Human Services Association’s Sundberg Named ‘Woman of the Year’
Pictured above from left to right are 2008 Woman of the Year and Chamber Immediate Past President Helene Simmons of Immediate Medical Center; 2009 Woman of the Year Susanne J. Sundberg; and Luncheon Presenting Sponsor representative Jorge Ponce, Senior Vice President of ILM Staffing. See our complete Luncheon slideshow below.
HUMAN SERVICES ASSOCIATION’S SUNDBERG NAMED CHAMBER’S WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON’S 2009 ‘WOMAN OF THE YEAR’
Annual luncheon commemorated Administrative Professionals Day
(April 22, 2009) Commerce, CA – The Commerce Industrial Council Chamber of Commerce recently convened its Annual Women in Business Awards Luncheon on April 22 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Commerce Casino. The sold-out luncheon brought together nearly 400 women in business from throughout Commerce and its surrounding communities to commemorate Administrative Professionals Day (formerly known as Professional Secretaries Day). Administrative Professionals Week is always the last full week of April, with Wednesday of that week being designated Administrative Professionals Day.
“The luncheon was established as an annual opportunity to recognize the increasing value and contributions of women who epitomize the drive, innovation, courage, and civic responsibility of America’s most successful women in business, government, academia, and the arts,” said Commerce Industrial Council Executive Director Eddie D. Tafoya.
“This luncheon is also an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the diverse contributions that office support, administrative staff, and other office professionals provide in today’s workplace,” added Tafoya.
Whether in business, politics and government, sports, science, academia and the arts, or social entrepreneurship, women are stepping up in unprecedented ways to the top ranks of national leadership in their chosen professional fields.
For the third consecutive year in a row, the Chamber honored a woman with its “Woman of the Year” Award, recognizing an individual for their “outstanding achievements and valuable contributions in business and the community.”
The Chamber selected Susanne J. Sundberg of the Human Services Association as its 2009 “Woman of the Year” recipient. She was honored before a sell out crowd comprised of both, women and men in attendance. Accepting her award, Sundberg spoke about the contributions and achievements of women in business, and highlighted her work in the community and the local Rotary Club.
A native Californian, Sundberg was raised and educated in Los Angeles. She has spent her entire career advocating for community-based programming for children, adults, senior citizens, and families. For 25 years now, Susanne has been the executive director of Human Services Association (HSA), a non-profit social service agency in Bell Gardens with an annual budget of $10 million and 140 staff members.
She has been involved with numerous organizations throughout our communities, and currently serves on the boards of the Bell Gardens Chamber of Commerce, the Henry L. Guenther Foundation, Downey Regional Medical Center, and their Memorial Trust Foundation. She was Downey Regional’s Woman of the Year in 2003, and is the current 2007-2009 chairwoman of the board. She serves on the Rio Hondo Boys & Girls Club Advisory Council and was the club’s Woman of the Year in 2000. Susanne has also been involved in many joint program ventures with the Rio Hondo Boys & Girls Club, helping to better serve children and families in Bell Gardens.
In addition to her immense community involvement, Susanne is also heavily involved in Rotary. She has held many distinct positions within the Rio Hondo Rotary Club of Bell Gardens and Commerce, and most recently was selected as Rotary District 5280’s District Governor for 2009-2010, a monumental accomplishment for the Club, and will oversee 48 clubs throughout a large geographical area in Southern California.
This year, the Chamber was proud to support the Downtown Women’s Center’s Women to Work Program. We collected donated, professional work attire for women looking to get back on their feet and on track for work. The Downtown Women’s Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that provides 40,000 meals, 47 permanent supportive housing apartments, and a wide array of health, education, and other supportive services to more than 2,000 homeless and very low-income women each year. We thank everyone who donated clothing!
The event’s Presenting Sponsor was ILM Staffing, along with Platinum Sponsor Commerce Casino, and Silver Sponsor The Southern California Gas Company, a Sempra Energy Utility.
The Chamber wishes to sincerely thank each and every major sponsor, our vendors for the event, members that donated door prizes, our luncheon committee chaired by Helene Simmons of Immediate Medical Center, and the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Commerce Casino for their generous sponsorship and participation of our Annual Women in Business Awards Luncheon. We appreciate your continued support!
Since 1959, the Commerce Industrial Council, a chamber of commerce, has helped hundreds of businesses take root in the City of Commerce. It has been the voice of business since incorporation of the city, January 28, 1960. The Commerce Industrial Council is one of the largest organizations of its kind in the area, and is a voluntary partnership of business and professional people working together to build a healthy economy, and to improve the quality of life in Commerce. Chamber members are comprised of businesses, organizations (non-profit and for-profit), and individuals concerned with the socio-economic climate of the city. To learn more, visit http://www.IndustrialCouncil.org or call (323) 728-7222.
VIEW OUR LUNCHEON’S SLIDESHOW!