Local television personalities Margot Kim and Graciela Moreno host the 34th annual Top Ten Professional Women event in Fresno in 2018. MMC photo

The Marjaree Mason Center has announced the honorees for its 40th annual Top Ten Professional Women and Leading Business Awards, naming ten women to be honored at this year’s event.

The ceremony, presented by CalViva Health, works to highlight the achievements and commitment of the honorees who have helped elevate their professions.

Honorees were nominated by their peers and selected by a committee of five community judges who reviewed the nearly 40 candidates on their achievements, leadership and commitment to making a positive impact.

This year’s nominees are:

• Lisa Casarez-Austin, MSW, CEO and Founder, Angels of Grace, Foster Family Agency
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• Julie Cleeland, CEO, Eye-Q Vision Care
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• Gina Cuttone, Owner/President, Barthuli & Associates Insurance Services, Inc.
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• Jené D’Ambrosio, President/Co-Owner, D’Ambrosio Trading, Inc.
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• Joy J. Goto, Ph.D., Interim Dean, Division of Research and Graduate Studies, California State University, Fresno
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• Marissa Jackson, Police Sergeant, City of Fresno Police Department
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• Graciela Moreno, News Anchor/Reporter, KFSN-TV/ABC 30
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• Honorable Keshia Thomas, Trustee, Fresno Unified School District and Executive Director, Fresno Career Development Institute
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• Deonna Villegas-McPeters, MSW, LCSW, Director, Patient and Family Services, Social Work, Interpreter Services, Child Life and Spiritual Care, Valley Children’s Healthcare
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• Nicole Zieba, City Manager, City of Reedley

 

Also headlining the event is New York Times best-selling author, Washington Post and AARP columnist, former corporate executive and domestic violence survivor Leslie Morgan Steiner. Steiner’s “Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave” TedTalk has accumulated more than 10 million combined views on YouTube and ted.com.

This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. at the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center New Exhibit Hall. Tickets can be purchased online and start at $75 with full tables (8 persons) available for $600. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.