INQUIRER.net exec among 100 most influential Fil-Am women

Esther Chavez (center), INQUIRER.net’s director of sales in the United States, receives her award from Filipina Women’s Network president Marily Mondejar (left) and FWN chairperson Elena Mangahas (right).

SAN FRANCISCO, California—INQUIRER.net’s director of sales in the United States was named one of this year’s 100 Most Influential Filipina American Women in the US.

Esther Misa Chavez, who is also the president of the Philippine American Press Club, was hailed by the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina American Women in the US,  an award given to Filipinas who have shown outstanding work in their chosen fields.

FWN 100 Nationwide Search and Selection Committee Chairperson Lieutenant, Colonel Shirley Saoit Raguindin of the Arizona National Guard, described the awardees as “dynamic leaders who are influential in their respective fields and local communities.”

Raguindin said that Filipinas who have been given the award were “role models” and “powerful examples of women doing extraordinary work who will inspire our youth and future leaders.”

Honoring outstanding Filipinas in the US since 2007, the award was first given to the first Filipina-American to serve as California Chief Justice, Honorable Tani Cantil-Sakauye; the first woman to pass the New York state bar, TLC Beatrice Chairman and CEO Loida Nicolas Lewis; the first woman to be ranked Rear Admiral in the US Navy Dr. Connie Mariano.

International Boxing Association Bantamweight boxing world champion Ana Julaton and former Hawaii state representative and house Republican leader Lynne Berbano Finnegan also received the award in 2009.

As role models, the awardees are tasked to mentor a protégée, selected from nominations submitted from across the US, said Raguindin. This was to ensure that the FWN churns up double the number of Filipina achievers and power movers by 2012.

Protégées are selected by a team of FWN 100 Awardees and undergo personal interviews before their scores are tabulated with the help of members of the Filipino American Association of Certified Public Accountants, explained FWN board chairperson Elena Manghas.

FWN’s 100 Most Influential Filipina American Women for 2011 are as follows:

Behind the Scenes Leaders

Bennie Lou Quevedo

Assistant Vice President, Trust Admin Officer

Whittier Trust Company

Cherina Viloria Tinio, RN CNS MSN

Clinical Coordinator

Veterans Administration Health Care System Menlo Park Division

Evelyn Javier-Centeno

Entrepreneur

EJC Global Links

Evelyn Luluquisen

Executive Director

Manilatown Heritage Foundation

Fran Villarmia-Kahawai

Principal Broker

Properties International Limited

Gloria Ramil Omania

Campaign Manager/Finance Director

Tom Torlakson for State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Gretheline Bolandrina

Clinical Instructor

Massachusetts Bay Community College

Henni Jay Espinosa

Senior Reporter, Northern CA Balitang America

ABS-CBN International

Julieta Zarate Hudson

Accounting Process Manager

Bay Medical Management, LLC

Mary Ann C. Ubaldo

Goldsmith, Artist & Activist

Urduja.com & Center for Babaylan Studies

Pearl Parmelee

Marketing & Community Relations

Mama Sita`s Mixes & Sauces

Rosario “Puchi”           Carrion Di Ricco

Consulting Gerontologist

(Self Employed)

Builders & Emerging Leaders

Cynthia Rapaido

Assistant Principal

San Mateo Union High School District, San Mateo High School

Diana Reyes

Manager, California Corporate Affairs

Chevron Corporation

Estela Matriano, EdD.

Professor of Global Education

Alliant International University

Esther Misa Chavez

U.S. Director of Sales

Inquirer.net

President, Philippine American Press Club

Genevieve Herreria

Policy Associate

Bay Area Council

Gloria B. Gil

Managing Director- Real Assets

The Regents of the University of California

Kathleen Quinn DuBois

Attorney

Crumley Roberts, LLP

Leah Beth O. Naholowaa

Director

Guam Department of Labor

Leia Lorica

Corps Member

Teach for America

Maria Beebe

President

Global Networks

Melanie A. Caoile

Senior Director, Global Creative Solutions

Microsoft

Mila M. Josue

Faculty, Board Member

American College of Nursing

Odette Alcazaren-Keeley

News Anchor/Executive Producer

New America Media

Selenna Franco-Cefre,CPA

President/Certified Public Accountant

University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Northern California (Berkeley) Chapter

Founders & Pioneers

Alma Onrubia

Chief Financial Officer

Affiliated Home Health Services, Inc.

Chateau Gardecki

Chair of the Board

Washington International Piano Arts Council

Christina Rodriguez Laskowski

Managing Director

Alquemie Partners

Dellie Punla

Vice President/Chief Financial Officer

Delarch Inc.

Geri Ferrer-Chan

Vice President/Co-Founder

Charles W. Chan Insurance Agency Inc.

Herna Cruz-Louie

Executive Director

American Center of Philippine Arts

Jannelle So

TV Host/Producer

KSCITV-LA18

Josefina R. Enriquez, M.D.

Physician

Half Moon Bay Family Medical Clinic

Jossie Alegre, EMPA

Accounting Operations Manager

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Joy Dalauidao-Hermsen

Co-Founder/President

Nimble Training LLC

Lillian Pardo, M.D.

Professor Emeritus in Neurology and Pediatrics

University of Kansas Medical Center

Maria Benel Se-Liban

Principal

Vasquez & Company, LLP

Marjan Philhour

President and CEO

The California Group

Perla Linda Ramos Paredes Daly

Founder and Publisher

Pinay.com

Rhoda Yabes Alvarez

Attorney

Law Office of Rhoda Yabes Alvarez

Soledad M. Manaay

Founder and CEO

Care On Call

Tess Mauricio, MD
Founder and Owner

Dr. Tess Dermatology & Cosmetic Center

Vellie Sandalo Dietrich-Hall

President/CEO

HPS Enterprises, Inc

Innovators and Thought Leaders

Angel Velasco Shaw

Co-Founder, General Manager, Artistic Director

Center for Global Art and Thought

Celia Pangilinan-Donahue

Chief Executive Officer

PFC Engineering NA, LLC

Christina Dunham

Vice President, Business Development

Froomz

Evelyn Dilsaver

(Retired) Executive Vice President

Charles Schwab

France Viana

President

France Viana Consulting Corp.

Gemma Bulos

Director

Global Women’s Water Initiative

Minerva Malabrigo Tantoco

Executive Director

UBS Financial Services

Policymakers & Visionaries

Agnes Briones Ubalde

Vice President, Community Development Officer-Social Responsibility Group

Wells Fargo Bank

Amy Agbayani

Director of Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity (SEED)

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hon. Arlie N. Ricasa

Trustee

Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees

Cheryl Moss

District Court Judge

State of Nevada 8th Judicial District Court

Eleanor Valentin

Rear Admiral

United States Navy

Katherine M. Eldemar

Attorney at Law – Board Director, Goldbelt, Inc.

Special Assistant to the President and CEO, Sealaska’s Haa Aani

Keesa Ocampo

Corporate Affairs

ABS CBN International

Mae Cendaña Torlakson

Manager, Marketing and Resource Development

University of California-MESA

Melissa Roxas

Poet, Health Worker, and Human Rights Activist

Habi Arts

Pat Gacoscos

Councilmember

City of Union City

Rosa Mena Moran

Administrative Director, Division of Workers’ Compensation

State of California