Women Achievers Celebrated in Southern California

35 Years Celebrating Women Achievers

Michael Sedano

 

Print magazines have become an endangered species in today’s media ecology. Magazine advertising sales declined since 2012 from an estimated 20 billion dollars to $5.5 billion this year, according to GroupM, a media-buying agency. One Southern California print magazine, Business Life, seeks to be an exception to the extinction model with a hyper-local print strategy with longevity. 

 

Serving California’s San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys, Business Life has published since 1989. Compiling articles and writing original content, the magazine makes a major splash in its regional market with its annual celebration of Woman Achievers. It’s an inspired and worthwhile endeavor singling out small-business owners and executives of larger enterprises. 

 

The magazine’s not exclusively print. It has a Facebook page along with its web presence. (link) https://www.businesslife.com Those attending the gala luncheon took home back issues along with the current issue, Vol 35 No 2. The print magazine’s ideal spot is waiting rooms where people can hold the news in their hand as opposed to using a phone that might suffer from low battery and weak signal strength, or irritate neighbors with grudges against electronics in public. Subscribers get mailed at least six issues a year. 

 

La Bloga is honored to have attended the magazine’s luncheon for the 2024 roster of Women Achievers recently, the 35^th anniversary of the award. We were invited by honoree Thelma T. Reyna. Reyna, a poet, this year is honored as publisher of Golden Foothills Press (link) and principal of The Writing Pros (link), an editing nservice offering one-on-one consultations.    

Excitement reigns as families and friends capture their own memories

The gala luncheon features a ballroom filled with ten-person tables that quickly fill as guests wait for the program. Energy electrifies the atmosphere, happy conversations create a din that raises voices and leads some guests to lean into one another to be heard.

Grand Entrance, Greg Krikorian slaps hands with Thelma Reyna

 

The program begins with the grand entrance of honorees similar to the entrance of the Chancellors of the Academy of American Poets at that organization’s annual celebration. A heavy rock beat announces the procession. Publisher Gregory S. Krikorian greets the entering women who navigate to their respective tables. 

 

The magazine singles out four women as a “Woman of Distinction,” “Exemplary Leadership,” and two “Lifetime Achievement” honorees. Twenty-seven women complete the 2024 roster as “Women Achievers.” The four deliver extended remarks before the other Achievers approach the stage to receive ornately calligraphed certificates from the magazine, the State Assembly, and Los Angeles County government.

 

Business Life is largely a family endeavor. Krikorian’s father founded the magazine and the masthead lists numerous Krikorians at various levels of responsibility. It’s encouraging seeing the diversity of honorees, which include Armenian, Black, Raza, Pinay, Anglo achievers.

 

Gerda Govine-Ituarte composed a poem for the occasion

The awardees represent a rich cross-section of businesses, insurance, health, education, government. Family stands out as a shared value among all the speakers, who acknowledge husbands and kids with the unspoken idea that behind a successful woman is a family who has her back.

Thelma T. Reyna advises
"with every fiber of your being, determine to make a difference."

 

With the US about to elect its first woman president, that’s still not enough recognition. Business Life’s motivation is to correct the neglect of the influence and effectiveness of professional women and business leaders. The magazine states, “So many women were doing so many good things, but not enough people knew about their stories. The Krikorians were acquainted with many worthy women in various fields, excelling professionally and contributing to civic and philanthropic efforts. These were the women who did not receive sufficient acknowl- edgement as corporate or civic leaders, and not enough were in the board rooms where decisions were being made...but they were out getting the work done - supporting causes, being active entrepreneurs, achieving professional success, and contributing significantly to the quality of life enjoyed in the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys.”

 

La Bloga happily shares news of this year’s event, invites readers to explore the magazine’s website for the history of the award along with meeting past achievers. Nominations for 2025 Women Achievers open in Spring. Past awardees and other leaders participate in the nomination process.

2024 Women Achievers Honorees