The Woman of Ark Marketing & Media Solutions Inc. Audrey Patterson, President As a longtime advocate for women-supporting-women, Audrey Patterson founded Ark Marketing & Media Solutions in 2003 with a vision of fostering this culture in the workplace. Drawing from her years of corporate experience, Audrey set out to lead with flexible, compassionate, and empowering […]
As a longtime advocate for women-supporting-women, Audrey Patterson founded Ark Marketing & Media Solutions in 2003 with a vision of fostering this culture in the workplace. Drawing from her years of corporate experience, Audrey set out to lead with flexible, compassionate, and empowering policies—particularly for working mothers. “It’s incredibly rewarding to be in a position where I can support women who are eager to grow and learn,” Audrey shares.
Contributing to the success of San Diego’s vibrant business community is something Ark’s team takes pride in, driven by their commitment to delivering top-tier media solutions to clients and partners. “We thrive on collaboration, teamwork, and continuous learning in an ever-evolving industry.”
Looking ahead, Audrey is excited about the newly launched Ark Marketing Latino division. “Establishing a Latino division is key to authentically connecting with a thriving, growing community. It helps brands build trust, strengthen relationships, and create lasting impact in this diverse market.”
Audrey looks forward to continuing to lead with passion and purpose, while creating opportunities for both her team and the communities they serve.
A born and raised San Diegan, a third-generation business owner, and the first woman president of The Mile of Cars Association, Jenifer Ball is active within the community. As the current Managing Partner of Ball Auto Group (Honda, Acura, Kia), Ball loves helping San Diegans find the right vehicle for their lifestyle.
“[It’s exciting] seeing returning customers that have bought vehicles from my grandfather [and] my father and are now buying from me,” she says. “Plus, [I’m proud to be] creating jobs and employing people in the community.” Outside of her work within the automotive industry, Ball enjoys contributing time to local community service efforts and raising her son.
2135 National City Blvd, National City, CA 91950 619-474-6431 ballauto.com
The Woman of JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Danielle Schwimer, Middle Market Banking—Executive Director
With a long history in banking, Danielle Schwimer is driving change with her support of historically disadvantaged business owners across San Diego and Orange County. Schwimer connects diverse groups and women-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned businesses with resources in her role as Executive Director of Middle Market Banking at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
She’s passionate about offering owners the essential tools for success, introducing them to growth opportunities, and helping them get access to capital. “I don’t feel like what I’m doing day-to-day is work, because this is truly heartfelt,” Schwimer says. Every time she spots her clients’ branding out in the community, it’s an indicator that her impact is working. “There is nothing better than seeing my clients’ equipment, trucks, office buildings, or products,” she adds.
12860 El Camino Real, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92130 619-602-4071 linkedin.com/in/danielle-schwimer-oster/
The Woman of Northside Shack
Pamela Olvera, Owner
Pamela Olvera, born in Mexico City as the eldest of four sisters, came from humble beginnings. After the tragic murder of her father when she was just 16, Olvera became a teen parent. Despite these challenges, she held multiple jobs, including a lengthy stint as a paralegal, while raising her children. But her passion for the culinary arts never wavered. Determined to follow her dreams, Olvera started as a dishwasher and worked her way up in the kitchen. In 2014, with just $5,000 in savings, she opened the juice bar Northside Shack, a now-thriving business beloved for its açai bowls and smoothies.
Today, with three successful locations under her belt, Olvera reflects on her journey with pride. Her resilience and dedication helped her overcome adversity and build a business rooted in hard work. After a significant health scare in 2020, she’s decided to pass the torch, allowing someone new to continue her legacy. Olvera is excited to look ahead, knowing she’s created something that has brought joy and nourishment to her community.
1255 Rosecrans Street, San Diego, California 92106 | 619-738-8233 3773 30th Street, Unit H, San Diego, California 92104 | 619-539-7712 631 South Cleveland Street, Oceanside, CA 92054| 760-231-5944 northsideshack.com
The Woman of The Fishery
AnneMarie Lorenz, Owner
A fifth generation San Diegan, AnneMarie Brown-Lorenz has a natural passion for hospitality, food and wine. Still, carving out a career as a woman in the restaurant industry was not easy. One of the keys to her success was breaking away from her innately shy personality and tapping into her knowledge, wit and business acumen. Reflecting on that success, she says, “I’m proud of what Pacific Shellfish + The Fishery has become. The ethos we pitch is an ethos we live—small, family-owned, women-made, natural and real.”
5040 Cass Street, San Diego, CA 92109 858-272-9985 thefishery.com
The Woman of NewSchool of Architecture & Design
Daniela Deutsch, Dean of Architecture
With over 20 years of teaching experience, Daniela Deutsch has made exceptional contributions to architectural education and sustainable design across San Diego. Her practical experience, commitment to innovation, and dedication to inclusive education have paved the way for female architects in a male-dominated field. Her interdisciplinary approach empowers women to acquire diverse skill sets, preparing them for leadership roles in architecture and beyond. As NewSchool’s Dean of Architecture, Deutsch leads the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) tracks. She recently expanded this to include the five-year bachelor’s program, helping undergraduate students also achieve their goals faster.
1249 F Street, San Diego, California 92101 | 619-684-8800 newschoolarch.edu
Tonya Torosian began working with children in foster care as a social worker in Chicago, and it was there that her career passion was ignited. More than 30 years later, Tonya serves as the CEO of Promises2Kids, a nonprofit that provides programs, services, and funding to support current and former foster youth. “Promises2Kids is well-known and highly respected for the work it does with San Diego’s foster children. What set it apart from others was the admiration I have for the founders and the passion that drives them and everyone working here; it really is all about the children.”
9400 Ruffin Court, Suite A, San Diego, California 92123 858-278-4400 Promises2Kids.org
The Woman of Sharia’s Closet
Shamine Linton, Founder and President
As the Founder and President of Sharia’s Closet, Shamine Linton is dedicated to fostering positive change through compassionate service. Sharia’s Closet provides clean, quality clothing and hygiene kits presented in personalized care packages to individuals facing crisis. These free ‘Bags of Hope’ are offered to a diverse population including survivors of natural disasters, human trafficking, and domestic violence. For over 10 years, Sharia’s Closet has been a transformative resource of hope, relief, dignity and respect for our San Diego neighbors in need.
6244 El Cajon Boulevard, Suite 5, San Diego, CA 92115 619-549-6102 shariascloset.org
Inspired by the effortless charm of French cafés, this taste of France on Orange Avenue invites guests to embrace the simple pleasure of taking their time.
Strolling down Orange Avenue on a sunny afternoon, you’ll hear the hum of beach cruisers rolling by and visitors making their way toward the Hotel del Coronado. Dogs pause to greet one another on the sidewalk, palm trees sway overhead, and for a moment, you’re convinced you’re living inside the postcard from the gift shop you just passed.
Then the scene shifts. Towering white columns, black café awnings and gold-trimmed windows frame Little Frenchie, where woven bistro chairs spill onto the sidewalk and servers deliver bubbling crocks of French onion soup. The scent of caramelized onions and melted Gruyère is practically an invitation to ask, “How long for a table for two?”
That feeling of pulling up a chair and staying awhile is exactly what inspired Little Frenchie. French cuisine has a reputation for feeling a little intimidating, but the restaurant is rewriting that narrative with food and wine that feels approachable.
“Sometimes when you read a French menu, you come across words you can’t even pronounce,” David Spatafore, the owner of Little Frenchie, says. “We wanted to create a restaurant where people felt comfortable.”
Little Frenchie was designed to capture the spirit of the French sidewalk cafés that inspired it. Dating back to 1917, the space already carried the charm of a Parisian bistro, with architectural details that felt more at home on a European street corner than in Coronado. The team saw an opportunity to create a restaurant that matched the character of the space while filling a gap in the neighborhood.
The result is a French restaurant that honors tradition without taking itself too seriously.
At Little Frenchie, classic French techniques are at the heart of the menu, but there is always room for creativity. A cassoulet featuring Toulouse sausage and duck confit pays homage to the recipes and regions that inspired it, while a rich hot chocolate made with ingredients imported from France brings a taste of French café culture to Coronado.
The team loves finding unexpected ways to make familiar dishes feel new. A burger becomes a showstopper when it is finished tableside with melted raclette, while a French Dip gets elevated with prime beef and Wagyu makes its way into the burgers. Even Eggs Benedict gets a French twist, swapping the traditional English muffin for a buttery croissant. The GB&J, Little Frenchie’s take on a grilled cheese, brings that same playful approach with seasonal jam and French Brie layered into a comforting classic.
Nearly everything at Little Frenchie is made from scratch, with ingredients carefully chosen to match the restaurant’s standards. Even the bread receives special attention. Each morning, the team sends a car to Prager Brothers Artisan Bread to pick up freshly baked loaves, ensuring every element of the meal reflects the restaurant’s commitment to quality.
Wine is woven into the experience just as naturally as the food. Inspired by the effortless pairings found in French cafés and bistros, Little Frenchie’s by-the-glass selection invites guests to sip their way through different regions and discover new favorites without the pressure of knowing all the rules.
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
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Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
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It’s estimated that one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. When you factor in living in a sun-soaked city like San Diego and the outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with it, that figure can jump to as high as one in three, which makes early detection and intervention all the more important. Dermatologists at Bighorn Mohs and Dermatology Center are using innovative imaging methods and advanced surgical techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancer. For certain cancers in sensitive spots, like the face, dermatologists perform Mohs surgery, removing skin tissue layer by layer until reaching healthy, cancer-free tissue. They also use a process called immunohistochemistry to view tissue samples taken during Mohs surgery in far greater detail than previous methods. Read more about how Scripps is advancing skin cancer care here.
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When endurance athlete Isaac Sanchez learned he had cancer, he felt blindsided. He was healthy, surfed often and was training for an Ironman triathlon. But he had to put that on hold to undergo treatment. His physicians at Scripps Cancer Center developed a plan to treat the cancer in his tonsil and lymph nodes that included six-and-a-half weeks of near-daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy. He also worked with a Scripps Cancer Center dietitian to enhance his nutrition to promote strength and healing. Today, Isaac’s back to doing what he loves. Read more of his story here.
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