Hollywood Community Foundation Honored Four ‘Women Of Distinction’
Globe Theatre on Thursday, May 8, 2008

The Hollywood Community Foundation honored Amy Elaine Wakeland, Carolyn Dye, Hilary Royce, and Laura Dodson at its 15th “Women of Distinction” Awards’ Luncheon on Thursday, May 8, at 12 p.m. at the Globe Theatre, Universal Studios Hollywood. Michael Taylor was honored with the Golden Award and former Miss America and actress Lee Meriwether were honored with the prestigious Mary Pickford Award.

“Hollywood’s Women of Distinction Awards” was established in 1993 by the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to salute the women in our community. Outgoing Chair, Jeff Briggs had this to say about last year’s Women of Distinction awards, “That we feel it necessary to give Hollywood businesswomen and female community leaders in Hollywood special recognition says more about the rest of  our region than it does about Hollywood, for Hollywood’s history is replete with female leadership and success.  It is a testament to businesswomen in Hollywood that we have given 98 of these awards in the past 13 years and still have no trouble finding more women to recognize for their contributions to our local businesses and community. I look forward to the day we no longer have to make a special effort to recognize successful female leaders, but until that day comes, Hollywood women will continue to show the rest of the city and county that business success and community leadership know no gender.”

The awards ceremony serves as one of two major fundraisers for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving the lives of Hollywood community members. All funds raised from this luncheon will be awarded in the form of grants to local charitable organizations. Hollywood’s Women of Distinction Awards Committee is composed of the women members of the Chamber Board, past award winners and Hollywood’s women leaders who are members of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. This year marked the 15^th anniversary of the awards.

Executives, business owners, and leaders in the Hollywood Community. The awards are based on outstanding achievement and dedication to excellence within an industry, organization or profession, special accomplishments, and community service.

Hollywood Women Of Distinction Salutes Community Foundation Sponsors 2008

The Women of Distinction luncheon is the largest annual fundraiser for the Hollywood Chamber Community Foundation, which has given out more than $450,000 of grant money to Hollywood charities since its inception in 1998. As such, the Foundation wishes to announce that it has received $95,000 in pledges so far in connection with the luncheon and would like to thank the following sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor ($10,000)
Argent Ventures & Millennium Partners                 Gerding Edlin

Gold Sponsors ($5,000)
Allen Matkins                                                       CRA/LA
Kaiser Permanente                                               The Luxury Collection
NBC Universal                                                      Starwood Hotels and Resorts

Silver Sponsors ($2,500)
Apollo Real Estate Advisors/Molasky Pacific           AsiaSF Hollywood
Author Services, Inc.                                             Bank of America
Capitol Records                                                    The Clarett Group
Honda of Hollywood                                               Iron Mountain Film & Sound Archives
Paramount Pictures                                               The Selma Hotel
Universal Studios Hollywood

Bronze Sponsors (1,500)
Alliance Residential Company                                 Andrews International
Briggs Law Office                                                   Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
MCS Hollywood WorkForce Center                          NCA
The Original Farmers Market                                   Paramount Contractors & Developers
The New Post Group                                              Ramsey-Shilling Commercial
Wells Fargo Bank                                                  Yamashiro

Honorees of 14th Annual ‘Women of Distinction’ Luncheon

laura dodson

A Cherokee Indian and third generation Angelino, Laura Dodson makes volunteering to the Hollywood Community a top priority.

In the late 80’s, when the drug problems of Hollywood reached critical mass, Laura did not sit idly by. Instead she organized “Beat Keepers” to eradicate drug dealing on Argyle. Working with law enforcement, Laura’s program helped to stem the tide of what seemed to be an intractable problem.

In Hollywood there is always more to do to improve the quality of life for its residents, so Laura became president of Argyle Civic Association to not only address the concerns of the neighborhood but to provide solutions, as well.

Keeping Hollywood clean and safe are hallmarks of Laura’s illustrious volunteer career. In 2004, she became a volunteer in CalTrans Adopt-a-Highway program to clean up the Hollywood Freeway along Franklin Avenue and she continues this hard work to this day.

As most stakeholders know, Hollywood has a problem with pigeons. Once again, Laura sprung into action by organizing Citizen Pigeon, a group dedicated to controlling the pigeon population by using a PETA approved birth control system. This project - that copied a similar effort in London – has attracted the support of the Hollywood community. The results are promising.

carolyn A. dye

Carolyn Dye was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky. She was admitted to the bar in Florida, Kentucky, the District of Columbia and California. She moved to Los Angeles in 1981 to work for the law firm of Troy Malin, Pottinger & Casden (now Troy & Gould). After ten years with this firm (the last four as a partner), she joined the Los Angeles office of Morrison & Foerster as Of Counsel in December 1988. She opened her own practice in 1990.

Her practice specialty area is general business and corporate finance, advising individuals and businesses from formation through wind-up and dissolution.

In 2002, Carolyn attended an organizational meeting which began her involvement with Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH). In that meeting the growing needs of the baby boomer GLBT population, particularly for affordable housing, was discussed. As a member of the original Board of GLEH, she has been intimately involved in shepherding the work of that organization, offering her pro bono legal services as well as participating in fundraising and serving as an officer, most lately as the Board Chair.

hilary royce

Hilary Royce graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Hilary has been the Director of Community Affairs for the Church of Scientology International for about ten years.

As the Director of Community Affairs, Hilary’s top priority has been to build partnerships. She has worked side-by-side with the Hollywood Division of the LAPD and Fire Department to achieve this goal.

Hilary serves on the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Entertainment District, a Business Improvement District that stretches along the world-famous Walk of Fame down 18 blocks of historic Hollywood Boulevard, from the La Brea Gateway to the corner of Hollywood & Vine. She also serves on the Board of the Police Activities League, a community-based crime prevention program that provides young people (ages 6-17) with positive alternatives to gangs and drugs.

Royce is a member of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the East Hollywood Neighborhood Watch and the Red Cross. She has a great deal of experience as a community organizer.  She is one of the founding board members of the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council, which she has proudly served since 2003.

amy elaine wakeland

Amy Elaine Wakeland is a community advocate, political activist, and public policy expert who has promoted social justice causes and organizations in Los Angeles and around the world. Her record of accomplishment includes work to preserve and protect our environment, create educational and economic opportunities for low-income individuals, and protect human rights at home and abroad.

Amy is a founding member of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust (LANLT), the only non-profit organization in LA that dedicates all of its resources to building parks in densely-populated, working-class neighborhoods. 

To help promote social change in Los Angeles, Amy co-founded the Pobladores Fund, a giving circle comprised of twenty young donor activists which works to combat economic and racial injustice in LA.

Amy is the recipient of a Truman Scholarship, a Rhodes Scholarship, and a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Expert in Residence Scholarship. The Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking recently honored Amy with its Community Partners Award for her local commitments to ending human rights abuses.

The granddaughter of four Indiana farmers, Amy lives in Echo Park with her partner of 13 years, Eric Garcetti. In keeping with some of her family's traditions, she maintains a small orchard and bountiful garden that boasts more than 75 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Emcee Colleen Williams

Colleen Williams is the co-anchor of the award-winning 5PM and 11PM weekday editions of the “Channel 4 News” with Paul Moyer.

Williams joined NBC4 in August l986 as a weekend co-anchor and was promoted to the 5PM weekday anchor position in February 1993. Prior to joining the “Channel 4 News,” Williams was the co-anchor of the KCBS-TV weekday news broadcast “Live At Five,” a position she assumed in June 1985. She joined KCBS-TV in January l983 as weekend co-anchor.

Williams was with KPIX-TV in San Francisco from l98l to 1983, where she anchored the noon and weekend news broadcasts. From l978 to 198l, she was with WOWT-TV in Omaha, Nebraska, starting as anchor of the noon news and moving up to anchor the “Live At Five” newscast in l979. In l977, Williams was a drive-time anchor and general assignment reporter for WOW Radio in Omaha.

Williams began her career in broadcasting at the Omaha Public School System, where she was a general assignment reporter for a National Public Radio station, and taught radio and television to high school students who operated the station.

Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she moved across the United States and Canada as an Air Force “brat.” Williams attended Creighton University and the University of Nebraska, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education.

Williams is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including multiple Emmy and Golden Mike Awards for Best Newscast 30 Minutes or Under. In 2005, Williams won a Los Angeles Area Emmy Award for Best Light News Story (Single Report) for “Toll Booth Bandits.” She won both an Emmy and a Golden Mike Award in 2002 for her work on the KNBC news special “LA Riots: Rubble to Rebirth” and “4th of July Shooting at LAX,” which won in the category of Best Live Coverage of an Unscheduled Event. She co-anchored the live coverage of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games Centennial Park bombing. The NBC4 footage of the event was seen around the world and won a Golden Mike and an Associated Press Award for Best Live Coverage of a News Story. In 1995 she received two local Emmy Awards, one for Best Daily Newscast (60 minutes) and the other for her outstanding contributions to the “OJ Simpson: The Trial” news series.

In 1990 Williams met her husband, an Air Force major, while on assignment during the Persian Gulf War. They now reside with their son in Pasadena.

Mary Pickford Award Honoree Lee Meriwether

Lee Meriwether held successive reigns as Miss San Francisco, Miss California and Miss America. And though most know Lee as “Betty” in the highly successful CBS television series, “Barnaby Jones,”(she was nominated for both the Golden Globe and the Emmy for her work), she has had roles in no less than nine different series, among them the “Today” show with Dave Garroway, “The Munsters Today,” “Time Tunnel,” “The New Andy Griffith Show,” “Mission: Impossible,” “The F.B.I.,” “12 O’Clock High,” and “Dr. Kildare.”

Noteworthy film roles she was offered during her career include Catwoman in the original “Batman” movie, Andy Griffith’s pregnant wife in “Angel in my Pocket,” and Rock Hudson’s southern wife in “The Undefeated.” Lee “swam” with “Namu, The Killer Whale” and enjoys reminding film buffs that she played the “man” killed by Kim Novak in “The Legend of Lylah Clare.”

Notwithstanding her many film and TV credits, Lee’s first love is live theatre. She has had a long association with Theatre West, a professional actors’ workshop in Hollywood.  Of the countless appearances she made there, three stand out in her memory: “Spoon River Anthology” with Betty Garrett, “Aesop in Central Park” with Richard Dreyfuss and “Ladies of Hanover Towers” with Carroll O’Connor.

Lee gives generously of her time and efforts to a number of humanitarian endeavors and charities.  She has served as Honorary Chairman of ABILITY FIRST (formally the Crippled Children’s Society), and is an honorary member of Women in Show Business, a philanthropic organization that funds reconstructive surgery for needy children. The organization has twice named her their “Angel of the Year.” She has also served as National Education Chairman of the American Cancer Society and as the Los Angeles Chairman for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. And there is a special place in her heart for the Blind Children’s Center and the pet organization, “Actors and Others for Animals.”

Golden Award Honoree Michael Taylor

As Senior Vice President and General Manager of Universal Studios Hollywood, Michael Taylor has a broad range of oversight responsibilities for “The Entertainment Capital of L.A” that includes over 1,500 employees and a management team of 90 executives.  Taylor began his career as a line worker at the theme park in 1973 and is familiar with virtually every area of the company’s operations, having performed duties ranging from wardrobe/warehouse manager to assistant to the Creative Director before shifting to a role in the park’s Operations Department. Following a three-year tenure at the neighboring facility, he re-joined the theme park’s Operations Department and was gradually promoted to Vice President of Operations.

During his long tenure at Universal Studios Hollywood, Taylor has been closely involved in ride development, the design and operating details of the park’s main entrance and is the resident expert on people flow, attraction efficiencies and Studio Tour operations. His achievements have included the creation of many guest service improvement programs and a continuing focus on the development of future leaders in the company’s operating groups. He is noted for his leadership skills, his consistent desire to maintain a clean, well-run facility and his ability to strike a creative balance between fiscal responsibility and the requirements for providing resources that create a rewarding guest experience for park visitors from every corner of the world.

For the past 17 years, Taylor has held the esteemed title for Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Discover A Star Foundation,” dedicated to providing in-kind and financial resources towards homelessness and children’s causes. His philanthropic commitment has also included the position of Chairman of Board for The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce (2004-2005), and a six-year stint on the Board of Directors for both The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and its nonprofit division, The Chamber Foundation.

Please email or contact the Hollywood Chamber with any questions at (323) 469-8311.

See 14th Annual Women of Distinction Awards
See 13th Annual Women of Distinction Awards

14th Annual Women of Distinction Awards

Today’s Women Play Important Leadership Role in Hollywood
Hollywood women will continue to show the rest of the city and county that business success and community leadership know no gender.

From left: Women of Distinction luncheon Co-Chair Maureen Schultz, Gay Blackstone, Cindy Williams, Renee Weitzer, Christi Van Cleve, Gail Koretz and Councilmember Tom LaBonge at the 14th Women of Distinction Luncheon at Globe Theater on May 15, 2007.

Fourteen years ago, when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce instituted its Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon, Hollywood was a very different place. The Hollywood Chamber had never had a woman leader and many then considered the community to still be a “good old boys club”.

At the time, the Chamber instituted the luncheon to demonstrate the important role that women were playing in the community. The world is very different today, with women holding many key leadership roles in Hollywood. The Chamber has had four women chairs during that time – Julie Kleinick, Mary Lou Dudas, Christi Van Cleve, and Karen Diehl.

“It was such a novelty then,” reflected Julie Kleinick of A.F. Gilmore Co. about the progress that has occurred. “We’ve had so many great women chairs of the board since then, that it is nice to see the Chamber better reflecting the community. It is great to see so many women on the board and in leadership positions.”

“It is a testament to businesswomen in Hollywood that we have given 96 of these awards in the past 14 years and still have no trouble finding more women to recognize for their contributions to our local businesses and community,” stressed Jeff Briggs, the current Chamber chair. “I look forward to the day,” he continued, “when we will no longer have to make a special effort to recognize successful female leaders, but until that day comes, Hollywood women will continue to show the rest of the city and county that business success and community leadership know no gender.”

The annual Women of Distinction Luncheon has grown into one of the Chamber’s largest and most successful annual events, and this year is expected to be no different, according to co-chairs Maureen Schultz of Capitol Records and Laurie Goldman of GO! Goldman Organization.  This issue of the Hollywood Business Advocate is dedicated to the many women who contribute to making Hollywood a better community.

Hollywood Women Of Distinction Salutes Community Foundation Sponsors 2007

The Women of Distinction luncheon is the largest annual fundraiser for the Hollywood Chamber Community Foundation, which has given out more than $350,000 of grant money to Hollywood charities since its inception in 1998. As such, the Foundation wishes to announce that it has received $100,000 in pledges and would like to thank the following sponsors:

Honorees of 14th Annual ‘Women of Distinction’ Luncheon

GAY BLACKSTONE
Gay Blackstone is a respected member of the entertainment industry – television and stage producer, director, consultant, lecturer and author.  She is president of the Academy of Magical Arts whose ‘clubhouse’ is the world renowned Magic Castle in Hollywood.  During her tenure, the AMA has experienced its largest membership and the most successful financial period in its 44-year history.

Gay Blackstone is one of the first women to be accepted into the Magic Circle in London as a member of the Inner Circle with Gold Star. Gay is also heavily involved with community activities along with many charitable events and organizations.

Growing up in Fort Worth, Texas, Gay’s theatre experience began at the age of two.  From there, she went on to perform with Andy Williams, Jim Nabors and as a “Gold Digger” on The Dean Martin show.  After marrying Harry Blackstone, Jr., the two performed on stages across the country and around the world. 

Gay was executive producer of the Broadway show “Blackstone: The Magnificent Musical Magic Show”, which still holds the record as the longest running Magic Show in Broadway history. She has produced over 20 years of touring shows; more than 500 corporate and commercial shows and 23 hours of Network Television in the last five years (receiving a Telly Award).

GAIL KORETZ
Government and Community Relations Manager for the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Gail Koretz is responsible for the implementation of relevant community benefit legislation, and managing an effective community relations and community service program, including grants administration.  She has been involved in shaping and changing the Los Angeles community for many years.  With a Bachelor of Science from MIT (Phi Beta Kappa) in Urban Studies and planning with an emphasis in Public Policy and a law degree from UCLA, she served as the Senior Legislative Deputy Office of Councilman Joel Wachs from 1989-1999.

In 2000, she played a vital role in establishing a partnership between Kaiser Permanente and the UMMA Clinic in So. Central Los Angeles.  As a result of this partnership, Kaiser Permanente has awarded UMMA over $200,000 in grant funding to provide primary care services to uninsured families in Los Angeles.

While working for LA City Councilman Joel Wachs, Gail initiated, researched, and coordinated the passage of a charter amendment to allow surviving spouses of LA fire and police workers to remarry without losing pension benefits.

Gail is affiliated with ‘Youth ALIVE!’, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing youth gun violence. Koretz is also a certified labor doula (birth assistant/labor coach) and has volunteered her services to many women. Gail is married to former Assemblyman Paul Koretz and has one daughter, Rachel, age 16.

CHRISTI VAN CLEVE
Christi Van Cleve grew up in Palos Verdes and attended UCLA as an undergraduate, then received her Master of Architecture at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. Following graduate school, Christi and her partner, Bill Roschen, did a national search to decide where to locate their young architectural firm to best serve and advance their unique blend of urban architecture and community engagement. They chose Hollywood. 

Christi has made major contributions to the Hollywood renaissance.  The firm continues to design many of the precedent-setting Hollywood revitalization projects, incorporating historic preservation, media and urban context as integral to the architecture, as evident in their award-winning Sunset and Vine project. Honored by the Los Angeles Business Journal as “Architect of the Year”, Christi is a past Chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Hollywood Community Foundation Boards and serves on the Boards of the Hollywood Historic Trust and Los Angeles City College Foundation. 

Christi’s leadership has focused on improving both the built and natural environments for the benefit of all, exemplifying that smart growth is both good public policy and good business.  Christi is a true community champion and denizen of Hollywood, along with her husband and their daughter, Jane.

RENEE WEITZER
Renee Weitzer is Chief of Staff and Director of Planning for Council District 4. She is the most senior staffer in the council office, having worked for Councilmember Tom LaBonge since he was first elected in 2001 and for 12 prior years serving as chief of planning for his predecessor, John Ferraro.

Ms. Weitzer not only is responsible for the overall operation of the council office but is widely viewed as one of the top experts on planning and zoning matters in City Hall. She is also the councilmember’s No. 1 liaison with the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens and Griffith Observatory. She is most proud of her oversight for the planning and development of The Grove at Farmers Market.

Ms. Weitzer joined City service at the urging of Councilmember Joel Wachs, who admired her activism as the founder and president of the Coalition to Save Sepulveda Basin, a group comprised of 70 civic, chamber and homeowner organizations. Ms. Weitzer and her organization successfully defeated a proposed give-away of 700 acres of parkland to private business. She joined the staff of CD2 as a planning deputy, specializing in subdivisions, parcel maps, specific plans and acquisition of park land.

Her volunteer activities include as special assistant to Peter Ueberroth for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, president of the Encino Property Owners Association and vice president of the Federation of Hillside and Canyon Association. Ms. Weitzer is married, has two grown sons and two grandsons.

LAURA DIAZ
Acting as Emcee for the 14th Annual luncheon is Laura Diaz. One of the leading Hispanic television journalists in the nation, Laura Diaz has co-anchored CBS 2 News at 5PM and 11PM since 2002. She is thrilled to be part of the team that helped transform CBS 2 into the ratings leader in Southern California.

A true local success story, Diaz is a Southern California native and first generation Mexican American. She has forged a strong bond with the Southland’s Latino Community. Laura was born in Santa Paula, California where her parents labored in the fields. When Laura was four years old her family moved off the farm workers camp to Santa Clarita where she was raised. Diaz graduated from Hart High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

She is an eight time Emmy Award winner, including an Emmy in 2006 for Individual Achievement in Feature Reporting. Diaz also won back to back Golden Mike Awards in 2005 and 2006 for best feature reporting. In June 2005, she landed the first in depth television interview with incoming Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. That story earned her a national “Imagen Award” in 2006.

After brief reporting stints in San Luis Obispo and Fresno fresh out of college, Laura returned to Southern California and has worked here ever since.

Mary Pickford Award Honoree Cindy Williams
Cindy Williams was presented with the prestigious Mary Pickford Award. As America’s first international film star, Mary Pickford was also a founding member of the creative community we call Hollywood. Mary Pickford occupied a unique position as the first lady of film, and America’s Sweetheart, while forging ahead as a philanthropist and paving the way for other actresses and businesswomen. Ms. Williams’ heartfelt commitment to the community of Hollywood, coupled with her work to help raise funds for so many charities, is cited for her receipt of this honor.

Cindy Williams has enjoyed the privilege of working with extraordinary directors, including Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas and George Cukor.  Though Cindy has achieved great success in her film career, she is most recognized for her role as “Shirley Feeney” in the historic ABC-TV situation comedy, Laverne And Shirley.  Most recently, she has a recurring role on the new FOX show, Drive.  A woman of many talents, Ms. Williams had the honor of co-producing the critically acclaimed feature Father Of The Bride films with Steve Martin.

Born in Van Nuys, CA, Cindy first became interested in acting during high school.  She studied Theatre Arts at LA City College and with the Actor’s Studio. Her first classic film appearance was in American Graffiti, which garnered her British Films nomination for best supporting actress. Following American Graffitti, Cindy encountered a pivotal role in Coppola’s The Conversation, starring Gene Hackman.

Cindy Williams supports numerous children’s charities, including Feed the Children, for whom she won a donation of $125,000 on CELEBRITY MILLIONAIRE and Children of the Night, which received Cindy’s honorarium of $20,000 for her award from the Order Son’s of Italy Grand Lodge of CA Western Foundation.  She also recently served as emcee at fundraisers for American Family Housing and (yearly) for the Tenderloin District Neighborhood Development Corporation, which, among other things, offers aid in acquiring housing for some of San Francisco’s less fortune.  She has also served as National Chair for Funds for Animals, and is active in the ASPCA and Sherman’s Place, an ‘unwanted’ animal placement charity in Malibu. 

Ms. Williams has always made herself available for Hollywood Community events, including the Police & Fire Appreciation Day and The Hollywood Christmas Parade.  “Our Chamber staff is particularly excited about Ms. Williams’ selection as this year’s Mary Pickford recipient,” said Elizabeth McDonald, VP of Tourism and Special Events, “Cindy is someone they know and love personally!”

Golden Award Honoree Michael-Jon Smith
A prominent Hollywood businessman was honored at this year’s Women of Distinction Awards luncheon for his tremendous support to the community. The Golden award was presented to Michael-Jon Smith, Vice President - External Affairs for AT&T.

Smith heads a team of individuals who represent AT&T to various external audiences and handle corporate affairs, industry relations, government affairs and community relations for the western half of Los Angeles County. Smith is also responsible for the philanthropic activities of the AT&T Foundation in this area. This territory includes the communities and cities in the South Bay, the San Fernando Valley, the Westside and the City of Los Angeles.  He was appointed to his current position in June of 1997.

Prior to being named Vice President, Michael-Jon was director of Public Affairs for SBC, covering the Westside of Los Angeles. Smith first joined AT&T in 1976 as a service representative in the Beverly Hills office and has held various positions in marketing, human relations as well as working as Chief of Staff for the Vice President of National Accounts, a division of AT&T.

A well-known supporter of local community agencies, Smith is currently a member of a number of significant committees and boards.  He serves as Chairman of PAWS/LA and Vice-Chairman of the AT&T State Employee’s Political Action Committee. In addition, he is past Chairman of the Board of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Project New Hope, the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Rowell Foster Children’s Positive Plan. He is also an active board member of the Hollywood Community Foundation, HIV/AIDS Legal Services Alliance and Los Angeles Center for Education and Research.

Beyond his involvement at the board level, Smith has chaired over a dozen major fundraisers for organizations such as the Asian Pacific Family Center, Santa Monica AIDS Project, Homestead Hospice & Shelter, the Hollywood Beautification Team, Hollywood Community Foundation, Search to Involve Filipino Americans, the Serra Project and HIV/Aids Legal Services Alliance – raising well over $2-million dollars for those less fortunate. He recently was honored with the Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Award from the City of West Hollywood. He is also past recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year from Common Ground, the Founder’s Award from Homestead Hospice and Shelter, the corporate leadership award from the AIDS Service Center, the Jackie Goldberg Community Leadership Award and the Rainbow Award from the city of West Hollywood for his community work.

Smith is a Southern California native and graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business.

13th Annual Women of Distinction Awards

The Women of Distinction Awards event is held each year to honor outstanding women in the community who have made a strong commitment to Hollywood. Along with these awards, the Golden Award and the Mary Pickford Award honor notable figures that have made a lifetime contribution to improving numerous aspects of Hollywood.

Hollywood's Women of Distinction 2006 who were honored on Tuesday, May 23 at the Globe Theatre, Universal Studios Hollywood.

Two well-known celebrities participated at the Hollywood 13th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, May 23 at the Globe Theatre at Universal Hollywood.

Actress Stefanie Powers was presented with the prestigious Mary Pickford Award. She makes the term “well-rounded” a severe understatement. Her acting credits include 28 feature films, three television series, and several mini-series including “Beryl Markham: A Shadow on the Sun,” which she also produced.

However, Stefanie’s charming and thoughtful real-life personality may most closely resemble stunning renaissance woman Jennifer Hart, the character she portrayed on the hit television series “Hart to Hart.” She has combined a natural curiosity and passion for knowledge, world travel and diverse cultures into both an award-winning acting career and an equally active life of heartfelt philanthropic work.

The cornerstone of that work is the William Holden Wildlife Foundation, a public charity dedicated to the preservation of wild animals, which Stefanie helped to found in honor of the late actor and for which she serves as president. The William Holden Wildlife Education Center, which currently serves 10,000 students a year, is located near the Mount Kenya Safari Club and the Mount Kenya Game Ranch started by Holden in the late 1950’s before conservation became a popular issue.

Stefanie is also involved with several American zoos (among them, the Cincinnati Zoo, Zoo Atlanta and the Los Angeles Zoo, for which she is a Fellow) where she works with species survival programs and has released four home videos, one on horseback riding, “Stefanie Powers’ Broadway Workout” and the recent “Power Pilates” and “Power Pilates2.” The pilates videos spawned the new book, “POWERS PILATES—Stefanie Powers’ Guide to Longevity and Well-Being Through Pilates.”

Acting as Emcee for the 13th Annual luncheon was Ann Martin, acclaimed journalist who joined CBS 2 in May 1994 as a news anchor. She currently co-anchors the KCAL 9 News at 4 and the CBS 2 News at 6 p.m. Since joining the duopoly, she has also been the host of two CBS Network primetime special editions of "Beyond Belief - Amazing True Stories!" In addition, Ann co-hosted the First Annual "What's Right With Southern California," Community Service Awards, which aired in primetime in March 1997. Throughout her broadcast career, Ann Martin has been honored with many awards and recognitions. She has earned three Emmy’s and two Golden Mike Awards.

Ann Martin was born in Portland, Ore., and grew up in Seattle. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in communications.  Martin and her family are actively involved with several community and philanthropic organizations including The Mary Magdalene Project, a rehabilitation program for prostitutes. She has also been involved with The Lincoln Training Center, a workshop for the mentally handicapped, as well as The Southern Area Foster Effort, which helps place children into foster families.

MARY ANN BARNES
Mary Ann Barnes is the Senior Vice President and Area Manager of Kaiser Permanente’s Santa Clara Service Area, comprised of the Santa Clara Medical Center and associated Medical Office campuses in Campbell, Mountain View and Milpitas. She joined Kaiser Permanente in 1974 as a staff nurse in San Diego and has been holding progressively responsible positions as a member of the leadership team since that time.

From 2000 to 2006, Mary Ann was the Medical Group Administrator for the Los Angeles Medical Center, and associated medical offices in East Los Angeles, Glendale and Pasadena, serving more than 260,000 members. LAMC is the tertiary care center for Kaiser Permanente members throughout Southern California, providing services in Cardiac Surgery, Radiation Oncology, Transplant Programs, Neurosurgery and Pediatric Intensive Care, to name a few.

As a member of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Mary Ann made her mark by creating the Health Care Committee. This committee addresses important health care issues facing Hollywood healthcare providers and educators, both legislatively and within the community. She has also served on the board of directors and as treasurer of the South Central Family Clinic since 2000.  

Mary Ann earned her BS degree in Nursing from Arizona State University and her MSN in Administration from San Diego State University. She is married with three children.

DIANA DERYCZ-KESSLER
Diana Derycz-Kessler was an Elite fashion model who received her masters from Stanford with her law degree from Harvard Law School.  After becoming the youngest and first female corporate legal counsel in Occidental Petroleum Corporation’s international division, Diana joined the Bristol investment companies as an owner, investment manager, and general counsel. There, she was dedicated to providing investment capital to companies.

Diana’s ongoing interest in film led her to her next challenge.  She currently acts as one of the owners and the CEO of two prized assets, The Los Angeles Film School, and The Los Angeles Recording School, private post-secondary educational institutions dedicated to teaching its students the craft of filmmaking and the art of music recording. Under her direction, The Los Angeles Film School has become one of the most renowned film schools in the world. Diana and her partners recently purchased The Los Angeles Recording School (formerly known as The Los Angeles Recording Workshop) and Diana became CEO of that school as well in 2005. The owner partnership that Diana is involved in subsequently purchased two high-rise buildings on Sunset Blvd.

As CEO and part owner of The Los Angeles Film School and The Los Angeles Recording School, Diana has expanded the schools’ curriculum as well as their capacity. She is currently executive producing her third feature film, “The Naked Run,” which is slated to begin filming this summer.

MARIAN GIBBONS
Marian Gibbons first became interested in historic preservation in Elm Grove, Wisconsin where a group formed a preservation society.  So, in 1978,  when Hollywood Boulevard was not an appealing place, she thought a solution might lie in a historic preservation group to alert the citizens and politicians of the historic treasures located here.  With John Anson Ford and four dedicated ladies, they became Hollywood Heritage, Inc., a 501c3 organization proudly helping to save many artifacts of Hollywood’s local history.  They restored and still maintain the Hollywood Heritage Museum in the DeMille-Lasky barn, where “The Squaw Man”, Hollywood’s first feature length film, was made.  Today they are restoring “Jualita”, the Wattles mansion, which is the last of the midwesterner’s summer estates located in Hollywood.

Marian’s activities have drawn world-wide publicity because of the fame of Hollywood, even having been honored by the President of the United States, but she is quick to point out that she is, “just one of the volunteers who loves our town enough to work to protect its history and the great future it deserves.”

Marian is an old Ohioan, born and educated in the Cleveland-Akron area.  Her business life has been as a manufacturer’s agent along with her husband.  They were blessed with two wonderful children, who sadly, preceded them in death, but left behind three wonderful grandchildren. She has wonderful memories...so many that she is writing a book about the grand times her family shared.

ANASTASIA MANN
Well known as a leader in travel and tourism management and marketing, Anastasia Mann is the founder, Chairman and CEO of renowned West Hollywood, California-based Corniche Group, Inc. Corniche is well recognized for providing exclusive corporate and leisure travel management, tourism and hotel marketing consultation, and meeting and event planning, as well as entertainment personal management services. In December 2004, Anastasia and Corniche Group successfully launched a new division called Anastasia’s Africa, specializing in private, customized safaris.

Following a childhood acting career, which spanned more than 70 films, Anastasia graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California. She started her tourism career in hotel sales and marketing originally as the first female corporate sales manager for Hilton Hotels Corporation based in Los Angeles.

As a founding member of the California Travel & Tourism Commission, she served two terms as the sole representative for all travel management agencies in the state. During both her terms she sat on the Executive Committee. Anastasia is currently serving her second term on the board of CalTIA (California Travel Industry Assn).

Anastasia is active in local community government affairs. She is currently the President of the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council representing over 45,000 individual stakeholders (residential and business) including the Hollywood Bowl; Universal Studios and the Hollywood-Highland/Kodak Theatre complex. She has frequent interaction with the LA City Council and LA County Board of Supervisors on behalf of her constituents and community events.

KIM SUDHALTER
Kim Sudhalter is a communications and public relations expert who offers more than 16 years experience in corporate branding and in creating consumer products campaigns for major media and entertainment companies such as Time Warner, Microsoft, Sony and GameWorks (Dreamworks, Sega and Universal). She has also developed brand identity campaigns for corporations such as Intel and IBM.

Eight years ago, Kim formed Urban Legend PR and she still serves as its President. Kim’s current client list includes the Hollywood Entertainment District (the Business Improvement District revitalizing Hollywood Boulevard), the Oxnard Downtown Management District, the Academy for the Advancement of Children with Autism and the Broughton Hospitality Group. She also works with TV personality Jimmy Kimmel on the annual Feast of San Gennaro LA , a Los Angeles version of the 77-year New York tradition. Kim is also co-owner, along with Gina Kimmel and Lynette Carolla, of LushSpa, the “fun spa” in Studio City, CA.

In her former position as Vice President of Entertainment in the Motion Pictures Department at Rogers & Cowan, Kim was responsible for creating a new division devoted entirely to promoting interactive entertainment products.

Daughter of a former UPI foreign correspondent and marketing executive, Kim was born in Europe and raised in London and New York. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Boston University.

BAYDSAR THOMASIAN
Baydsar Thomasian is a 12-year veteran of Council District 13. As the Hollywood Field Deputy for former Councilmember Jackie Goldberg, and now the Senior Field Deputy for Council President Eric Garcetti, Baydsar works tirelessly and conscientiously on behalf of the residents and business owners in Hollywood.

Prior to joining the Council office, Baydsar attended California State University of Northridge where she received a degree in Political Science and Business Administration.

Baydsar has distinguished herself by working with residents, community organizations, Hollywood BIDs, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and area business owners to improve quality of life in Hollywood. Baydsar has worked on every major project that has been developed in Hollywood during the past 12 years. 

She helped start the Los Angeles Center for Education and Research (LACER) after school program with Councilmember Goldberg. LACER’s after school program has directly affected and improved the academic, education, and personal growth of over 2,000 children in the Hollywood community.

Baydsar Thomasian is a positive role model for women. She is a professional career woman who is a dedicated mother and wife, who volunteers her personal time to non-profit organizations in her community, and mentors young adults seeking to improve their academic skills. She is also an active member of the PTA at Rose and Alex Pilibos School in Hollywood.

DOROTHY THOMPSON
April 29, 1992 will be forever remembered as a day of fear and upheaval, as Los Angeles was shaken by citywide riots that altered the way many people viewed the structure and stability of our society. Once the fires and turmoil died down, most went back to their daily routines, feeling that someone else would fix the problems. However, for commercial TV producer, Dorothy Thompson, the event made an impact that caused her to alter her life and to create the Streetlights Production Assistant Program, an organization which is helping to change the face of the Entertainment Industry.

Dorothy is the founder and Executive Director of Streetlights. After the riots, by using her savings and credit cards, she formed the organization whose mission is to create ethnic diversity within the entertainment industry. She and her staff accomplish this by providing job training and placement to economically and socially at-risk young men and women. Streetlights’ training programs provide talented minorities with entry-level work as production assistants in film and television, as well as career advancement opportunities.

Though donations were few and far between at the start, Dorothy secured a hard won Federal grant, with Hollywood not far behind in rewarding Streetlights’ efforts. Companies such as Universal Pictures, DreamWorks/SKG, Procter & Gamble, General Mills, Crossroads Films, Sony Pictures, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation have acknowledged the program with their highest praise, jobs for the trainees and funding for the program.

The Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon benefits the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation, which has given over $350,000 to Hollywood charities since 1998. The Foundation would like to thank all the sponsors for this event. At the Friend level are Jeff Briggs Law, Capitol Records, Honda of Hollywood and Ramsey Shilling. At the Silver Level are Iron Mountain Film & Sound Archives and Paramount. Finally, at the Gold level is Kaiser Permanente!

2005 Recipients of the Women of Distinction Awards:
Tracey Angeles, Supervisor of the Hollywood Gang Unit for the LAPD
Billie Greer, Director of the Los Angeles Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Susan Fuentes, Registered Nurse and the Vice President of QueensCare Health and Faith Partnership (QHFP)
Sharon Stricker, Co-Founder and Executive Director for the LACER Stars After-School Program
Analia Sarno Riggle, Simultaneous Interpreter and Newscaster for KTLA's since 1985

2005 Golden Award recipient is Leron Gubler, President/CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
2005 Mary Pickford recipient is Leeza Gibbons