6th Annual WBL
ICA Update
Celebrating Women in Business
Educate | Experience | Empower 2016
Rhonda Hontalas
PR/Special Events Coordinator
On February 25, 2016, ICA
Cristo Rey President, Sister Diane
Aruda, OP, along with emcee Janet
Reilly, welcomed 350 guests to the
beautiful Julia Morgan Ballroom in
San Francisco for the 6th Annual
“Celebrating Women in Business”
luncheon. The afternoon began
with Board of Directors’ Chair, Linda
Grohe introducing Stephen Lanctot
of Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP
as the honoree of this year’s event.
Linda shared that the reason for
honoring a man at the Celebrating
Women in Business luncheon was
a no-brainer! Steve had given many
years of dedication and service. He
was very instrumental in helping with
the transition in joining the Cristo Rey
Network as well as serving as Board
of Directors Chair for several years.
Steve shared that he was humbled
by the kind words and gifts given
by the ICA Cristo Rey community,
and how ICA Cristo Rey has touched
his life and that of his family. Steve
mentioned that the ICA students
working at Coblentz Patch Duffy &
Bass LLP are wonderful and bring
a refreshing element to the work
place. He is grateful to be associated
with ICA Cristo Rey and he took
the opportunity to thank his family,
friends and colleagues who were in
attendance to honor him for all of his
time, talent and energy.
The Leadership in Coeducation
award was received by Carrie Castro
on behalf of Waste Management.
Carrie commented that although the
company has helped support teams
of girls the past few years, they as a
company have gained much more
22
Summer 2016
Speakers: Vanessa Munoz ‘17, Pamela S. Duffy, Keynote, Natalie Batrez ‘19, Ximena Loeza ‘17 &
Janet Reilly, Emcee
from the students than they could
have imagined. She passionately
told of the immense feeling of
gratitude and pride in knowing that
Waste Management is helping these
young women become engaged,
responsible professionals of the
future. She is proud to be a CWSP
partner!
Keynote speaker Pamela S. Duffy
of Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP,
not only shared her experience of
becoming a lawyer, but also shared
her journey of getting there with a
“little help from her friends”. Pam
visited ICA last spring and was ready
to share with the girls how they
might choose a career path; instead,
once she looked into the faces of
the students, she knew she needed
to share her personal story of the
challenges of her upbringing. She told
the girls, “I know, I know that for some
of you just getting here this morning
was hard work. You are courageous.
You are strong and good and it’s
worth the hard work. If you are in a
toxic situation, it’s not your fault. If
you are living in poverty, it’s not your
fault; it is your current circumstance,
but it doesn’t define YOU; but know
that through education you can rise
above, because no one can take your
education from you. Education beats
fear.”
For those lucky enough to be in
the audience at this year’s luncheon,
she once again spoke from the
heart about what “hills & valleys”
presented themselves in her life
(recognizing that was a road many
ICA students and supporters travel
as well) and how through education
and the parachutes provided by the
Dominican Sisters, family and friends,
each helping pull the rip cord at the
right time, she was able to keep
moving and trying. She thanked her
aunt, cousins and most especially
Sister John Dominic Samaha, O.P. ‘39,