Fresno County Deputy District Attorney and domestic violence survivor Rachel Baskin will keynote the upcoming Marjaree Mason Center Top Ten Professional Women awards. Photo via Fresno County

The Marjaree Mason Center has announced the local leaders who will be honored at this year’s Top Ten Professional Women Awards, recognizing individuals whose professional excellence and community leadership have made a significant impact on the Central Valley.

Hailing from a variety of industries from health care to civic service, the recipients will be honored alongside this year’s keynote speaker, Fresno County Deputy District Attorney and domestic violence survivor Rachel Baskin.

In 2009, Baskin, then 23, her mother and brother were attacked by Baskin’s estranged husband. Her brother was shot in the head, her mother’s throat was slashed and she was shot in the head and had her throat cut. All three survived the attack before Baskin, just weeks later, returned to paralegal school, completing her degree while attending court hearings for her own case.

Baskin’s mentor, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp, was the prosecutor on her case.

Baskin’s keynote speech will be moderated by former NFL quarterback and Fresno State alum, David Carr.

The ceremony will honor the Top Ten Professional Women who will join four-decades of women empowering their industries in the Central Valley. A committee of four community judges reviewed and scored the candidates, who were nominated by their peers in the community.

The winners for 2025 are:

Dr. Jill Christine Friebele, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, director of adaptive sports, Valley Children’s Healthcare

Dr. Diane Lira, deputy superintendent, instructional division, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools

Amy Hance, general services director, City of Clovis

Jeffie Esparza Hickman, superintendent/principal, University High School

Joanne Lai, licensed marriage and family therapist, CEO and founder, Spiral & Bloom Embodiment Sanctuary

Kina McFadden, CEO, Eye Connect Dots

Debbie Raven, president & CEO, Valley Small Business Development Corporation

Dr. Marina Roytman, physician, clinical professor of medicine and liver program director, UCSF Fresno

Lisa Urrizola Cooper, senior deputy district attorney, Fresno County District Attorney’s Office

Genesis Ortiz Wilson, franchisee/chief operating officer, Dutch Bros Coffee Fresno and partner, Trayla Properties

The 42nd annual event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center, New Exhibit Hall. More than 1,500 attendees are expected.

Tickets to the event are priced at $100 and can be purchased at the Marjaree Mason Center website. Table seating is also available for purchase at $1,000 for ten attendees.