Women Together launched a new virtual speaker series called Shattering Glass Ceilings, which highlights women leaders from various industries across the Central Valley. Attendees hear from women who have successfully moved up their organizational ladders to advance their careers. Attendees also have the opportunity to ask questions and make connections.
Cori Takkinen is a Vice President at Townsend Public Affairs, Inc., a top California-based government relations firm that specializes in local, state, and federal legislative advocacy and grant writing.
Jennifer Janzen is the STEAM Coordinator for Santa Clara Unified where she supports and directs Project Based Learning, Computer Science, EdTech, and STEAM initiatives. Jennifer has served as the Director of Innovation & Instructional Support for Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE), as well as the Science Consultant for Tulare County Office of Education.
Dr. Carrie Arnold is the Principle for The Willow Group. Since 2011, she has owned and operated her own consulting business. Previous, she has 20 years' experiences working in healthcare, human resources, training ,and other organizational development.
After serving as a Tracy City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem for eight years, the Honorable Nancy Young was elected as Mayor in November 2020. She is the first African American and first woman elected as Mayor of Tracy.
Mayor Young has authored seven published books. She attained her Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from UC Berkeley, a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, a Doctorate in Theology from Good News Seminary and Bible College, a Minister's License from Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, and Ordination as Pastor from Shield of Faith International.
District Attorney Verber Salazar has been a major force in the San Joaquin County’s District Attorney Office. She rose through the ranks prosecuting gang related homicides and became the first woman District Attorney elected to the office in 2015.
District Attorney Verber Salazar has implemented office-wide changes including expansion of Victim-Witness services, establishment of the Family Justice Center, and creation of the first Political Integrity Unit dedicated to prosecution of corruption cases.
The Honorable Jayne Chong-Soon Lee was appointed judge by Governor Newsom in December 2019, and is currently the Supervising Civil Judge at the Superior Court of California, San Joaquin County.
She graduated from Yale University and UCLA School of Law. Judge Lee has taught at Stanford Law School, published law review articles currently used in first year law school classes, and was an adjunct professor at Golden Gate University School of Law.
Dr. Washer has served as the superintendent of Lodi Unified for 13 years and she is recognized as one of the longest serving superintendents in the State of California. When the Board of Education appointed Dr. Washer, she became the first woman superintendent in the District's history.
Throughout her tenure, Dr. Washer has sought to make the District an education destination that “educates students for success.” Under Dr. Washer's leadership, Lodi Unified has experienced significant growth and positive change, such as the increase of student academic achievement each year, development of new CTE courses, implementation of the 1:1 Home to School Connection Initiative, and the creation of the Giving Opportunities to Kids Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization that benefits students in Lodi Unified.
Gloria Salazar is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD). Ms. Salazar assumed the role of CEO in January 2020 with over 28 years of experience in the transit industry.
In her first year as CEO, Ms. Salazar led her team to thoughtfully and significantly adjust the operating budget and service to minimize the impact of COVID-19 to the organization while preparing RTD for recovery and sustainability. Informed by her prior finance experience, Ms. Salazar designed effective business processes and implemented robust systems, such as initiating a financial reporting system that has earned RTD a Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) award for 17 consecutive years.
Dr. Junn is the 11th President of California State University, Stanislaus. She is the first Korean-American woman President appointed in the US to a four-year public institution. As President of Stan State, she has established a strong reputation for displaying a focus for implementing new and innovative programs for student success, especially for non-traditional students, supporting a number of initiatives including CareerReadyU, Design Your Life courses, Freshman Convocation, as well as building new state-of-the art technology-enhanced Active Learning Classrooms.
President Junn has an extensive 35-year history with the CSU, having worked at five other CSU campuses prior to joining Stan State. She served as provost and vice president at CSU Dominguez Hills, provost and vice president at San Jose State University, associate provost at Fresno State, associate dean of the College of Health and Human Development at CSU Fullerton, and assistant professor at CSU San Bernardino. She also served as a visiting professor at Indiana University.