20 WOMEN TO WATCH From blue jeans to babies, our 10th annual list of 20 Women to Watch is an inspiring mix. Though our roster reflects a wide range of pursuits, these women share one thing in common: passion. In doing so, they become role models for us all. By Kelly St. John (Staff writer Nayeli Pagaza and freelance writers John Nolan and Mike Reicher contributed to this story.) ShirleneLopez President, Del Taco Age: 42 Residence: Dove Canyon Person in the news you’d most like to meet: Already met him – Warren Buffett! What inspires you: Satisfying Del Taco’s customers and seeing our people grow Shirlene Lopez knows well what working all night long is like at Del Taco, one of the first fast-food chains to stay open 24 hours. Having worked for the company since the age of 14, Lopez brings a unique perspective to her role as president, a title she earned in October of last year. “I fell in love with Del Taco since I was very young,” Lopez says, who began training managers at age 19. “It was really my family’s favorite restaurant.” Lopez’s firsthand experience with Del Taco’s customers, workers, food and sales gives her an edge among top executives. “It’s so beneficial to have worked all positions because I know the challenges,” she says of the Lake Forest-based chain that had systemwide sales of $523 million in 2005. Now, Lopez oversees the 470 stores and 7,000 employees as the chain’s new East Coast investment group seeks ways to grow Del Taco into the eastern United States. “We have introduced our shrimp tacos with much success,” she says. The company’s strategy for growth includes developing more sophisticated food items. “But we still want to keep our signature menu items, including our homemade beans.”

PAMELA PIMENTEL CEO, Maternal Outreach Management Systems (MOMS) Age: 51 Residence: Santa Ana Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Maria Shriver What inspires YOU: When I am at work and a mother with her baby comes to give me a hug and says, “Thank you, because of MOMS I learned the things I need to take care of myself and have a healthy baby” A nurse and healthcare administrator, Pamela Pimentel has found her dream job – leading a nonprofit agency for low-income pregnant women and new mothers. In seven years, Pimentel has grown Maternal Outreach Management Systems (MOMS) from a staff of 10 to a $3 million operation serving 5,000 families. MOMS gives its clients – the uninsured, working poor – prenatal care, health screening, education and referral services. MOMS’ success is clear: fewer low-weight birth babies and neonatal intensive care admissions, and infants who reach developmental milestones on time. “All babies deserve to be born healthy,” says Pimentel. “When I was working as a nurse, I saw the end of the line. I was driven to say, ‘Where’s the preventive healthcare?’ I wanted to make a difference.”

CYNTHIA STAMPER GRAFF President and CEO, Lindora Medical Clinics Age: 53 Residence: Newport Beach Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Meg Whitman, CEO, eBay What inspires YOU: Helping people with weight control, and having people have a healthier body and a healthier life As a real estate developer, Cynthia Stamper Graff built “incubators” for small businesses in Salt Lake City. Later, as an entrepreneur, she co-founded a roadside emergency service. Today, Graff manages the 35 Lindora Medical Clinics founded in 1971 by her father, Dr. Marshall B. Stamper. She is poised to expand Lindora’s medically-supervised weight control program throughout Southern California. Lindora has partnered with Rite-Aid to open clinics inside its drugstores. It will open 10 clinics this year, four in Orange County. “The way we eat is a function of our choices, and the way we live is a function of our choices,” says Graff. “Being mindful and present, those are skills that have benefits far beyond just healthier weight.”

Lily Chow Founding partner, Picker, Chow and Freisleben LLP Age: 44 Residence: Newport Coast Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Sandra Day O’Connor What inspires YOU: Knowing that every decision I make has an impact on someone else. For example, my hiring decisions not only bring added value to my firm for having the benefit of a diverse staff, but also give the women and minorities we hire the opportunity to work in a law firm which recognizes that benefit Lily Chow strives to be a role model. Born in Hong Kong, she helped found the Orange County Asian Bar Association and promoted its mentoring and scholarship programs. After working for years as the first female Chinese-American partner at a large firm, Chow founded a boutique civil litigation firm with two partners seven years ago. There, Chow has built a team that reflects diversity of the community it serves. “If you’re going to be catering to your community, you have to look like your community,” says Chow. “I don’t want them to hire us just because we’re minorities, but because we’re good lawyers.”

DEBRA RICHARDSON Dean, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences at UC Irvine Age: 51 Residence: Irvine Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Molly Ivins What inspires YOU: Seeing young girls get excited about science, especially computer science and information technology, and seeing young scholars succeed at fully joining academia Debra Richardson wants to change the face of computing – at UC Irvine and across the nation. Today, just 12% of American college students in computer science are female. Not only are women missing out on lucrative jobs, Richardson says, but companies are missing out on perspectives they need to design products for everyone. One example: all-male engineering teams designed the air bags that are deadly for small women. Richardson has revamped UC Irvine’s curriculum to focus on collaborative work, while conducting outreach to girls to show that computer science is fun. “It (the industry) does have this image of being for nerdy geeks who work by themselves. But that’s not what computer science is,” Richardson says. “It is a field where you can be very successful, and it is a field that women enjoy when they get into it.”

Jessica Svoboda Founder, Svoboda AGE: 31 Residence: Santa Ana Person in the news you’d most like to meet: Oprah What inspires you: Everyone in my family is involved in my business. They keep you going when things get difficult Some women have Dolce & Gabbana, others Juicy Coutre. But if they’re size 12 or above, options for fashionable clothing are as tight as a pair of size six jeans. Enter Jessica Svoboda and her clothing line for full-figured women. “Svoboda,” which Jessica founded with her personal credit cards in 2004, has tripled revenue each year. During 2007 she expects it to increase tenfold as it attracts attention from high-end department stores and boutiques around the world. With jeans starting at $135, Svoboda is carried by Nordstom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. California Apparel News, an industry trade publication, says, “The plus-size market is getting a long overdue injection of fashion, thanks to emerging designers such as Santa Ana, CA-based Jessica Svoboda.” The company’s emerging specialty is its denim, which breaks traditional fashion rules. For instance, the Fancy Jean has vibrant red back pockets that help accentuate a woman’s curvaceous behind. “You have to highlight your best assets,” Svoboda says. Drawing attention to her brand is an immediate goal, as Svoboda is currently seeking financial investment. Other plans for expansion include distribution in Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, new direct retailing channels such as catalogs (Svoboda already has an online store), and eventually brick-and-mortar Svoboda stores.

LORRAINE QUINTANAR Founder and publisher, TheLatinaVoz.com Age: 42 City of Residence: Laguna Niguel Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Jon Stewart What inspires YOU: The possibility that Voz will help Latinas reach their full potential as women, mothers, professionals, and students Lorraine Quintanar was working as an executive recruiter, but a dream kept nagging. Finally, in 2005, she took the plunge and founded TheLatinaVoz.com, an online magazine to cover the social, economic and cultural issues that face today’s Latinas. Quintanar hired a Los Angeles Times veteran to edit the magazine, which receives 40,000 weekly page views. Each edition covers business issues of interest to Latinas – the country’s fastest-growing segment of entrepreneurs – as well as health coverage, personality profiles and political news. “I felt we were under-represented in mainstream media. Immigration seemed to be the only issue covered,” Quintanar says. “I hope that we’re looked upon as the source and resource that understands who and what Latinas are about, and empowers them.”

Sandra Sellani Vice president, marketing, Sperry Van Ness Age: 46 Residence: Newport Beach Person in the news you’d most like to meet: Al and Laura Ries, authors of “The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding” What inspires you: The small business owners and entrepreneurs who have made the brave and noble decision to create their own destiny In five years, Sandra Sellani has helped to grow commercial real estate firm Sperry Van Ness from a regional company with $17 million in revenues to a national company with over $140 million in revenues and a presence in 36 states. The marketing guru keeps a busy speaking calendar and wrote “What’s Your BQ? (Brand Quotient),” set for release this spring. Sellani advises CEOs to build their brands by offering something valuable, rare and hard to imitate. Then, they need to build everything in their companies around how different they are. “When you get all these elements down, it creates buzz,” Sellani says. “You need a good story, and a good story starts with a strong brand differentiation.”

SHAILA RAO MISTRY President, Jayco MMI Age: 46 Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Madeline Albright What inspires YOU: My father, who left me a legacy of the vision and will to succeed; my mother, who is an unmitigated Amazon; my husband, who fills me with the love and passion to scale tall mountains and follow my dreams Shaila Rao Mistry is more than a self-taught entrepreneur who owns Jayco MMI, a leading technology interface company. Born in India, educated in England and able to speak numerous languages, she is also a human rights activist who has been a delegate to several United Nations Summits. Mistry has worked to bring attention to the 2 million women and children held in sexual servitude worldwide. She worked with California legislators on human trafficking legislation in 2005, and will speak on trafficking at the U.N.’s Commission on the Status of Women this month. She is also working to extend micro loans to women entrepreneurs in developing nations. “I had to learn how to lead in a male-dominated industry. But there are so many situations where women do not have a voice,” Mistry says. “I wanted to use my voice to make a difference.”

Michele Martinez Santa Ana City councilwoman Age: 27 Residence: Santa Ana Person in the news you’d most like to meet: Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi What inspires you: To be able to live, laugh, love while helping my community Nobody thought Michele Martinez could make it as Santa Ana City councilwoman; she was just 27, without a college degree. But her refreshing energy and grassroots politics won the hearts of voters last November. “I knocked on people’s doors and they saw I was one of them,” Martinez says. As a child, Martinez led a harsh life, witnessing gang violence, death, and even watching friends go to prison. Her home environment was as rough as the streets of Santa Ana. “My mom was a drug addict and my uncles were drug dealers,” she says. Although Martinez was also making $2,000 a week selling drugs, the young 17-year-old knew she had to change her life after almost getting expelled from high school. Martinez left home and began working for Mark Press, board member of the Boys and Girls Club, who helped guide her and encouraged her to attend college. “He exposed me to politics as well,” she says. Now, the busy councilwoman speaks to youth groups and is part of the EPIC commission, which aims to prevent youth from joining gangs. “I love this city and I want to give back,” says the Cal State Fullerton criminal justice undergraduate.

LUCY DUNN President and CEO, Orange County Business Council Age: 54 Residence: Coto de Caza Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Colin Powell What inspires YOU: Making connections with people, giving a talk or sharing ideas and looking out in the audience to see on people’s faces that their paradigm has shifted Lucy Dunn says Orange County isn’t the TV stereotype – rich white folks living in Laguna Beach. A majority of its residents are minorities and its diverse economy makes it a powerhouse. Dunn’s mission is simple: Promote the county’s business community and preserve its quality of life. She fought for transportation initiative Measure M. She champions affordable housing and math and science education to prepare local youth for tomorrow’s jobs. Before joining the council, Dunn was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s housing and community development director. She was also the first female president of the Building Industry Association of California. “We’re the fifth-largest county in America. We have a higher population than 22 states, and they get two senators,” she says. “We’re far more sophisticated culturally, business-wise and economically than Los Angeles. We’re an economic engine.”

ZovKaramardian Chef and proprietor, Zov’s Bistro Age: 63 Residence: Tustin Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Barbara Walters What inspires YOU: Family Acclaimed chef and culinary teacher Zov Karamardian has wowed critics and customers since she opened Zov’s Bistro in Tustin two decades ago. Now, Orange County’s grande dame of cuisine will open two new restaurants – in the Newport Coast and Irvine – in 2007. Karamardian says she has the faith to grow, thanks to her family: husband Gary, son Armen (Zov’s general manager) and daughter Taleene (Zov’s director of catering). “We see each other every day of the week, but we still like to hang out together,” Karamardian says. “It’s not about accumulating restaurants. It’s about keeping the quality. The timing is right. We’re ready.”

JANE RUSSO Superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District Age: 55 Residence: Santa Ana Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Barack Obama What inspires YOU: To go into a classroom and see the magic of a successful teacher The first female superintendent of Orange County’s largest school district, Jane Russo has the power to shape the lives of 60,000 children and 5,000 employees who serve them. Santa Ana Unified faces challenges. Its students are predominantly poor and Latino, and 65% are “English language learners” whose families do not speak English. The district faces budget cuts from declining enrollment, so Russo must trim $17 million from its $500 million budget. A former middle school English teacher, Russo says a priority is improving instruction. “The children of Santa Ana have great gifts, and can compete with their peers anywhere in Orange County,” she says. “It’s up to us to provide the environment and instruction to make it happen. Just wait and see.”

DR. KRISTI KOENIG Director of public health preparedness, and professor of clinical emergency medicine at UC Irvine School of Medicine Age: 47 Residence: Seal Beach Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Hillary Clinton What inspires YOU: The opportunity to create local health- care policy Kristi Koenig found her passion for emergency medicine in Harlem, where, as a med student, she rode for 15 straight days with an ambulance crew. She loved it so much, she kept going on weekends “for fun.” Now, as an expert in disaster medicine, Koenig trains doctors to handle the worst. Earthquakes, bioterrorism, pandemic flu and dirty bombs – these are the catastrophes she thinks about at night. Last year, Koenig conducted mock terrorism drills for emergency responders in Mumbai, India. Five months later, train bombings there killed 200 people. Her timely visit prepared officials to respond. “It’s exciting to save a single life,” says Koenig. “But to be able to fix a system where there’s a problem, and have a national or international impact, now that’s really inspiring.”

BrendaSpringer Public relations group manager, Sole Technology Age: 29 Residence: Costa Mesa Person in the news you’d most like to meet: David Beckham…. Now that he is coming to L.A., I’d like to think I have a chance What inspires you: I love my career. I enjoy working with people who are passionate Brenda Springer, public relations group manager for action apparel and footwear manufacturer Sole Technology in Lake Forest, is a master at promoting a brand. Her strategy: management of special events, branded entertainment and strategic product placement is paying dividends for the company. During her tenure, she has tripled the company’s media impressions, reaching more than 100 million people globally. Last year, she led the year-long, 20th anniversary campaign, hosting more than 10,000 guests in New York, Paris and Orange County. Sole Technology’s brands include etnies, eS, Emerica, Thirty Two and Altamont.

Tina Christiansen Redevelopment department director and director of the Community Land Trust for the city of Irvine Age: 52 Residence: Coronado Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger. What inspires YOU: The creative design process and nature An architect by training, Tina Christiansen leads Irvine’s Redevelopment Department, overseeing the building of the 1,400-acre Great Park, 3,625 homes, and 3.5 million square feet of commercial space at the former El Toro Marine air base. She also leads a “Green Team” to ensure the Great Park is built sustainably, using efficient energy systems and reclaimed water for landscaping. “In 100 years, we still want to be living within our resources,” Christiansen says. “This job is what I’ve worked my whole career for. This really is an architect’s dream.”

SUZANNE FRINDT Co-founder and principal, 2130 Partners Age: 50 Residence: Dana Point Person in the news you’d most like to meet: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – She is the new president of the Republic of Liberia – the first woman president of an African country What inspires you: In my work with CEOs, executives and teams, I get excited when clients awaken and engage in their own lives in a new and powerful way, their eyes light up and the real person is there! That impacts their companies, their families and their communities in a meaningful way Suzanne Frindt’s mission is to end world poverty by breaking cultural barriers about women. And, after being tapped by the U.S. Department of State to address the 2006 Middle East and North Africa Businesswomen’s Summit, she knows it can be done. “It was exciting to see these women who are emailing each other now and contributing to their local economy,” says Frindt of the nearly 250 women from the region who attended the Abu Dhabi Summit to network and build leadership skills along with other American executives. Frindt – co-founder and principal of 2130 Partners, a Capistrano Beach-based leadership development firm – and her husband have also invested $500,000 in The Hunger Project to end world hunger. Her travels to Africa, India, Bangladesh and Latin America have directly helped local people earn higher family incomes and gain access to healthcare and education. “It’s important to educate women because they control the sanitation, drinking water and food brought to the table,” she says. “We still don’t have enough women in top leadership positions either,” says Frindt.

LORETTA SANCHEZ U.S. Congresswoman Age: 47 Residence: Garden Grove Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: German Chancellor Angela Merkel What inspires YOU: People inspire me; putting people together who have great ideas Since the Democratic Party took the majority in Congress, things have changed for Loretta Sanchez. Orange County’s lone congressional Democrat is now the No. 2 Democrat on the Committee on Homeland Security and chairwoman of its Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism. That post enhances her influence over immigration policy, port security and Homeland Security oversight. Sanchez admits being in the majority after 10 years makes a difference. “A lot more people want meetings with me,” she says. “It’s a good problem to have.”

SandraRobbie Diversity speaker and filmmaker, “Mendez vs. Westminster: For All the Children” Age: 48 Residence: Santa Ana Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Oprah Winfrey and Salma Hayek What inspires YOU: I love the dialog, emotion and surprise of sharing the Mendez history with groups Sandra Robbie is taking an education crusade on the road – in a 1967 VW bus. A decade ago, Robbie learned about “Mendez vs. Westminster,” the 1947 case that made California the first state to end school segregation. Though Robbie grew up here, she had never heard of the Mexican-Americans who stood up against legalized racism in the case that influenced the Supreme Court’s 1954 ruling to desegregate schools nationwide. She wanted others to know too. In 2002, Robbie finished an Emmy Award-winning documentary about Mendez. She wrote a children’s book, and even consulted on a Mendez postage stamp, due out in September. Next, Robbie will drive across California with a film crew, speaking to groups along the way. “I haven’t driven manual in a long time. I can’t wait,” she says. “I am a Mendez maniac.”

CINDI WALTERS President and co-founder, Chapman Walters Intercoastal Corp. Age: 42 Residence: Coto de Caza Person in the news YOU’d most like to meet: Angelina Jolie What inspires YOU: I’m motivated to see the people around me happy. I want to please my customers, to help my employees make better use of their time and grow their careers, and I want to help my kids stay focused When Cindi Walters couldn’t afford college, she dove into a scuba diving business. Today, Walters makes most snorkeling gear sold in America’s sporting good stores, under the Body Glove brand and a proprietary label, Fluid. Walters has succeeded in a male-dominated industry, growing her market share to 70% since 1996 by logging 200,000 air miles a year, even as she raised four children. A certified diver, Walters is proud of her products, from kids’ float suits to a 100% dry snorkel. In the future, she will release a product to help swimmers listen to music underwater. “A huge piece of (my success) is faith and passion in my products,” she says. “It’s not just that I’m saying this Body Glove snorkel is the best. I can quantify it.”