GRASS VALLEY, Calif. November 8, 2016 – At the November 19th American Association of University Women (AAUW) Nevada County Branch meeting, a panel will discuss “Barriers and Bias – The Status of Women in Leadership.”
The findings of a 2016 AAUW study show that, despite women’s impressive gains in education and the workplace over the past 50 years, men greatly outnumber women in leadership, especially in top positions. The report also asks the questions: What explains the leadership gap? What strategies can we use to change it?
Exploring these issues, a panel of successful local women leaders will share their paths to leadership roles, including obstacles they faced and overcame as well as valuable lessons that could prove helpful for up-and-coming female leaders and society in general. Panelists are Jan Christofferson, former Placer County Executive Officer; Lisa Swarthout, Grass Valley City Council Member and former Grass Valley Mayor; and Carry Canady, Chief Financial Officer, Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital.
With more than 30 years of experience in local government and over a decade at the executive level, Christofferson served as Placer County Executive Officer from 2001 to 2005. Since retirement from Placer County, she has assumed several interim Department Head positions in both Butte and Nevada Counties, including Interim Director of four different Nevada County departments.
Currently serving her third term on the Grass Valley City Council, Swarthout spent two years as Grass Valley Mayor and is the past Chairman of both the Grass Valley Downtown Association and the Nevada County Economic Resource Council. She is also owner of Mill Street Clothing Company in downtown Grass Valley, celebrating her 27th year in this business.
As Chief Financial Officer at Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, Carry Canady is responsible for administration of the Revenue Cycle, Supply Chain, Informational Technology and Finance functions. With more than 25 years in healthcare management, she previously held similar roles at both Sutter Health in Sacramento and Fletcher Health Care in Vermont.
The meeting will be held at Peace Lutheran Church, 828 West Main Street, Grass Valley, on Saturday, November 19th, at 9:30 – 11:30 am (program begins at 10:00 am). It is free and open to everyone.
AAUW membership is open to individuals with an associate, baccalaureate or higher degree from a qualified educational institution. For individuals interested in participating in branch interest groups and other activities, but who have not had the opportunity to complete a degree, the Nevada County Branch offers “Friends of AAUW” membership. For more than 75 years, the AAUW Nevada County Branch has been striving to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. For more information: www.nevadacounty-ca.aauw.net or call 530-470-9395.