Sadie St. Lawrence is the founder and CEO of Women in Data, an international nonprofit organization with 47 chapters in 17 countries.

A two-word motto, which is more like a mantra, guides the career and personal code of Kevin Rooney, chief deputy district attorney for San Joaquin County: “Do justice.”

Janelle Meyers Ullrich is the vice president of marketing at Adventist Health, a faith-based nonprofit health care provider with a corporate office in Roseville.

Dr. Lenora Lee, an infectious disease specialist at Kaiser Permanente Sacramento and Roseville for the past seven years, has made the most of working through the coronavirus pandemic.

Giuliano Kornberg, who graduated from Stanford University with a master’s degree in music, science and technology in 2016, is the chief revenue and development officer of Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera.

Melissa Granville, principal at Capitol Impact, has pointed all her professional efforts toward making a positive social impact in her community.

Dina Gentry is the communications director for the El Dorado County Office of Education, a role that impacts thousands of students and families across 15 school districts.

In the wake of George Floyd’s death in May 2020, Crystaline Combs stepped into an unexpected role outside of her regular “day job” as vice president and consumer and business banking administrative manager at the U.S. Bank Sacramento Main Branch.

Juliana Almanza is chief of staff of the West Sacramento-based construction trade association Associated General Contractors of California.

Gerardo Aceves and Amit Dhugga are CEO and president of Platinum Express, a Yuba City-based company with a fleet of 100 trucks.

BCD Bioscience wants to help adults benefit from essential carbohydrates that naturally occur in breast milk.

The region’s health care facilities are beginning what may be a lengthy convalescence when it comes to jobs.

Summer heat in Sacramento can be stressful — especially for air conditioning units in office buildings.

The Folsom-based startup Foodom launched in March 2020 to bring experienced cooks into the homes of busy families.

As COVID-19 vaccines roll out worldwide, InVixa is working on a new delivery method for a cholesterol-lowering drug to treat respiratory inflammation caused by the coronavirus. 

Betty Yee is the second woman in California’s history to serve as state controller.

Lorie Symon is the president of the El Dorado Hills-based aerospace manufacturer Aerometals, which specializes in prolonging the lives of older aircraft for companies like Boeing. 

Lydia Ramirez, senior vice president and chief operations officer at Five Star Bank, is the Sacramento region’s highest-ranking Latina in the banking field.

The Capital Region depends on water resources engineers like Mary Paasch, principal engineer and vice president of Stantec. 

PODCAST: Listen in on our conversation with three of our 2021 Women in Leadership honorees on the ways women are shaping the future of the Capital Region. 

Carol J. Ornelas is CEO of Stockton-based Visionary Home Builders of California, a nonprofit that develops low-income housing and owns 26 affordable apartment properties. 

In a world of portability and to-go orders, Grass Valley-based startup BoxPower delivers energy in a box.

Elizabeth-Rose Mandalou is a partner and cofounder of the restaurant group WM Restaurants and holds the title of Advanced Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers.

LaKenya Jordan is the executive director of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, a state government office that focuses on initiatives and programs that promote and establish equity for women and girls statewide.

Cassie Gilson is president and managing partner of Axiom Advisors, making her one of the only women who are managing partners at the top lobbying firms in Sacramento.

Dr. Diana Farmer, chair of the department of surgery at UC Davis Health, is the world’s first woman fetal surgeon. 

Melissa Brown has been a professor at McGeorge School of Law since 2008 and director of its legal clinics since 2013.

Losing the election wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened to Tubbs. Many think it simply pushes his timeline forward by four years.

The 2020 presidential election may be over, but the team at Warchest still has work to do.

Cohousing is a noteworthy trend as homebuyers seek options that invest in sustainability and personal connections.  

You might not associate remote work with construction, but Mare Island-based Factory OS is redesigning the business model by building multifamily homes off-site, then shipping them to the designated location.

Ranchers and those in the conservation industry know there’s an inherent value to working lands, such as cattle ranches. But how do they monetize that value?

With the help of artificial intelligence, this Sacramento-based startup wants to make the hiring process run smoother for companies flooded with applications.

There’s nothing worse than pouring wine down the drain, says Brett Bayda, so he created Drinjk Wines for consumers who want more portion control.

Students are weighing all the options, including attending community college, learning online or postponing college altogether.

How do you measure the thirst of a plant? Michael Santiago, founder and CEO of FloraPulse, says give it a chip.

Here’s how four businesses are engaging in the Capital Region’s farm-to-fork economy and have adapted to the pandemic so far.

“We make it easier for our most vulnerable community members to get the care they need to stay independent and stay home,” says Kwamane Liddell, DispatchCare’s founder and CEO.

Dr. Vanessa Walker is medical director of the Sutter Health Valley Area’s electronic ICU, a telemonitoring program in which doctors and nurses monitor ICU patients through video, remote diagnostic tools and other technologies.

As assistant director of the Placer County Office of Emergency Services, Holly Powers brings together a variety of partners to prepare for, respond to, and lead the recovery from natural or human-made disasters.

In 2016, Kevin Phan founded the Capital Asian American Professional Society, which provides resources, educational programming and events around civic leadership and business development.

Chelsea Minor has spent the months of the coronavirus pandemic ensuring that customers are informed about new measures and adaptations at the 126 supermarket locations that Raley’s operates. 

Lisandro Madrigal knew 2020 would be a landmark year for Chando’s Enterprises, the Mexican restaurant group he started in 2010. But after dining rooms closed in March, every taco, burrito and mulita had to be packaged to go.

This spring, COVID-19 forced schools to go online. But, for the most part, the teaching models remained the same. Sama Learning, a Nevada City-based startup, wants to transform those models.

Chris Kay is a marketing executive, owner of an imported-foods business and, as of July 1, president of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce.

Nicholas Haystings, executive director of Square Root Academy, says he has had two goals since he was a kid: to become an engineer and to give back to the community.

Rosie Dauz was elected president of the Philippine National Day Association, an organization that works to empower and promote equity in the Filipino community, around the time COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. 

As the lead reporter for The Bee’s coverage of Gov. Gavin Newsom and California’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, Bollag knows how important it is to provide accurate information to her readers.

Last year was a strong one for the performing arts in the region, and 2020 was building on that success, which has led to hope from some local arts leaders that this progress will continue despite the unprecedented shutdown.