We celebrate these extraordinary women for their business acumen, leadership, vision and expertise.
Rosemary Allison, Real Estate, Director of Estates, Coldwell Banker Realty #00545184 One of the country’s most successful Realtors, Rosemary set the standard for excellence throughout her career. REAL Trends ranked Rosemary No. 181 of Top 250 real estate agents in the U.S. based on closed sales volume. Her vision and reputation in the science of marketing the finest estates established her as the most innovative leader in real estate. Rosemary was recognized as “Woman of the Year 2020” and Ventura County’s Best Real Estate Agent by the Daily News. 805.479.7653 | CallRosemary.com
Janet Garufis, Chairman and CEO, Montecito Bank & Trust Leading MB&T for 18 years, Janet brings over 5 decades of banking experience to Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. MB&T is the oldest and largest locally owned community bank on the Central Coast offering consumer and business banking, lending and wealth management and is well-known for unwavering corporate philanthropy, annually donating $1.6 million and volunteering 7,000+ hours to nonprofits. Modeling the way, Janet actively contributes her time and talent to local nonprofits, currently serving as Chair of the Santa Barbara Symphony Board, in addition to serving on numerous boards and industry associations. Under Janet’s leadership their exceptional customer service has earned MB&T 26 Best Bank awards, Best Mortgage Company, Best Investment/Financial Services Firm and Best Place to Work. Montecito.bank
Laura Raulinaitis, CFP®, Senior Vice President, Lake Avenue Group Morgan Stanley Laura loves being a trusted part of family discussions and building and maintaining lifelong relationships, noting that the secret to her success lies in the fact that “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” She advises women, “You spend all your life taking care of others—your kids, your work, your parents, your friends, your charity—let me help you take care of you… and your financial future. I can be your financial partner.” 805.494.0236 | Advisor.MorganStanley.com/The-Lake-Avenue-Group
Darlene Kimbell, State Restoration Whether designing, remodeling or restoring, homeowners have turned to State Restoration in Westlake Village to ensure their home projects are expertly executed from start to finish. Founded in 1999 by Darlene and Doug Kimbell, State Restoration has helped hundreds of homeowners complete a wide range of projects, from residential and commercial to industrial, catering to diverse client requirements and handling all aspects of design and engineering through construction. Its team of over 20 professionals specialize in design, project management, construction, architecture and engineering, serving as a one-stop shop to get your project done seamlessly from start to finish. 805.379.1276 | StateRestoration.com
Andea Gallagher, President, Senior Concerns Andea focuses on delivering programs as unique as the seniors they serve. With that goal in mind, she and her team have launched several new programs, including Neuropsychologist-Led Memory Screenings which are provided free of charge to ease memory concerns and an Early Memory Loss Support Group. Their Parkinson’s Support Group helps both the person with Parkinson’s and their family caregiver improve their quality of life. Solo Aging Workshops bring in experts to guide solo agers to create a plan of action to ensure they will have the means necessary to support them as they age. And in partnership with Westlake Village Sunrise Rotary Club, a Home Maintenance and Repair Program was launched to provide free services to seniors in the 91360, 61, and 62 zip codes. 805.497.0189 | SeniorConcerns.org
Christine Wilson, Owner/Audiologist, Conejo Hearing Center Taking pride in developing long-term relationships based on unsurpassed personal service with patients, Christine is committed to educating her patients and improving their quality of life through better hearing. A licensed Audiologist with a BS in Business Administration, an MS in Communication Disorders and Sciences in Audiology and a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology, Christine uses state-of-the art technology to help people of all ages retain or recover their ability to communicate so they can lead full, confident and productive lives. 818.991.3800 | ConejoHearingCenter.com
Cristina Markiewicz, DDS, Family and Cosmetic Dentist, Newbury Park Dental Arts At Newbury Park Dental Arts, Dr. Markiewicz and her committed team make your care their top priority. Dedicated to providing the very best dental care in a professional, courteous and efficient manner, the staff ensures patient comfort, safety and satisfaction. Offering a comprehensive list of general, restorative and cosmetic dental services to meet the needs of the whole family, Dr. Markiewicz takes an integrative approach to care, working with individuals to achieve oral health and provide patient-centered, comprehensive and minimally invasive care using state-of-the-art techniques and technology. Combining art and science, Dr. Markiewicz helps create confidence and self-esteem in her patients via long-term dental health and a beautiful smile. 805.498.0400 | NewburyParkDentalArts.com
Debi Cassar, Founder, Homelife Senior Living Debi brings a wealth of business experience and a deeply personal mission to redefine senior assisted care. Her journey began with realizing the gaps in existing senior care and living options, propelling her to establish Homelife to provide an intimate community of homes with exceptional personal assistance and care in luxurious soundings. Guided by her unwavering dedication, Homelife prioritizes personalized care, compassion and a desire to make each resident feel valued and loved. Debi's tireless commitment ensures that residents receive exceptional assistance and thrive in an environment that feels like home. Her leadership drives the facility to set new standards in senior assisted living, offering a haven where residents find joy, value and comfort. 805.626.7792 | HomelifeSeniorLiving.com
Denise Everson, Owner, Westlake Body Contouring A Conejo Valley resident for the past 30 years, Denise was born in the U.S. and raised in Argentina. An active mother and school volunteer, Denise with degrees in Education and Sports Fitness, Denise began her journey with Westlake Body Contouring as a Body Contouring Tech. Enjoying helping people, she jumped at the chance to own the practice and join the local business community in the Conejo Valley. Westlake Body Contouring uses a safe, FDA cleared Red Light Therapy procedure to help with fat loss, chronic pain and inflammation. The state-of-the art technology treatment sculpts and tones every area of the body and is 100 times more powerful than any other light on the market targeting fat cells. Westlake Body Contouring’s caring and skilled staff take pride in helping to improve the quality of life for so many patients. 818.852.7352 | WestlakeBodyContouring.com
Eva A. Allen, Founder and CEO, The Health Portfolio LLC On a mission to co-create workplace cultures of well-being in the Conjeo Valley and beyond, Eva is an inspirational female leader of a local minority-owned small business. As an executive consultant for employers and businesses, her primary focus is on designing intentional employee benefits supported by workplace well-being strategies. She is a keynote speaker and host of local and international immersive retreats fostering whole-person health, body and mind. Eva is passionate about authentic leadership development and multidimensional well-being. Follow @thehealthportfolio on social media for the perfect dose to (re)inspire a culture of well-being. 805.849.9044 | TheHealthPortfolio.com
Kim Maselli, Artistic Director, Pacific Festival Ballet Founded in 1992, Pacific Festival Ballet fulfilled a vision of bringing a regional ballet company to the Conejo Valley. Under the artistic direction of Kim Maselli, a former member of American Ballet Theater II and “FAME” TV series regular, PFB’s repertoire includes classical ballets such as “The Nutcracker” and “Sleeping Beauty,” as well as innovative world premieres, including “Noah’s Ark,” “The Sea Princess” and “Camelot.” This May, “Noah’s Ark” returns to the Civic Arts Plaza stage retelling this ancient saga with powerful storytelling, theatrics and dance. Since its inception, Pacific Festival Ballet has worked to create a strong tradition of civic support through public performances, local outreach and children’s educational programs. Kim is committed to continuing a long-lasting legacy of dance and performing arts in our community! PacFestBallet.org
Kim Pagano, Radio Host/Personality, Business and Media Coach Bringing listeners “The Brighter Side of Life” for more than 17 years, Kim has been interviewing and learning about what makes people feel their best in business and in life and how they succeed. Seventeen years ago, she was fortunate enough to be asked to host the “Kim Pagano Radio Show” on KVTA.com. “What I love the most is having a voice to hopefully make a positive impact in our community and also have the opportunity to dig deeper and talk with guests from all over the world and share their life lessons on my radio shows and podcasts. Everything I’ve learned in owning my business and all the tips I pick up is what I share in my business coaching. If you are looking for guidance in any area of your life, I would be honored to work with you. I have learned that the way we run our life is the way we run our business. Let me help you make it your best!” 805.419.0008 | KimPaganoShow.com
Kristin Karst, A native of Dresden, Germany, Kristin has become one of the leading executives in the travel industry. After obtaining her MBA from the University of Dresden, Kristin worked for American Express in Europe before relocating to the United States and entering the river cruise industry in 1999. In 2002, together with Rudi Schreiner and Jimmy Murphy, she co-founded AmaWaterways, an award-winning river cruise company with 29 intimate ships sailing the rivers of Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. Kristin was recently named one of Inc. Magazine’s Top Female Founders in recognition of her leadership skills, entrepreneurial spirit and passion for innovation. With her commitment to personalized customer service, she continues to shape the products and services of the luxury river cruise company with its head office in Conejo Valley. 818.626.0126 | Amawaterways.com
Kristina Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Cat in a Hammock, Inc. Kristina is the co-founder, CEO and principal landscape designer, serving homeowners across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. “Our clients come to us because they want to have a beautifully designed backyard and have it professionally built and managed,” says Kristina. “We make it easy for the homeowners to see what the project will look like by doing a 3D design.” Cat in a Hammock provides turn-key service including architectural drawings and engineering, pulling permits, project management and construction. “Love where you live” is our motto for the community. 805.263.4200 | CatInAHammock.com
Linda Braunschweiger, Chief Executive Officer, Housing Trust Fund Ventura County/Housing Land Trust Ventura County Linda is driven by a fundamental desire to house everyone. She passionately led Housing Trust Fund VC as its founding contract CEO, from being a new organization to being the community’s leading nonprofit lender, providing low-cost loans to developers building affordable housing in Ventura County for over a decade. Housing Trust Fund VC’s Revolving Loan Fund has raised $40M, and over $27M in loans have been approved, resulting in 1,177 built or committed affordable homes. Housing Trust Fund VC has leveraged the CA Prop 1 matching program every year since its launch, raising over $14M in local funds, which were successfully matched. Housing Land Trust VC was established to identify and receive donated land to facilitate the development of affordable housing. The nonprofit has received parcels of land from the cities of Oxnard and Thousand Oaks. linda@housingtrustfundvc.org | HousingTrustFundvc.org
Lynnette Coverly, Chief Executive Officer, Coverly Professional Services, Inc. A courageous businesswoman with more than 30 years of experience, Lynnette was the product of mass layoffs in the economic crash of the mid-2000s. Not one to see herself as a statistic, Lynnette opened her doors in 2010 as Coverly Professional Services to provide Ventura County with a proactive, hands-on marketing and public relations project management firm. In 2018, CoverlyPro incorporated, growing to meet building demand for its services and began creating a marketing dream team. In 2023 CoverlyPro rebranded itself with leadership and creative input from the entire team, showing the world “it’s how you say it” that really matters. Today, Lynnette’s CoverlyPro dream team has grown to represent clients in many industries with talented marketers, strategists, project managers, creatives and copywriters. CoverlyPro.com
Marichu Cortes, Founder MC Aesthetics MC Aesthetics’ team takes pride in their work ethic and are committed to providing safety, comfort and beautiful results. The moment clients walk into MC Aesthetics, the team ensures they are well taken care of from start to finish with platinum care services. Clients are treated like family. Marichu helps create confidence and self-esteem in her clients through a minimally invasive approach, creating soft, subtle and natural-looking aesthetic results. Conducting comprehensive and detailed consultations, Marichu and her staff are devoted to educating their clients to ensure they are aware of their aesthetic options. By doing so, clients can make a well-educated and informed decision with the guidance of their professional, knowledgeable staff. They offer free consultations and take a no-pressure approach. 805.360.5205 | PortraitCare.com/providers/marichu-cortes
Monica Murrietta, Executive Director, Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara, Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara Monica leads an organization that provides people impacted by cancer with support groups led by licensed mental health professionals, individual counseling sessions, educational workshops, social events and wellness classes, all AT NO COST to participants. Support is offered both in-person and virtually via Zoom. People in the community have a safe, comforting place to find emotional support and essential information during their cancer journey. In 2023, Cancer Support Community provided almost 9,000 service hours to cancer patients and their families. 805.379.4777 | CancerSupportVVSB.org
Narinè Babikian, MHA, Executive Director, The Meadowglade Narinè is a dedicated professional with almost two decades of experience across health care, business development, sales and marketing. A firm believer that mental health is the pinnacle of our overall well-being, she is driven by a passion to contribute meaningfully to this critical aspect of human life. As a member of the leadership team of Centered Health and Executive Director of the Meadowglade, Narine is committed to being part of a company where she can give back to the community and witness the transformative impact that valuable changes in mental health services can bring. Narine holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, providing her with a robust foundation for making impactful changes in healthcare systems. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Narinè is a well-rounded individual with a variety of interests. Her hobbies include reading, where she finds solace and inspiration, hiking to connect with nature and stay active, and cooking as a creative outlet. Family holds a special place in her heart, and she values spending quality time with loved ones. TheMeadowglade.com
Shantha Mony, Founder, Luxury Destinations Concierge Driven by a passion for knowledge and excellence, Shantha crafts bespoke travel experiences, transcending ordinary vacations. Under her expert guidance, journeys tailored to individual desires become unforgettable adventures. Specializing in small ship cruising and expedition travel, Shantha ensures unparalleled luxury exploration. Her hands-on approach, including meticulous research and industry connections, guarantees authenticity and excellence. With Shantha at the helm, Luxury Destinations Concierge promises discerning travelers personalized adventures infused with luxury, discovery and unparalleled service—an epitome of bespoke travel excellence driven by her commitment to continuous learning and leadership. 805.236.4437 www.LuxuryDestinationsConcierge.com
Stephanie Wilson and Kati Olexiewicz, Gold Coast Theatre Conservatory This duo guides young people in learning all aspects of theatre skills at Gold Coast Theatre Conservatory, a unique program designed for character exploration, confidence building and teamwork. Both write and direct original plays created specifically for their students. Stephanie has produced Equity Theatre since 1984 and is currently Managing Director of Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. Her plays for children have been seen by tens of thousands. Kati began studying at the Conservatory when she was 8. She taught at The Granada Theatre and was a child-actor supervisor and counselor for the Los Angeles American Girl Revue. 805.427.5314 | GoldCoastTheatreConservatory.com
Terri Hilliard Olson, Esq., Founder, Law Office of Terri Hilliard, P.C. With over 25 years of dedicated experience, Terri focuses on advanced estate and business succession planning, special needs trusts, and family protection planning for seniors and veterans. As a trusted trust and estate attorney, she collaborates closely with her clients to craft tailored plans that safeguard their assets and provide peace of mind for their families. Committed to excellence, she offers comprehensive support to families and their advisors, ensuring longevity estate planning solutions that prioritize the well-being of her clients and their loved ones. In addition to her legal practice, Terri is actively involved in several nonprofits and foundations, including serving on the board of directors of Senior Concerns. Through her role, she contributes to providing quality programs and educational resources to meet the needs of the aging community, further demonstrating her commitment to making a positive impact beyond her legal practice. 805.201.2552
Zelene Fowler, Owner and President, Mizel Estate Wines Mizel Estate Wines Founded in 2014 by Michael and Zelene Fowler with the goal of producing world-class wines, Mizel Estate Wines makes precious, limited production wines in the Bordeaux style from 100% estate-grown grapes nurtured in Mizel Estate’s unique soil and coastal climate. Their expert vineyard team carefully manages the vines, with only the finest, hand-harvested grapes being used in Mizel’s luxury wines. Zelene and her all-woman business team oversee all aspects of Mizel Estate Wines estate management, wine operations, marketing and business development. Zelene notes, “Every year when we blend the wines and taste what we know will develop into deep, velvety reds, we are proud of what our team has achieved.” Mizel Estate Wines donates a portion of wine proceeds to the Mizel Family Foundation, which provides educational and career opportunities for people with unique abilities who experience special needs. 805.795.2506 | MizelEstate.com
