilingual, multicultural, gender-equi- that moment when they got so excited
table learning. about something they’d had no idea about.
It’s a big job. But she doesn’t do it alone. Which is why she loves to guest lecture on
“As one of four vice presidents at the campus and at OLLI, the Osher Lifelong
university,” she says, “I call myself the ‘first Learning Institute for ages “50 or better.”
among equals.’ I am in charge when the
president is out of town, but I do not neces- “My number-one goal,” she says, “is
sarily have authority over my colleagues. always the success of the students; I want
This is a highly collaborative campus.” to get our graduation rates up, to see more
Dr. Irwin learned to read before she went students finish. But more than that, I want
to school. By the age of 4, she always had them to thrive on campus and succeed
a book in her hands. In middle school, she at what they want and need, so they are
studied Spanish and, during high school, poised to take on the world.”

MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016 9

A TRIBUTE TO MONTEREY COUNTY WOMEN

Women of Vision

Rising to the Challenge

Salinas High School Principal Judith Peterson develops future
movers and shakers of the Salinas Valley

Photo by Philip M. Geiger J udith Peterson didn’t originally By Kathryn McKenzie
intend to go into school adminis-
Judith Peterson tration − it took a little persuasion hancements in the athletic program, which
before she jumped into the role. has added girls’ field hockey and boys’ and
Back to School But now, the Salinas High School girls’ lacrosse, during her tenure.
principal is glad she did.
“There’s no Peterson had been a long-time English Being a larger high school, “We have
better job teacher at San Lorenzo Valley High School the resources to develop a lot of different
for me” in Scotts Valley when she was approached programs,” says Peterson. Now underway
about being promoted to assistant prin- are new pathways in computer science and
cipal. “This isn’t what I want,” she told the engineering, and a class on robotics is
district superintendent. “But it’s what you being developed.
need,” the superintendent replied.
Peterson’s aim is to sustain a positive
Despite her initial hesitation, she took the culture at the high school, accommodat-
position, and the UC Santa Cruz graduate ing the needs of second-language learners
with a degree in English, went on to earn an and students from a variety of socioeco-
administrative credential and her Master’s nomic backgrounds. She and her staff also
degree while on the job. Her career shift are looking at ways to develop agriculture
eventually led her to Salinas, where she technology classes − a natural way to go,
served as assistant principal at Alisal High considering Salinas’ role as a vital center of
School for one year and then started a ag industry.
longer stint at Washington Middle School,
where she became principal in 2008. Getting it all done is a matter of having
the right people in place, Peterson says,
“I always wanted to work in Salinas,” praising her assistant principals and depart-
Peterson says, and she found she enjoyed ment chairs, in particular, as “top notch.”
the challenges and busy pace she found
at schools there. In 2012, she was named When not at work, the Aptos resident
principal of Salinas High School, the largest enjoys gardening, and is an avid reader
and longest-established high school in the and traveler. She also spends time with her
city, succeeding a series of principals who husband and the five children and seven
didn’t stay there long. grandchildren they share, and contributes
her time to Salinas Rotary.
Not so for Peterson, now in her fifth year.
“There’s no better job for me,” says Peterson, When it comes to her high school, Pe-
who says her goal is to provide the best terson says, it’s all about asking, “What does
school possible for her students. Among the community want and need?” And the
the enrolled 2,600 students at Salinas High, answer is developing the future movers and
she often sees her former Washington shakers of the Salinas Valley and beyond.
middle schoolers.

Although Salinas High is a large school,
Peterson says that’s an advantage − “There
are more opportunities here for kids and
their families,” she says, pointing to the
growth in the number of AP classes offered
for college-bound students as well as en-

10 MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016

A TRIBUTE TO MONTEREY COUNTY WOMEN

Women of Vision

Strong Sense of Self

Layperson Meg Bradley takes the helm
at Santa Catalina School

Photo by Randy Tunnell S ince 1950, when Santa Catalina By Kathryn McKenzie
School opened on its current
Meg Bradley campus, there have been only magical about it.”
three heads of school − and all Her experience, both with day and
Back to School have been Catholic nuns. That has
changed with the recent appointment boarding schools, at all grade levels, has
“Being in an of Meg Bradley, the first layperson to take given her a unique skill set with which to
all-girls the top position at the renowned serve Santa Catalina.
private school.
environment But Bradley is no stranger to the Catholic “It’s a nice fit for my interests,” she says,
really changes school tradition. She herself is the product pointing out that Santa Catalina has both
of an all-girls Catholic school in Pennsylva- a vibrant coed day program for pre-kinder-
the way you nia, an experience she says is vital for young garten through eighth grade as well as an
operate” women to develop a strong sense of self. outstanding all-girls upper school for grades
“Being in an all-girls environment really 9 to 12, with both day students and board-
changes the way you operate,” says Bradley, ers. “It’s one of the very few schools to have
which has helped her develop leadership this combination.”
skills she’s put to good use in her adult life.
Now she wants to carry on that tradition at With a current enrollment of 244 girls in
Santa Catalina. the upper school and 261 boys and girls in
Bradley will take over for Sister Claire, the lower and middle schools, Bradley notes
who is retiring after 44 years at the school. that Santa Catalina has made smart use of
In a letter on Bradley’s appointment, Sister its facilities to accommodate all grades.
Claire stated, “Sister Christine and I, as well
as everyone at Santa Catalina, are delighted Bradley has held financial and public
to welcome Meg as the fourth Head of relations positions at other private schools,
Santa Catalina School. It is particularly fit- and at Cate, served on its management and
ting that her appointment occurred at the strategic planning teams, on committees for
time of the feast of the great Dominican curricular and academic program analysis,
saint, Catherine of Siena, our patron. I look and as a student advisor, “all areas that are
forward to assisting Meg in the transition critical to Santa Catalina’s future,” according
and to working with such an experienced to a statement from Nonie B. Ramsay, who
educator and fine individual.” chairs Santa Catalina’s board of trustees.
Bradley and her husband, George Cho-
quette, relocated from the Santa Barbara Bradley also is active as a teacher and
area where she had been the assistant trainer for other education profession-
headmaster external affairs for Cate School, als, and has led numerous workshops on
a private coed high school in Carpinteria, fundraising, grant writing and other topics
where she worked for 18 years. for the National Association of Independent
They’re now settling in to their new Schools and other organizations.
home on the Santa Catalina campus.
“It’s very, very exciting,” says Bradley Right now, Bradley is concentrating on
of coming to Santa Catalina and her getting to know the campus, its culture
warm welcome there. “There’s something and curriculum. She’s also hoping to fit in a
little recreation as well — “George and I are
looking forward to hiking and exploring the
natural beauty of this area,” she says.

MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016 11

A TRIBUTE TO MONTEREY COUNTY WOMEN

Women of Vision

Learning How to Help Others
Learn How to Read

Chartwell Head of School Nora Lee spent 30 years
sharing her love of literature

Photo by Chartwell School S he was just on the brink of becom- By E. Neale
ing a teenager when Nora Lee got
Nora Lee curious. Really curious. That’s when it continues to specialize in academic
the inquisitive 12-year-old girl made instruction for students with language-
Back to School a conscious decision to leave a big based learning differences, focused on the
chunk of her childhood behind and wander understanding that “Not all great minds
“I saw kids over to the adult literature section of the think alike.”
with brilliant San Francisco Public Library.
Lee turned her attention from “The Black “I did a tour of the school and saw what
minds and Stallion” series to John Steinbeck’s “Red they were doing in the classroom,” says Lee.
tremendous Pony,” among others, and experienced the “I thought, ‘Oh, this is how you teach kids
quiet thrill that comes with reading stories to read.’ I saw kids with brilliant minds and
strength, of substance. She knew she had become a tremendous strength, yet they had trouble
hadryeteartodtuihnbeglye” grown-up reader when she picked up “Gone reading. I didn’t have any difficulty as a child
with the Wind.” Whether she ensconced learning to read. And I’ve always loved to
herself in Margaret Mitchell’s original read. I couldn’t imagine what that would be
hardcover or the Warner Books paperback, like not to be able to read. It was one of the
Lee committed her young self to exploring most ironic things ever.”
more than 1,000 pages. She didn’t realize it
then, but surely she was being shaped by a Lee enrolled in summer school, taking a
young woman named Scarlett, as she pored teaching class, which led to a job at Thomas
through page after page after page. Allyn. She never left. From instructing
Lee read her way through her teenage part-time to teaching full-time to becom-
years and then furthered her studies at ing dean of academics, followed by head of
Southern Oregon University in Ashland, school, Lee overcame the irony. For 31 years,
Oregon where she earned her bachelor’s she shared her longtime love of reading,
degree in education, with a minor in and helped build a school that now serves
English. Following graduation, she became nearly 100 students, before retiring this past
an English teacher at Ashland High School. spring at the end of the 2016 academic year.
There, the perpetual straight-A student got
her introduction to students who had dif- “I feel very, very fortunate that I got to be
ficulty learning. part of a school like Chartwell,” says Lee. “It is
“We didn’t know what to do with a kid in very special. It’s unique. It really has been so
high school who didn’t know how to read,” satisfying and so rewarding to have made it
Lee says. “We hadn’t been trained.”Yet she my life’s work. The people have been amaz-
was about to learn. ing – from the students to the parents to
In 1985, Lee returned to San Francisco to the faculty. I feel the work I did was impor-
help her parents after her mother suffered tant, that it did make a difference.
a stroke. At the time, a friend told her about
the Thomas Allyn School, a special-instruc- And I know it will continue. I find this
tion school with about 25 students on the very inspiring.”
Monterey Peninsula, which was looking for
teachers. Later renamed Chartwell School,

12 MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016

SHERRY COLETTI The Puzzle Lady

Independent Presenter Mary Norton
www.LuxuryLashesbysherry.com
Puzzles for
[email protected]
831-776-3097 Babies, Boppers

Boomers & Beyond!

regular mascara with 3D fiber lashes 225 Forest Avenue

Pacific Grove CA 93950

831-656-9282

“Live The Dream”

Your own personal Broker 24/7
owned and operated every step

of the way buying or selling
you are in constant contact.

Jana Bradford BROKER
831-915-0522

Real Estate Broker 28 W. Carmel Valley Road
[email protected]
Serving the Entire Peninsula

If success is a journey,
welcome to the passing lane.

Every student with dyslexia should have the opportunity
to unleash their potential, but not every school has the
ability to develop that potential.

At Chartwell School, we offer students in grades 2-8 a
multi-sensory diagnostic literacy skills program to address
language areas. In our grades 9-12 college preparatory
program, we utilize project-based learning and field
experiences to foster student engagement.

To find out how Chartwell can set students up for success,
visit our monthly Open House events during the school
year or contact us to arrange a personal visit.

Chartwell Salutes Nora Lee for Inspiring Students with Dyslexia for 31 Years

Chartwell School | 2511 Numa Watson Road | Seaside | CA | 93955 | [email protected] | 831-394-3468 x 1025 | chartwell.org

MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016 13





A TRIBUTE TO MONTEREY COUNTY WOMEN

Women of Vision

Still Carrying the Banner

Supervisor-elect Mary Adams is guided by a sense of service

By E. Neale

Photo by Randy Tunnell I would not be the person I am today were
it not for the incredible generosity of spirit
Mary Adams from mentors in my life.”

“Leading Ladies” MARY ADAMS

I t was, quite literally, a Sunday drive. The Sunday-est of American Cancer Society and American Heart Foundation (AHF).
drives, actually. It was there, in the late 1980s and early ‘90s, that she experienced
Mom and Dad at the wheel, she and her siblings all one of her most cherished public-service memories. Suffice it to
dressed up and piled into the back of the gray-and-white say, she took on Big Tobacco . . . and won.
1950s Pontiac station wagon. Wheels pointed in the
direction of Sister Mary Elissa, Sister Mary Walter and Sister Mary “I wanted to ensure that the money raised from the tobacco
Pietra and their teachings in Louisville, Kentucky on Sunday. tax could be used to buy advertising that would talk about the
Every Sunday. harmful effects of smoking,” Adams says, of the approximately
$1.4 billion. “A lot of people were not on our side. But we kept
Whether it was her Sunday-go-to-meetings, her Catholic enough people on board, and we won. Just don’t ever give up.”
aunts from Ursulines of the Sacred Heart, or walking the neigh-
borhood with her mother to collect money for the March of Adams was awarded the AHF’s Time, Feeling, Focus distinc-
Dimes, little Mary Adams got it. And that “it,” the giving heart, has tion. As she went up to receive the honor, she modestly kept her
lasted a lifetime. head down. “No, look up,” Adams says she heard the presenter
say. “That’s for you.” Adams still breaks down at the thought of it.
“I think about that: What made me the way I am?” says Adams, “Everyone was standing and clapping,” she says. “To have the ap-
supervisor elect for the 5th district of the Monterey County preciation of your peers and colleagues is very moving.”
Board of Supervisors. “I was exposed to that whole notion of
public service. Also, growing up in the era I did, a lot of us were Adams’ newest chapter as supervisor likely will include more
carrying banners. My older sister told me once, ‘It’s time to put of the same.
the banner down and go get a real job.’ But I’ve never been able
to put the banner down.” “I would not be the person I am today were it not for the
incredible generosity of spirit of mentors in my life. While not all
Adams carried it for 14 years as CEO of United Way Monterey my mentors have been women, many of them are. Mentors
County. There, she helped raise $50 million and change thou- have helped form me professionally, personally, socially and
sands of lives. Everything from a free 2-1-1 hotline providing emotionally. The advice I share with friends and colleagues is
local health and human services information (in 174 languages), that it is incumbent upon us as leaders to make the time to be
to fully stocked backpacks for many of the county’s homeless mentors ourselves.”
students. Impressive enough work to warrant Woman of the Year
awards from the Board of Supervisors’ Commission on the Status
of Women, and CSU Monterey Bay School of Business.

Before that, Adams occupied leadership positions at the

16 MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016

Age Beautifully

Injectable and Laser
Center of Excellence!

• Botox® Cosmetic

• Juvederm Voluma® XC

• Ultherapy® Skin Tightening

• Photo-rejuvenation/IPL

• Eclipse MICROPENTM

“Vampire Facelift”

• SmartskinTM CO2 Skin

Resurfacing

• CoolsculptingTM Call Us to
Body Shaper Schedule Your
Complementary
• Hydrafacial MD® Consultation!

• Permanent Makeup

Mention this ad and receive $25.00 off your next treatment!

Joanne Shiffman, RN, BSN | Stacy Strength, NP, RN
Michelle Alvarez, RN | Anna Rider, RN

(831) 375-9555 | facefirstlaser.com
550 Wave St. Suite 2, Monterey, CA 93940

MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016 17

MCW EDITOR

Lisa Crawford Watson Philip M. Geiger LOCAL WOMEN LEADERS

A fifth-generation Northern Philip M. Geiger is a local free- BUILDING A MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY
Californian, Lisa Crawford Watson lance photographer who special-
has enjoyed a diverse career in busi- izes capturing in the sincerity of Through Arts, Economic Development, Education, Science, Public Policy
ness, education and writing. She
lives with her family on the Mon- animals, the savor of food, and To advertise in our next
terey Peninsula where her grand- the spirit of people. Known for Monterey County Women,
mother once lived and wrote. An his regional work in magazines, call 831.726.4343 or visit
adjunct writing instructor for CSU newspapers and books, Geiger montereyherald.com/advertise
Monterey Bay and Monterey Pen- enjoys photographing a diversity
insula College, she has published
books and thousands of feature of subjects, circumstances
articles and columns in local and and mediums.

national publications.

Kathryn McKenzie E. Neale Randy Tunnell

Kathryn McKenzie, a longtime E. Neale is a writer, editor, mother, Randy Tunnell has been
correspondent and columnist sister and friend. Not necessarily providing high quality
for the Monterey Herald, is also in that order. She loves possibility, photographic coverage to
the editor of the Herald’s Health meaningful conversations, Adele, the Monterey Peninsula for
Matters magazine, in addition to the smell of rain, Starbucks, laugh- over 16 years. His extensive
writing for other publications and ter, cool sheets, second chances, background in commercial
The Wizard of Oz and, of course, photography, combined with
websites. She lives in North his enthusiastic professional
Monterey County. putting words to paper. attitude, make him uniquely
qualified to fit an array of
18 MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016 diverse photographic

assignments.

MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016 19

20 MCW: Monterey County Women | Fall 2016